The Gist

With many well-respected liberal thinkers pressuring Ruth Bader Ginsburg to step down while a Democrat's in the White House, what might be going through her mind? Today on The Gist, Slate's Dahlia Lithwick discusses the latest news from the high court. Then, with ISIS on the march in Iraq, the American Interest editor Adam Garfinkle shares historical and contemporary insight from the right. In today's Spiel, our countdown of reasons Mike thinks the late Casey Kasem was overrated. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

Today on The Gist, why Chipotle has become an important battleground for open carry advocates in Texas. Then Mike and language maven Ben Yagoda discuss their pet peeves against words like "amongst," and revel in the American glottal stop. Yagoda's new book is You Need To Read This. Plus, this is what it sounds like when Mike spiels about doves crying. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

Forces for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, have taken control of significant parts of Iraq. Mike speaks with Slate's Fred Kaplan about who's to blame (hint: not Obama). We'll explore how unlikely political coalitions could unite to avoid pure chaos in the Middle East. For the Spiel, Mike shows that poll results are in the eye of the beholder. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

For the first two weeks of June 1964, Jimmy Nicol replaced Ringo Starr as the Beatles' drummer. Allan Kozinn of the New York Times explains how you move on from an experience like that. Plus, Sanjay Basu explains the arguments for excluding soda and other sugary beverages from the food stamp program, and Slate's John Dickerson answers one question, one question only, about Eric Cantor. And for today's Spiel, we need to talk about sex with dolphins. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

Today on The Gist, criminologist and homicide researcher Adam Lankford explains why some mass shooters seem so drawn to extreme ideologies. Then we speak with 11-year-old author Audrey Hinsdale about how her debut novel The Trigger is a metaphor for growing up. For the Spiel, Mike weighs the cultural impact of driverless cars. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

Today on The Gist, reporter and former Afghan Taliban captive David Rohde shares his insights into the Bowe Bergdahl transfer. Then Mike and author Colson Whitehead discuss how to find Zen and excellent jerky at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. He represents the "Republic of Anhedonia" in his new book The Noble Hustle. For the Spiel, Mike's dispatch from the barbecue queue. 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.

Today on the Gist, Politico magazine editor Susan Glasser talks with Mike about "politicization," and why politicians, of all people, like to demonize it. Mike also asks Stephen Dubner about the secret sauce that helped the Freakonomics empire take hold in book and podcast form. For the Spiel, let's partake of national doughnut day. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

May's unemployment numbers aren't out until Friday, but today's Gist explores what these monthly numbers actually tell us with Adam Davidson of Planet Money. Then Emily Yoffe of Slate's Dear Prudence column joins us for a post-Prudie impact statement with a conflicted mother weighing the price of sending her son to his dream school vs. a good, cheaper state school. In today's Spiel, Mike discusses eulogies and his new state of being uncle-less. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

Today on the show, a look at a Tea Party resurgence in Mississippi's GOP Senate primary with Slate's David Weigel. Then, in our regular segment "Is This BS?," Maria Konnikova explains why psychologist Walter Mischel's famous marshmallow study has come to loom so large in child-rearing theories, and what its limitations might be. In the Spiel, Mike asks you to guess which words are used more by Democrats, and which by Republicans. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

President Obama's speech to West Point graduates drew criticism for its restrained foreign policy prescriptions and less-than-lofty oratory. Today on the Gist, a look at Obama's turn toward more restrained rhetoric with former Carter speechwriter and New Yorker staff writer Hendrik Hertzberg. Then, Joe McGinty from The Loser's Lounge explains how his band performs tributes to our guiltiest of guilty musical pleasures. In the Spiel, we sniff through Mike's browser cookies until we uncover a truffle. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

Today on the Gist, a look at the release over the weekend of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in exchange for five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay. Jonah Blank of the RAND Corporation explains whether the circumstances of Bergdahl's capture matter. Then Mitchell Reiss, author of Negotiating with Evil, suggests that the question is not whether to negotiate with terrorists, but how to get the best deal. For the Spiel, Mike brings you news from places you might not have known existed. 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.

Today on the show, Adam Davidson from NPR's Planet Money discusses why income inequality matters to most Americans. Then comedian Gary Gulman drops in to discuss how even the smallest word choice matters when crafting jokes. And as New York considers reversing its ferret ban, Mike's spiel recalls the greatest moment of Ferret-related media. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slates-the-gist/id873667927?mt=2 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.

Today on the Gist, the case for integrating math into everyday conversation. Mike talks with Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to Be Wrong. Then, a look at a hostile takeover attempt that harkens back to days of Barbarians at the Gate. Jeffrey McCracken from Bloomberg explains how the drug company Valeant is attempting to buy Botox-maker Allergan with the help of an activist investor. Plus, Mike's Spiel honors Massimo Vignelli, the late graphic designer best known for laying out the NYC subway map. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slates-the-gist/id873667927?mt=2 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.

How much do Donald Sterling's attitudes toward race have to do with being an octogenarian? Today on The Gist, we examine the correlation between racial attitudes and age with Paul Taylor from the Pew Research Center. Then, TV critics Willa Paskin and Emily Nussbaum discuss the Mad Men midseason finale and how HBO's Silicon Valley has taken a turn for the worse. For the Spiel, Mike observes how the media have pulled us into the mind of a madman, again. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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 today's episode of The Gist, Mike talks with Ari Schulman of the New Atlantis about how it may be even more dangerous than we think to give so much media coverage to mass killers like Elliot Rodger, perpetrator of Friday night's shootings at UC–Santa Barbara. Then, he talks with Scottish school teacher and blogger Craig McAllister about the big choice facing Scotland in September: Whether to declare independence from the United Kingdom. In his Spiel, Mike uses his holiday weekend to make the hard choices about un-assigning himself assigned reading. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

A massive piece in the Atlantic by Ta-Nehisi Coates takes on the issue of reparations, and expands the conversation beyond slavery to include the much more recent past, and the present. We follow up with Slate's Jamelle Bouie about what reparations would actually look like today. Then, Slate's Dear Prudence, Emily Yoffe, follows up with past advisee "Please No Baby Daddy" to see whether her advice was helpful. For the Spiel, Mike conducts our first Gist shareholders meeting—and you're one of those shareholders. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 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.

Today on The Gist, a look at why peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians have broken down. Mike speaks with Ofir Akunis, a member of the Israeli Knesset, a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office, and right-hand man to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Then, Dan Kois and Allison Benedikt from Slate's podcast Mom and Dad Are Fighting perform the ultimate children's playground sign. For the Spiel, Mike has an honest discussion about Mark Cuban's admission of his own bigotry. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. 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.

Today on The Gist, the Wall Street Journal's Mary Lane tells Mike about the trove of art stolen by the Nazis that's been left to a Swiss museum. The art had been hidden for decades by Hitler's art dealer's son, who decided before his death to return the priceless works to the public. Then, science blogger Maria Konnikova assesses studies of the power of multitasking. And in today's Spiel, Mike considers what's in an animal name. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. 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.

Today on The Gist, we ask what it would be like to take the worst thing that has ever happened to you and see it displayed in a famous new building with a gift shop. We spoke with BuzzFeed's Steve Kandell about his Sunday visit to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Then, Patrick LaForge from the New York Times tells us the origin story behind a certain ubiquitous Twitter disclaimer that's attached itself to social media like a barnacle. For Mike's Spiel, he considers the North Korean pop star who shocked the world by actually being alive. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. 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.

We hear that a common obstacle to prosecuting campus sexual assault cases is the so-called "he said, she said" problem. Veteran prosecutor Christopher Mallios the joins us to explain how district attorneys can use existing laws to crack down on rape much more effectively. Then we'll talk with comic actress Judy Greer. You know her from somewhere (probably Arrested Development) and we'll find out how she handles being recognized on line at the grocery store. Plus, Mike's take on media diet sanctimony. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. 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 today's episode, NPR's David Folkenflik explains the frayed relationships that led to an embarrassing week for the New York Times. Then, Slate's Julia Turner joins us for a look at the newspaper of record's leaked innovation report. Plus, Mike's Spiel on who we describe as pushy and brusque. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. 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.

The Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi has been denied entry into the United States, but may very likely be the next Prime Minister of India. Shikha Dalmia, senior analyst at the Reason Foundation explains the diplomatic stakes on today's Gist. Then, the heroic moderator from today's viral Idaho GOP Gubernatorial debates explains how a cowboy, curmudgeon, biker, and a normal guy ended up on stage together. For The Spiel, Mike weighs the cost of the delayed arrival of the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Photo illustration by Lisa Larson-Walker 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.

Today on the show, who belongs on the terrorism watch list? Georgetown University Professor Daniel Byman explains what's involved in classifying guerrilla groups like Boko Haram as counter terrorist threats. Plus, Slate's Willa Paskin on depictions of sex and violence in HBO's Game of Thrones. For the Spiel, Mike decries the outmoded proof of identity that harkens back to the Middle Ages and affects who represents us in congress. 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 today's episode, Mike Pesca talks with Cathy O'Neil about the protest at Smith College that resulted in the withdrawal of IMF head Christine Lagarde as graduation speaker. Then, a wide ranging conversation between Ed Dunn, the coach featured in the new documentary "We Could be King," and Bill Courtney, the coach from the Academy Award winning doc "Undefeated." Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo "Against the Wall" by BoxCat Games "Rio" by 1000 Names "As I Figure" by Kevin MacLeod 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.

Today on The Gist, is buying Beats by Dre a good deal for Apple? NPR's Frannie Kelley weighs in on the headphones, the streaming service, and Hip-Hop's first billionaire. Then, Professor Rob Brooks from the University of New South Wales shares new research about how beards affect male attractiveness. Plus, in today's Spiel Mike notes the reopening of the Washington Monument. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail. Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo "Against the Wall" by BoxCat Games "As I Figure" by Kevin MacLeod "Power Glove" by C. Scott Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo "Rio" by 1000 Names "Power Glove" by C. Scott "Against the Wall" by BoxCat Games "As I Figure" by Kevin MacLeod 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 this Friday's Gist, Mike Pesca talks with Felix Salmon, senior editor at Fusion, about why it's not popular to prosecute bankers. Professor Ben Yagoda teaches us the power of the literary technique polysyndeton as demonstrated everywhere from the King James Bible to Lil Wayne. And for today's Spiel, Mike's outraged about the culture of outrage. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail. 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.

Slate's The Gist with Mike Pesca: The Telegraph's Tom Rogan speaks with Mike about the wisdom of sending forces to rescue the Nigerian schoolgirls. Later in the show, Mike tries his hand at freestyle hip-hop, and he shares recent news items related to urine. 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 today's episode, Mike Pesca talks with Mark Leibovich about politicians leaving Congress for on-air punditry. He then talks with Maria Konnikova about what personality quizzes really tell us. And today's Spiel centers on whether it's time for Americans to give Monica Lewinsky a break. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail. Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo "Readers! Do You Read?" By Chris Zabriskie "Power Glove" by C. Scott "Kosmiche Slop" by Anenon "Divider" by Chris Zabriskie 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.

May 6, 2014: Mike Pesca talks with Russia expert Strobe Talbott about Vladimir Putin's crackdown on free speech in Russia. Then, a talk with the author of the book Taming Lust, about "crimes against nature" in colonial America. And why tiny Moldova should be worried about Putin too. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail. Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo "Readers! Do You Read?" By Chris Zabriskie "The Great" by Broke For Free" "Power Glove" by C. Scott 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.

Mike talks with Slate's Dahlia Lithwick about today's Supreme Court decision allowing explicitly Christian prayers in public meetings. Radiolab's Jad Abumrad then turns the tables and interviews Mike about how he came to host his own show. And finally, we end with The Spiel, Mike's daily take on…something. Today's Spiel is about the promise of living forever, thanks to new insights from rat blood. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail. Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo "Enjoyable to Know" by C. Scott "The Great" by Broke For Free "Power Glove" by C. Scott "Against the Wall" by BoxCat Games 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.

Mike Pesca gives a little preview of his new daily show, debuting May 5, 2014 on Slate. 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.