The Gist

Latest Episodes:

The Plain Prince Apr 24, 2018

Show notes

On Tuesday's Gist, Donald Trump's win has inspired a whole bunch of down-ballot Republicans, and boy, are they lame.

What is retroactive classification, and is it going to get former FBI Director James Comey in trouble? Bradley P. Moss specializes in litigation related to security clearance law. He explains why Comey may need to worry about prosecution for leaking government secrets. Moss is the deputy executive director of the James Madison Project to promote government accountability and reduction of secrecy.

In the Spiel, is third-time dad Prince William ugly? We ask the question, for science!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The State of State Apr 24, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, Sen. Bob Corker's definition of a "gotcha question" is a bad sign for public discourse these days.

Before his Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into the rampant sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein, Ronan Farrow worked in the State Department. His new book, War on Peace, documents the department's loss of personnel and prestige under every recent president—especially the current one.

In the Spiel, banning high-capacity magazines would save lives. The foiled shooting in Nashville just proved it.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Zen of Cohen Apr 21, 2018

Show notes

On today's Gist, the retroactively classified memos of James Comey.

New Yorker writer Adam Davidson says the raids on Michael Cohen's offices signal the beginning of the end for the Trump presidency. Here's why: Cohen is the key to learning about Trump's personal peccadillos as well the international expansion of the Trump Organization, which Davidson says should be "ridiculously rich hunting ground" for prosecutors. He also thinks we're about to learn a lot more about Trump's sex life.

In the Spiel, we insult our friends: When podcasts root out artifice, starting with the edifice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Comey Can't Confess Apr 19, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, if Chuck Schumer gets his way with decriminalizing marijuana, we can finally say goodbye to the lowest-hanging fruit: pot jokes.

Crooked Media founder Jon Lovett finds the James Comey book deeply frustrating—to read, to hear about, to contemplate. "But, you know," says Lovett, "I'm a political self-harmer so I have downloaded the audiobook." He explains the logical fallacy at the heart of one of Comey's most frequent recitations and does a little free campaign consulting. Listen to his shows, Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It.

In the Spiel, let's draw a lesson from Meghan McCain's faux pas (and real props) regarding J. Edgar Hoover.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Fuller Obituary for Barbara Bush Apr 18, 2018

Show notes

On today's Gist, don't all these senators know the depths of CIA Director Mike Pompeo's patriotism?

Plus, why are chemical weapons useful to Bashar al-Assad? "They're really weapons of terror," explains Aaron Stein, co-host of the Arms Control Wonk podcast. Stein is the author of Turkey's New Foreign Policy.

And filmmakers Tony Gilroy and Brad Anderson tell us what it was like filming their latest movie, Beirut, during a particularly long and hot Ramadan.

In the Spiel, a few more words about the late Barbara Bush.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Taint Team Cometh Apr 17, 2018

Show notes

On Tuesday's Gist, that old Watergate maxim, "the cover-up is worse than the crime," should be revised to recognize the Michael Cohen effect.

Plus, we take a closer look at the vertical merger of AT&T and Time Warner, and why the Justice Department has sued to stop it. Wall Street Journal reporter Brent Kendall walks us through the case so far.

And in the Spiel, who is the "famous Houston sketch artist" drawn into the Stormy Daniels affair?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

James Comey's Ego Trip Apr 17, 2018

Show notes

On Monday's Gist, we're counting Pulitzers and powering up.

Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms sort power into two categories: old and new. Old power is like Congress: top-down, official. New power is like Facebook: decentralized, crowd-sourced. What is the best way to meld both kinds of influence to improve our lives? Heimans and Timms have the beginnings of an answer. They're the authors of New Power: How Power Works in Our Hyperconnected World – and How to Make It Work for You.

In the Spiel, James Comey does seem ego-driven. That's not always a bad thing.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chemistry No More Apr 14, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, have you heard? Chemistry has been debunked. Thank Russia.

Ed Helms is best known for comedic roles—see Andy Bernard on The Office. But in the drama Chappaquiddick, Helms plays Joseph Gargan, the cousin and lawyer of Sen. Ted Kennedy. Gargan found himself in Kennedy's inner circle as the young senator came under scrutiny for his role in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne.

In the Spiel, pervs are making news again. Plus: say hello to a new Lobstar of the Antentwig.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"I Never Said That" Apr 12, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, Zuckerberg's hearings got crowded out by bigger news. Too bad.

Facts are facts, even in the greatly polarized year that is 2018. Holmes Lybrand writes the Weekly Standard's "Fact Check" series, and even though it isn't all about Trump's latest tweets and utterances, it sometimes gets readers angry.

In the Spiel, the president's saber rattling over Syria is classic Trump: The man lies about his past statements.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tax Cut Conundrum Apr 12, 2018

Show notes

On The Gist, Paul Ryan cared about just one thing: cutting taxes.

Word choice is not always the most stimulating place to start an interview with an author, but it works when you're talking to Sloane Crosley. The essayist defends metaphors like "Holocaust bunk bed" and the related analogy, "as if the Brady Bunch were filmed in Nazi Germany." Crosley's latest book—a collection of essays—is Look Alive Out There.

In the Spiel, Congress failed to pin Mark Zuckerberg down.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.