The Gist

Uncertain Things: "Joy as an Act of Resistance is the Dumbest Slogan of the Woke Era"

On the Saturday Show, Mike brings us an excerpt from his recent appearance on the Uncertain Things podcast with hosts Adaam and Vanessa. They kick things off by exploring Mesopotamian …

Apr 04, 2026 · 41m

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Funny You Should Mention: Raanan Hershberg

On today’s show, Mike offers an unreserved endorsement of comedian Raanan Hershberg and his new special, Morbidly Jewish. In this installment of Funny You Should Mention, the two discuss the …

Apr 03, 2026 · 1h 9m

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Are You There God? It’s Me, Mark Oppenheimer

Today on The Gist, Mike is joined by Mark Oppenheimer to discuss his new book, Judy Blume, A Life. They dive into how Blume essentially invented middle-grade realism, her astronomical …

Apr 02, 2026 · 46m

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Tyler Goodspeed: Why "Pattern-Seeking Mammals" Blame Bankers Instead of Locusts

Today on The Gist, ExxonMobil Chief Economist Tyler Goodspeed discusses his new book, Recession: The Real Reasons Economies Shrink and What to Do About It. Goodspeed argues that we fundamentally …

Apr 01, 2026 · 43m

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Why Brazil Stopped Its Bolsonaro and We Didn't Stop Ours

Zack Beauchamp on democratic resilience, the WhatsApp group that saved Brazil's Supreme Court, and why corruption in Congress can sometimes be a feature. Plus: Trump may end the Iran war …

Mar 31, 2026 · 33m

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Zack Beauchamp: "You Kind of Have to Pick a Lane to Be an Effective Autocrat"

Today on The Gist, The bizarre off-field behavior of Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is facing questions (and a lawsuit) after biting a woman and hurling anti-Semitic slurs. Then, …

Mar 30, 2026 · 29m

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Magic Shops, $200 Million Horse Ads, and the Ghost of Nibbles the Goat

It's the Saturday Show, bringing you one from the vault and one from the week. First, Mike pulls up a world-exclusive, posthumous interview with Nibbles, the ghost of Kristi Noem's …

Mar 28, 2026 · 13m

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Julia Minson: You're Probably 50% Wrong

Harvard Kennedy School's Julia Minson joins to discuss her new book, How to Disagree Better, and why the goal of most arguments shouldn't be persuasion at all. She explains naive …

Mar 27, 2026 · 42m

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Not Even Mad: Yascha Mounk & Colin Cole

Today on a Not Even Mad edition of The Gist, Mike is joined by political scientist Yascha Mounk (The Good Fight) and Colin Cole, director of policy outreach and communications …

Mar 26, 2026 · 1h 7m

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Ben Ritz on Slopulism and the Democrats' 2024 Lesson

Ben Ritz, of the Progressive Policy Institute, joins to discuss his Atlantic piece, "Democrats Learned the Wrong Lesson From 2024," and his argument that the party is drifting toward "slopulism." …

Mar 25, 2026 · 32m

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Larry Charles: "I Am Willing To Die To Get This Scene"

Today on The Gist, comedy legend Larry Charles returns to discuss the fragile nature of comic genius, theorizing why Sacha Baron Cohen lost his "superpower" to the Hollywood bubble, how …

Mar 24, 2026 · 29m

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Larry Charles: "I Finally Had to Fire the Kid"

Today on The Gist, legendary comedy director Larry Charles (Borat, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm) joins Mike to discuss his new book, Comedy Samurai, breaking down the chaotic, high-stakes reality of …

Mar 23, 2026 · 29m

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The Myth of the Iranian Moderate & The "Undecided" War

On this week's Saturday show, Mike delivers a double-dose of Iran-focused analysis, starting with a sharp critique of the Western media's bizarre framing of assassinated Iranian leader Ali Larijani as …

Mar 21, 2026 · 17m

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Derrick Stroup: "I Sound Like a Bowl of Gravy and You Sound Like a Traffic Cone"

Comedian Derrick Stroup joins the show to talk about his new Netflix special Nostalgic — what it's like to have an Alabama accent in New York City, why working clean …

Mar 20, 2026 · 59m

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Is That Bulls*it: Does The Body Keep the Score - in Your Hips

Science journalist Sadie Dingfelder is back with "Is That Bullshit?" — this time investigating the yoga-class truism that trauma lives in your hips, and the broader claim behind Bessel van …

Mar 19, 2026 · 31m

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Molly Worthen: "Charisma Is a Tool of the Weak"

Historian Molly Worthen discusses her new book Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump — arguing that charisma isn't charm but a polarizing story that …

Mar 18, 2026 · 41m

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Mickey Bergman: "Even Maduro Has a Soft Spot"

Mickey Bergman, who negotiates the release of political prisoners, returns to explain how freeing hostages from the world's most hostile regimes runs entirely on emotional intelligence, not geopolitical leverage. He …

Mar 17, 2026 · 31m

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Mickey Bergman: The Psychology of the Hostage Deal

Today on The Gist, Global Reach CEO Mickey Bergman discusses the high-stakes world of international hostage negotiation. He details the emotional intelligence required to deal with foreign officials and clarifies …

Mar 16, 2026 · 42m

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Chris Cillizza: Male Friendships, Political Posturing, and the Death of Shared Sacrifice

For this weekend's Saturday Show, Mike shares a recent Substack Live conversation with political analyst and commentator Chris Cillizza. They kick things off by diagnosing the crisis of adult male …

Mar 15, 2026 · 39m

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Geeta Gandbhir: "She Weaponized Her Privilege"

Today on The Gist, historic double Oscar-nominated director Geeta Gandbhir joins the show to discuss her Netflix documentary feature, The Perfect Neighbor. She breaks down the tragic murder of AJ …

Mar 13, 2026 · 34m

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Not Even Mad: Jeff Nussbaum & Dan Rothschild

Jeff Nussbaum and Dan Rothschild debate the Iran war's shaky public support, the administration's failure to make a clear case for sacrifice, and whether the mission is deterrence, regime change, …

Mar 12, 2026 · 58m

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Aaron Tracy and Roald Dahl's Dangerous Double Life

Aaron Tracy joins to talk about The Secret World of Roald Dahl, his podcast about the children's author as war spy, improvised medical inventor, and world-class fabulist with a vicious …

Mar 11, 2026 · 40m

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Nir Eyal: "Your Brain Is Already Lying To You"

Today on The Gist, bestselling author Nir Eyal joins the show to discuss his new book, Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Extraordinary Results. He …

Mar 10, 2026 · 37m

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Elizabeth Tsurkov: Surviving 900 Days as a Hostage

Today on The Gist, Princeton PhD researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov joins the show to share her harrowing experience of being kidnapped and held hostage in Iraq for over 900 days by …

Mar 09, 2026 · 41m

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Mike Pesca on Lifelong: The Bliss Molecule and the Psychology of Weight Loss

For this Saturday Show, Mike takes the guest seat on Lifelong with Ethan Suplee. Actor Ethan Suplee (Remember the Titans, My Name Is Earl) is well-known for his incredible physical …

Mar 07, 2026 · 40m

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Funny You Should Mention: Jena Friedman

Today on The Gist, A jet-lagged yet very gracious comedian and writer Jena Friedman joins the show to discuss her new stand-up special, Motherfucker. She talks with Mike about why …

Mar 06, 2026 · 52m

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Jamie Denbo: Why I Walked Away From Grey's Anatomy

Today on The Gist, the line between free speech and harassment, and why the progressive left's blind spot for anti-Semitism turns "anti-Zionism" into a convenient excuse for abuse. Then comedian, …

Mar 05, 2026 · 43m

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Brian Platzer: A Story that Literally Couldn't be Told

Novelist and middle school teacher Brian Platzer discusses the real teacher who inspired his book, a stroke that stole the man's ability to communicate, and Platzer's own baffling neurological disorder. …

Mar 04, 2026 · 30m

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