The Gist

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Is Terrorism Coverage Racist? Jun 21, 2017

Show notes

Tom Shapiro is back to explain the thinking behind the title of his book, Toxic Inequality. What's so toxic about it? Shapiro is a professor at Brandeis University, where he directs the Institute on Assets and Social Policy.

In the Spiel: Based on the information available, what can we conclude about the media coverage of terrorism? Mike talks to Erin Miller, who oversees the Global Terrorism Database.

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Lies vs. BS Jun 19, 2017

Show notes

The U.S. has a racial wealth gap problem. By one estimate, at current levels of wealth growth it would take 228 years for the average black family to catch up with levels of wealth among white families. Thomas Shapiro explains some of the surprising reasons parity remains so elusive in his book, Toxic Inequality: How America's Wealth Gap Destroys Mobility, Deepens the Racial Divide, and Threatens Our Future.

In the Spiel, there's a reason why the wise people over at Lawfare say this administration is malevolence tempered by incompetence.

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Jon Ronson on Writing the Year's Wildest Movie Jun 16, 2017

Show notes

The new movie Okja has pretty much everything. Car chases. Giant mutant pigs. A dystopian future. Jake Gyllenhaal with an outlandish moustache. A subtle social message. Tilda Swinton pretending to be Tony Blair. The movie is written by Korean director Bong Joon-ho (Snowpiercer) and returning guest Jon Ronson. Ronson takes us into the craft of writing the year's wildest movie.

In the Spiel, why congressional comity is overrated.

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The Delicate Art of Political Persuasion Jun 15, 2017

Show notes

A big problem with political arguments, says Robb Willer, is that everyone sees himself or herself as the hero in a zombie movie. "American liberals see themselves as Brad Pitt warding off a zombie horde," says Willer. "But the problem is conservatives see themselves the same way," and no one is able to make arguments that appeal to the other side. Willer teaches sociology at Stanford and writes about the delicate art of political persuasion for places such as the New York Times.

In the Spiel, please Mr. President, don't throw the special prosecutor into the briar patch.

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He Ate Human Flesh for Science Jun 14, 2017

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Bill Schutt says no one from his childhood is surprised to find out he's been studying cannibalism—after all, he was into vampire bats as a kid. For his new book, he's investigated the (natural) history of people eating one another and why it's only been taboo in some countries, like China, for a short time.

In the Spiel, how we talk about domestic terrorism.

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Awk-ward! Jun 13, 2017

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You're awkward, but maybe not in the way you think. Psychologist Ty Tashiro explains the hallmarks of social awkwardness, why we're sensitive to it, and why it's not such a bad thing. Tashiro is the author of Awkward: The Science of Why We're Socially Awkward and Why That's Awesome.

In the Spiel, more on Donald Trump's 'dear leader' cabinet meeting.

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Autocrats Can't Take a Joke Jun 12, 2017

Show notes

Bassem Youssef hasn't cut open a chest in six years. And he doesn't miss it. "Being into medicine for 19 years, it's a character builder," says the Egyptian comedian, who says his old job prepped him well for his new one. Youssef went from being a surgeon in Cairo to the Jon Stewart of Egypt, a satirist with 40 million views a week. Youssef's brief reign as the king of Egyptian comedy is the focus of a new documentary, Tickling Giants, which is now out on VOD.

On the Spiel, Trump has finally accomplished something unthinkable as president. He's got people talking about Shakespeare in the Park.

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Larry Wilmore is Black on the Air Jun 09, 2017

Show notes

Last August, Larry Wilmore's talk show was canceled. The Nightly Show focused on issues like equality, activism, and how racism subtly wormed its way into American life. In hindsight, it feels ahead of its time. Wilmore is out with a new podcast, Black on the Air.

In the Spiel: Sometimes democracy sucks.

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What We Get Wrong About Mass Incarceration, Pt. II Jun 08, 2017

Show notes

Wednesday on The Gist, John Pfaff refuted the conventional wisdom about mass incarceration. Thursday, Pfaff explains some of the obstacles to reform. Pfaff's book is Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration—and How to Achieve Real Reform.

In the Spiel, a loyally honest review of James Comey's testimony.

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What We Get Wrong About Mass Incarceration, Pt. I Jun 07, 2017

Show notes

John Pfaff is on a mission to topple the well-worn myths of the U.S. prison population boom. He says the data tells us to focus on the district attorneys, not the Department of Justice. Pfaff teaches at Fordham University School of Law and is the author of Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration and How to Achieve Real Reform. This is Part I of our interview with Pfaff -- listen tomorrow for Part II.

In the Spiel, how are YOU celebrating Infrastructure Week?

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