The Gist

Latest Episodes:

Moshe Kasher Surfs the Crowd Feb 08, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, Central Casting strikes again.

In the interview, comedian Moshe Kasher is here to talk about his new comedy album Crowdsurfing. He and Mike discuss the difference between crowd work and prepared material, and the history of Moshe's family.

In the spiel, Nancy ripping his speech.

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Iowa Was Lost in Translation Feb 07, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, we went through hell.

In the interview, Mike talks with linguist Dennis Baron about his new What's Your Pronoun?: Beyond He and She. The two analyze the history of English language pronouns and debate whether or not language is meant for communicating "correctly" or simply for communicating.

In the spiel, translating the Iowa results.

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The Unsurprising Acquittal of Donald Trump Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, Donald Trump slurred his way through the State of the Union.

In the interview, Mike talks with public education advocate Diane Ravitch about her most recent book, Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America's Public Schools. They discuss why she left the "dark side" of advocating for charter schools, and why schools should stop testing the children to death.

In the spiel, the acquittal of Donald Trump.

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The Lesson of Iowa's Chaos Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, the Iowa caucuses was created to disenfranchise babysitters.

In the interview, Mike talks with NPR's Steve Inskeep about his new book, Imperfect Union: How Jessie and John Frémont Mapped the West, Invented Celebrity, and Helped Cause the Civil War. They discuss the ways in which the Frémonts navigated their world, and the modern currents found in their story.

In the spiel, the Iowa caucuses were a mess.

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Oregon, Lab for Democracy Feb 04, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, how Elizabeth Warren inspires her supporters before the Iowa caucuses.

In the interview, Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon is here to discuss how the state has the highest voter-turnout rate, the possibility of granting 16-year-olds the vote, rent-control, and her favorite sketch from the show Portlandia.

In the spiel, the kingdom of the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Jon Favreau's The Wilderness Feb 01, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, Bloomberg will join the debate stage.

In the interview, Crooked Media's Jon Favreau is here to talk about the new season of his series The Wilderness, where he goes to different parts of the country and explores politic tastes with focus groups. He and Mike discuss the four types of voters he targeted, what people want from a Democratic candidate, and the importance of the upcoming election.

In the spiel, landmines and military.

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The Deep Doo-Doo of Dershowitz Jan 31, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, Pam Bondi at the impeachment trial.

In the interview, journalist Ezra Klein is here to discuss his new book Why We're Polarized. They debate if extremism and polarization are related, and talk about the increasing difficulty of compromise, and if there's a solution to this problem.

In the spiel, Alan Dershowitz's terrible argument.

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Could Bernie Take Iowa? Jan 30, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, could Bernie Sanders win in Iowa?

In the interview, humorist and numbers ninja Matt Parker is here to discuss his new book Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World. He and Mike discuss the peculiarities of his page numbers, how he kept math fun, and a detailed exploration of what a decade is.

In the spiel, impeachment continues.

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The Nuclear Power of the Presidency Jan 29, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, Mike Pompeo and Mary Louise Kelly.

In the interview, Fred Kaplan is back and this time he and Mike are talking about nuclear bombs. They discuss the history of nuclear weapons in the US, why it's concerning that Trump holds the detonator, and how these bombs factor into modern day peacekeeping. Kaplan's new book is The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.

In the spiel, Trump team's closing arguments.

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Kobe Bryant, Transcendent Athlete Jan 28, 2020

Show notes

On the Gist, the likely acquittal of Trump.

In the interview, we're back with political reporter and host of Stranglehold, Lauren Chooljian. We discuss how the New Hampshire primaries are likely to shake out, which candidates will remain after many of them have strategically camped out in the state, and the difference between the polls and the actual feelings of New Hampshire voters.

In the spiel, the artistry and athleticism of Kobe Bryant.

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