The Gist

David Oppenheimer: "The LSAT Is a Wonderful Predictive Tool for Determining An Applicant's Family Wealth"

This Saturday edition features an unaired segment from the interview with UC Berkeley law professor David Oppenheimer regarding standardized testing in higher education. The discussion centers on a debate over …

May 23, 2026 · 19m

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Alvin Roth: "A Repugnant Transaction Is a Morally Contested Transaction"

Today on The Gist, the upcoming Enhanced Games are analyzed not as an ethical crisis, but as a weak, corporate-sponsored satire of athletic boundaries. Then, Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin Roth …

May 22, 2026 · 32m

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Not Even Mad: Isaac Saul & Jamie Kirchick

Today is Not Even Mad. Tangle founder Isaac Saul and journalist Jamie Kirchick discuss the creation of the Department of Justice's $1.776 billion anti-weaponization settlement fund, the legislative fallout from …

May 21, 2026 · 53m

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David Oppenheimer: "Diversity Is Not About Being Comfortable"

Today on The Gist, the profound failure of empathy within our immigration bureaucracy is put under the microscope following the tragic freezing death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a blind …

May 20, 2026 · 54m

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J Schuberth: "I'd Settle for Number Two"

Today on The Gist, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defends a massive compensation fund for Donald Trump alongside a highly convenient IRS waiver. Then, J Schuberth joins the show to …

May 19, 2026 · 35m

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David Sussillo: "I Had to Be Like a God"

Today on The Gist, the media coverage surrounding Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, California who recently pled guilty to acting as a Chinese government agent, is put under …

May 18, 2026 · 49m

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Mike Pesca on Fake the Nation

It’s the Saturday show! Today, we’re sharing a recent appearance on the podcast Fake the Nation , hosted by Negin Farsad and featuring comedian Katie Hannigan. The panel tackles the …

May 16, 2026 · 24m

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Matt Sterling: Finding the Strength to Survive

Today on The Gist, NCAA softball star Maya Johnson turns down massive NIL offers to stay at Belmont University and pursue a debt-free nursing doctorate. Then, Matt Sterling joins the …

May 15, 2026 · 34m

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Franklin Foer: Did the Press Miss Biden's Decline?

Today on The Gist, a look at public health communication and the hantavirus. Then, The Atlantic 's Franklin Foer returns to face questions about his book, The Last Politician . …

May 14, 2026 · 41m

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Franklin Foer: Chronicling The Purged

Today on The Gist, what do UFO disclosures and covert strikes on Iran have in common? They are all part of the great distraction machine. Then, The Atlantic 's Franklin …

May 13, 2026 · 37m

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David Epstein: Thinking Inside the Box

Today on The Gist, breaking down how the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been secretly carrying out strikes on Iran, and what this means for U.S. ceasefire efforts, the global …

May 12, 2026 · 44m

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Kevin Williamson: The Psychotic State of Texas Politics

Today on the Gist, breaking down Energy Secretary Chris Wright's masterclass in dodging gas price predictions on Meet the Press amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. Then, The Dispatch 's …

May 11, 2026 · 45m

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Finding Political Kryptonite with Paula Poundstone

On this Saturday crossover episode, Mikes recent guest spot on Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone takes center stage. Alongside Paula Poundstone and Adam Felber, the search is on for the …

May 09, 2026 · 34m

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Benjamin Saltzman: The Art of Turning Away

Today on the Gist, why cruise ships are essentially floating vessels of exclusively bad news. Then, University of Chicago professor Benjamin A. Saltzman joins the show to discuss his book, …

May 08, 2026 · 41m

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Not Even Mad: Russ Muirhead & Ben Dreyfuss

Today on the Gist, the US intelligence assessment of the Iran blockade, and why the current administration lacks the attention span for a prolonged overseas conflict. Then, Dartmouth professor Russ …

May 07, 2026 · 57m

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Jonathan Vigliotti: The Olympic Rush to Rebuild LA

Today on the Gist, why ten-dollar words like "instantiation" might sound smart but ultimately fail to connect with an audience. Then, CBS News correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti joins the show to …

May 06, 2026 · 43m

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Joseph Moore: Negotiating With Drug Dealers for Real Estate Success

Today on the Gist, Robert F. Kennedy's initiative to get Americans off psychiatric medications and the political consequences of elevating fringe health issues. Then, Joseph Moore returns to discuss his …

May 05, 2026 · 29m

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Joseph Moore: The Despair Industrial Complex

Today on the Gist, parsing terrible geology analogies about gas prices dropping "like a rock" when they are actually shooting up like a rocket. Then, Joseph S. Moore joins the …

May 04, 2026 · 37m

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Ethan Strauss: Great Writers, Bad Thinkers, and the Death of the Sports Gamer

Mike and Ethan Strauss joined to talk on Substack and they talked about Ethan's 4:00 a.m. "rise and grind" writing routine, the frustrating trend of "great writers, bad thinkers" across …

May 02, 2026 · 54m

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Liz Hoffman: Why We Are So Pessimistic About a Resilient Economy

Today on the Gist, digging into the rhetoric around California's Proposition 36 and examining how advocacy groups frame low-level arrest statistics to push the narrative of mass incarceration. Then, Semafor's …

May 01, 2026 · 37m

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Liz Hoffman: Will AI Trigger a Jobless Food Fight?

Today on the Gist, assessing the political fallout from the Supreme Court's Callais decision striking down majority minority congressional districts. Then, Semafor's Business and Finance editor and Compound Interest podcast …

Apr 30, 2026 · 36m

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Suzy Hansen: How The Syrian War Radicalized Erdoğan

Today on the Gist, a look at the recent security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and why Donald Trump's demand for a new White House ballroom draws striking …

Apr 29, 2026 · 41m

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Ted Dintersmith: The Life-Changing Math Schools Ignore

Today on the Gist, examining the confusing details and conspiracy theories surrounding the recent Washington press corps assailant. Then, Ted Dintersmith joins to discuss his book, Aftermath: The Life-Changing Math …

Apr 28, 2026 · 43m

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Richard Lapper: Why Lula Didn't Become a Chavista

Today on the Gist, reflecting on the president's black tie press conference remarks about accepting political violence, and why our media ecosystem consistently selects for radical sentiment over the sensible. …

Apr 27, 2026 · 38m

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Mike Pesca Might Be Wrong & The Art of Korean Rock Throwing

It's the Saturday show! First, we pull a recent appearance: Mike joins Jeff Maurer on the I Might Be Wrong podcast. They debate Mike's recent Free Press article, "What Kind …

Apr 25, 2026 · 34m

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Maya Kornberg on How Congress Got Stuck

Today on the Gist, the US and Iran are supposedly in peace talks, but the real terror might just be the Iranian Navy's choice of "loose ski masks." Then, Maya …

Apr 24, 2026 · 33m

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Not Even Mad: Sarada Peri & Sarah Isgur

Today on the Gist, Mike is joined by Sarada Peri, former speechwriter for President Obama, and Sarah Isgur, senior editor at SCOTUSblog and author of Last Branch Standing , for …

Apr 23, 2026 · 1h 1m

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Jennifer Shahade on the Grandmaster of Intermezzos: Donald Trump

Today on the Gist, looking at the recent Virginia gerrymander vote and what it actually means for democracy when one side plays to win. Then, chess master and poker pro …

Apr 22, 2026 · 41m

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Jonathan Cheng on the Realities of Uncovering North Korea

Today on the Gist, exploring the consequences of relocating Afghan allies to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Then, Wall Street Journal China Bureau Chief Jonathan Cheng is back to discuss …

Apr 21, 2026 · 33m

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Jonathan Cheng on When Pyongyang Was the Jerusalem of the East

Today on the Gist, looking at the dropping price of eggs and the DOJ's antitrust investigation into major producers for market manipulation. Then, Wall Street Journal China Bureau Chief Jonathan …

Apr 20, 2026 · 30m

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The Middle - Making the case for Voting by Phone

On this Saturday hybrid episode, Mike's recent guest appearance on Jeremy Hobson’s The Middle , where he pitches smartphone voting to fix low-turnout primaries and breaks down the domestic political …

Apr 18, 2026 · 28m

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Chuck Todd: Why Politicians Are "The Weirdos"

Today on the Gist, pushing back against the pundit-class panic that American democracy is "on the brink." Then, host of the Chuck Toddcast, Chuck Todd joins the show to break …

Apr 17, 2026 · 46m

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Sarah Isgur: Why Forum Shopping is a Bigger Threat Than the Ethics Crisis

Today on the gist, Mike examines the dark psychology of political permanence following the shocking murder-suicide of former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax. SCOTUSblog editor Sarah Isgur returns to discuss …

Apr 16, 2026 · 31m

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Sarah Isgur: "Stop Blaming the Court and Start Blaming Congress"

Today on The Gist, Sarah Isgur editor of SCOTUSblog and co-host of Advisory Opinions , joins to dismantle the media’s most persistent myths about a strictly partisan Supreme Court. Drawing …

Apr 15, 2026 · 30m

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Jacob Mchangama On The "Four Hateful Men" Who Saved Free Speech

Today on The Gist, the Hungarian language has 44 letters in its alphabet and exploring the origins of the name of Hungary's newly elected leader, Peter Magyar. Vanderbilt professor Jacob …

Apr 14, 2026 · 26m

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Jacob Mchangama On "Elite Panic"

Donald Trump has accused the Pope of being weak on crime, despite the Vatican's famously nonexistent murder rate. Then, Vanderbilt professor Jacob Mchangama joins to discuss his new book, The …

Apr 13, 2026 · 34m

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Across The Movie Aisle: Mike Pesca's "***hole Tracker" Enters The Pitt

Today on The Gist. Mike drops in on Across the Movie Aisle with Sonny Bunch and Peter Suderman to dissect the hit medical drama, The Pitt . They dive into …

Apr 11, 2026 · 20m

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Matt Yglesias & Richard Kreitner: A Billion Americans vs. Breaking It Up

Today on The Gist examining the rare pundit who advocates for the right policy even when it’s a proven election-loser, taking a cue from Matt Yglesias' Slow Boring newsletter to …

Apr 10, 2026 · 25m

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Not Even Mad: John Ganz & Nick Gillespie

Today on a Not Even Mad, Mike is joined by political writer John Ganz and Reason’s Nick Gillespie to debate whether the ceasefire with Iran is a strategic victory for …

Apr 09, 2026 · 1h 17m

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Freddie DeBoer and Devon Price on the "Identity Trap" of Neurodiversity

Today on The Gist, Mike explores the "innovation" of linguistic shifts, from the return of the "R-word" in the New York Times to the syllable-heavy expansion of terms like "unhoused" …

Apr 08, 2026 · 35m

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Noam Scheiber and the "Vinyl Record" Phase of American Unions

Today on The Gist, Mike Pesca continues his conversation with The New York Times ’ Noam Scheiber about his book, Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class …

Apr 07, 2026 · 32m

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Noam Scheiber on the "Class Confidence" of the Overqualified

Today on The Gist, Mike Pesca explores his history with labor unions, contrasting the time-and-a-half efficiency of NPR with the more complicated protections of WNYC. Then, The New York Times’ …

Apr 06, 2026 · 31m

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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 …

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 …

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 …

Mar 27, 2026 · 42m

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