The Gist

Latest Episodes:

Negotiating with Terrorists Jun 02, 2014

Show notes

Today on the Gist, a look at the release over the weekend of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in exchange for five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay. Jonah Blank of the RAND Corporation explains whether the circumstances of Bergdahl's capture matter. Then Mitchell Reiss, author of Negotiating with Evil, suggests that the question is not whether to negotiate with terrorists, but how to get the best deal. For the Spiel, Mike brings you news from places you might not have known existed.

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How a Comedian Chooses Just the Right Words May 30, 2014

Show notes

Today on the show, Adam Davidson from NPR's Planet Money discusses why income inequality matters to most Americans. Then comedian Gary Gulman drops in to discuss how even the smallest word choice matters when crafting jokes. And as New York considers reversing its ferret ban, Mike's spiel recalls the greatest moment of Ferret-related media.

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Why Math Matters May 29, 2014

Show notes

Today on the Gist, the case for integrating math into everyday conversation. Mike talks with Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to Be Wrong. Then, a look at a hostile takeover attempt that harkens back to days of Barbarians at the Gate. Jeffrey McCracken from Bloomberg explains how the drug company Valeant is attempting to buy Botox-maker Allergan with the help of an activist investor. Plus, Mike's Spiel honors Massimo Vignelli, the late graphic designer best known for laying out the NYC subway map.

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Will Racism Die When Today's Racists Die? May 28, 2014

Show notes

How much do Donald Sterling's attitudes toward race have to do with being an octogenarian? Today on The Gist, we examine the correlation between racial attitudes and age with Paul Taylor from the Pew Research Center. Then, TV critics Willa Paskin and Emily Nussbaum discuss the Mad Men midseason finale and how HBO's Silicon Valley has taken a turn for the worse. For the Spiel, Mike observes how the media have pulled us into the mind of a madman, again.

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The Vicious Circle of Mass Shooting Media Coverage May 27, 2014

Show notes

On today's episode of The Gist, Mike talks with Ari Schulman of the New Atlantis about how it may be even more dangerous than we think to give so much media coverage to mass killers like Elliot Rodger, perpetrator of Friday night's shootings at UC–Santa Barbara. Then, he talks with Scottish school teacher and blogger Craig McAllister about the big choice facing Scotland in September: Whether to declare independence from the United Kingdom. In his Spiel, Mike uses his holiday weekend to make the hard choices about un-assigning himself assigned reading.

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Reinvigorating Reparations May 23, 2014

Show notes

A massive piece in the Atlantic by Ta-Nehisi Coates takes on the issue of reparations, and expands the conversation beyond slavery to include the much more recent past, and the present. We follow up with Slate's Jamelle Bouie about what reparations would actually look like today. Then, Slate's Dear Prudence, Emily Yoffe, follows up with past advisee "Please No Baby Daddy" to see whether her advice was helpful. For the Spiel, Mike conducts our first Gist shareholders meeting—and you're one of those shareholders.

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The Role of Empathy in Israeli Peace Negotiations May 22, 2014

Show notes

Today on The Gist, a look at why peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians have broken down. Mike speaks with Ofir Akunis, a member of the Israeli Knesset, a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office, and right-hand man to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Then, Dan Kois and Allison Benedikt from Slate's podcast Mom and Dad Are Fighting perform the ultimate children's playground sign. For the Spiel, Mike has an honest discussion about Mark Cuban's admission of his own bigotry.

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Springtime for Hitler's Stolen Art May 21, 2014

Show notes

Today on The Gist, the Wall Street Journal's Mary Lane tells Mike about the trove of art stolen by the Nazis that's been left to a Swiss museum. The art had been hidden for decades by Hitler's art dealer's son, who decided before his death to return the priceless works to the public. Then, science blogger Maria Konnikova assesses studies of the power of multitasking. And in today's Spiel, Mike considers what's in an animal name.

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The Guy Who Started "Retweets Don't Equal Endorsements" May 20, 2014

Show notes

Today on The Gist, we ask what it would be like to take the worst thing that has ever happened to you and see it displayed in a famous new building with a gift shop. We spoke with BuzzFeed's Steve Kandell about his Sunday visit to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

Then, Patrick LaForge from the New York Times tells us the origin story behind a certain ubiquitous Twitter disclaimer that's attached itself to social media like a barnacle. For Mike's Spiel, he considers the North Korean pop star who shocked the world by actually being alive.

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Weren't You in That Movie …? May 19, 2014

Show notes

We hear that a common obstacle to prosecuting campus sexual assault cases is the so-called "he said, she said" problem. Veteran prosecutor Christopher Mallios the joins us to explain how district attorneys can use existing laws to crack down on rape much more effectively.

Then we'll talk with comic actress Judy Greer. You know her from somewhere (probably Arrested Development) and we'll find out how she handles being recognized on line at the grocery store. Plus, Mike's take on media diet sanctimony.

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