The Gist

On The Gist, filmmaker James Solomon discusses his documentary The Witness , which reinvestigates the death of Kitty Genovese—whose reported murder became emblematic of New York City indifference. In the film, Kitty's brother Bill goes on a quest to figure out what really happened and finds little truth in the earliest newspaper accounts. For the Spiel, Siri runs away with your radio. Learn more a...

On The Gist, 2015 MacArthur fellow Matthew Desmond talks about moving into a trailer park to document life in poverty and what he calls an eviction epidemic. Desmond is the author of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City . For the Spiel, revisiting Ghostbusters —that is, revisiting the movie that's revisiting Ghostbusters . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...

On The Gist, for our game "Is That Bulls—t?" we ask Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker if we're any better off drinking skim milk. Konnikova is the author of The Confidence Game . For the Spiel, do we really have to talk about the gorilla? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our coll...

On The Gist, comedy writer Paul Scheer explains the thinking behind his new series, Filthy Preppy Teen$ , available on Fullscreen . For the Spiel, the lobstar of the antentwig. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, New Yorker writer James Surowiecki on breaking up the banks, and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer discusses his bill to open up the Saudi Arabian government to lawsuits from victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. For the Spiel, taking the romance out of bygone factory jobs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...

On The Gist, Moby talks about growing up poor in Connecticut and his family ties to Herman Melville. He has just published Porcelain: A Memoir . For the Spiel, we return to the Trump Anxiety Hotline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for adv...

On The Gist, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper reflects on his state's social experiment legalizing marijuana. He is the author of the book The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics . For the Spiel, a closer look at what policy experts think of Donald Trump's plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz....

On The Gist, Ivan Oransky argues that when it comes to faulty claims, peer-review is a first defense, not an airtight one. He's the vice president and global editorial director of MedPage Today . For the Spiel, a breakdown of that movie cliché of the workaholic dad who reconnects with his kids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz co...

On The Gist, storyteller Matthew Dicks spills his secret for juggling six different jobs—purposeful showers, lots of oatmeal, and no mental idling. For the Spiel, Bernie Sanders supporters are sore losers, but who can blame them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection an...

On The Gist, a refresher course on the Whig Party with the American History Guys: professors Peter Onuf , Ed Ayers , and Brian Balogh . They host the BackStory podcast . For the Spiel, tuning in to ISIS news without freaking out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection an...

On The Gist, comic Dan Soder of Showtime television drama Billions on finding his killer closing joke—and letting it go. His new hourlong standup special premieres May 21 on Comedy Central. For the Spiel, a new soundtrack for the primary election. Today's sponsor: Blue Apron. For less than $10 per meal, Blue Apron delivers right to your door everything you need to create a home-cooked meal. Visit...

On The Gist, the New Yorker's James Surowiecki on businesses taking up the vanguard of LGBTQ rights—and why it might be problematic for conservatives and liberals alike. For the Spiel, a theory: We live in overcontextualized times. Today's sponsor: Hiscox Small Business Insurance. Get customized insurance for your business right now. Go to Hiscox.com to learn more and to get a free quote. Learn mo...

On The Gist, Tianna Gaines-Turner recounts her experience testifying before Congress on life for the working poor. She's featured in the short film, A Hug From Paul Ryan , part of a new series from AMC Networks' SundanceNow Doc Club . For the Spiel, the transformative power of personal experience when it comes to lawmakers' views on LGBT rights and mental illness. Learn more about your ad choices....

On The Gist, comedy writer and radio personality Andy Breckman tells Mike about the dog-eat-dog world of the game industry and shows us his latest card-game creation: Shit Happens . For the Spiel, a focus group with voters in a galaxy far, far away… why do they support Jabba the Hutt? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See...

Happy National Limerick Day! (We're sorry.) On The Gist, NPR's David Folkenflik joins us to explain why he thinks the media failed the general public this year . He's the author of Murdoch's World: The Last of the Old Media Empires . For the Spiel, will Donald Trump be able to get the GOP's buy-in? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWiz...

Is watching too much porno addictive? And why don't we say "porno" anymore? On The Gist, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker explains what evidence we have about the validity of pornography addiction. She's the author of The Confidence Game , and you can read her essay about pornography research in Aeon . For the Spiel, Mike reveals his unfair advantage when it comes to political things—remembering...

On The Gist, an elephant news roundup. Then, Scott Hutchison from the indie rock band Frightened Rabbit joins us to discuss their new album Painting of a Panic Attack . The band is currently on tour, and you can visit their website for tour dates . For the Spiel, what is the likelihood of a Brexit? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWiz...

On The Gist, has conventional become synonymous with lame? Mike's advice for Hillary Clinton. Then, Kembrew McLeod discusses the musical legacy of the Blondie album Parallel Lines, and offers connection between teen pop and punk in the 1970's. He's the author of Blondie's Parallel Lines (33 1/3). For the Spiel, we will not allow members of the media to get away with saying, "Donald Trump is execut...

On The Gist, director Rob Reiner join us to discuss his latest film Being Charlie, which indirectly tells the story of his son's battle with drug addiction. It was written by Reiner's son, Nick Reiner, with co-writer Matt Elisofon. For the Spiel, it's time for another Lobstar of the Antentwig. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz com...

When it comes to Donald Trump, our guest says we need to set up FEMA tents to distribute all the blame that deserves to go around. On The Gist, Jonah Goldberg from the National Review joins us to discuss why many conservative pundits and thinkers have used Trumps popularity as an excuse for overlooking his issues. For the Spiel, renaming the lame duck period of the presidency. Learn more about you...

On The Gist, it's May 4th so... may the fourth be with you. Yes, that's a Star Wars pun to help introduce you to our guest legal scholar Cass Sunstein. He's the author of The World According to Star Wars, now available for preorder. For the Spiel, the return of the Trump Anxiety Hotline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

On The Gist, on the wake of the sentencing of Sheldon Silver, we explore the connection between corrupt politicians and bodily corruption. Then, Mike interviews Robert Mrazek, a former Democratic member of the House of Representatives who represented New York's 3rd congressional district for most of the 1980s. He wrote and co-directed the new film The Congressman. For the Spiel, the endorsement th...

On The Gist, Chuck Todd has HAD IT with Ted Cruz. We'll hear what that sounds like. Then, a look at some lasting lessons from the Bernie Sanders campaign with BuzzFeed's White House correspondent Evan McMorris-Santoro. He's the host of the new podcast No One Knows Anything. For the Spiel, the icky coziness of the White House Correspondents dinner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...

They say no one ever remembers the second man who walked on the moon. That's so not true! On The Gist, octogenarian Buzz Aldrin steps into our studios to discuss his unique life story and the future of international space travel. His new book is called No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon. For the Spiel, why the NFL and ESPN networks should stop tut-tutting Miami dr...

On The Gist, comedian and journalist Faith Salie shares her journey to becoming a recovering approval addict. Her new memoir is Approval Junkie: Adventures in Caring Too Much. For the Spiel, what dirty politicians have in common with a woman on the beach wearing a loose bikini top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...