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On the Gist, talking is hard.
In the interview, Maria Konnikova is back for her usual game of “Is That Bullshit?” Today she and Mike tackle essential oils, talking through the history of using essential oils, modern studies, and the potential uses they might have. Maria’s most recent book is The Confidence Game.
In the spiel, weak arguments about political opponents.
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On the Gist, Central Casting strikes again.
In the interview, comedian Moshe Kasher is here to talk about his new comedy album Crowdsurfing. He and Mike discuss the difference between crowd work and prepared material, and the history of Moshe’s family.
In the spiel, Nancy ripping his speech.
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On the Gist, we went through hell.
In the interview, Mike talks with linguist Dennis Baron about his new What's Your Pronoun?: Beyond He and She. The two analyze the history of English language pronouns and debate whether or not language is meant for communicating "correctly" or simply for communicating.
In the spiel, translating the Iowa results.
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On the Gist, Donald Trump slurred his way through the State of the Union.
In the interview, Mike talks with public education advocate Diane Ravitch about her most recent book, Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America’s Public Schools. They discuss why she left the “dark side” of advocating for charter schools, and why schools should stop testing the children to death.
In the spiel, the acquittal of Donald Trump.
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On the Gist, the Iowa caucuses was created to disenfranchise babysitters.
In the interview, Mike talks with NPR’s Steve Inskeep about his new book, Imperfect Union: How Jessie and John Frémont Mapped the West, Invented Celebrity, and Helped Cause the Civil War. They discuss the ways in which the Frémonts navigated their world, and the modern currents found in their story.
In the spiel, the Iowa caucuses were a mess.
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On the Gist, how Elizabeth Warren inspires her supporters before the Iowa caucuses.
In the interview, Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon is here to discuss how the state has the highest voter-turnout rate, the possibility of granting 16-year-olds the vote, rent-control, and her favorite sketch from the show Portlandia.
In the spiel, the kingdom of the Kansas City Chiefs.
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On the Gist, Bloomberg will join the debate stage.
In the interview, Crooked Media’s Jon Favreau is here to talk about the new season of his series The Wilderness, where he goes to different parts of the country and explores politic tastes with focus groups. He and Mike discuss the four types of voters he targeted, what people want from a Democratic candidate, and the importance of the upcoming election.
In the spiel, landmines and military.
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On the Gist, Pam Bondi at the impeachment trial.
In the interview, journalist Ezra Klein is here to discuss his new book Why We’re Polarized. They debate if extremism and polarization are related, and talk about the increasing difficulty of compromise, and if there’s a solution to this problem.
In the spiel, Alan Dershowitz’s terrible argument.
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On the Gist, could Bernie Sanders win in Iowa?
In the interview, humorist and numbers ninja Matt Parker is here to discuss his new book Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World. He and Mike discuss the peculiarities of his page numbers, how he kept math fun, and a detailed exploration of what a decade is.
In the spiel, impeachment continues.
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On the Gist, Mike Pompeo and Mary Louise Kelly.
In the interview, Fred Kaplan is back and this time he and Mike are talking about nuclear bombs. They discuss the history of nuclear weapons in the US, why it’s concerning that Trump holds the detonator, and how these bombs factor into modern day peacekeeping. Kaplan’s new book is The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.
In the spiel, Trump team’s closing arguments.
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