The Gist

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work. On the Gist, state governments need help. In the interview, Dr. Jeffrey Shaman of Columbia University talks about his research modeling potential outbreaks, which is featured in the recent New York Times story, " Coronavirus Could Overwhelm U.S. Without...

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work. On the Gist, Trump thinks Peter Alexander is a bad journalist. In the interview, Mike talks with MSNBC analyst and Daily Beast columnist Jonathan Alter about how Trump could position himself as a two-term president. They discuss how a leader in crisis sh...

On the Gist, Trump's press conference. In the interview, Maria Konnikova is back to talk with Mike about persuasion. They discuss the best and worst tactics for convincing people of something the don't believe, and why it will make us feel better to try even if we fail. Maria's latest book is The Confidence Game . In the spiel, why governing less isn't a virtue in a crisis. Slate Plus members get...

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work. On the Gist, our slow government. In the interview, In the interview, Mike talks to CEO of Three Uncanny Four and creator of Planet Money Adam Davidson about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the US economy. They discuss the tools the Fed has to st...

On the Gist, the election mess in Ohio. In the interview, Richard Hasen, legal expert and professor at the UC Irvine School of Law, is here to discuss closing the polls in Ohio, the legal implications of how that decision was made, and why we need emergency plans in place for elections. Hasen's new book is Election Meltdown . In the spiel, desperate times call for desperate compliments. Slate Plus...

On the Gist, the war against invisible enemies. In the interview, Mike spoke with Dr. Fred Buckner of the University of Washington about how hospitals are dealing with COVID-19, who is and isn't being hospitalized, and the important things we need to do during this pandemic. The resource site that the University of Washington has created can be found here . In the spiel, how governors across the c...

On the Gist, the president is a disastrous communicator. In the interview, Mike speaks with his friend Luke Burbank, host of Live Wire Radio and Too Beautiful to Live , about what it's like in the Seattle area right now. They discuss travel, how this might affect podcasts, and even exchange a few laughs. In the spiel, we need your help listeners. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free p...

On the Gist, Trump's lies are so dangerous. In the interview, Mike calls his friend David Lichtman, who lives in New Rochelle, New York, on the edge of the coronavirus containment zone. They discuss what it's like on the ground, how it's affected local lives, and what the local government has done about it. In the spiel, Trump thinks he can win at coronavirus. Slate Plus members get bonus segments...

On the Gist, maybe Sanders was never really that popular. In the interview, we have part two of David Plouffe's interview. He and Mike go deeper on campaigns, what Trump needs to do to win again, and what Biden and Sanders could do to win the White House. Plouffe's book is A Citizen's Guide to Beating Donald Trump . In the spiel, you can't count on the youth vote. Slate Plus members get bonus segm...

On the Gist, Steve Bannon making some sense. In the interview, David Plouffe is here to discuss his new book, A Citizen's Guide to Beating Donald Trump . He and Mike talk about strategy, lessons learned, Biden and Bernie, and Plouffe's podcast, Campaign HQ with David Plouffe . In the spiel, the stories we tell ourselves aren't always helpful. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podca...

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work. On the Gist, Trump's antics will not work with the Coronavirus. In the interview, Mike talks with staff writer and national correspondent at The Atlantic James Fallows about how the media should respond to the current Corona Virus crisis. They discuss wh...

On the Gist, the International Criminal Court. In the interview, musician Stephen Malkmus is here to talk about his new album Traditional Techniques . He and Mike discuss the various instruments he used, tennis, and Santa Con. In the spiel, Biden's got the Obama coalition. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work. On the Gist, daylight savings time. In the interview, Mike talks with journalist and political analyst Yuval Levin about his most recent book, A Time To Build: From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can...

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work. On the Gist, Bernie and Biden. In the interview, Lizzie O'Leary is the host of What Next: TBD at Slate, but has had her fair share of time working in TV news. During those years, she experienced so many instances of the gross expectations and double stan...

On the Gist, don't touch your face. In the interview, Mike talks with legal analyst Jill Wine-Banks about her book, The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President . They discuss her role on the prosecutorial team during the Watergate scandal, the memorable Rose Mary Woods stretch, and how the American public kept Nixon accountable. In the spiel, Chris Matthews reti...

On the Gist, 1946 was a good year for presidential births. In the interview, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat is here to discuss his new book The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success . He and Mike debate the meaning of decadence, Douthat's ideas of a way out of decadence, and whether or not we just need to pivot to a different religion. In the spiel, this Democratic...

On the Gist, complaining to the FCC. In the interview, Maria Konnikova is back for another round of "Is That Bullshit?" This time she and Mike look into the light, blue light that is. Does it really affect sleep the way everybody claims it does? Should we all be buying those special glasses? Maria's latest book is The Confidence Game . In the spiel, the filibuster and Medicare for all. Learn more...

On the Gist, why Bernie still needs the black vote. In the interview, Mike talks with senior fellow at the Brookings Institution E. J. Dionne about his most recent book, Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite to Save Our Country . They tease apart Dionne's arguments about visionary gradualism, and how moderates and progressives can move each other to greater social justice in the US. I...

On the Gist, the missed opportunities of the South Carolina debates. In the interview, Mike talks with Eitan Hersh, professor of Political Science at Tufts University, about his new book Politics is for Power: How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change . They discuss political hobbyism and why your news consumption is actually a form of slacktivism. In the spiel, who'...

On the Gist, Bernie Sanders' public access past. In the interview, journalist Conor Dougherty is here to talk about his new book Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America . They discuss potential solutions to the housing shortage in major cities, why we all flock to large metro hubs, and the difficulty of this problem when looking at people versus numbers. In the spiel, the rumble between the...

On the Gist, caucuses are bad. In the interview, Mike talks with Touré about why his podcast title, Touré Show , doesn't have a definite article. They discuss Touré's particular interview style, how he would write his Obama-era book on race and Blackness had he written it today during the Trump administration, and his upcoming podcast series on Prince. In the spiel, where the other candidates stan...

On the Gist, Russia is at it again. In the interview, Mike chats with historian Alexis Coe, author of the new book You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington. They discuss the founding-father's height, dentures and that awkward obsession male historians have about the man's thighs. In the spiel, a lobstar of the antentwig. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c...

On the Gist, stop the racism. In the interview, Mike talks about the democrats with director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver Seth Masket. They discuss the way the debate went, and what could happen at the convention with all the delegates so spread out. In the spiel, what Bloomberg could've said. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Ho...

On the Gist, birtherism and deatherism. In the interview, Mike chats with Daily Beast reporters, Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsang about their new book, Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington . They discuss how they used their so-called "omni-shambles beat" to write the book and why there is nothing tempered about Trump's administration. In the spiel, visiting Y...

On the Gist, critiquing Bloomberg critiques. In the interview, we've got the second part of our conversation with journalist Andrea Bernstein on her new book, American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power . She and Mike went deep on Trump the first part, and now they're digging into Michael Cohen and the Kushners. In the spiel, Trump's pardons. Learn more about...