The Gist

On The Gist, one question with Frank Deford. Then, are the core issues of traditional social conservatism on the wane? Slate's Reihan Salam explains why some Republicans may change their focus from gay marriage to the economy, and some won't. Plus, is there any good mechanism for fighting drug cartels? We ask Vanda Felbab-Brown from the Brookings Institution what the escape of El Chapo tells us about U.S./Mexico relations. For the Spiel, Mike's reaction to the uproar over Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman. Today's sponsor: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and printer. Use the promo code THEGIST to get a no-risk trial and a $110 bonus offer. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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Even the most qualified arms control experts had little confidence that the Iran deal would even happen, much less be good. On The Gist, Dr. Jeffrey Lewis explains why you have to hate deals in order to dislike the Iran deal. Lewis hosts Mike's favorite arms podcast, Arms Control Wonk. For the Spiel, the worst ongoing analogy of American politics. Today's sponsor: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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On The Gist, a wave of Trump talk crashed down on the weekend news shows. We have the highlights. Plus, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to examine the scientific merits of political personality studies in a series we call "Is That Bulls--t?" She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, Mike attempts to outdo the comedy stylings of Rachel Campos-Duffy. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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In the age of the vast and insatiable Internet, where zany headlines are compiled by the hive-mind, is it possible that the very notion of weird has been diluted? On The Gist, Slate contributing editor Dan Engber explores changing standards for the strange and bizarre. He recently wrote about this for Pacific Standard in a piece called "Who, What, Where, When, Weird." For the Spiel, why Iran is the perfect country for an arms control treaty. Today's sponsors: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and printer. Use the promo code THEGIST to get a no-risk trial and a $110 bonus offer. And by Citrix GoToMeeting. When meetings matter, millions choose GoToMeeting. Get a free 30-day trial by visiting GoToMeeting.com and clicking the "try it free" button. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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Today on The Gist, something none of us know anything about—porn. Pesca is away, but Felix Salmon from Fusion, Piper Text (and, of course, Slate Money) will be your guide. First up, we explore the difference between art and pornography with Amy Adler from New York University. Does it have anything to do with the price tag? For the Spiel, what the July 8th glitches tell us about complex systems and illusory correlation. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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On The Gist, Mike is joined by Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer for a game we call "One Question, One Question Only." What are the best, worst, and most likely scenarios for the Greek economy? Plus, our regular guest Chris Molanphy explores the curiously fragmented and frequently shifting Billboard chart from 1975. Don't like our Spotify playlist of the songs mentioned in today's show? That's just your jive talkin'. Later, we flash back to The Gist circa 1975, when the Spiel was still called the Radio Ramble and when Mike mixed Harvey Wallbangers and smoked during the show. Come see the writers and editors of Outward live on stage at City Winery in New York this Monday, July 13. They'll have special guests Evan Wolfson and Ted Allen. For tickets, go to slate.com/nycoutward And guess what -- if you want a sneak preview of what's in store Monday, you can check J. Bryan Lowder, June Thomas, and Mark Joseph Stern in a special pilot episode of an Outward podcast. It's called "Outward Kiki," Listen here.

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On The Gist, NPR's Frannie Kelley explains why Tuesday has lost its significance for the music industry. That will all change this Friday. She hosts the Microphone Check podcast on NPR and edits Yours Truly. Plus, Stephen Walt from the Harvard Kennedy School expands on his essay "Chill Out, America" in Foreign Policy. For the Spiel, Hillary Clinton is evading the question. Today's sponsor: Volvo. Have a month's payment on Volvo, and spend your summer doing the things that matter to you. Plus get up to five years full coverage, including wear and tear. Go to volvocars.com/us. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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On The Gist, Mimi Valdés explains her work as chief creative officer for Pharrell Williams' collective I Am Other. She's a co-producer of the film Dope, the new drama-comedy from writer and director Rick Famuyiwa. For the Spiel, it didn't take long for the joy of the U.S. winning the World Cup in women's soccer to turn to a serious question. If you've seen the movie Dope—or just want its plot spoiled for you—make sure to check out Slate's Spoiler Special on Dope, featuring Slate film critic Dana Stevens and the three hosts of the Panoply podcast About Race. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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On The Gist, Matthew Dicks offers more tricks for helping Gist listeners tell better stories. You're welcome. This class focuses on how to bring the emotions behind our experiences into how we tell our stories. Dicks is the author of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend. For the Spiel, Rick Perry holds the Democrats accountable for race relations in America. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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Kristin Gore, Tallulah Bankhead, and Alice Roosevelt Longworth are all known for their comedic writings and the daughters of elected officials. Add to that list the Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri. She's the daughter of retired Wisconsin congressmen Tom Petri, and author of A Field Guide to Awkward Silences. For the Spiel, some numbers to consider alongside stories of church burnings. Join Slate Plus! Mem bers get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus.

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