The Gist

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Autocrats Can't Take a Joke Jun 12, 2017

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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

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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

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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

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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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Why So Morose About Lactose? Jun 06, 2017

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There's almond milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, soy milk, hazelnut milk, oat milk, and milk made from anything that grows, pretty much. But is any of it actually milk? And is it actually healthier than dairy? Our debunker-in-chief, Maria Konnikova, investigates the lofty claims of nondairy milks. Konnikova is a contributor to the New Yorker, and the author of The Confidence Game. Her new podcast is called the Grift.

In today's Spiel, the White House's long con on infrastructure.

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O Great Confessor Google Jun 05, 2017

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People tell Google things they wouldn't say to anyone else. That's the big insight that motivated the research of Seth Stephens-Davidowitz. His book, Everybody Lies, is about the stories and secrets he uncovered by digging into internet search data.

In the Spiel, the best jokes that Mike made on vacation.

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You Can't Say That, Mr. Senator Jun 03, 2017

Show notes

In 2008, Al Franken was elected to the United States Senate. Since then, he's become a well-respected member of the upper chamber. But he hasn't lost his keen eye for satire. After the Supreme Court's decision on same-sex marriage, "I wanted to release a thing saying, 'Mr. Franken is very happy, but he thinks Justice Scalia's dissent was very gay,' " he tells guest host Zoe Chace. "My team told me I couldn't do that." Franken is the author of a new book, Al Franken: Giant of the Senate.

Today's Spiel, an ode to the underappreciated, soon-to-be-extinct White House press briefing.

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The Path of Most Resistance Jun 01, 2017

Show notes

In April, Donald Trump authorized rocket strikes on a military target in Syria. Most Democrats agreed with it. But when Trump makes a decision, does that make it inherently wrong? New Republic editor and Twitter star Jeet Heer offers a critique of the first few months of Democratic resistance. He wrote about it in the magazine last month.

Today's Spiel comes from the archives: For President Trump, you're nobody until you're somebody. And then, you're not just anybody—you're everybody.

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A Playwright in the Rust Belt May 31, 2017

Show notes

Reading, Pennsylvania is the poorest city of its size in the United States. It's also where Lynn Nottage did most of her research for the Pulitzer-winning Broadway show, Sweat. Nottage talks with guest host Aisha Harris about the different kinds of working class in America, and how to maintain empathy when talking with people quite different from yourself. In the Spiel, why calling something a "woman problem" misses the point.

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Donald Trump, Body Snatcher May 30, 2017

Show notes

When can we expect the first tell-all book by a former Trump administration official? David Rosenthal explains the physics of personal memoirs and dishes about what he's heard around the industry rumor mill. Rosenthal runs the Blue Rider Press imprint at the Penguin Group. In the Spiel, guest host Leon Neyfakh explains how the president nearly ruined an otherwise perfect holiday weekend. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at Slate.com/gistplus.

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