The Gist

By Slate Podcasts

What's The Gist about?

Slate's The Gist with Mike Pesca. A daily afternoon show about news, culture, and whatever else you'll be discussing with friends and family tonight.

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Encore: Comedian Michael Ia...

02.20.2021

The Gist is on hiatus. In the interview from the Gist archives, Mike is joined by author, comedian, podcast host, and actor Michael Ian Black to talk about his latest book, A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My ...

The Gist episodes:

02.20.2021 Encore: Comedian Michael Ian Black Talks Masculinity The Gist is on hiatus. In the interview from the Gist archives, Mike is joined by author, comedian, podcast host, and actor Michael Ian Black to talk about his latest book, A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My ...
02.19.2021 ‘Till the Cows Come Home On the Gist, #TedFled. In the Interview, his new documentary has been called “jaw-dropping,” “incendiary,” “riveting,” and “engrossing.” Sam Pollard’s new film MLK/FBI is about the bureau’s surveillance and harassment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The film delves into ...
02.17.2021 Limbaugh’s Lamentable Legacy On the Gist, we rush to Limbaugh’s judgment. In the Interview, political and media historian, Brian Rosenwald, joins Mike to talk about Rush Limbaugh’s rise to popularity in conservative media, his power as a voice and entertainer in talk radio, ...
02.16.2021 How History Will Remember Trump On the Gist, Southern cold snap! In the Interview, Sonari Glinton is back! Which means we’re talking cars. Glinton and Pesca discuss GM's recent proclamation to go electric by 2025. Glinton says that it's not that car makers aren't making ...
02.12.2021 The Directionless are Misleading On the Gist, Mike lives for the arguments Trump’s lawyers are making because, well, they’re really bad. In the Interview, “She loves America. For her, she was there showing support for the American political process.” SUNY Geneseo political science professor ...
02.11.2021 When the Victims are the Jurors On the Gist, exploring the complexities of the personal stakes of the Senators in the Trump Impeachment trial. In the Interview, it’s the second half of our conversation with Jonah Blank, an anthropologist, writer, author, and former policy director for ...
02.10.2021 How Trump’s Lawyers Will Defend the Indefensible On the Gist, the prosecution in Trump’s Impeachment is firing on all cylinders. In the Interview, we take a look inside the FBI’s fight against white supremacy and domestic terrorism. Frank Figliuzzi is a 25-year veteran of the FBI. He ...
02.10.2021 Belknaps and Bad Lawyers On the Gist, the Belknap case is clear precedent. In the Interview, it’s round two of vaccine talk. Mike and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director and epidemiologist, talk about equity and the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. ...
02.09.2021 Comparing COVID-19 vaccines and Climate Change with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed On the Gist, ads for “The Big Game” are given the Pesca treatment. In the Interview, it’s vaccine talk. Mike sits down remotely with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director and epidemiologist about the COVID-19 vaccine. They talk ...
02.06.2021 Taking QAnon Seriously On the Gist, cost of living and minimum wage around the U.S. In the Interview, journalist David Gilbert from Vice News joins Mike to talk about QAnon, the cult of disinformation, it's propulsion into 2021, and how people from all ...
02.05.2021 Stand By Your Lunatic: Republicans Want Marjorie Taylor Greene to Keep her Committees On the Gist, stripping Majorie Taylor Greene of her committee membership, but Republicans still want to keep her around. In the Interview, it’s coup talk. It’s part one of an interview with Jonah Blank, an anthropologist, writer, author, and former ...
02.04.2021 Trump's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Impeachment Defenses On the Gist, importing walkie-talkies into Myanmar. In the Interview, we’re coming into a new constitutional cycle, and it means Democrats could take quite a bit of power. Well, if they don’t blow it. We’ve been in the same Republican-dominated ...
02.03.2021 Coronavirus Symptom Check On the Gist, Alexei Navalny’s sentence. In the Interview, it’s part two of a conversation with historian Jill Lepore about her latest book: If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future. Jill discusses that with data mining and analysis ...
02.01.2021 Making Fun of the GameStop Stonks On the Gist, once a Nobel Peace Prize winner, now a war criminal. In the Interview, writer Jill Lepore joins Mike for part one of their conversation on her latest book: If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future, ...
01.30.2021 Arizona Lawmaker Says, No Vote For You On the Gist, an Arizona Representative has a plan to win - throw out votes. In the interview, it’s all about the voice; John Colapinto’s new book, This is the Voice, that is. From sexy baby voice to deep baritones, ...
01.29.2021 Republicans Horribilis On the Gist, what happens when a conservative pundit and a famous quarterback make a podcast: Bolling with Favre. In the interview, it’s been a lonely year, and an especially difficult 10 months to try and find love. But Logan ...
01.28.2021 Illusions, Delusions, and Flat Out Lies On the Gist, you can’t trouble us with your labels. In the interview, what is In & Of Itself? The new Hulu special by Frank Oz and Derek DelGaudio is so much more than just a made-for-TV version of DelGaudio’s ...
01.27.2021 The Murder of Saudi Arabian Journalist, Jamal Khashoggi On the Gist, Impeachment logic games. In the interview, it’s part two of a conversation with Oscar award winning documentarian and director Bryan Fogel about his latest film The Dissident. The film centers around Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s brutal ...
01.26.2021 Calling Larry King; and Part One with Oscar Winner Bryan Fogel On the Gist, Larry King, ‘Hello!’ In the interview, it’s part one of a conversation with Oscar award winning documentarian and director Bryan Fogel about his latest film The Dissident. The film centers around Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s brutal ...
01.23.2021 The Cost of Convicting Trump Feat. Guest Joe Lockhart On the Gist, Trump is deserving of a trial, and a lot more. In the interview, what are the consequences of putting Trump through a Senate trial? Mike does some game theory with Joe Lockhart about the possible implications for ...
01.22.2021 Pardon Me? On the Gist, before he jetted off to the sunshine state, Trump had a last bit of business to attend to. In the interview, Mike talks to Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, senior associate dean of leadership programs, and the Lester Crown Professor ...
01.20.2021 Joe Biden Takes Over On the Gist, a decent man gives a speech. In the interview, Mike talks to Sarada Peri about now President Joe Biden’s inaugural speech. The former President Barack Obama speechwriter says Biden, “knocked it out of the park.” They talk ...
01.20.2021 Last call for Donald Trump On the Gist, Trump is getting traded. In the interview, we bring in Chris Molanphy to discuss the music hits of 2020. They talk about how All I Want For Christmas is You keeps coming back to the top of ...
01.16.2021 Senate hopeful John Fetterman talks incarceration, gun control, and Trump voters On the Gist, the QAnon Shaman’s lawyer. In the interview, John Fetterman, also known as Lieutenant Governor Stone Cold, talks to Mike about his potential Senate run. The Pennsylvania native talks about his origin story from son of teenagers to ...
01.14.2021 What You Might Have Missed On the Gist, Republicans use their voices to complain about not having a voice. In the interview, Melissa Murray joins Mike to discuss what the articles of impeachment can teach us about constitutional law as we review the events of ...
01.14.2021 His Time is Up On the Gist, the gavel was quick and sure during the impeachment hearing. In the interview, what risks lie ahead for 2021? Mike sits down with political scientist Ian Bremmer. They talk about what went wrong in 2020 (hint COVID-19 ...
01.12.2021 We Are Who We Are On the Gist, this is actually who we are because we wouldn’t have let it happen. In the interview, Katie Meyer, political reporter at WHYY in Philadelphia joins Mike to talk about the Pennsylvania state legislature, and today’s federal ruling ...
01.12.2021 Militias in the Mitten State On the Gist, several Republicans predicted years ago Trump’s actions would lead to violence, but they’re sticking with him anyway. One of them is Ted Cruz. In Remembrances of Things Trump, Trump denounces a Swedish terrorism attack that never happened. ...
01.09.2021 Abandon Ship On the Gist, how do 39% of registered voters “approve” of Trump’s performance? 39%; really? In the interview, Mike is joined by Stan Barnes to talk all things Arizona. Arizona just gave its two Senate seats to Democrats in a ...
01.08.2021 Siege Subculture Stories On the Gist, the assault on the Capitol through extremist corners of the internet. In the interview, Mike is joined by U.S Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan’s 5th Congressional District, and Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus. Rep. ...
01.07.2021 Capitol Siege On the Gist, the Capitol is breached by pro-Trump extremists. In the interview, Mike is joined by Slate’s senior politics writer, Jim Newell, from Washington, D.C. While sequestered from inside the Capitol Building, Newell discussed the safety measures put in ...
01.06.2021 One Needle to Predict Them All On the Gist, we return to the infamous Bean Dad. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: All the president’s less than capable men. In the interview, it’s part two of a conversation with David Shor, a researcher and consultant ...
01.05.2021 Who is Ken Jennings? On the Gist, President Trump made a phone call and blew apart the life of a private citizen. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: teleprompter stumble. In the interview, it’s part one of a conversation with David Shor, a ...
12.30.2020 The World's Worst Year Ever On the Gist, Fauci guess-timates. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: dead ducks and poisoned undies. In the interview, Harvard professor Michael McCormick is here to tell Mike about the worst year in recorded history. According to him, it’s ...
12.29.2020 America’s Worst Year Ever On the Gist, sorting out how undemocratic of our democracy is. In the interview, the Atlantic’s James Fallows contends that while 2020 has been bad, 1968 was actually quite worse. The Vietnam War was raging, young men were being drafted, ...
12.28.2020 Getting Carriered Away On the Gist, we’re experiencing some loner white terrorist burnout. In the interview, we’re talking rural Republicans. Ross Benes gives us insight to Nebraska’s Republican party, and how they can help to understand Republicans everywhere. He talks about where Democrats ...
12.23.2020 Simply Having a COVID Christmas Time On the Gist, Republican Grinches are scratching their heads while Santa Trump calls for more stimulus money. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: This president. He hasn’t talked so good. In the interview, we have Georgia on our mind ...
12.23.2020 Washing Out the Trump Stain On the Gist, who wants the vaccine? And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Did Trump really want a moat with alligators and snakes? In the interview, it’s the second half of Mike’s conversation with author Michael Scott Alexander about ...
12.22.2020 The Death Sentence Is Dubious On the Gist, medical innovation. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: charitable contributions. In the interview, it’s part one of Mike’s discussion with author, Michael Scott Alexander about his book, Making Peace with the Universe: Personal Crisis and Spiritual ...
12.19.2020 The Shrinking Majority On the Gist, the shrinking list of Democrats in Congress. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump trying to surprise the parents of British teenager Harry Dunn with their son’s killer. In the interview, the Gist’s favorite guest, Maria ...
12.18.2020 Democrat Delusions On the Gist, gale-force winds from winter storm Gail. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Jim Acosta was scolded and his credentials revoked. In the interview, Mike talks with Scottish sports broadcaster Andrew Cotter how his dogs Olive and ...
12.17.2020 Keeping an Eye on the Fall On the Gist, GOP going after themselves. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Peter Navarro’s alter ego. In the interview, Mike talks with Jane McManus about the conclusions of her poll on why Americans have been spending less time ...
12.16.2020 Constructing Joe’s Cabinet On the Gist, Pete Buttigieg named Biden’s secretary of transport. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Ryan Zinke, Trump’s first secretary of the interior. In the interview, it’s the final half of Mike’s discussion with writer Matthew Yglesias. After ...
12.15.2020 Competence Prevails On the Gist, deciphering the Zodiac Killer’s last message. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump trying to make Andrew Puzder his Labor Secretary. In the interview, the first part of Mike’s discussion with writer Matthew Yglesias. They talk ...
12.11.2020 Happy Fifteen Years, Political Gabfest On the Gist, don’t trust the polls. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump loves the Great Lake. In the interview, Mike helps Slate celebrate a milestone. Fifteen years ago this week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David ...
12.11.2020 Middle Class Musts On the Gist, unasked for resignation advice. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: toilets for well-endowed men. In the interview, it’s part two of Mike’s conversation with Jim Tankersley, author and New York Times economics reporter. Tankersley provides ...
12.10.2020 Medical Racism and Vaccine Fears On the Gist, the skeletons in Hunter Biden’s closet. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: A natural rust color on the border wall. In the interview, it’s part one of Mike’s conversation with author and economics reporter Jim ...
12.09.2020 Worthy of the Vaccine On the Gist, Ultimate Concrete. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: Harley riders for Trump. In the interview, Mike talks with Cal Matters reporter Laurel Rosenhall about her coverage of Proposition 22, an unprecedented measure pushed by app-based ...
12.08.2020 Year of the Rat On the Gist, Trump still wants attention. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: Trump meeting Emmanuel Macron. In the interview, theater artist and rat about town Jonothon Lyons is here to talk with Mike about his year performing ...
12.05.2020 Wrecking Public Trust On the Gist, Corey Lewandowski has caught the virus. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: criticizing Chucks. In the interview, Maria Konnikova is back for another “Is That Bullshit?” She and Mike dissect where the stipulations around the ...

Older episodes

The Gist

What's The Gist about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Gist episodes:

Encore: Comedian Michael Ian Black Talks Masculinity

‘Till the Cows Come Home

Limbaugh’s Lamentable Legacy

How History Will Remember Trump

The Directionless are Misleading

When the Victims are the Jurors

How Trump’s Lawyers Will Defend the Indefensible

Belknaps and Bad Lawyers

Comparing COVID-19 vaccines and Climate Change with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed

Taking QAnon Seriously

Stand By Your Lunatic: Republicans Want Marjorie Taylor Greene to Keep her Committees

Trump's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Impeachment Defenses

Coronavirus Symptom Check

Making Fun of the GameStop Stonks

Arizona Lawmaker Says, No Vote For You

Republicans Horribilis

Illusions, Delusions, and Flat Out Lies

The Murder of Saudi Arabian Journalist, Jamal Khashoggi

Calling Larry King; and Part One with Oscar Winner Bryan Fogel

The Cost of Convicting Trump Feat. Guest Joe Lockhart

Pardon Me?

Joe Biden Takes Over

Last call for Donald Trump

Senate hopeful John Fetterman talks incarceration, gun control, and Trump voters

What You Might Have Missed

His Time is Up

We Are Who We Are

Militias in the Mitten State

Abandon Ship

Siege Subculture Stories

Capitol Siege

One Needle to Predict Them All

Who is Ken Jennings?

The World's Worst Year Ever

America’s Worst Year Ever

Getting Carriered Away

Simply Having a COVID Christmas Time

Washing Out the Trump Stain

The Death Sentence Is Dubious

The Shrinking Majority

Democrat Delusions

Keeping an Eye on the Fall

Constructing Joe’s Cabinet

Competence Prevails

Happy Fifteen Years, Political Gabfest

Middle Class Musts

Medical Racism and Vaccine Fears

Worthy of the Vaccine

Year of the Rat

Wrecking Public Trust

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