The Gist

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Your Enemy's Victory Speech Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

William Ury, author of Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict has worked on peace negotiations in Norther Ireland, South Africa, and Colombia joins us to share some lessons and tactics. One is to imagine your loathed rival delivering a speech to their public. What would he say. If it's Kim Jong Un, would he shout-out Dennis Rodman? Plus, Nikki Haley takes the low road, too. And Donald Trump pays the piper, but the piper only requires 5% down.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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BEST OF THE GIST - Presidents Day Feb 19, 2024

Show notes

We are off on this Holiday, but we wanted to share two interviews from the archive. One is from 2019 with 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. Also from 2018 is Kate and J.D. Dobson are out with a book that considers Ulysses S. Grant's quiet charisma, Franklin Pierce's youthful charm, and the distinguished eyebrows of a certain Warren G. Harding. The Dobsons are the authors of Hottest Heads of State, Volume 1: The American Presidents.

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BEST OF THE GIST: Tunnel Edition Feb 17, 2024

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we listen back to Mike's December 6, 2023 interview with Aric Toler about the storied Hamas tunnel network, which, depending on where you get your news, is either a "vast labyrinth" or a 160-yard tunnel with little room for a command center capable of orchestrating the October 7th attack. Aric Toler is a reporter on the Visual Investigations team at The New York Times, where he combines traditional reporting techniques with "open-source" reporting practices, and he recently contributed to a Times investigation about the tunnels. Then we rewind to this past Tuesday so Mike can again ask the question, "Would a 'Winter Wonderland' occur to any songwriter today?"

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Trump Liable, Willis Excitable, Guatemalan Democracy Viable Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

Donald Trump is ordered to pay over $350 million ... bad judgement for him there. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis hits back hard at defense attorneys seeking to toss her off the Georgia racketeering case. And we speak with Quico Toro, a Contributing Editor at Persuasion, who tells us the story of Guatemala, where a duly elected president actually got to assume office. He calls it "January 6th in reverse."

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Parades, Churches, Super Bowls and Guns Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

Shootings at Joel Osteen's megachurch and the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl Parade illustrate an American tendency to find meaning in shootings based on the oddest factor: the shooter's motivations and tactics. Plus, we're joined once more by Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware, co-author's of God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America. Also on the show, Chicken Wings: Appetizer, Entree, or symbol of the imponderable mysteries at the edges of human comprehension?

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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God, Guns, and Sedition...In That Order Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Bruce Hoffman & Jacob Ware are leading terrorism experts out with a new book titled God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America. We discuss the rise of the far right. Plus, Santos out, Democrat in. And Mike analyzes some Super Bowl commercials ... three days after the game.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Our Unconvincing Gun Arguments Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Jonathan Metzl, Professor of Sociology and Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University and author of What We've Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms on examining the flaws in our gun-control strategy and how we talk about gun owners. Plus, the race to replace George Santos comes down to snow. And would a "Winter Wonderland" occur to any songwriter today?

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Rush To Kill Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

George Hale is the reporter behind Rush To Kill, the eight-part podcast series that looks at federal death row, which lay dormant for years ... until the waning days of the Trump administration. Plus, many Biden defender's attest to the President's unparalleled sagacity and staggering mental capacity rivaling the greatest seers of our age. And President Trump gets the world excited with what amounts to a NATO non-humble brag.

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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BEST OF THE GIST: Sunday TV Edition Feb 10, 2024

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, in honor of Superbowl Sunday, we listen back to Mike's 2019 interview with former Baltimore Raven offensive lineman John Urschel. After his time in the NFL, Urschel went on to get a PhD and have an accomplished career as a mathematician. He is joined by his co-writer, Louisa Thomas—who is also his wife—to discuss their book Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football. Then, to honor the Sunday political shows, Mike's recent Spiel following up on the question of Kristen Welker's insistence on follow-up questions.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Identifying Non-Identity-Based Solutions Feb 09, 2024

Show notes

We end DEI week with the second half of our interview with Denise Hamilton, author of Indivisible: How to Forge our Differences into a Stronger Future. We discuss areas where racism might very well be at play, though focusing on identity isn't necessarily the best way forward. And our President is a well-meaning elderly gentleman, qualities that are apparently much more of an electoral vulnerability than being a vindictive old man who forever holds a grudge. Plus, why freezing liquified natural gas matters ... all states of matter, in fact.

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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