Sign in

News
Peach Fish Productions
For thirty minutes each day, Pesca challenges himself and his audience, in a responsibly provocative style, and gets beyond the rigidity and dogma. The Gist is surprising, reasonable, and willing to critique the left, the right, either party, or any idea.
Total 2562 episodes
1
...
18
19
20
...
52
Go to
What You Might Have Missed

What You Might Have Missed

On the Gist, Republicans use their voices to complain about not having a voice. In the interview, Melissa Murray joins Mike to discuss what the articles of impeachment can teach us about constitutional law as we review the events of last week at the Capitol Building. Murray is a professor at NYU Law, co-host of Strict Scrutiny podcast, and a contributor on MSNBC. In Remembrances of Things Trump: Goofy, Sleepy, Crazy...no those aren’t Snow White’s friends. They are Trump’s favorite nicknames.  In the spiel, the Trump push for Lisa Montgomery’s execution in the final week of his tarnished presidency. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:2714/01/2021
His Time is Up

His Time is Up

On the Gist, the gavel was quick and sure during the impeachment hearing. In the interview, what risks lie ahead for 2021? Mike sits down with political scientist Ian Bremmer. They talk about what went wrong in 2020 (hint COVID-19 managed to make a lot of Bremmer’s predictions come true). And for 2021 - China, oil and Biden, oh my! Bremmer is the president and founder of Eurasia Group, a firm that helps investors and businesses understand the impact of politics on their investments. In Remembrances of Things Trump, Trump attacks a dead man because Trump has a problem with women.  In the spiel, bearing the stain of being impeached twice. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:3814/01/2021
We Are Who We Are

We Are Who We Are

On the Gist, this is actually who we are because we wouldn’t have let it happen. In the interview, Katie Meyer, political reporter at WHYY in Philadelphia joins Mike to talk about the Pennsylvania state legislature, and today’s federal ruling on the contested state senate race.  In Remembrances of Things Trump, back to the days when Trump was able to tweet, and retweet.  In the spiel, defining incitement. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
39:0612/01/2021
Militias in the Mitten State

Militias in the Mitten State

On the Gist, several Republicans predicted years ago Trump’s actions would lead to violence, but they’re sticking with him anyway. One of them is Ted Cruz. In Remembrances of Things Trump, Trump denounces a Swedish terrorism attack that never happened. In the interview, Mike is joined by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. They talk about insurrection at the Capitol building in D.C., and in Michigan, and how rallies and big talk got them there. Nessel also explains her decision to seek sanctions against attorneys who filed lawsuits claiming debunked election fraud in the state.  In the spiel, Trump may be off Twitter, but his supporters don’t have to go far to get their message out. It’s called podcasting. Ever heard of it? Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
34:4912/01/2021
Abandon Ship

Abandon Ship

On the Gist, how do 39% of registered voters “approve” of Trump’s performance? 39%; really? In the interview, Mike is joined by Stan Barnes to talk all things Arizona. Arizona just gave its two Senate seats to Democrats in a shocking upset for the long-time red state. Barnes is a former Republican state senator turned party consultant for the Copper State. He talks to Mike about the impact of Wednesday’s Capitol chaos on the Republican party and how there’s no “putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.” And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump, the people who left the Trump administration before it became en vogue. In the spiel, a slew of resignations following the chaos. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
31:1509/01/2021
 Siege Subculture Stories

Siege Subculture Stories

On the Gist, the assault on the Capitol through extremist corners of the internet. In the interview, Mike is joined by U.S Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan’s 5th Congressional District, and Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus. Rep. Kildee was on the House floor when violent pro-Trump extremists overtook the Capitol, causing a lockdown. Kildee shares his experience of what it was like inside the chambers before and after the electoral vote count had been certified, and what he’s hearing from his constituents in Michigan. In the spiel, we continue our walk through the insurrectionist rampage at the Capitol. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
32:0108/01/2021
Capitol Siege

Capitol Siege

On the Gist, the Capitol is breached by pro-Trump extremists. In the interview, Mike is joined by Slate’s senior politics writer, Jim Newell, from Washington, D.C. While sequestered from inside the Capitol Building, Newell discussed the safety measures put in place to protect those remaining in the House chambers and its locked corridors, while police made desperate attempts at corralling the violence.     In the spiel, the Georgia runoff and what this means for American politics. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25:0907/01/2021
One Needle to Predict Them All

One Needle to Predict Them All

On the Gist, we return to the infamous Bean Dad. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: All the president’s less than capable men. In the interview, it’s part two of a conversation with David Shor, a researcher and consultant for democratic politicians. Dubbed a political data analyst prodigy, Shor developed a voter registration system as a teenager, then at age 20 subsequently moved on to work for the Obama campaign where he oversaw forecasting. Shor shares more of his experiences collaborating with more seasoned colleagues and explains how humbling it was in the process. In the spiel, needling the needle truthers ahead of the Georgia runoff. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:4006/01/2021
Who is Ken Jennings?

Who is Ken Jennings?

On the Gist, President Trump made a phone call and blew apart the life of a private citizen.  And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: teleprompter stumble. In the interview, it’s part one of a conversation with David Shor, a researcher and consultant for democratic politicians. Shor discusses the value trade-offs parties have to make in order to win an election. From his analysis, he explains that when a political party’s values are out of sync with what a median voter believes, issues inevitably arise at the polls. He stresses that it’s not just the messaging, it’s about how it is disseminated and used to persuade. In the spiel, the answer is: This former Jeopardy! contestant is facing Twitter backlash.  Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley, Cheyna Roth, and Jasmine Ellis. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
40:5305/01/2021
The World's Worst Year Ever

The World's Worst Year Ever

On the Gist, Fauci guess-timates. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: dead ducks and poisoned undies.  In the interview, Harvard professor Michael McCormick is here to tell Mike about the worst year in recorded history. According to him, it’s 536 A.D., a year when a volcanic eruption blocked out the sun, a bubonic plague that recurred every few decades began, and Ireland was without bread for four years. He and Mike discuss how we’re able to pinpoint so precisely the date of these events, how it affected humanity, and that sometimes the history lesson is things can always get worse. McCormick is the Frances Goelet Professor of Medieval History at Harvard University. In the spiel, if our ancestors got through, so can we. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:4930/12/2020
America’s Worst Year Ever

America’s Worst Year Ever

On the Gist, sorting out how undemocratic of our democracy is. In the interview, the Atlantic’s James Fallows contends that while 2020 has been bad, 1968 was actually quite worse. The Vietnam War was raging, young men were being drafted, and in 1968 the North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces launched their Tet Offensive. Not to mention, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were both assassinated. Fallows and Mike discuss how the assassinations compounded on the stress of the war, how shooting targets have shifted from politicians to schools, and compare the civil unrest of 1968 with 2020. Fallows’ piece in the Atlantic is “Is This the Worst Year in Modern American History?” In the spiel, we’re not getting those $2,000 checks...which leads to a Remembrances of Things Trump where the president likes a certain phrase about talking and action.  Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Editor’s note: This episode mistakenly identifies Martin Luther King Jr. as having been assassinated “when he was in his early 40s.” King died at the age of 39 on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
32:4029/12/2020
Getting Carriered Away

Getting Carriered Away

On the Gist, we’re experiencing some loner white terrorist burnout. In the interview, we’re talking rural Republicans. Ross Benes gives us insight to Nebraska’s Republican party, and how they can help to understand Republicans everywhere. He talks about where Democrats are going wrong outside the cities, the difference between an old fashioned Republican and a Trump Toadie, and what makes rural voters tick—sometimes despite their own best interests. Benes is a journalist and analyst at eMarketer, and the author of Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold. In the spiel, remembering what Trump said he’d do for the Carrier plant. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30:3828/12/2020
Simply Having a COVID Christmas Time

Simply Having a COVID Christmas Time

On the Gist, Republican Grinches are scratching their heads while Santa Trump calls for more stimulus money.  And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: This president. He hasn’t talked so good.  In the interview, we have Georgia on our mind yet again with Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Bill Nigut. He talks about the upcoming Georgia runoff including the impact of Republicans crying foul after the 2020 election, the (slim) chance that Republicans could blow an election that’s theirs to lose, and a deep cut involving a political jingle. Nigut is the host and executive producer of the Georgia politics podcast, Political Rewind. He’s also a program host and producer at Georgia Public Broadcasting. In the spiel, that rare feeling of togetherness that now comes with waiting on line for a COVID-19 test. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
38:1923/12/2020
Washing Out the Trump Stain

Washing Out the Trump Stain

On the Gist, who wants the vaccine? And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: Did Trump really want a moat with alligators and snakes? In the interview, it’s the second half of Mike’s conversation with author Michael Scott Alexander about his book, Making Peace with the Universe: Personal Crisis and Spiritual Healing. Alexander talks about his connection to finding a religious path and identity, the differences between religious institutions and personal enlightenment, and why the concept of spirituality desperately needs rebranding. Alexander is associate professor of religious studies and Maimonides Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies at the University of California, Riverside. In the spiel, cleansing America of Trump. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
39:1023/12/2020
The Death Sentence Is Dubious

The Death Sentence Is Dubious

On the Gist, medical innovation. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trump: charitable contributions. In the interview, it’s part one of Mike’s discussion with author, Michael Scott Alexander about his book, Making Peace with the Universe: Personal Crisis and Spiritual Healing. Alexander details how he searched for insight during an existential crisis, and retroactively explored how other great thinkers, philosophers, psychologists, and musicians found help in healing the mind. Alexander is associate professor of religious studies and Maimonides Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies at the University of California, Riverside. In the spiel, dubious arguments against dubious death sentences. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Cheyna Roth. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
40:4622/12/2020
The Shrinking Majority

The Shrinking Majority

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! Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:2519/12/2020
Democrat Delusions

Democrat Delusions

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. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
34:5218/12/2020
Keeping an Eye on the Fall

Keeping an Eye on the Fall

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. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
42:3617/12/2020
Constructing Joe’s Cabinet

Constructing Joe’s Cabinet

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. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
50:0616/12/2020
Competence Prevails

Competence Prevails

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. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:3815/12/2020
Happy Fifteen Years, Political Gabfest

Happy Fifteen Years, Political Gabfest

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. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
40:2211/12/2020
Middle Class Musts

Middle Class Musts

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. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29:5711/12/2020
Medical Racism and Vaccine Fears

Medical Racism and Vaccine Fears

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. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:0410/12/2020
Worthy of the Vaccine

Worthy of the Vaccine

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? Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:3509/12/2020
Year of the Rat

Year of the Rat

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. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:3208/12/2020
Wrecking Public Trust

Wrecking Public Trust

On the Gist, Corey Lewandowski has caught the virus. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: criticizing Chucks. In the interview, Maria Konnikova is back for another “Is That Bullshit?” She and Mike dissect where the stipulations around the socially distanced fifteen-minute time limit.* While in close proximity to another person, how long does it actually take to get exposed and what are the variables? Turns out, the time frame depends on a variety of factors like weather, mask fabric, location and even air quality. Maria’s latest 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, the detriments of downplaying Covid-19. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  * Links: Beyond Six Feet: A Guideline to Limit Indoor Airborne Transmission of COVID-19, COVID-19 Indoor Safety Guideline and app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
38:1605/12/2020
Perdue’s Share of Pfizer

Perdue’s Share of Pfizer

On the Gist, will Trump have a platform once he’s stripped of power? And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: hoping things will work out with North Korea. In the interview, lawyer Fred Golder is here to discuss mediation and his new book Reaching Common Ground: A Comprehensive Guide to Conflict Resolution. He and Mike discuss Golder’s long career fighting for the rights of workers starting in the ’60s, and how his experience led him to believe mediation was the best tool to resolve employment conflict for both sides of the table, and how long court battles really only ever turned out to be good for the lawyers. In the spiel, Sen. Perdue’s securities fraud. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:2804/12/2020
Fiddling With Georgia’s Election

Fiddling With Georgia’s Election

On the Gist, unraveling of election results. And, today’s installment of Remembrances of Things Trump: a graveyard full of birds.  In the interview, Mike is joined by Fred Kaplan, War Stories columnist at Slate, and author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War. Kaplan discusses the implications of the assassination of the head of the Iranian nuclear program, Trump’s stance on U.S. involvement on foreign wars, and some projections on Biden’s cabinet picks for secretary of defense.  In the spiel, the devil went down to Georgia’s polls. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
32:5603/12/2020
Punting on Opportunity

Punting on Opportunity

On the Gist, potential mass fraud. Plus, the latest installment of Remembrances of Things Trump, as we pause to recall when the president claimed his father was born in Germany. In the interview, it's part two of Mike's conversation with voice actor Jess Harnell, who is reprising his role as Wakko Warner on the reboot of the beloved ‘90s cartoon The Animaniacs, now streaming on Hulu. Separate from the show, Harnell discusses his success in vocal matching and imitation, and how he successfully adapted it for his band Rock Sugar—their music comedically mashes up 80's heavy metal and pop music. Harnell also discusses his thoughts on one of his first voice acting gigs for Disney’s Splash Mountain, and the 2020 controversy around the attraction. In the spiel, women are capable of playing American football, just only when men aren’t available. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley, and Lori Galarreta. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:4002/12/2020
Progressives Cry Betrayal

Progressives Cry Betrayal

On the Gist, voter certifications in Arizona and Wisconsin. In the interview, Mike talks with Jess Harnell, the Emmy-nominated voice artist with over 300 voice credits to his name, including Wakko Warner from The Animaniacs. The animated show executive produced by Steven Spielberg, known for bringing irreverent comedy and satire to kids in the 90’s, is back. In the first part of this two part interview, Harnell explains the inspiration behind Wakko's voice, what elements made Animaniacs an iconic cartoon series two decades ago and how they plan to update it for a new generation. All-new episodes of Animaniacs are now streaming only on Hulu. In the spiel, the Left’s argument against the private sector. And today on Remembrances of Things Trump, do you believe in Santa Claus? Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Lori Galarreta. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:4001/12/2020
A Start-Up Letdown

A Start-Up Letdown

On the Gist, today on Remembrances of Things Trump, we look back on Trump’s 2017 visit to the annual Boy Scout Jamboree.  In the interview, Mike talks with Reeves Weideman, contributing editor at New York magazine and author of Billion Dollar Loser: The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork. Weideman explains the internal drama inside Neumann’s fast-scaling, overly hyped WeWork, an office space leasing company billed as an in-person social network, as well as the lessons entrepreneurs can learn from disruptors attempting to grow quickly and remain profitable.  In the spiel, the lobstar of the antentwig. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Lori Galarreta. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:3726/11/2020
Remember When

Remember When

On the Gist, remember when there was “the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you’ve ever seen,” and an attack on Syria. In the interview, Yuval Levin, author of A Time to Build: From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can Revive the American Dream and American Enterprise Institute scholar talks to Mike about what conservatism looks like in a post-Trump world. As the Republican party grapples with their identity at the start of a new era, they may find themselves asking, “What do we have to offer? And what do we want in return?” Levin advises frank discussions amongst the party, purposeful policies, and consequential legislation.  In the spiel, playing Russian roulette for Thanksgiving 2020.  Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley and Lori Galarreta. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
38:4925/11/2020
How To With John Wilson

How To With John Wilson

On the Gist, Michigan meets to certify the results of the 2020 election. In the interview, documentarian John Wilson talks to Mike about steering clear of staid tropes and taking on moments of serendipity for his new HBO docuseries. How To with John Wilson is a poetic and comedic look on life, art, and philosophy in and around New York City. How To, as Wilson describes, was his experimentation with realism. As writer, cameraman, producer and narrator, Wilson creates a weirdly and beautifully raw representation of the city on the brink of the pandemic. How To is executive-produced by Nathan Fielder and streams Fridays on HBO Max. In the spiel, long live the climate czar. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Margaret Kelley and Lori Galarreta. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
32:2424/11/2020
Cover It Up!

Cover It Up!

On the Gist, the election cannot be reversed in Trump’s favor. In the interview, comedian, actor, author, and activist Sarah Silverman joins Mike to talk about career, her characters, and how she is still learning from some controversial missteps taken along the way. Silverman candidly discusses her views on why Americans are so politically divided and why she thinks we ought to work together towards implementing progressive legislation. Her newest project, a podcast where she responds no-holds-barred to listener voicemails, is called The Sarah Silverman Show. In the spiel, stopping disinformation at the source. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
39:3121/11/2020
No Redress for the Wicked

No Redress for the Wicked

On the Gist, Rudy Giuliani keeps trying. In the interview, Bob Bauer and Jack Goldsmith are here to talk about their new book After Trump: Reconstructing the Presidency. Goldsmith, former White House counsel for the George W. Bush administration, and Bauer, former Obama counsel, discuss what work needs to be done to move past the Trump presidency. They share their differing views on the efficacy of prosecuting Trump’s actions in office after Biden steps into the role, and the two explain how this isn’t the first time the office of the presidency has needed to be repaired. In the spiel, Kyle Rittenhouse and the Proud Boys. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
39:0020/11/2020
Carried Away

Carried Away

On the Gist, how Governors Cuomo and Newsom are responding to the second wave. In the interview, it’s part two of Mike’s conversation with The Dispatch’s senior editor David French about his new book Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. French discusses the principles of pluralism, how some choose to decry tribalism and then default to using pluralism as a tactic. French also details some examples of it actually working as well as when it has led to friction. In the spiel, performatively exercising your second amendment rights. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
38:2319/11/2020
Warp Speed Worked

Warp Speed Worked

On the Gist, there is a lot of uncertainty between now and January. In the interview, we share part one of Mike’s conversation with David French about his new book Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. French argues that reconciling differences within the U.S. is more than just bridging political divides. Opposing identities require broad ideological coalitions in government that seek to soothe cemented divisions and heal citizens who feel disenfranchised. Part two of the interview is tomorrow. In the spiel, giving credit where credit is due. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
31:1418/11/2020
A Safe Thanksgiving?

A Safe Thanksgiving?

On the Gist, facing electoral consequences. In the interview, Roxanne Khamsi, a science writer and contributor to WIRED, joins Mike to talk about Covid-19 social distancing, mask policies, lockdown, and preparedness in the U.S. and Canada. As America approaches the start of the holidays, Khamsi shares some new data—based off of individuals isolated on offshore oil drilling rigs—that provides some guidance on testing twice and how it may help shorten the 14-day quarantine period. In the spiel, the Latino vote. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
39:3417/11/2020
Democrat Divergence?

Democrat Divergence?

On the Gist, Democrats seeing compromise as a defeat. In the interview, political commentator Jess McIntosh talks with Mike about the fight within the Democratic party about whose messaging matters. They discuss the merits of centrist and progressive language, how important it is to have members of Congress who are further left than Biden, and why Republicans villainize Democrats regardless of the language they use. McIntosh is co-host of Signal Boost on Sirius XM. In the spiel, listener concerns. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:1014/11/2020
Home Is a Construct

Home Is a Construct

On the Gist, more of Trump’s inner circle test positive for Covid-19. In the interview, writer and urban policy specialist Diana Lind is here to talk about her new book Brave New Home: Our Future in Smarter, Simpler, Happier Housing. She and Mike discuss how the single-family home arose in the U.S. as a part of the American dream, if it’s really making us any happier to live that way, and what sorts of legal roadblocks currently prevent a variety of housing options from proliferating across the country. In the spiel, Rudy on the radio. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
31:1613/11/2020
No Coup for You

No Coup for You

On the Gist, Trump tries a coup. In the interview, former federal prosecutor, legal scholar and law professor Mark Osler joins Mike to talk about the presidential power of pardoning, granting clemency, a benign prerogative that is slanted towards mercy and not retribution. They discuss what might happen in the next few months with Trump’s final days in office. In the spiel, who elected Biden? Email us at [email protected] Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
38:5212/11/2020
Jeopardy, A Beloved Tradition

Jeopardy, A Beloved Tradition

On the Gist, brokered by Russia. In the interview, Claire McNear joins Mike to talk about her new book Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy! In it, McNear explains the history of the game, what it takes to be a contestant and maintain a storied winning streak, and how so much of Jeopardy’s DNA came from its late host - Alex Trebek. Claire is a staff writer at The Ringer. In the spiel, former deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe testifies. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:5110/11/2020
The News Normal

The News Normal

On the Gist, getting back to normal. In the interview, WHYY’s Katie Meyer is here to discuss Pennsylvania politics with Mike. They talk about how the changes in voting collection and counting changed in the state during 2020, why it caused such national turmoil, and if Republican meddling even helped their strategy at all. In the spiel, anchors having too many opinions. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:0610/11/2020
The Democrat Debrief

The Democrat Debrief

On the Gist, Democrats practiced caution and Republicans jumped into the deep end. In the interview, Emily Bazelon and Mike recap election week, its days-long outcome, and our current reality with the two candidates. Bazelon writes for the New York Times magazine, co-hosts Slate’s Political Gabfest, and is the author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration. In the spiel, what is the Democratic Party’s way forward? Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Margaret Kelley and Daniel Schroeder. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:4707/11/2020
That Election Feeling

That Election Feeling

On the Gist, election feelings. In the interview, Lawfare’s Benjamin Wittes is here as we continue working through the results after election day. He and Mike discuss how the next few months could play out, what a transition might look like, and the ways Trump is considering fighting dirty. Wittes is the author of Unmaking the Presidency: Donald Trump’s War on the World’s Most Powerful Office. In the spiel, the Trafalgar group got too much wrong. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:2005/11/2020
The Day After

The Day After

On the Gist, misguided Americans. In the interview, Mike talks with Slate’s senior politics writer Jim Newell about the house races, what the democrat incumbents did wrong and why things appear to be a lot more like 2016, and theorizing that a republican controlled senate is what Biden actually wants. Plus, Jim and Mike’s thoughts on Mississippi’s new state flag. In the spiel, how much does Fox News’ framing matter? Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:2105/11/2020
Election Night 2020

Election Night 2020

On the Gist, the system is antiquated. In the interview, Mike talks with Anne Applebaum, author of Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism, about America’s future after election day. They talk about the small but concerning ways the country could slide towards a dictatorship, and how Trump’s tactics have made people less willing to believe in the power of democracy. In the spiel, a lot is on the ballot. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:0903/11/2020
Fear the Shy Trump Voter?

Fear the Shy Trump Voter?

On the Gist, caravans of Trump supporters. In the interview, Mike talks with NPR's media correspondent David Folkenflik on the organization’s decision to sidestep coverage of the Hunter Biden allegations. He and Mike discuss ways major news outlets covered the story, why it never got much traction, and what goes into evaluating a story’s worth. In the spiel, Trafalgar Group’s polling predictions. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:5903/11/2020
Broadband Is Not A Luxury

Broadband Is Not A Luxury

On the Gist, Trump in Michigan. In the interview, Mike talks with former governor of Florida Jeb Bush about his push for access to national broadband internet access. He argues that high-speed internet in the U.S. is lagging compared to other industrialized countries. Now more than ever, digital infrastructure has become a critical resource to the economy, as well as our nation’s security. Read Gov. Bush’s piece in Slate published in early October.  In the spiel, painting Trump in a terrible light. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
40:1531/10/2020
Swinging In Iowa

Swinging In Iowa

On the Gist, the number of people who’ve already voted. In the interview, Erin Murphy, the Des Moines Bureau Chief for Lee Enterprises in Iowa, joins Mike to talk about what the election looks like in his state. They discuss how Trump is faring with farmers, what the different races look like there, and the effect anti-gun groups may be having on the state elections. In the spiel, Perdue and Ossoff face off in Georgia. Email us at [email protected] Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Margaret Kelley. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:2130/10/2020