The Gist - Earth Off Its Axis

A new study indicates that humans have been slurping up water at such a greedy pace, we're actually causing the Earth to tilt. And this means? Unclear. But to put this into perspective ... we can't. And we're joined once more by Lee Berger, the South Africa-based paleoanthropologist who discovered a species of early human who may have done some things we thought only we can do, but Homo Naledi did them 250,000 years prior. Physically accessing the remains was a harrowing adventure in itself. Plus, what would happen if a dog became President? And the retailer Giant is facing retail theft, but also still wants us to scan our own orange juice. 

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara 

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The Gist - Small Person Buries Bones, Scratches Wall, Changes History

Homo Naledi is an extinct species of hominin discovered by a team led by Lee Berger. If Berger is right, Naledi's actions predate a few of the traits we had assumed to be uniquely Homo Sapien. Plus, Donald Trump crinkles paper on tape. And the signs of Generalized Epistemic Degradation. 

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara 

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The Gist - Prigozhin Supposin’ His Notions Are Well Chosen

Charles Kupchan, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Georgetown professor, and former National Security expert in the Obama and Clinton Administrations, discusses the motives and next moves for Validmir Putin and Yevgeny Prigozhin. Plus, Anthony Blinken's non-answerer extraordinaire. And how tracing down a stat can almost kill ya.


Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - BEST OF THE GIST: Homosexual Penguin Edition

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we dig up Mike’s 2005 NPR reporting on the hit documentary March of the Penguins. Then we listen back to Wednesday’s Spiel about the dreaded 6-3 Supreme Court. 

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara 

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The Gist - House Of Representatives: What The Hell?

Kadia Goba, politics reporter for Semafor talks about the Republicans breaking ranks and fracturing over gas stoves and coming together over pistol braces and whether or not any positive legislation will be enacted. Plus, an FBI agent stole documents, which, while certainly illegal, may not offer clarifying insight into the cases of Trump, Biden, or Hillary Clinton. And a Senate panel discusses trans rights by questioning the experts they agree with and ignoring those they don't.


Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - Dykes To Watch (And Listen) Out For

Alison Bechdel is both cartoonist and an eponymous test. We talk about adapting her long-running comic series Dykes To Watch Out For into an Audible Original Series. Plus, less excitement meets meatless meat, and bread takes a hit, too. Also, some 6-3 SCOTUS decisions, including the first we were warned about.


Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - An Actual-Sized Map Of Steven Wright’s Mind

The comic genius Steven Wright is out with his first novel Harold. We discuss Wright's thinking process, how his rate of speech works for him, and how, after all these years, he still doesn't know if a joke is funny. Plus, we're living in a golden age of nuggets. And how the 6-3 Court isn't behaving at all 6-3.


Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - Sex, Threats, And Audio Tape

In the new Podcast The 13th Step, reporter Lauren Chooljian tracked down allegations of sexual misconduct against the founder of the largest addiction treatment center in New Hampshire. She further documented how the world of rehab and substance abuse treatment is as rife with sexual harassment as it is weak on regulation. Then came the threats against Chooljian, and the lawsuits, and the bricks through the window of her and her parents' home. Two alleged attackers were arrested and arraigned today. Plus, a rich man's submersible vs. poor migrants' rafts, and how the prosecutor who cut a deal with Hunter Biden matters.


Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - Injustices: Current And Historic

Though our crew has the day off in observance of Juneteenth today, we put together a show featuring two archival interviews that focus on a pair of injustices black Americans have had to endure. First up is our 2015 interview with Dax-Devlon Ross about his research into black juror exclusion, a persistent problem in the U.S. legal system. Then we listen to our 2019 conversation with Brenda Wineapple focusing on her excellent book, The Impeachers: The Trial of Andrew Johnson and the Dream of a Just Nation. In the wake of the Civil War, Johnson vetoed legislation that Congress passed to protect the rights of those who had been freed from slavery, and the ramifications of that veto are still felt today.


Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - BEST OF THE GIST: Frances Suarez Edition

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we listen back to Mike’s 2020 interview with Miami Mayor Frances Suarez, who announced this week that he will run for the Republican nomination for President. Then we replay Mike’s Wednesday Spiel about the HATCH Act, in which he read a poem and now wants to analyze it. 

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara 

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com 

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