Episodes 3,039
Avg. Duration 30m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.5 (3,611)
Since May 2014
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Schedule
Daily
Format
Episodic
Consistency
63%
Hosting
feeds.simplecast.com

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About This Podcast

For thirty minutes each day, Pesca challenges himself and his audience, in a responsibly provocative style, and gets beyond the rigidity and dogma. The Gist is surprising, reasonable, and willing to critique the left, the right, either party, or any idea.

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Recent Episodes

Gary Slutkin: "Violence Meets Every Scientific Definition of a Contagious Disease"

Jun 12, 2026 30m

Today on The Gist, a look at the Alaska's U.S. Senate race, where a retired teacher named Dan Sullivan was disqualified from running in a primary against the incumbent senator, who is also named Dan…

Not Even Mad: Bradley Tusk & Charles Fain Lehman

Jun 11, 2026 55m

Today on The Gist, Its Not Even Mad. Mike Pesca is joined by venture capitalist Bradley Tusk and Manhattan Institute senior fellow Charles Fain Lehman for a panel debate on political judgment and…

Sadie Dingfelder: "Raccoons Have Never Been a Rabies Vector in America"

Jun 10, 2026 34m

Today on The Gist, examining the upcoming criminal verdict for the Golden Gate Bridge climate protesters, breaking down the debate over jail time for high-impact civil disobedience. Then, Sadie…

Benoit Denizet-Lewis: The Case Against “I’ve Changed”

Jun 08, 2026 46m

Today on The Gist, Mike considers the difference between an election and election night. One is a careful accounting of the public will. The other is the made-for-TV version that gives conspiracy…

Tom Steyer’s Very Expensive Optimism

Jun 06, 2026 27m

In this Saturday archive edition of The Gist, Mike asks the question on everyone’s mind, or at least Tom Steyer’s: is Tom Steyer back? With Steyer rising in the California gubernatorial primary, Mike…

Christian Miller: Why We Say We Love Honesty, Then Reward Liars

Jun 05, 2026 35m

Today on The Gist, Mike asks whether everyone is a hypocrite, or whether hypocrisy has become so universal that the word barely functions. Graham Platner, Ken Paxton, Pete Hegseth, Susan Collins, and…

Claude Steele Has a Better Way to Talk About Race

Jun 04, 2026 41m

Today on The Gist, Mike revisits the suddenly shifting Spencer Pratt/Nithya Raman race in Los Angeles, where prediction markets flipped as late-arriving California ballots changed the picture. The…

Ian Coss: How One Man Controlled A Quarter Of New England’s Groundfish

Jun 03, 2026 39m

Today on The Gist, Mike looks at the LA mayoral race, where Karen Bass is advancing and Spencer Pratt may be too, depending on the late-arriving ballots that will almost certainly inspire totally…

Simone Stolzoff: We’re Getting Worse At Not Knowing

Jun 02, 2026 33m

Today on The Gist, President Trump says he “couldn’t care less” whether Iran negotiations are over because, frankly, they’ve gotten “a little boring.” Mike takes him at his word, which is exactly the…

Aaron Tang: "Re-instill This Idea That We Can Sit Around and Talk to Each Other"

Jun 01, 2026 41m

Today on The Gist, we analyze the Maine U.S. Senate race as Democrat Graham Plattner navigates a growing scandal while facing incumbent Susan Collins in a contest that tests party loyalties. Then, UC…

Mike Pesca on The Reason Roundtable

May 30, 2026 25m

Today on The Gist, guest host Milo Pesca introduces Mikes recent appearance on the Reason Roundtable podcast, analyzing the shifting parameters of the current conflict in Iran. The discussion panel…

Janet McNamara: Smart People Think I'm Smart, Stupid People Think I'm Dumb

May 29, 2026 1h 3m

Today on The Gist, its Funny You Should Mention with comedian Janet McNamara discusses her YouTube special Not Smart Enough, opening up about her viral 2010 American Idol audition, navigating…

Astead Herndon: Polling Has Blind Spots That Regular People Explaining the "Why" Can Fill

May 28, 2026 47m

Today on The Gist, an evaluation of America's legacy on its 250th anniversary, arguing that grading the nation on a global curve historical context yields a much higher mark than a C+. Then, America…

Holly Buck: A Pause on New Data Centers Isn't Really Going to Slow the Progress of AI

May 27, 2026 32m

Today on The Gist, examining how localized rescue stories capture public attention while mass crises are ignored. Then, University of Buffalo associate professor Holly Buck discusses her Jacobin…

Beyond the Politics of Contempt

May 26, 2026 34m

Today on The Gist, the race to stop a catastrophic chemical explosion next to Disneyland that forced 50,000 Southern California residents to evacuate. Then, Beth Malow and Doug Teschner discuss their…

David Oppenheimer: "The LSAT Is a Wonderful Predictive Tool for Determining An Applicant's Family Wealth"

May 23, 2026 19m

This Saturday edition features an unaired segment from the interview with UC Berkeley law professor David Oppenheimer regarding standardized testing in higher education. The discussion centers on a…

Alvin Roth: "A Repugnant Transaction Is a Morally Contested Transaction"

May 22, 2026 32m

Today on The Gist, the upcoming Enhanced Games are analyzed not as an ethical crisis, but as a weak, corporate-sponsored satire of athletic boundaries. Then, Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin Roth…

Not Even Mad: Isaac Saul & Jamie Kirchick

May 21, 2026 53m

Today is Not Even Mad. Tangle founder Isaac Saul and journalist Jamie Kirchick discuss the creation of the Department of Justice's $1.776 billion anti-weaponization settlement fund, the legislative…

David Oppenheimer: "Diversity Is Not About Being Comfortable"

May 20, 2026 54m

Today on The Gist, the profound failure of empathy within our immigration bureaucracy is put under the microscope following the tragic freezing death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a blind Rohingya refugee…

J Schuberth: "I'd Settle for Number Two"

May 19, 2026 35m

Today on The Gist, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defends a massive compensation fund for Donald Trump alongside a highly convenient IRS waiver. Then, J Schuberth joins the show to discuss her…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Gist have?

The Gist has published 3039 episodes since May 2014, covering topics in Daily News, News.

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The Gist is currently highly active with new episodes daily. Average episode length is 30m.

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