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Parades, Churches, Super Bowls and Guns Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

Shootings at Joel Osteen's megachurch and the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl Parade illustrate an American tendency to find meaning in shootings based on the oddest factor: the shooter's motivations and tactics. Plus, we're joined once more by Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware, co-author's of God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America. Also on the show, Chicken Wings: Appetizer, Entree, or symbol of the imponderable mysteries at the edges of human comprehension?

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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God, Guns, and Sedition...In That Order Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Bruce Hoffman & Jacob Ware are leading terrorism experts out with a new book titled God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America. We discuss the rise of the far right. Plus, Santos out, Democrat in. And Mike analyzes some Super Bowl commercials ... three days after the game.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Our Unconvincing Gun Arguments Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Jonathan Metzl, Professor of Sociology and Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University and author of What We've Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms on examining the flaws in our gun-control strategy and how we talk about gun owners. Plus, the race to replace George Santos comes down to snow. And would a "Winter Wonderland" occur to any songwriter today?

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Rush To Kill Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

George Hale is the reporter behind Rush To Kill, the eight-part podcast series that looks at federal death row, which lay dormant for years ... until the waning days of the Trump administration. Plus, many Biden defender's attest to the President's unparalleled sagacity and staggering mental capacity rivaling the greatest seers of our age. And President Trump gets the world excited with what amounts to a NATO non-humble brag.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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BEST OF THE GIST: Sunday TV Edition Feb 10, 2024

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, in honor of Superbowl Sunday, we listen back to Mike's 2019 interview with former Baltimore Raven offensive lineman John Urschel. After his time in the NFL, Urschel went on to get a PhD and have an accomplished career as a mathematician. He is joined by his co-writer, Louisa Thomas—who is also his wife—to discuss their book Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football. Then, to honor the Sunday political shows, Mike's recent Spiel following up on the question of Kristen Welker's insistence on follow-up questions.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Identifying Non-Identity-Based Solutions Feb 09, 2024

Show notes

We end DEI week with the second half of our interview with Denise Hamilton, author of Indivisible: How to Forge our Differences into a Stronger Future. We discuss areas where racism might very well be at play, though focusing on identity isn't necessarily the best way forward. And our President is a well-meaning elderly gentleman, qualities that are apparently much more of an electoral vulnerability than being a vindictive old man who forever holds a grudge. Plus, why freezing liquified natural gas matters ... all states of matter, in fact.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Self-Executing Themselves In The Foot Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

Colorado's Lawyer gets schooled by SCOTUS. Bud Light tries to counter the forces of stupidity via the power of goofy Super Bowl ads. Plus, DEI educator and consultant Denise Hamilton, author of Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Insurrection And Trump's Election Feb 07, 2024

Show notes

SCOTUS is considering if Donald Trump should appear on Coloradoans ballot in November, and if not, why not? The officially decreed "not immune for all prosecution" former POTUS faces scrutiny from SCOTUS, and we're joined by Jeffrey Rosen, President of the National Constitution Center and host of the We The People podcast. Plus, DEI week continues with more from Coleman Hughes, author of The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America. We probe areas where colorblindness might not be the best way toward progress.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Color Blindness: Bad for Traffic Signals, Good For Countries? Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

Coleman Hughes, author of The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America stops by to add a diversity of thought in his inclusion on DEI week. Plus, our country seems intent on getting nothing done in years divisible by 2. And following up on the question of Kristen Welker's insistence on follow-up questions.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Does DEI Work? Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

All week, we'll be taking a deep dive into DEI—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—which has come under attack from conservatives. A great defense would be to point to the many demonstrable successes of DEI, but that's not always easy, because many of the highest profile expressions of DEI haven't yielded quantifiable successes. To kickoff DEI Week, we're joined today by Northwestern School of Education's Ahmmad Brown, a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) scholar. This is the first part in our week-long series discussing DEI in a way that expresses doubts, allows for eye-opening revelations, and relies on inquiry. Also, as a bit of an appetizer, we poke gentle fun at "Woke Kindergarten," which is a real thing. "Real" being defined as, the curriculum costs schools that choose to participate $250,000.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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