Posts

Posted on

The Gist - Jason Guriel: Why Culture Got Nicer—and Much Less Useful

Critic and essayist Jason Guriel joins to talk about Fan Mail and how cultural criticism curdled once gatekeepers vanished and celebration replaced judgment. He makes the case that abundance without curation doesn't democratize culture so much as drown it, leaving readers unsure what's worth their time—or why craft should matter at all. Plus, an analysis of Jack Smith's combative testimony before Congress and how "perjury traps" function when politics, not truth, is the goal. Also, dueling descriptions of Donald Trump at Davos—Pericles to admirers, shambolic horror show to skeptics—and what the split says about our fractured attention economy.

Produced by Corey Wara

Coordinated by Lya Yanne

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com

For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠

For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/

For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/

Follow us on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X https://x.com/pescami TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist

To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠ad-sales@libsyn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist

Posted on

Newshour - Trump: Board of Peace to forge ‘everlasting peace’

President Trump says his Board of Peace will help forge 'everlasting' peace in the Middle East and the wider world, but a number of European countries have refused to join the body. We hear from the president’s former Deputy National Security Adviser. 

Also on the programme: US envoys head to Moscow to meet with President Putin in latest round of Ukraine peace talks; and the nominations for this year's Oscars are out, with vampire horror Sinners receiving a record-breaking sixteen nods.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump holding charter for his Board of Peace initiative in Davos, Switzerland, on 22 January 2026; Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Posted on

WSJ What’s News - Trump Sues JPMorgan and Jamie Dimon for ‘Debanking’ Him

P.M. Edition for Jan. 22. President Trump sues JPMorgan Chase for $5 billion, alleging that the country’s biggest bank closed his accounts in 2021 for political reasons. Plus, after more than 20 years as a private company, SpaceX may soon be going public. WSJ reporter Corrie Driebusch discusses what’s pushed CEO Elon Musk towards an IPO. And this year’s Oscar nominations are out, with a record-breaking 16 nods for “Sinners.” Alex Ossola hosts.


Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Posted on

1A - Best Of: Who Gets To Decide What School Means For Students?

What's your most vivid school memory? Do you remember it as a time of exploration? Was it a place where you could figure out who you were and what you wanted to become?

Or did it feel like it wasn't made for you? Did it feel constricting, or like a place with lots of rules about how you had to act and what you couldn't do?

Your experience of schools likely depended on the administrators, who your teachers were, how your city or state set up the curriculum, and the resources your school received. Writer Eve L. Ewing argues that experience could also be shaped by who you are.

We sit down with Ewing to talk about her new book, "Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism."

What has school meant for students, and who influenced how schools function the way they do? And what are alternatives for how school could work for students?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Posted on

State of the World from NPR - The promise and frustration of a future economic powerhouse on Africa’s west coast

The booming population along coastal corridor from the cities Lagos to Abidjan has the potential to be a bustling West African economic engine, tied together by a long-promised superhighway that could slash travel time and supercharge trade. But the task of harnessing that potential has barely been met. We travel along a section of the road to understand why.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Posted on

Motley Fool Money - 2026: The Year of the Mega IPOs?

It only took us a couple of weeks into 2026, but it appears this year is shaping up to be the year that many of the largest private companies finally go public. It could start sooner than expected as SpaceX has hired bankers for a potential IPO this year. SpaceX could be the first of many


Tyler Crowe, Matt Frankel, and Jon Quast discuss:

- Rocket Lab’s test failure

- SpaceX’s IPO rumors and who could quickly follow

- Investing advice when analyzing IPOs

- IPOs on our radar


Companies discussed: RKLB, TSLA, EQPT


Host: Tyler Crowe

Guests: Matt Frankel, Jon Quast

Engineer: Dan Boyd


Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement.


We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode.


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Posted on

The Journal. - The Woman Behind SpaceX

Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, has overseen the rise of the rocket and satellite company. She’s also maintained a long relationship with the company’s CEO Elon Musk. Now, with a potential IPO looming, WSJ’s Micah Maidenberg reports on how expansive Shotwell’s role is, and explains the big year ahead. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 


Further Listening:
- When Elon Musk Moves In Next Door
- Elon Musk’s Unusual Relationships With Women at SpaceX

Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Posted on

The Bulwark Podcast - Fiona Hill: Putin and the Art of Manipulating Trump

Donald Trump is so enamored with Vladimir Putin he doesn't even know the Russian leader is regularly making fun of him in ways that can’t easily be translated. Trump is also running the White House like it's the Kremlin, with backdoor deals, quick enrichment schemes, nefarious activities, and cronies calling the shots—while people in official positions, like Marco, are just fig leaves. It’s the exact kind of political world where Putin flourishes. And his operation against the United States continues apace. Plus, the backstory on the proposed Venezuela-Ukraine swap, Trump's TACO on Greenland, Canada and Europe have had enough of the U.S. and buying American, Western allies don’t trust Vance’s dependence on tech bros, and hello: Ozempic is a Danish drug

The one and only Fiona Hill joins Tim Miller.

show notes

Posted on

Up First from NPR - Rahm Emanuel on 2026 Midterms and Politics in the Trump Era

Rahm Emanuel has held many political jobs, and he's considering a run for President. In a wide-ranging interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep, he critiques democrats and offers advice for the upcoming midterms.
Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

This bonus episode of Up First was edited by Reena Advani. It was produced by Barry Gordemer and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez. Our Deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens and our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy