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 Konnikova, is back for another round of "Is That Bullshit?" She and Mike talk about long shot political wins and describe what it meant for Donald Trump to draw an inside straight in 2016. It's a great hand to bluff with, but oftentimes it can be a bad strategy in poker and in life. Maria's book The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win is a New York Times bestseller and listed as one of their 100 Notable Books for 2020.

In the spiel, it's the final lobster of the antentwig of 2020!

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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 Mabel became online celebrities. Earlier this year, Cotter began publishing short videos of his dogs featuring funny commentaries from his perspective. One is a sports-style chew toy play-by-play, and another is a work call with his pups over Zoom. These videos went majorly viral, and now he's out with a memoir recounting the real stories of his life with his dogs. Cotter's book is Olive, Mabel, & Me: Life and Adventures With Two Very Good Dogs.

In the spiel, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stresses that there is no plan in place for new leadership.

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Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

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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 watching sports in 2020. What she found has a lot to do with not just the pandemic and aging viewers, but identity politics, too. In their conversation, McManus underscores that the health of a community is oftentimes based on playing games, and that sports are the ultimate reflection of a healthy democracy. She also discusses why sports leagues choosing to avoid getting involved in disseminating a public health message was contrary to putting community and teamwork first. McManus is director of Marist College's Center for Sports Communication, a columnist for Deadspin sports and an ESPN contributor.

In the spiel, Joe Rogan doesn't know what he's talking about.

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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 touching on Yglesias' argument from his Vox piece, "Trump's Gains With Hispanic Voters Should Prompt Some Progressive Rethinking," he and Mike go deeper on the divide between white Democrats and Democrats of color, and why some social issues in the progressive mainstream don't necessarily work for the larger Democratic base. Yglesias' Substack newsletter is Slow Boring.

In the spiel, Biden-esque buddyism.

And, a short tribute to the late Catie Lazarus, comedy writer, and former host of the Slate talk show Employee of the Month.

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Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

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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 about how the world of online media has changed since Yglesias founded Vox, and begin to get into his argument about certain parts of the Democratic platform that alienated Hispanic voters and pushed them towards Trump. Tomorrow, they'll go deeper on the complex analysis of voters of color, and why it seems harder to disagree with progressive thought than it used to be. Yglesias' Substack newsletter is Slow Boring.

In the spiel, competent judges kept the U.S. in check.

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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 Plotz recorded their first podcast together, and the Political Gabfest was born. Since 2005, the trio has roundtabled weekly about politicians, scandals, and countless court cases with millions of listeners joining them along the way. It's a podcast series that Stephen Colbert says "everybody should listen to." One of the first-published podcasts to date, Slate's Political Gabfest set the stage for news, culture, and politics shows everywhere to come over the years.

In the spiel, proof through accusation.

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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 solutions to productivity gains, explains how access to education in America is not enough of a tool for progress and that extending opportunities, like V.C. to women and BIPOC, will create more opportunities leading to a virtuous cycle promoting a new thriving middle class. Tankersley's book is The Riches of This Land: The Untold, True Story of America's Middle Class.

In the spiel, Georgia senators buying stocks.

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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 Tankersley about his new book, The Riches of This Land: The Untold, True Story of America's Middle Class. Tankersley defines the middle class by economic security, and underscores how legislations and the Civil Rights act negatively impacted economic policy. Mike and Jim also discuss how the U.S. seemed to luck into having a middle class post-World War II, and why chasing jobs of the past could be an ineffective method of rebuilding future opportunities. Stay tuned for part two in tomorrow's episode.

In the spiel, the Black community and the coronavirus vaccine.

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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 rideshare and livery companies to keep their workers within the gig-economy and preserve exemptions around having to pay employee job protections and benefits. Rosenhall discusses the strategies companies like Uber, Lyft, Instacart, and Doordash used to pressure voters as well as drivers during the campaign, and what happened when the now former president of NAACP's California-Hawaii chapter was paid to endorse the ballot measure. Rosenhall is host of Force of Law, a podcast exploring the ways California lawmakers are attempting to reduce police shootings across the golden state.

In the spiel, who deserves the vaccine?

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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 in the streets and subways of New York City. They discuss the origins of Lyons' work in movement and mask making, the shapes and shadows that help build a mask face, and how Buddy the Rat helped Mike with his own recent engagement.

In the spiel, pay in the Senate and the NBA.

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Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley.

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