The Gist

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The Personal Is Geopolitical May 16, 2019

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On The Gist, what correlates with anti-abortion views (and votes) more than being a man? Being a Republican.

In the interview, Jared Diamond brings new meaning to the old slogan that the personal is political. The author of Guns, Germs, and Steel argues that just as individuals go through crises to which they may either adapt or flounder, nation states face moments that define their strength domestically and on the world stage. Diamond's latest book—Upheaval—takes Finland, Australia, and Chile (among other countries) as his case studies.

In the Spiel, whatever you think of Joe Biden, don't let the dream of bipartisanship die just yet.

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Have a Job? Thank Yourself, Not Trump. May 16, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, anti-abortion state legislatures know full well that the Supreme Court could one day turn on Roe v. Wade.

In the interview, Chuck Rosenberg is a former U.S. attorney who also once worked for Robert Mueller. He's here to talk about his new podcast The Oath, where he sits down with other former government officials like Preet Bharara and James Comey and discusses the ins and outs of public service. Mike gets Chuck to dive into the Mueller report with him.

In the Spiel, is low unemployment a sign of good federal governance? No. Just look at the U.K.

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"No War" Is the Best Trump Can Do May 15, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, the NBA draft lottery.

In the interview, Richard Clarke doesn't have security clearance anymore, so on his podcast he talks to a lot of people who still do. His 10 years as a White House official gave him the bug for asking questions to sharp experts on matters of life or death—otherwise known as national security. Clarke joins us to talk about the need to make a "frenemy" out of China, the vulnerability of America's power grid, and how president Trump could yet leave the title of "worst president ever" to George W. Bush. Clarke is the host of Future State and the author of the forthcoming The Fifth Domain: Defending Our Country, Our Companies, and Ourselves in the Age of Cyber Threats.

In the Spiel, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Palestine and the Holocaust.

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Decoding the Bliss Gene May 14, 2019

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On The Gist, groans over Game of Thrones.

In the interview, Maria Konnikova is back for another round of "Is That Bullshit?" Because Mike experiences less anxiety than most, he has often wondered if he has higher levels of anandamide—a neurotransmitter associated with regulating anxiety and stress—caused by a specific genetic variation. Maria walks him through the complicated biology, the research, and explains why even if it might be real, Mike's self-diagnosis is unreliable.

In the Spiel, Joe Biden's "gaffes."

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Comedy Is No Revolution May 11, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, Instagram and FOMO.

In the interview, they say president Trump has killed comedy. But in Larry Wilmore's book, comedy isn't responsible for leading us to the "right" kind of outrage or political enlightenment. Its role—get this—is to make us laugh. "Activists should engage in activism, and I always feel like that's why we have these words that are different," Wilmore says. "Comedy exists to be comic." Wilmore is the host of the Ringer podcast Black on the Air and the co-creator of HBO's Insecure.

In the Spiel, Uber's IPO and Trump's tariffs.

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Bigger Than Titanic May 10, 2019

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On The Gist, magic mushrooms afoot!

In the interview, every Avengers movie has an argument at its core. In the Marvel franchise's finale—Avengers: Endgame—director Anthony Russo says it's "that you can change destiny, but at the same time, you can't always change it on your terms." He and his co-director (and brother) Joe Russo weigh in on that, the term "fan service," and the fact that in the comics, Captain America is a dud.

In the Spiel, Mike answers questions from fellow Slate staffers—some serious, some not—in rapid succession.

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Who Makes The Gist? May 09, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, maybe Trump wants to be impeached?

Then it's a change of format as all the former and current producers of The Gist gather together for a roundtable. Founding producer Andrea Silenzi discusses the origins of The Gist, past producers Chris Berube and Mary Wilson talk about the thrills of covering the presidential debates, and current producers Pierre Bienaimé and Daniel Schroeder join in to dish on what it's like working with Mike.

In the Spiel, Mike reevaluates his mistakes from the past five years.

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The Retro Hits and Repeats of 2014 May 07, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, president Trump's mixes and matches idioms all the time, but his rhetoric doesn't really suffer from it.

In the interview, 2014 was full of retro vibes and repeats, with hits like "Happy," "All About That Bass," and "Blank Space" echoing older styles and Eminem's "Monster" recreating his past chart-topping collaboration with Rihanna. Chris Molanphy is on the show yet again to walk us through the big tracks from the year The Gist was born. Molanphy is the host of Hit Parade and the writer of Slate's "Why Is This Song No. 1?" column.

In the Spiel, it's a second interview with evolutionary biologist Patricia Brennan. The topic? Turkey genitals, of course.

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The Gist of the Past Five Years May 06, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, do we need primary debates?

We're starting our fifth anniversary celebration week with a look back at the past. Radiolab's Jad Abumrad was a guest on the first episode of The Gist so he's back to reflect on the last five years, how podcasting has changed, and the impact of the medium.

In the Spiel, podcasts aren't perfect, but they are progress.

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Bird City May 03, 2019

Show notes

On The Gist, is it unusual that Attorney General William Barr didn't look at the underlying evidence covered in the Mueller report?

In the interview, Tuca & Bertie is the new series from Lisa Hanawalt, best know for her art direction on Bojack Horseman. She's here to discuss the origins of her new series, all the jokes she fits into the background, and how she figured out if China exists in her show's universe. Tuca & Bertie is available on Netflix.

In the Spiel, Stephen Moore on the Federal Reserve Board.

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