The Gist

Jason DeParle of The New York Times documents how childhood poverty has fallen dramatically over the past three decades. It’s a triumph few recognize. Also, John Fetterman’s debate performance was surprising and, potentially, very costly. Who bears responsibility for the shock of it all? Plus, a cute little piece of malware named Raccooninfostealer. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Gist presents the new weekly political debate show, Not Even Mad. Consider it a joyous disagreement, as we take #DelightinDiscord. We give you the inaugural episode of this new podcast, as a sample, but to hear Mike talk with Jamie Kirchick and Virginia Heffernan each week, you’ll have to subscribe to Not Even Mad on Apple, or wherever you are listening to this. In Episode #1 of Not Even Mad, we discuss the candidacies of Kari Lake and Herschel Walker, we ponder the label “queer,” and we ask if present-day Republicanism is inextricably racist. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In his latest book, released in this past summer, The Price of Principle: Why Integrity Is Worth the Consequences, lawyer and legal scholar Alan Dershowitz laid out his reasoning for aiding the legal defense of Donald Trump. Dershowitz tells The Gist that he was defending the U.S. Constitution, not Trump, and that, despite the consequences, he would do it again. Also, the Latino vote is no monolith…except when it is one. Plus, which came first: the chicken or the egg…or Kanye’s mental illness? Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Wednesday, October 26th, we will be launching a new podcast called Not Even Mad, featuring Gist host Mike Pesca (heard of him?), Wired contributor and self-proclaimed liberal Virginia Heffernan, and author of the bestselling Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington, Jamie Kirchick, who holds many conservative positions on the issues. So, as a preview of the new podcast, we’ve invited Virginia and Jamie on The Gist to discuss the brokenness of our current political discourse, and also to debate how the Democrats lost the post-Dobbs polling momentum. Is it really just about gas prices? Also, an analysis of “talking your book,” or as Mike describes it “a prediction based on predilection.” Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a preview of a new podcast, Story of the Week. Each week, journalist Joel Stein chooses an article that fascinates him, convinces the writer to tell him about it, and then interrupts a good conversation by talking about himself. Sometimes the story will be the one everyone is talking about, like the New Yorker article on smoking hallucinogenic toads. Other times we’ll find a story you might have missed, like the one in the Verge about the rock groupie turned hacker who had huge corporations at her mercy. Stories that stick with you long after you forget whatever headline you just doom-scrolled through. In this preview, Joel is joined by Douglas Rushkoff to talk about his experience speaking to a group of tech billionaires in the middle of the desert. He thought he’d be chatting about the latest in tech advancements, but all these guys wanted to talk about was building doomsday bunkers. Hear the full episode, and more from Story of the Week, at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/sotw?sid=gist. Learn more abou

To celebrate the announcement of the upcoming launch of Peach Fish's newest podcast, Not Even Mad, in this installment of Best Of The Gist, we are replaying Mike’s January 18, 2017 interview with Heather Hendershot. Heather watched nearly 1,500 episodes of William F. Buckley’s pioneering TV show Firing Line, and though she still doesn’t agree with Buckley, she admires how he created a place for high-minded argument. Then we will listen to some bonus content from Mike’s Thursday interview with David Priess, former CIA intelligence briefer and current Publisher of Lawfare about the work of the January 6th Committee. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong, host of the new podcast The Prince, discusses the most powerful person in the world, Xi Jinping. As China’s 20th Communist Party Congress convenes, Xi has positioned himself to rule China for another five years, and maybe the rest of his life. But so little is known about him … until now. Plus, witness the drones filling the skies of Ukraine—Ghost Phoenixes, Switchblades, and these so-called “Kamikaze” models. And it’s an Antwentig, in which Angela Landsbury’s cinematic son is clarified and “Just Asking Questions” is endorsed. The Gist is produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Hey, we have a new podcast called Not Even Mad launching Wednesday, October 26th. If you like a good argument—and we know you do—subscribe on iTunes or wherever you listen. To Subscribe through Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-even-mad-trailer/id1651047503?i=1000583485024 To Subscribe t

Liz Truss resigns as Prime Minister of the UK, and all of England breathes a collective “How did that just bloody happen?” Plus, we’ll check in with David Priess, former CIA intelligence briefer and current Publisher of Lawfare about the work of the January 6th Committee. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re joined by Bill Nigut the host of Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Political Rewind to analyze the state’s pivotal and contentious Governor and Senate Races. Plus, the Durham investigation strikes out, or, in the eyes of Deep State Excavators…strikes gold! Plus, a pricey San Fransisco Toilet. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last night’s Ohio Senate debate featured JD Vance denying his assessment of Alex Jones as credible and an interesting thinker. Vance is still up big, and he’ll probably win. Also, a Floridan voter is handcuffed so Ron DeSantis can make a point. He’s also up big. Probably will win. Plus, Richard Reeves returns to discuss his book, Of Boys And Men, and the challenge of proposing solutions when doing so might mark you as picking the wrong side in a struggle toward progress. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boys and men are failing by so many measures says Richard Reeves in his new book Of Boys And Men: Why The Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, And What To Do About It. Plus, Liz Truss is the least popular UK Prime Minister since they’ve been asking how popular the prime minister is. And whether you fly, ride, or scoot, getting there is considerably less than half the fun. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we are listening back to two Spiels about politics in the Golden State. First, we go all the way back to 2017, when Senator Diane Feinstein was in a sticky situation. Then we fast forward to this past Tuesday, when the Los Angeles City Council nearly imploded after some shocking recordings of a phone call between council members were leaked to the public.d Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Along with the entirety of the Democratic party, part of the resistance to the re-election of Donald Trump in 2020 were a gaggle of storied Republican message creators who joined forces to defeat the sitting President. They called themselves The Lincoln Project, and they allowed directors Karim Amer (The Vow, The Great Hack) and Fisher Stevens (Dirty Money, Before the Flood) behind the scenes to document this movement in action. The result is The Lincoln Project, a Showtime series that premiered last week and releases a new chapter every Friday. All episodes are available now on Paramount+. Mike sits down with the filmmakers to talk about the wild ride they went on. Plus, at election time candidate quality really matters … in the Senate. Don’t worry about the House. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Though a self described prickly punk rocker, Bruce McCullouch always came across as the most adorable of the kids in the hall. McCulloch stops by to talk Kids, comedy, and his one man show playing off-broadway. Plus, the January 6th Commission reconvenes, and NYU fails an organic chemistry professor who failed too many students. BRUCE MCCULLOCH: TALES OF BRAVERY AND STUPIDITY OCTOBER 14-29 AT SOHO PLAYHOUSE Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

J. Bradford DeLong is here to deliver on the title of his impressive tome Slouching Towards Utopia: An Economic History Of The Twentieth Century. It Starts with 1870 and ends the year Law & Order was cancelled (it came back … the economy didn’t). Plus, the case for the nation’s defense budget being largely, mostly, mainly worth it. And the non-offensive parts of the LA City Council tapes are pretty instructive as to how politics everywhere really works. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A leaked recording revealed three members of the Los Angeles City Council, including the President, engaging in mockery of young children, a gay council member, the indigenous population, and African-Americans. Public comment time was not pretty. And Mike is joined by James A. Geraghty, author of Inside The Orphan Drug Revolution: The Promise of Patient-Centered Biotechnology. Plus, remembering Angela Landsbury—a wonderful actress as well as a symbol of the bygone monoculture. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we dive back into our archive to resurface our 2018 interview with comedian Guy Branum who had then just published My Life As A Goddess: A Memoir Through (Un)Popular Culture. Branum is the co-star of the much-talked-about new rom-com, Bros, which is the subject of Friday’s Spiel about why the film was funny but not a box-office smash. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Billy Eichner comedy Bros was undeniably funny, but also a box office failure. Eichner blamed homophobia, but it’s more complicated, Mike argues, but also not terribly more complicated. Of course, depictions of gay sex—some tame, some raunchy—hurt box office. Plus, Michele Tafoya is back to discuss the topics that prompted her to leave Thursday Night Football for her Sideline Sanity podcast and an ambush interview with Dan Le Batard. And also, what drives the world’s biggest A-holes? Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once more, a major media article offers incomplete and misleading evidence about the threat of a civil war. Mike offers not a dismissal but a reinterpretation. Plus, Michele Tafoya, former sideline reporter for NBC Sports, has a new podcast called ‎Sideline Sanity, and she has some opinions about Colin Kaepernick’s punishment for speaking out. Plus, Joe Biden pardons the 0 people in federal prison for simple marijuana possession. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike interviews Saleem Ali, University of Delaware professor of Energy and the Environment, about his book Earthly Order: How Natural Laws Define Human Life. Plus, Mike recognizes that the Georgia Senate race will be close, but also lays out that, of course the latest revelations hurt Herschel Walker. And also, just how to think about some baseball home run kings who allegedly—and also very much did—take steroids. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices