The Gist

On The Gist, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to stand up to tell us about dangers of sitting. She's the author of The Confidence Game, now available for preorder. For the Spiel, Mike examines the spooky, spooky specter of a Trump presidency. Today's sponsors: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit...

On The Gist, comedian David Steinberg joins us to share favorite tales from his life making comedy history. His new show is called The David Steinberg Podcast. For the Spiel, Mike takes on the manhunt for Saleh Abdeslam in Brussels. Today's sponsor: The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater. Be sure to catch up before the final episode airs this Sunday evening. Join Slate Plus! Mem...

Screenwriter and dramatist David Hare has written about the Chinese revolution, the U.S. financial crisis, privatization of the railways, and now, finally, his own story. On The Gist, the award-winning playwright will discuss on his new memoir The Blue Touch Paper. For the Spiel, Mike's theory to explain why so many people are distressed and downtrodden—they are wrong. Today's sponsors: Squarespac...

On The Gist, reporter Jim Popkin tells us about his Newsweek cover story, "Meet the Former Pentagon Scientist Who Says Psychics Can Help American Spies." For the Spiel, advice for the 31 state governors who say they'll not be taking in Syrian refugees. Today's sponsor: The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater. Be sure to catch up before the final episode airs this Sunday evening....

On The Gist, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker examines how we utilize our grey matter for a segment we call "Is That Bulls--t?" Her new book, The Confidence Game, is now available for preorder. For the Spiel, why Fox News never plays the full quote. Today's sponsor: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and printer. Use the prom...

On The Gist, a look at what technologies have been the most helpful in deterring another major terrorist attack. Our guest Dr. Gary LaFree is the director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence led by the University of Maryland. During our interview, he mentioned the Global Terrorism Database, for whi...

Immediately after the Paris attacks, French President François Hollande called the terrorism "an act of war." Then on Meet the Press, White House staffer Ben Rhodes went further, saying, "We've been at war with ISIS for quite some time." How does ISIS conceptualize this state of affairs? On The Gist, Max Abrahms from Northeastern University examines the Islamic State's seemingly paradoxical motive...

On The Gist, director Josh Mond and actor Christopher Abbott join us in studio to discuss their film James White. During our chat, we'll learn that Mond's influences include González Iñárritu, Joachim Trier and the third season of Law and Order. It opens today in NYC, and will be coming to other cities soon. For the Spiel, it's time for another Lobstar of the Antentwig. Today's sponsors: Goldman S...

Have we failed to critically celebrate heavy-handedness? On The Gist, Slate's Forrest Wickman explains when subtlety works to the detriment of a work of art. He recently wrote the cover story "Against Subtlety" for Slate. For the Spiel, a love note to chewing gum. Today's sponsors: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your...

On The Gist, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to examine the research into the link between age and fertility for men and women. She's the author of The Confidence Game, now available for preorder. For the Spiel, Mike's true psychic abilities proved by the Republican debates. Today's sponsors: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your...

On The Gist, author Harlow Giles Unger tells us about the great compromiser of America's formative years, former Speaker of the House Henry Clay. Read more in Unger's book Henry Clay: America's Greatest Statesman. For the Spiel, a look at the protests at Yale and the University of Missouri. Today's sponsors: Prudential's 40/40 Vision, a multimedia microsite exploring what life—and the future—looks...

On The Gist, a show about art and prostitutes up now at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The Wall Street Journal's Mary M. Lane will share her highlights from "New Objectivity: Modern German Art in the Weimar Republic, 1919–1933" on display through Jan. 18, 2016. For the Spiel, Mike explains why Donald Trump on SNL was aggressively unfunny. Today's sponsors: Stamps.com, where you can buy and...

On The Gist, music writer Chris Molanphy explains why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is often frustratingly arbitrary. For example, the millions of fan votes from their website count as much toward the impact on the final selection process as the vote of Geddy Lee from Rush. Molanphy writes Slate's Why Is That Song No. 1 column, and recently complied his picks in an article "Rock And Roll Hall Of...

On The Gist, a new show at Musée d'Orsay in Paris is the first to tell the story of prostitution in art, 1850–1910. Our guest Mary Lane from the Wall Street Journal will share the highlights. Then, we check back in with vexillologist Ted Kaye about the new national flag selection processes in Fiji and New Zealand. For more flag news, we strongly recommend subscribing to Vexilloid Tabloid, the bimo...

On The Gist, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker about her beef with the World Health Organization. Their recent headlines draw attention to a link between processed meats and cancer risk. Is that bulls--t? Maria's new book The Confidence Game is now available for preorder. For the Spiel, the common core's big PR problem. Today's sponsors: RealtyShares. With RealtyShares, you can invest in...

When thinking about America's prison problem, at some point we're going to have to begin asking how we're going to treat violent offenders differently. On The Gist, Fordham law professor John Pfaff joins us for the rest of our extended interview. Listen back to Monday's Gist to hear the first part of our short series. For the Spiel, Mike solves more of America's problems. Today's sponsors: Casper,...

If you're 42 or younger, you've never lived in a safer America than today. But if you were alive in 1960, today's crime rates are twice as high as they were then. Could that be why older politicians are resisting prison reform? On The Gist, Fordham law professor John Pfaff joins us for an extended interview. This is the first of a short series about America's prison problem. Join us on Tuesday for...

On The Gist, the film Spotlight depicts serious investigative journalism without the usual guns, car cases, and explosions. We speak with subjects from the film including journalists Walter "Robby" Robinson (played by Michael Keaton), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams), and Mike Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo). They're the authors of the book Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church. For The Spiel, is thi...

On The Gist, professional storyteller Matthew Dicks tells a story about how to tell better stories. It all comes down to the stakes. For the Spiel, a moment in the CNBC GOP debates draws attention to the use of "that" and "who" in public speaking. Today's sponsors: Goldman Sachs. Information about developments currently shaping markets, industries, and the global economy, on the firm's podcast, Ex...

For many Americans, the salt you sprinkle on your steak has less of an impact on daily sodium intake than what you pour into your … cereal bowl? On The Gist, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to examine the research into the impact of salt on your long-term health, and the common foods that drive up daily intake. For the Spiel, no one likes Joe Buck. Today's sponsors: SAP HANA. SAP HANA...

On The Gist, should we fear a league of robots taking away our teaching jobs? Slate's Will Oremus explains why even the smartest teaching tools still need a teacher's guiding hand. He recently wrote the feature "No More Pencils, No More Books." For the Spiel, a cadence that many … broadcasters indulge to convey … authenticity. Today's sponsor: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engine...

On The Gist, why the Harvard Business Review's list of top-performing CEOs has adopted a new formula. The magazine's editor Adi Ignatius explains why this year's rankings decided to factor in ESG, the catchall term used to discuss a company's sustainability and ethical impact. Plus, what you learn when you actually listen closely to the words of Ben Carson. Today's sponsor: Citrix GoToMeeting. Whe...

On The Gist, Sarah Vowell tells us about Gen. Lafayette, the French teen who befriended George Washington and became a symbol for the French alliance during the American Revolution. Her new book is called Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. In The Spiel, Mike solves politics with the help of Michele Bachmann, Clay Aiken, Jordan Klepper, Dennis Kucinich, James Carville, and Michael Steele. Joi...

On The Gist, Jill Duffy from the Productivity Report joins us to share a few tricks for gaming your inbox. Then, Jen Rustemeyer from Peg Leg Films shares what she learned from eating garbage in her documentary Just Eat It. For the Spiel, Mike dives deep into the "questions" asked during Thursday's Benghazi hearing. Today's sponsor: The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater. Join Sl...

What part of a governor's economic impact scales at a national level? On The Gist, Ben Casselman from FiveThirtyEight offers a new criterion from his article, "How To Evaluate The Economic Records of Governors Who Want to Be President." For the Spiel, the moment that stood out to Pesca from Joe Biden's announcement today. Today's sponsor: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. posta...