The Gist

On The Gist, actress Erinn Hayes joins us to share her experiences performing as Dr. Lola Spratt on Childrens Hospital from Adult Swim. The show will be ending this year after seven seasons. For the Spiel, Zoe Chace from This American Life takes over. She's been speaking with Republican stalwarts about how Alexander Hamilton inspired them to vote for … Hillary? Today's sponsors: Slack, bring all of your communication at work into one place. Create a new team right now at Slack.com/gist, and you'll get $100 in credit for when you decide to upgrade to a paid plan. Goldman Sachs. Information about developments currently shaping markets, industries, and the global economy, on the firm's podcast, Exchanges at Goldman Sachs, available on iTunes. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Manisha Sinha joins us to discuss the long roots of the abolitionist movement in American history. She's the author of The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition. For the Spiel, there's no backsies or whoopsies for presidents. Today's sponsor: Betterment, the largest automated investing service—managing billions of dollars for people just like you. Get up to six months of investing free when you go to Betterment.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to explain the link between seasonal affective disorder and winter blues. Is it a real condition, or an overly convenient acronym? For the Spiel, why arguing about instant replays is a beloved American pastime. Today's sponsors: Monster. Find employees who work as hard as you at Monster.com/hiring. Monster. Find Better. Betterment, the largest automated investing service—managing billions of dollars for people just like you. Get up to six months of investing free when you go to Betterment.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, we ask Los Angeles Times reporter Joel Rubin what the San Bernardino investigators are hoping to learn from the decrypted iPhone. For the Spiel, hijacker hijinks! Today's sponsors: Slack. Slack brings all of your communication at work into one place. Create a new team right now at Slack.com/gist and you'll get 100 dollars in credit for when you decide to upgrade to a paid plan. Texture, the mobile app that lets you tap directly into the world's most popular magazines using your phone or tablet. Dive deeper into Vogue, People, Esquire, Time—with interactive content for a richer reading experience. Try Texture for free at Texture.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, the Guardian's Julian Borger joins us to discuss the International Criminal Court trial of one of the Bosnian War's main malefactors, Radovan Karadzic. Julian is the author of The Butcher's Trail: How the Search for Balkan War Criminals Became the World's Most Successful Manhunt. For the Spiel, Democracy is a pretty good system, except for all the dummies. Today's sponsors: Squarespace.com. Get a free trial and 10 percent off your first purchase when you visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code GIST. Betterment, the largest automated investing service—managing billions of dollars for people just like you. Get up to six months of investing free when you go to Betterment.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, we travel back to the year 14-year-olds shouted their favorite hits from Times Square to Carson Daly. Music writer Chris Molanphy shares Billboard hits from 1999 that shaped the future of today's pop charts. Chris writes Slate's Why Is That Song No. 1 column. Mike will be back with a traditional Spiel on Monday. Listen back to the 1999 hits mentioned in today's show in this Spotify playlist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, a classic episode from August 2014. When Amy Solomon was growing up in Chicago, she was obsessed with Gilda Radner. She wanted to be a comedian but worried she didn't have enough problems to talk about. For her Princeton senior thesis, Solomon explored the link between confessional comedy and mental health. In this special segment, Mike also speaks with comedians Sara Benincasa, Chris Gethard, and Gary Gulman about where they find balance. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Guardian US editor Lee Glendinning joins us to share findings from their award-winning data initiative the Counted. For the Spiel, Mike offers a textural analysis of the president's visit to Cuba. Today's sponsors: Goldman Sachs. Information about developments currently shaping markets, industries, and the global economy, on the firm's podcast, Exchanges at Goldman Sachs, available on iTunes. Betterment, the largest automated investing service—managing billions of dollars for people just like you. Get up to six months of investing free when you go to Betterment.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Mike predicts what Donald Trump will say at Aipac. Then, the latest bear news headlines reviewed with our regular expert Rae Wynn-Grant from the American Museum of Natural History. For the Spiel, three recent world events where language matters. Today's sponsors: Amazon. Detective Harry Bosch is back on the new season of Amazon's original series Bosch, based on the best-selling novels by Michael Connelly. Stream the new season now on Amazon Prime Video. Betterment, the largest automated investing service—managing billions of dollars for people just like you. Get up to six months of investing free when you go to Betterment.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, L. Jon Wertheim from Sports Illustrated explains the effects of sports on the brain. With Sam Sommers, he's the author of This Is Your Brain on Sports. For the Spiel, Mike addresses his white male brethren. Today's sponsors: Texture, the mobile app that lets you tap directly into the world's most popular magazines using your phone or tablet. Dive deeper into Vogue, People, Esquire, Time—with interactive content for a richer reading experience. Try Texture for free at Texture.com/gist. Betterment, the largest automated investing service—managing billions of dollars for people just like you. Get up to six months of investing free when you go to Betterment.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Slate's Ruth Graham demonstrates her total mastery of small talk from her piece, "In Defense of Small Talk." For the Spiel, are GMO labels informative or misleading? Today's sponsors: Monster. Find employees who work as hard as you at Monster.com/hiring. Monster. Find Better. Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, we ask Slate's chief political correspondent Jamelle Bouie if Donald Trump is a viable candidate in a general election. Then, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker ends the debate over the dangers of GMOs. She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, do the rules apply to Donald Trump? Today's sponsor: Monster. Find employees who work as hard as you at Monster.com/hiring. Monster. Find Better. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Mike answers the question, "Why all the horse race?" by offering a close look at the issue of magic from House Resolution 642. Then, Harry Enten from FiveThirtyEight uses his polling expertise to explain what today's many caucus results will means for little Marco Rubio. For the Spiel, even more advice for interpreting Super Tuesday 2 results. Today's sponsor: Roku and HBO Now. Roku players offer the biggest selection of streaming channels, like HBO Now. Learn more and try HBO Now free for one month by going to roku.com/thegist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Last night ESPN's 30 for 30 series aired the documentary about the Duke Lacrosse case called Fantastic Lies. Back when the Gist was being piloted in April 2014, we spoke with author William D. Cohan about the case following his book The Price of Silence: The Duke Lacrosse Scandal, the Power of the Elite, and the Corruption of Our Great Universities. For the first time ever, we'll air that interview on The Gist. For the Spiel, why all right-thinking Americans should want Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee. Today's sponsor: Squarespace.com. Get a free trial and 10 percent off your first purchase when you visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, our regular guest Chris Molanphy tells us how disco music swallowed up rock in 1978. We'll discuss Billboard chart hits from 1978, and just about all of them have a disco beat. He writes Slate's "Why Is This Song No. 1?" column. For the Spiel, a belated Lobstar of the Antentwig. Do check out this Spotify playlist to hear the songs mentioned in today's show one more time. It's got groove, it's got meaning! Today's sponsors: Amazon. Detective Harry Bosch is back on the new season of Amazon's original series Bosch, based on the best-selling novels by Michael Connelly. Stream the new season now on Amazon Prime Video. Goldman Sachs. Information about developments currently shaping markets, industries, and the global economy, on the firm's podcast, Exchanges at Goldman Sachs, available on iTunes. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist,Slate'sFred Kaplan shares the history and stories behind our ongoing cyberwar. He's the author of Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War. For the Spiel, a collection of news from the states. Today's sponsor: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, the only conversation about dreams that promises not to bore you to death. Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker joins us for a game we call "Is That Bulls---?" She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, the Clinton campaign bravely pushes forward. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, a new SAT is here, and the Today show has already failed the test. Author David Maraniss tells the story of an inflection point for Detroit from his book Once in a Great City: A Detroit Story. For the Spiel, no one is being offered 55 million dollars to be spied on naked. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, can we use game theory to make the case for or against the use of torture during an investigation? We explore various models compiled in Does Torture Work? with our guest John Schiemann from Fairleigh Dickinson University. For the Spiel, how the New York Times explains humor. Today's sponsors: Casper, the online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. Get $50 toward any mattress purchase by visiting casper.com/gist and using the promo code GIST. Squarespace.com. Get a free trial and 10 percent off your first purchase when you visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Adam Davidson explains the latest experimental development of a desperate economy—negative interest rates. Davidson is columnist for the New York Times Magazine and host of a new podcast with Adam McKay called Surprisingly Awesome. For the Spiel, oh yeah, more Trump. Today's sponsors: Texture, the mobile app that lets you tap directly into the world's most popular magazines using your phone or tablet. Dive deeper into Vogue, People, Esquire, Time—with interactive content for a richer reading experience. Try Texture for free at Texture.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, the story behind the so-called Chinese curse "may you live in interesting times." Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker tells us about international efforts to find the recipe for a happy, lasting marriage. She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, is a Donald Trump nomination inevitable or likely? Today's sponsor: Roku and HBO NOW. Roku players offer the biggest selection of streaming channels, like HBO NOW. Learn more and try HBO NOW free for one month by going to roku.com/thegist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Josh Putnam from Frontloading HQ explains what last night's Super Tuesday results mean when you do the delegate math. He's a lecturer at the University of Georgia, where he specializes in campaigns and elections. For the Spiel, common abortion arguments that aren't good arguments. Today's sponsor: Roku and HBO NOW. Roku players offer the biggest selection of streaming channels, like HBO NOW. Learn more and try HBO NOW free for one month by going to roku.com/thegist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, do we have more to learn from losers than winners? Huffington Post senior politics editor Sam Stein joins us to share the stories behind his podcast Candidate Confessional. For the Spiel, Mike reveals his workout secrets. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, writer Matt Bruenig makes the case for electing Bernie Sanders and explains why the candidate's top economic advisors say his policies could bring 5.3 percent gross national product growth. For the Spiel, a post-Oscars joke recap. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, we speak with the brilliant comic mind Neal Brennan about his new one-man comedy show 3 Mics. It's showing at the Lynn Redgrave Theater in New York City through mid-March. For the Spiel, a crazy 24 hours in presidential politics. What a country! Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, why the Oscars matter to the future of Hollywood. We discuss the ideas behind #OscarsSoWhite with Slate's Aisha Harris and NPR TV critic Eric Deggans. Aisha recently wrote "Why Creed's Best Picture Snub Matters" and Eric Deggans is the author of Race-Baiter. For the Spiel, scary Trump supporters. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker explains Sigmund Freud's lasting contributions to psychiatry and castration anxiety everywhere. She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, we dive into whale news from around the globe. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Adam Davidson explains why he's rarely enthusiastic about any politicians. How does he feel about experimentations with the American economy proposed by Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders? He's a columnist for the New York Times Magazine and co-host of the podcast Surprisingly Awesome. For the Spiel, Oscars so blah. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, an important update on the Brexit. Then, William Galston joins us to discuss the practical considerations for executing a Bernie Sanders agenda. Can it be done from the executive branch alone? Galston is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings, and a regular columnist for the Wall Street Journal. For the Spiel, why does Morning Joe hate Marco Rubio? Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Slate's Will Oremus joins us for a round of "One Question, One Question Only" about Apple's battle with the U.S. government. Harry Enten from FiveThirtyEight uses his polling expertise to explain what's ahead for caucus results this weekend and the overall value of political momentum. For the Spiel, let's thank our outsider candidates for rewriting the playbook. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, we knew you were going to listen to this episode about ESP. Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker joins us for a game we call, "Is That Bulls---?" She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, Donald Trump for pope! Today's sponsors: Texture, the mobile app that lets you tap directly into the world's most popular magazines using your phone or tablet. Dive deeper into Vogue, People, Esquire, Time—with interactive content for a richer reading experience. Try Texture for free at Texture.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Pagan Kennedy explains how writing the New York Times Magazine column "Who Made That?" led her to discover interesting similarities among many inventors. She's the author of Inventology: How We Dream Up Things That Change the World. For the Spiel, we take you to the Westminster dog show. Today's sponsors: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code GIST. The Gist is hiring a producer: Slate's consummate daily news and opinion podcast is looking for an experienced and creative producer to join our team. Apply here. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, a special guest host with some words of wisdom for job applicants. Slate's Forrest Wickman explains the complexity of Kanye West as an artist and helps dissect the track "Ultralight Beam" from his new album The Life of Pablo. For the Spiel, please bear with podcasters everywhere. The Gist is hiring a producer: Slate's consummate daily news and opinion podcast is looking for an experienced and creative producer to join our team. Apply here. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, actor David Morse tells us about his role as Big Foster in Outsiders, a new TV series from WGN America. For the Spiel, Mike finds a new appreciation for the furry-hooded coat. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Matthew Dicks and your host record the show in the wee hours of the night, after seeing a Bruce Springsteen concert. They'll present two stories from the Story Collider storytelling night at the Kraine Theater in New York. The first features our winning Gist listener Frank Kennedy, who tells a story of trying to connect with his autistic son. For the Spiel, Mike takes the stage to tell the story behind his big scoop at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. Special thanks this episode to Rose Eveleth, Ben Lillie, and Erin Barker for organizing and recording a wonderful night of stories. They have shows coming up Feb. 16 and March 15 in Brooklyn, and one on March 17 in London. Matthew Dicks is the author of The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs. You can listen back to all the past appearances in our storytelling series here on Soundcloud. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, the daughter of a Fort Hood victim explains how she became friends with the shooter's cousin. We'll speak with the HBO documentary Homegrown's filmmaker Greg Barker and subjects Kerry Cahill (the daughter), Nader Hasan (the cousin), and Philip Mudd, a veteran CIA and FBI counterterrorism official. Hasan and Cahill are both involved in the the Nawal Foundation. Mudd is the author of Takedown: Inside the Hunt for Al Qaeda. The documentary Homegrown is now available from HBO. For the Spiel, a special update about the New Hampshire primaries from the Realistic News Network™. Today's sponsor: Betterment, the largest automated investing service—managing billions of dollars for people just like you. Get up to six months of investing free when you go to Betterment.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Mike's thoughts on the P-word. Then, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker tells us about the challenge of doing a controlled trial on a controlled substance. She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, Mike fact-checks a widely ignored statement from Chris Christie. Today's sponsors: Betterment, the largest automated investing service—managing billions of dollars for people just like you. Get up to six months of investing free when you go to Betterment.com/gist. Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Murder is one of the most venerable subjects of journalism and drama. What was it about the O.J. trail that still entertains? On The Gist. reporter Jeffrey Toobin explains the case's lasting significance. He's the author of The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson. For the Spiel, let's dispel with this fiction that Marco Rubio doesn't know what he's doing. Today's sponsor: Betterment, the largest automated investing service—managing billions of dollars for people just like you. Get up to six months of investing free when you go to Betterment.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Slate's Justin Peters shares his observations from watching every Super Bowl in history over the course of two months. He's the author of The Idealist: Aaron Swartz and the Rise of Free Culture on the Internet. For the Spiel, another Lobstar of the Antentwig. Today's sponsor: Casper, the online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. Get $50 toward any mattress purchase by visiting casper.com/gist and using the promo code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Mike identifies the greatest depiction of a zebra in mass media. Here's the video. The, Dan Pashman from The Sporkful podcast explains how sound influences taste. For the Spiel, if a candidate offered to pay you 2,800 for your vote, would you take it? The Gist is Hiring a Producer: Slate's consummate daily news and opinion podcast is looking for an experienced and creative producer to join our team. Apply here. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, we don't mention Iowa once! First, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker separates the gold-tinted truth from the rubber-scented fiction when it comes to synesthesia. She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, what if your host was born to hand jive? Today's sponsor: Texture, the mobile app that lets you tap directly into the world's most popular magazines using your phone or tablet. Dive deeper into Vogue, People, Esquire, Time—with interactive content for a richer reading experience. Try Texture for free at Texture.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, listener C. Andrew Frank shares his experience caucusing in Iowa last night. Plus, Slate's Jamelle Bouie explains what the Iowa results tell us, if anything. For the Spiel, how to discuss Iowa better in the media. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Gay shares a landmark moment from his cancer recovery—getting annoyed in line at Starbucks. He's the author of Little Victories: Perfect Rules for Imperfect Living. For the Spiel, the one thing we should hope to learn from the Iowa caucuses. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, a best-of episode to welcome new listeners who heard our host on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me this weekend. First, the film Spotlight depicts serious investigative journalism without the usual guns, car chases, and explosions. We speak with subjects from the film, including journalists Walter "Robby" Robinson (played by Michael Keaton), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams), and Mike Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo). They're the authors of the book Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church. For The Spiel, New York City's police commissioner explains why obvious errors in the terror hoax helped the city avoid another a school closing. Today's sponsors: Credit Karma. Do not pay for your credit score! With Credit Karma, you can get your credit report, right now, absolutely free. Just visit CreditKarma.com/Save to get started! There are no strings attached and no credit card is required. Squarespace.com. Get a free trial and 10 percent off your first purchase when you visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, has the bully pulpit been in the hands of a poor communicator? Michael Grunwald from Politico joins us to discuss Obama's lesser-known accomplishments as discussed in his article "The Nation He Built." He's the author of The New New Deal. For the Spiel, a dark horse was endorsed, but we must consider the source of course—George Pataki. Today's sponsor: Squarespace.com. Get a free trial and 10 percent off your first purchase when you visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Yesterday on The Gist, Jesse Eisenberg performed his story "Marv Albert is My Therapist" alongside your host. Today, they'll discuss his story collection Bream Gives Me Hiccups and why Eisenberg is drawn to writing dialogue. For the Spiel, don't forget that it's only six days until the Iowa caucuses. Today's sponsor: Squarespace.com. Get a free trial and 10 percent off your first purchase when you visit Squarespace.com and enter offer code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While researching Ronald Reagan for his new biography, Slate's Jacob Weisberg grew to appreciate the 40th president's original mind and dedication to writing every day. As he explains on today's Gist, "We'd give that guy a column in Slate." Jacob Weisberg is the author of Ronald Reagan: The American Presidents Series. Toward the end of this episode, your host performs the vignette "Marv Albert is My Therapist" alongside actor Jesse Eisenberg. He's the author of the story collection Bream Gives Me Hiccups. Tune in Tuesday to hear their full interview. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, what factors determine how a domestic abuser is charged? We ask attorney adviser Jane Anderson from AEquitas: The Prosecutors' Resource on Violence Against Women. For the Spiel, much more ridiculousness in politics from Donald Trump to Anthony Weiner. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, guests Brian Koppelman and David Levien explain why they stopped making easy TV-show deals with networks. For Billions, the longtime creative duo decided to take the time to write the show they wanted to make on spec. Their series premiere set records for Showtime, and you can watch it for free online. You can also check out Brian's podcast The Moment. For the Spiel, Mike identifies similar issues raised by Making a Murderer and the new season of Serial. Today's sponsor: Audible.com, with more than 180,000 audiobooks and spoken-word audio products. Get a free 30-day trial and a free audiobook at AudiblePodcast.com/thegist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Gist, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker examines the benefits of eating the "Paleo" diet for a game we call "Is That Bulls--t?" She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, can Sarah Palin see syntax from her speech? Today's sponsor: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with the promo code THEGIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.