The Gist

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

<p>On the Saturday Show, Mike brings us an excerpt from his recent appearance on the <i>Uncertain Things</i> 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

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

Apr 03, 2026 · 1h 9m

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

<p>Today on The Gist, Mike is joined by Mark Oppenheimer to discuss his new book, <i>Judy Blume, A Life</i>. 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

<p>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

<p>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"

<p>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

<p>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

<p>Harvard Kennedy School's Julia Minson joins to discuss her new book, <em>How to Disagree Better</em>, 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

<p>Today on a <em>Not Even Mad</em> edition of The Gist, Mike is joined by political scientist Yascha Mounk (<em>The Good Fight</em>) 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

<p>Ben Ritz, of the Progressive Policy Institute, joins to discuss his Atlantic piece, <em>"Democrats Learned the Wrong Lesson From 2024,"</em> 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"

<p>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"

<p>Today on The Gist, legendary comedy director Larry Charles (<em>Borat</em>, <em>Seinfeld</em>, <em>Curb Your Enthusiasm</em>) joins Mike to discuss his new book, <em>Comedy Samurai</em>, 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

<p>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"

<p>Comedian Derrick Stroup joins the show to talk about his new Netflix special <em>Nostalgic</em> — 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

<p>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"

<p>Historian Molly Worthen discusses her new book <em>Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump</em> — 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"

<p>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

<p>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

<p>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"

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

Mar 13, 2026 · 34m

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Not Even Mad: Jeff Nussbaum & Dan Rothschild

<p>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

<p>Aaron Tracy joins to talk about <em>The Secret World of Roald Dahl</em>, 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"

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

Mar 10, 2026 · 37m

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Elizabeth Tsurkov: Surviving 900 Days as a Hostage

<p>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

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

Mar 07, 2026 · 40m

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Funny You Should Mention: Jena Friedman

<p>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, <em>Motherfucker</em>. She talks with Mike about why …

Mar 06, 2026 · 52m

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

<p>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

<p>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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