The Gist

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 Mi...

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 Wedn...

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 insid...

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 vio...

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 w...

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...

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...

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 assassin...

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 vo...

On the Gist, Republican Grinches are scratching their heads while Santa Trump calls for more stimulus money. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trum p: 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...

On the Gist, who wants the vaccine? And, today in Remembrances of Things Trum p: 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 identit...

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...

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...

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...

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...

On the Gist, Pete Buttigieg named Biden's secretary of transport. And, today in Remembrances of Things Trum p: 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...

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 Democra...

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, sca...

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...

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...

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 employe...

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 bui...

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...

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 worke...

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, Tr...