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The world-renowned negotiator on our “dealmaker in chief” and the benefit of approaching life as a deal waiting to be made.
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
In The Age of Choice: A History of Freedom in Modern Life, Sophia Rosenfeld traces how choice evolved from secret ballots and dance cards to consumer overload and political battlegrounds. She also dissects ihow the pro-choice movement’s framing was both a strength and a vulnerability. Also, Trump’s murder-rate comparison between D.C., Bogotá, and Mexico City, and in the Spiel, the case against “turtling” in public life when threats arise over professors posting their syllabi.
Produced by Corey Wara
Production Coordinator Ashley Khan
Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com
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The DC crime crackdown is driving Trump critics into fits of insanity and weird criminality; why can't they find a way to oppose and confront him soberly? That's the question for today. And the podcast concludes with a disastrous song performance by yours truly. Stay for the horror. Give a listen.
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Today, President Trump and the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, are meeting on U.S. soil for the first time, to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine.
David E. Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the wide range of possible outcomes and why, no matter what happens, the meeting is a win for Mr. Putin.
Guest: David E. Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
In response to Trump and Texas Republicans' attempt to rig the 2026 midterm elections, Governor Gavin Newsom calls a special election to redraw California's congressional map. The governor stops by the show to talk to Dan about why California Democrats decided to strike first—and what it will take for the ballot proposal to become law. But first, Jon and Dan discuss Trump's authoritarian power grab in the nation's capital, the January 6th attendee he appointed to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the President's negotiations in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
On this week’s episode, Zachary and Emma dig into three surprising pieces of underreported good news. Illinois becomes the first state to ban AI from acting as a therapist, which is sparking a debate about ethics, tech limits, and vulnerable users. Global deaths from extreme weather have hit record lows in 2025, and in the U.S., the FBI’s final 2024 crime stats show a dramatic drop in murder, violent crime, and property crime, even as public fear remains sky-high. As always, Zachary and Emma cut through the noise to uncover the facts and provide your weekly reminder that progress is happening.
What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.
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Aziz Huq, author of The Collapse of Constitutional Remedies, explains how liability insurers shape policing in small towns, why “rights versus rights” conflicts—from same-sex marriage to police brutality—often hinge on public trust, and how Chicago’s low murder clearance rate reflects deep distrust of law enforcement. He analyzes the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling on homelessness, arguing that its “status versus conduct” distinction masks moral judgments about choice and responsibility. Plus, Trump’s Kennedy Center Honorees include KISS, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, Michael Crawford, and Sylvester Stallone—prompting thoughts on merchandising, coffin diplomacy, and the Kiss Army.
Produced by Corey Wara
Production Coordinator Ashley Khan
Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com
To advertise on the show, contact ad-sales@libsyn.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist
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Follow The Gist List at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack