The Gist

Latest Episodes:

Bring Back Late-Night Cruelty Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, Elizabeth Warren and ICE.

In the interview, Jason Zinoman, who writes about the New York Times, thinks the late-night shows need to return to the playful cruelty they once had. He and Mike talk about the current state of things, David Letterman's reign, and why even Letterman seems to have lost his teeth on his new show.

In the Spiel, Trump and tweets about the Congress squad.

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Acosta Is Out Jul 13, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, they.

In the interview, Emily Bazelon writes for the New York Times magazine, co-hosts Slate's Political Gabfest, and she's out with the new book Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration, and its companion podcast. She's here to talk with Mike about her new projects, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Jeffrey Epstein and New York City gun laws.

In the Spiel, Acosta quits.

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The CIA's Bad Ideas Jul 12, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, the metal straw incident.

In the interview, Vince Houghton is a historian and the curator of the International Spy Museum and he's here to talk about his new book Nuking the Moon: And Other Intelligence Schemes and Military Plots Left on the Drawing Board. Why did we want to drop goat poop on Germans? Can a cat be trained for espionage?

In the Spiel, the citizenship question.

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Soccer's Pay Parity Problem Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, the Trump cabinet and violence against women.

In the interview, Will Wilkinson from the Niskanen Center is here to talk with Mike about his new paper The Density Divide about the surprising way urbanization affected the rise of populism.

In the Spiel, the good and bad about the pay parity argument in soccer.

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The Legacy of Ross Perot Jul 10, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, jail time for absurd reasons.

In the interview, journalist Jack Fairweather is out with a new book about the untold story of Witold Pilecki, a Polish resistance fighter who chose to get sent to Auschwitz so he could report back on atrocities happening there during World War II. Fairweather's book is The Volunteer: One Man, an Underground Army, and the Secret Mission to Destroy Auschwitz.

In the Spiel, why Ross Perot was so important to shaping American politics.

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Life After Death Row Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, did Joe Biden's apology work?

In the interview, Anthony Ray Hinton was wrongfully convicted for the murder of two teenagers in Alabama in 1985. After 30 years on death row his conviction was overturned and he was released. He's since become an advocate for those facing the death penalty and the abolishment of it in the United States, and he's here to talk with Mike about his experience in prison and life afterward. Hinton's new book is The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row.

In the Spiel, farewell to Eric Swalwell.

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Let's Rank the Presidents Jul 03, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, should we rethink the structure of a week?

In the interview, founding CEO of C-SPAN Brian Lamb and Co-CEO Susan Swain are here to discuss their new book The Presidents: Noted Historians Rank America's Best—and Worst—Chief Executives. They discuss with Mike the creation of the book, visiting presidential burial places, and some Mike's favorite things about C-SPAN.

In the Spiel, the passion of Mike Francesa.

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Solving Urban Violence Jul 03, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, the Hong Kong protesters and Chinese conspiracies.

In the interview, Harvard research fellow Thomas Abt is here to discuss his new book Bleeding Out: The Devestating Consequences of Urban Gun Violence—and a Bold New Plan for Peace in the Streets. He talks with Mike about the ways we misunderstand urban gun violence and what concrete steps communities can talk to solve it.

In the Spiel, Tucker Carlson and Trump.

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Groaning Through Dad Jokes Jul 02, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, the South Bend shooting and Pete Buttigieg.

In the interview, Jason Zinoman recently wrote about dad jokes for the New York Times so he's here to talk with Mike about his grand theories, why we love to hate dad jokes, and if they really are as low-brow as people consider them to be.

In the Spiel, the choice the Democrats face.

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Who Is the Real Kim Jong-un? Jun 28, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, Joe Biden had no good answers at Thursday's Democratic debate.

In the interview, the Washington Post's Anna Fifield is out with a new book on Kim Jong-un. She interviewed as many people who have had even a fleeting interaction with the man as possible, in an effort to get the clearest picture yet of what the head of the Kim dynasty is really like. Fifield's book is The Great Successor: The Divinely Perfect Destiny of Brilliant Comrade Kim Jong Un.

In the Spiel, Kamala Harris has charisma, but is she a flip-flopper too?

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