The Gist

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The Colony and the Nation May 27, 2017

Show notes

Richard Nixon once warned of an America cut in two, a colony of poor, disenfranchised people within a nation of wealth. His law-and-order policies went a long way to making that a reality. In his new book, A Colony in a Nation, Chris Hayes looks at how fear has led to some destructive policies in America's cities. 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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Ben Wittes Digs Out May 25, 2017

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Ben Wittes has a term for the nonsense justifications he observes coming from the Trump administration. He calls it ENSH: errant national security horseshit. On Thursday's show, Wittes shovels up some of the larger ENSH dumps of the past two weeks. Wittes is editor in chief of Lawfare.

In the Spiel, naming a long overdue Lobstar.

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Everyone Looks Presidential on Air Force One May 24, 2017

Show notes

Donald Trump looks a lot more comfortable traveling abroad than he ever has in the White House. Josh King says there's a good explanation for this. "Two Air Force Ones, a beast limousine, all the trappings of the United States government … it's hard to screw that up," says King, an expert in presidential stagecraft. He previously worked as an advance man in the Clinton White House.

In the Spiel, the incredibly undeserved comeback of Billy Bush.

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Tom Ricks: "It's Shakespearean" May 23, 2017

Show notes

For Tom Ricks, the whiplash-inducing news of the past two weeks has been especially surreal. Ricks explains why he was stunned to see the National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster defend President Trump. Ricks is out with a new book about two of his heroes, Churchill and Orwell. Ricks writes the Best Defense blog for Foreign Policy magazine.

In the Spiel, Mike breaks down former CIA Director John Brennan's exchange with Rep. Trey Gowdy.

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Jon Glaser Is Conflicted May 22, 2017

Show notes

Jon Glaser makes his triumphant return to The Gist to talk about season two of the Adult Swim series Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter. Glaser has been a part of some of the most acclaimed shows on TV. He's written for Inside Amy Schumer and Late Night With Conan O'Brien. He played Laird in Girls and Councilman Jamm in Parks and Recreation. But he's feeling torn about making jokes for a living now, with the country seeming more screwed up than usual.

In the Spiel, will the U.S.–Saudi Arabia weapons deal mean hundreds of thousands of jobs for Americans?

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Can We Really Fix College Sports? May 19, 2017

Show notes

For college athletes, performance bonuses outweigh academic bonuses 15 to 1. That's not acceptable, says Arne Duncan. Duncan served as Barack Obama's education secretary. Now, he's on the Knight Commission, which is trying to lead reforms in college sports.

In the Spiel, the strange evolution of Rod Rosenstein.

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Roger Ailes Created This Mess May 18, 2017

Show notes

Thursday morning, Roger Ailes died. The Fox News impresario changed the conversation in America and created a base of support for the current pPresident, Donald Trump. Isaac Chotiner has reported extensively on Fox News for Slate. His new interview podcast is called I Have to Ask.

Plus, Mike hits the bar with Peter Fornatale to drink discuss the crown jewel of cocktails. Fornatale is author of Brooklyn Spirits and host of the DRF Players' Podcast.

In the Spiel, Mike reflects on how to win listeners and influence presidents. 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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Why Things Went South in Alabama May 17, 2017

Show notes

What's the matter with Alabama? (You could ask the same thing of tens of other states with sleazy political histories, but we're going in alphabetical order.) Today, Alabama reporter John Archibald delves into the concentric scandals rocking the Montgomery establishment. Archibald writes for the Alabama Media Group. In the Spiel, why you shouldn't root for impeachment. 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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Encounters With the Very, Very Famous May 16, 2017

Show notes

One piece of interview advice from Chuck Klosterman: You can't make a celebrity interview feel like a real conversation. "They know it's not real. They wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't be asking these questions, if it wasn't for the tape recorder," says Klosterman. His new book, X, includes profiles and essays on some of the biggest names in pop culture from Klosterman's storied career, including Kobe Bryant and Taylor Swift.

In the Spiel, breaking down the disparate, strange, nonsensical explanations for Donald Trump's Russia leaks.

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Chasing the Bauble With Brooke Gladstone May 15, 2017

Show notes

Lists of inaccurate statements by Donald Trump are good and satisfying and a little funny. But they aren't what we need. We need reporting on the issues behind the lies, says Brooke Gladstone. She's co-host of On The Media and author of a new book, The Trouble with Reality, which looks at the malfunctioning of American democracy.

In the Spiel, why voter ID laws are such a unique American con.

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