The Gist

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How A Judge Decides Who Gets A Second Chance Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

We're joined once more by sitting federal judge Frederic Block to discuss his thought process in sentencing and forgiving. His new book is A Second Chance: A Federal Judge Decides Who Deserves It. Plus, Biden strategically drags his feet on the acquisition of U.S. Steel. And Hezbollah's pagers go off in a big way.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Television Doesn't Understand Why People Watch TV Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

The Emmy's are a tradition wherein excellence in television is honored by a long display of inartful television. Plus, Elon Musk is carelessly worsening the atmosphere around the second assassination attempt against Donald Trump. And we're joined by Judge Frederic Block of the Eastern District of New York, who has sentenced scores of defendants to long prison terms, but now the law is providing him with a means to reconsider some of those sentences. He discusses how he approaches his duties under the First Step Act in his new book, A Second Chance: A Federal Judge Decides Who Deserves It.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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BEST OF THE GIST: Dan Savage Edition Sep 14, 2024

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, with the permission of the fine folks at the Savage Lovecast, we will listen to Mike being interviewed by Dan Savage of the trés popular Savage Lovecast, for his series "Sex & Politics." They discuss the debate and the election, and Mike gives sex advice. So, there's that.

Big thanks: Nancy Hartunian, Dan Savage, and the crew

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Missiles That Pissed Off Putin Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

The UK's Keir Starmer and President Joe Biden are apparently arming the Ukrainians in a way that Vladimir Putin does not approve of. Plus, veteran political journalist Joe Klein, of the Sanity Clause Substack, joins to discuss the debate, the election, and what the Democrats are finally doing right. Also, in the plastic straw wars ... it's the last straw!

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Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Defaming DiResta For Defining Disinformation Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

As the technical research manager at Stanford Internet Observatory, Renée DiResta studied disinformation and alerted social media companies to violations of their own rules. This opened her up to charges that she was engaging in censorship. Out with a new book, Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality, DiResta discusses those accusations and the difference between disinformation, disliked information, and normal political puffery. She also denies being an active CIA agent, which is exactly what a CIA agent might say. Plus, Donald Trump's cognition needn't be the source of investigation when it's output is the source of so much content.

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Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Got Cat? Sep 11, 2024

Show notes

Donald Trump clashes with Kamala Harris in their only scheduled presidential debate. Among the important issues debated: abortion, inflation, and immigrants eating pets. Reasonable people can differ on two of those three issues. Mike is joined by Steve Hayes, editor of The Dispatch to discuss. They disagree on abortion policy, though not on Trump's arguments explaining and advancing his policy. They also disagree on the fairness of the moderators. But their disagreement is a veritable symphony of productivity, as opposed to much of what we heard last night.

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Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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How Is This Election Close? Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

A close read of media choices and voter preferences explains the refrain we've been hearing—shock that the race is so close. Plus, San Fransisco has come up a lot in the presidential race, because Kamala Harris is from there, you may have heard. We're joined by The New York Times San Fransisco Bureau Chief, Heather Knight to talk about her home city and how it's changed since earning a reputation as a place of progressive fervor. She lets us know which of the stereotypes still apply.

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Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Barack Talk Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

Former Barack Obama speechwriter, Terry Szuplat discusses Kamala Harris' challenges, Barak Obama's techniques, and he is forced to pay a compliment to the rhetorical style of Donald Trump. Szuplat is the author of Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience. Plus, should Elon Musk be arrested? (No.) Should the media tell you the presidential election is close? (They should.) Should teases give away the answers to rhetorical questions? (Only in rare circumstances.)

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist

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Follow Mikes Substack at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack

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BEST OF THE GIST: Paper Straw Rant Edition Sep 07, 2024

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, with Presidential candidate Kamala Harris officially reversing her support of a plastic straw ban, a topic stuck in Mike's craw for years, we replay his 2019 Spiel on the topic. Then we revisit Thursday's Spiel about Tim Pool, fool.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Endemic Is Less Polemic Than An Epidemic Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

Covid-19 is still around, but it's far less deadly. And, yet ... still deadly. Katelyn Jetelina, author of the Your Local EpidemiologistSubstack, is here to talk about lessons learned, how vigilant we should all be, and if she ever wears a mask anymore. Plus, Hunter Biden pleads to felony tax evasion charges, debate anticipation has put every thing else in suspended animation, and we take listener feedback, play jingles, and award a Lobstar of this Antwentig.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Follow Mikes Substack at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack

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