The Gist

Latest Episodes:

Sex, Threats, And Audio Tape Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

In the new Podcast The 13th Step, reporter Lauren Chooljian tracked down allegations of sexual misconduct against the founder of the largest addiction treatment center in New Hampshire. She further documented how the world of rehab and substance abuse treatment is as rife with sexual harassment as it is weak on regulation. Then came the threats against Chooljian, and the lawsuits, and the bricks through the window of her and her parents' home. Two alleged attackers were arrested and arraigned today. Plus, a rich man's submersible vs. poor migrants' rafts, and how the prosecutor who cut a deal with Hunter Biden matters.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Injustices: Current And Historic Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

Though our crew has the day off in observance of Juneteenth today, we put together a show featuring two archival interviews that focus on a pair of injustices black Americans have had to endure. First up is our 2015 interview with Dax-Devlon Ross about his research into black juror exclusion, a persistent problem in the U.S. legal system. Then we listen to our 2019 conversation with Brenda Wineapple focusing on her excellent book, The Impeachers: The Trial of Andrew Johnson and the Dream of a Just Nation. In the wake of the Civil War, Johnson vetoed legislation that Congress passed to protect the rights of those who had been freed from slavery, and the ramifications of that veto are still felt today.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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BEST OF THE GIST: Frances Suarez Edition Jun 17, 2023

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we listen back to Mike's 2020 interview with Miami Mayor Frances Suarez, who announced this week that he will run for the Republican nomination for President. Then we replay Mike's Wednesday Spiel about the HATCH Act, in which he read a poem and now wants to analyze it.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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For The Defense: U.S. vs Donald Trump Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

David O. Markus is a South Florida-based defense lawyer who has represented Andrew Gillum, Hillary Clinton, Manny Ramirez, and Billy Corben, and, if that wasn't enough work, he also hosts the For the Defense podcast (an under-discovered gem). He joins Mike to break down the weaknesses in the federal case against Donald Trump, but also to detail what he thinks will be the biggest obstacles for the Trump defense team to overcome. Plus, why House Republicans are infighting on the way to pass a couple pieces of seemingly doomed-to-fail legislation.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Betting On Elections Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Today we're talking about political gambling and, more specifically, about Sean McElwee, who was the founding Executive Director of Data For Progress and a big winner in Trump's Washington ... until he wasn't. First we are joined by author Ben Terris, whose new book is The Big Break: The Gamblers, Party Animals, and True Believers Trying to Win in Washington While America Loses Its Mind. Then we turn the conversation to then David Rees, one of the hosts of the Election Profit Makers podcast about election-prediction markets. Also, El Pequeño Niño es mas ordinario.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Prettiest Nazi Double-Agent In Tulsa Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

Jon Ronson, host of the new audible original podcast The Debutante joins us to discuss the case of Carol Howe, a wealthy young woman who fell in love with a group of neo-nazis before turning government informant. Ronson has studied American extremists for years and has thoughts on how to think about and combat them. Plus, now the Biden administration (of all administrations) is violating the Hatch Act and airing unchecked Trump claims … a dangerous game of chicken.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Siren Song vs Whistleblower At Facebook Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

Frances Haugen is to Instagram as Jeffrey Wigand is to big tobacco and Edward Snowden is to the NSA. She blew the whistle, exposing them for doing harm, and it changed her life for good. She joins us to discuss what that was like, and to talk about her new book, The Power of One: How I Found the Strength to Tell the Truth and Why I Blew the Whistle on Facebook. Plus, Trump backers complain about the double standards, but the standards were clearly articulated in a fairly famous press conference we know Trump paid attention to. And, by any standard, Indian rail travel is especially dangerous, and, it goes without saying, especially to the poor.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Silvio Berlusconi HUNGA HUNGA Around For 86 Years Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Silvio Berlusconi was a character without much of one. He led Italy longer than any prime minister in the post-war period, and he will be missed ... by prostitutes. In El Salvador, the president has conducted a major crackdown on crime, netting lawbreakers as well as many innocent people, and netting himself a 91% approval rating. Francisco Toro, Contributing Editor at Persuasion and contributor to the Washington Post, joins to discuss if democracy can survive in such an environment. And, speaking of the environment, the Canadian wildfires could change minds on climate change, even if we're not certain they are entirely the fault of climate change.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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BEST OF THE GIST: Zombie Gerrymander Edition Jun 10, 2023

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, in the wake of this past week's Alabama voting rights decision handed down from SCOTUS, we rewind to Mike's 2018 conversation with Gerrymander evangelist Amanda Holt, who single-handedly launched a successful movement to redrawn the election maps of Pennsylvania. Then we listen back to our June 7th Spiel, in which Mike lauds Zombie Biden.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Blissed Off Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

Rainn Wilson is the host of Peacock's The Geography Of Bliss, based on the book of the same name written by Eric Weiner. Like Weiner before him, Wilson (who played the legendary Dwight Schrute on The Office) travels the world in search of locally sourced happiness secrets. For some reason, Mike gives them both a hard time, and everyone winds up angrier at each other than one might expect from an exploration of bliss.

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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