Believe in Science is a Terrible Idea | Former CDC Director Tom Frieden @pescagist

The Gist Dr. Tom Frieden, the former CDC Director under President Obama and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, joins us to discuss his new book, "The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives, Including Your Own." Frieden, a man credited with saving millions of lives through his work on Ebola and tuberculosis, shares his "See, Believe, Create" framework for tackling public health challenges. He vividly illustrates how seemingly simple interventions, like the widespread treatment of high blood pressure or the removal of lead from gasoline (a battle Alice Hamilton fought decades ago), have dramatically improved lifespans, even if individuals don't always feel the direct impact. Frieden doesn't pull punches when discussing the US's lagging life expectancy, attributing it to a fractured primary care system and a failure to scale proven solutions. He offers a candid retrospective on the COVID-19 pandemic, lamenting the CDC's silencing, the problematic vaccine mandates, and the devastating impact of prolonged school closures. He also raises serious alarms about current political interference undermining critical public health programs, from cancer research to environmental protections, emphasizing the urgent need to rebuild trust and prioritize evidence-based action.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca

🔥Get a premium edition of the podcast and help support Mike's work:
subscribe.mikepesca.com

🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
02:10 The Formula for Better Health: See, Believe, Create
04:35 The Humility of Science: What We Know & Don't Know
06:45 Why 'Believe in Science' is a Terrible Idea
09:00 Invisible Killers: PM2.5 & the Legacy of Lead Poisoning
13:18 The Prevention Paradox: Why Public Health Policies Fail
15:41 Why Americans Die Younger: Lessons from Europe
18:43 Scaling What Works: Diet, Blood Pressure & Micronutrients
21:37 Breaking the Cassandra Curse: Foresight & Public Health
23:42 Obamacare's Impact on Lifespans: What Do We Know?
26:45 Alarming Changes at the CDC: Fact vs. Fiction
30:53 Public Health During COVID: Did Advocacy Go Too Far?
34:40 COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates & Communication Failures
38:17 The Importance of Humility in Public Health Messaging

updated 11 months ago

Believe in Science is a Terrible Idea | Former CDC Director Tom Frieden

The Gist 2025-10-07 | Dr. Tom Frieden, the former CDC Director under President Obama and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, joins us to discuss his new book, "The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives, Including Your Own." Frieden, a man credited with saving millions of lives through his work on Ebola and tuberculosis, shares his "See, Believe, Create" framework for tackling public health challenges. He vividly illustrates how seemingly simple interventions, like the widespread treatment of high blood pressure or the removal of lead from gasoline (a battle Alice Hamilton fought decades ago), have dramatically improved lifespans, even if individuals don't always feel the direct impact. Frieden doesn't pull punches when discussing the US's lagging life expectancy, attributing it to a fractured primary care system and a failure to scale proven solutions. He offers a candid retrospective on the COVID-19 pandemic, lamenting the CDC's silencing, the problematic vaccine mandates, and the devastating impact of prolonged school closures. He also raises serious alarms about current political interference undermining critical public health programs, from cancer research to environmental protections, emphasizing the urgent need to rebuild trust and prioritize evidence-based action.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca

🔥Get a premium edition of the podcast and help support Mike's work:
subscribe.mikepesca.com

🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

_______________________

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/ pescagist

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mikepesca.com

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
02:10 The Formula for Better Health: See, Believe, Create
04:35 The Humility of Science: What We Know & Don't Know
06:45 Why 'Believe in Science' is a Terrible Idea
09:00 Invisible Killers: PM2.5 & the Legacy of Lead Poisoning
13:18 The Prevention Paradox: Why Public Health Policies Fail
15:41 Why Americans Die Younger: Lessons from Europe
18:43 Scaling What Works: Diet, Blood Pressure & Micronutrients
21:37 Breaking the Cassandra Curse: Foresight & Public Health
23:42 Obamacare's Impact on Lifespans: What Do We Know?
26:45 Alarming Changes at the CDC: Fact vs. Fiction
30:53 Public Health During COVID: Did Advocacy Go Too Far?
34:40 COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates & Communication Failures
38:17 The Importance of Humility in Public Health Messaging

They secretly lived in a mall for 4 years. What looked like a prank turned into...

The Gist 2025-10-20 | a protest against gentrification, a fight for creative space, and a snapshot of what cities were becoming in the 2000s. Before social media ruined pranks there was the Secret Mall Apartment.

directed by Jeremy Workman.
Hashtags (YouTube)
#SecretMallApartment #Documentary #UrbanArt #Gentrification #indiefilm

Full interview here with Michael Townsend, Mike Pesca and Jeremy Workman - youtu.be/HI37OOVjQn0

Secret Mall Apartment: They Lived in a Rhode Island Mall for 4 Years (and filmed everything)

The Gist 2025-10-20 | In “Secret Mall Apartment,” director Jeremy Workman chronicles how Michael Townsend and seven fellow artists created a clandestine living space inside the Providence Place Mall from 2003 onward—an audacious act born from the 1990s collision of booming development and fragile artist enclaves under Mayor Buddy Cianci. What begins as a curiosity—moving couches past security, building a cinder-block wall in a hidden alcove—unfurls into a layered narrative about gentrification, public space, and the corporatization of cities.

Powered by 25 hours of contemporaneous, grainy footage shot long before ubiquitous smartphones, the film captures the collective’s ethos, from a rogue tape-art 9/11 memorial to the practicalities of surviving inside a “soft target” mall in a post-9/11 security climate. Townsend’s even-keeled presence grounds the story as it navigates discovery, arrest, and a surprisingly light legal outcome. After a six-month theatrical run, the film is now available on major digital platforms.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

_______________________

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 The “Residences” Racket → Why this mall story hits different
2:05 “Super Corrupt, Got Things Done?” — Buddy Cianci and the Death Star Mall
4:08 When Developers Discovered the Artists’ Mills (and the evictions began)
6:00 “Week in the Mall” — Sleeping Where You Shop
8:53 From Clickbait to Cause: Is this more than a prank?
13:28 $89 RadioShack Cam, 320×240, 12fps… and a Cinder-Block Wall?!
17:09 Breakup in the Food Court — and yes, it’s on tape
19:05 Why This Couldn’t Happen Today: Eight artists, zero posts
21:14 Mall Nostalgia Is Real? 50–70% say keep them alive
24:27 Too Nice for a Rebel? Anger vs. “deep-seated frustration”
26:02 From OKC to 9/11: How tape art found its purpose
29:00 Soft Targets, Hard Truths: Why security missed a whole apartment
33:02 Oddballs with a Civic Edge: When obsession becomes a stance
35:54 Owning the Release: Titles, marketing, and avoiding streamers
37:23 “Not a Crime”: The judge, the $60 fine, and six months check-ins
39:34 They Wanted the Story: How mall lawyers tried to claim the IP

Big turnout for No Kings wont mean midterm turnout unless Dems actually register voters!

The Gist 2025-10-18 | ...

Chief Justice John Roberts is not simply calling balls and strikes...

The Gist 2025-10-17 | Lisa Graves argues that Chief Justice John Roberts talks about protecting the Court’s reputation — calling himself an “umpire” who just calls balls and strikes — but his actions tell a different story. Mike Pesca pushes back: is Roberts really undermining the Court’s legitimacy, or just a conservative jurist in a polarized era?

subscribe and check out the full interview
👇
youtu.be/m6zWXds6KRA?si=s4Lre1BpDDfCdl22

#SupremeCourt #JohnRoberts #TheGistPodcast #AmericanDemocracy #LisaGraves

America’s Breaking Point:The Supreme Court & Trump | Lisa Graves

The Gist 2025-10-17 | In this extended Gist conversation, Mike Pesca interviews Lisa Graves, author of Without Precedent: How Chief Justice Roberts and His Accomplices Rewrote the Constitution and Dismantled Our Rights. They trace the decades-long conservative effort to reshape the Court — from Shelby County v. Holder, which ended federal preclearance for voting laws, to the new doctrine expanding presidential immunity.

Graves calls the current Supreme Court “illegitimate,” arguing that 75 percent of its justices were appointed by Republican presidents and that its rulings systematically empower the right while undermining Congress and the electorate. Pesca presses back: Do rulings like Citizens United or Dobbs constitute a constitutional crisis, or are they just conservative jurisprudence?
The two spar over what “constitutional crisis” really means, whether Roberts’ court emboldened Trump, and the danger — or necessity — of using words like “illegitimate” to describe America’s highest bench.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca. The audio version contains extra content and Mike's hot takes on trending news.

🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 The People Behind the Rise of Justice John Roberts - C.Boyden Gray
02:43 Was Roberts' 2005 Confirmation a Strict Party-Line Vote?
06:10 Did Chief Justice Roberts Change, or the Court Around Him?
11:30 Roberts' Public Statements vs. Actions: Smoke Screen?
13:40 Trump Immunity Ruling & The Court's 'Shadow Docket'
18:16 Executive Power & The 'Major Questions Doctrine'
26:46 Shelby County's Impact on Black Voter Turnout
33:55 Court Contradicts Public Opinion: Beyond Dobbs
46:56 Affirmative Action: Radical Break or Mainstream?
55:28 Would Trump Act Differently Without Immunity Ruling?
59:16 Clarence Thomas & Samuel Alito Book Deals: Ethics & Impeachment
01:01:41 Is the Supreme Court Illegitimate?
01:06:10 Are We in a A Constitutional Crisis?

Is Anyone Actually Feeling this Shutdown? #notevenmad #podcastdebates

The Gist 2025-10-16 | Also in the full episode: Zee Cohen-Sanchez and Jonah Goldberg join to ask: Was Trump’s recent hostage deal an actual win for the administration? Is the specter of Trump's autocratic tendencies saved by his “lazy” pursuit of headlines given the more sinister ambitions of figures like Stephen Miller? Plus: Goat Grinders feat. Jonah's disdain for corporate rebranding, Zee's eye-roll at Steven Crowder's self-protection, and the shocking revelation about the TRUE ages of classic TV “old timers.” #notevenmad #unfkamerica #thedispatch #podcastdebates #civildiscourse #debate #internationalpolicy #ceasefire #middleeastpolitics #governmentshutdown2025

👉Don’t forget to subscribe for more & check out the full episode link here: youtu.be/H6RiKu8TW0k

A Strangely Quiet Shutdown, Trumps Middle East Success & Autocratic Tendencies | Not Even Mad

The Gist 2025-10-16 | Zee Cohen-Sanchez, founder of the Unf*ck America Tour, and Jonah Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Dispatch join Mike Pesca on the Not Even Mad Podcast to look at America's current level of political “f*ckery.”

Who’s to blame for the government shutdown and does anyone actually care? Was Trump’s recent hostage deal an actual win for the administration? Is the specter of Trump's autocratic tendencies saved by his “lazy” pursuit of headlines given the more sinister ambitions of figures like Stephen Miller? Plus: Goat Grinders feat. Jonah's disdain for corporate rebranding, Zee's eye-roll at Steven Crowder's self-protection, and the shocking revelation about the TRUE ages of classic TV “old timers.”

#notevenmad #unfkamerica #thedispatch #podcastdebates #civildiscourse #debate #internationalpolicy #ceasefire #middleeastpolitics #governmentshutdown2025

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

00:00 Government Shutdown: DC vs. NYC Impact & Blame Game
05:08 Nevada's Shutdown Struggles: Rural Communities & Trump's Influence
09:42 When Will the Shutdown End? Real-World Consequences
13:36 Democrats' Risky Shutdown Strategy: Gavin Newsom & Leverage
16:23 Trump's "Big Government" Right-Winger Stance on Healthcare
20:16 Can Democrats Work with Marjorie Taylor Green? A Risky Alliance
23:36 Hamas Hostage Deal: Trump's Unexpected Foreign Policy Success
26:19 Why Trump's Transactional Style Works in the Middle East
29:18 Israel, Zionism, and Domestic Politics: Will Peace Last?
33:33 The "Middle Eastern Denmark" Dream: Israel Out of the Headlines
38:32 Trump as Autocrat: Unpopularity, Strategy, & Power Consolidation
42:47 Trump's Laziness & Manipulability: The Juan Perón Analogy
49:18 The "Young Guns" of Authoritarianism: Steven Miller's Influence
51:27 Engaging with the Right: Z. Cohen Sanchez's Political Project
55:14 Goat Grinders: HBO Max, Steven Crowder, and Aging Stars

The New York Media Environment of the 80s and 90s Helped Create BOTH Trump and Al Sharpton #nypost

The Gist 2025-10-16 | ...

NYCs Wild 80s: How Trump, Sharpton & Tabloids Forged the Modern City

The Gist 2025-10-15 | Author Jonathan Mahler, celebrated for his historical deep dives like "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning," joins us to unravel the tumultuous yet transformative period of New York City from 1986 to 1990, the subject of his new book, "The Gods of New York." Mahler paints a vivid picture of a city undergoing a "complicated rebirth" from the brink of the dismal 70s, where figures he dubs "gods" — from Donald Trump to Al Sharpton and Rudy Giuliani — learned to wield the power of the tabloids. He argues these personalities, often "norm-breaking" in their pursuit of attention, were two sides of the same coin, mastering the attention economy long before social media. We delve into the era's shocking crime rates, racial flashpoints like the Yusef Hawkins murder that inspired Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing," and Mayor Ed Koch's complex legacy of economic revitalization at the cost of affordable housing, inadvertently sparking a homelessness crisis. Mahler's insights reveal how the city's raw, sensational media landscape of the late '80s forged the political and cultural DNA of modern New York, and indeed, much of our current national discourse.

#TheGodsOfNewYork #1980sNewYork #NYCHistory #DonaldTrump #RudyGiuliani #SpikeLee #MikePesca

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

Tired of group think and fake debates? Not Even Mad - where sharp guests clash respectfully

The Gist 2025-10-15 | And maybe even change each other's minds. It’s not speeches. It’s not screaming. It’s spirited, informed disagreement—moderated by Mike Pesca, who somehow keeps it lively and civil. New episodes of the “Not Even Mad” podcast every Thursday.

#notevenmad #podcast #civildiscourse #debate

Prized Horse Semen or Printer Ink? Which is More Expensive?

The Gist 2025-10-14 | Printer ink is so expensive, you could print your grocery list with Kentucky Derby winning stallion semen and save money! At $10,000 a gallon, it's the most absurd fluid purchase. #PrinterInk #TechFrustration #entshittification

full interview with Cory Doctorow here: youtu.be/EgBiv_KchI0

A Rundown of Big Techs Shady Tactics and How to Stop It | Cory Doctorow, Ensh*ttification

The Gist 2025-10-14 | Cory Doctorow, the prolific author and long-time activist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, joins us to unpack the core thesis of his latest book, "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It." Doctorow vividly illustrates how digital platforms, from social media giants to printer manufacturers, follow a predictable three-stage decline: they begin by offering value to users, then leverage that user base to attract and exploit business customers, and ultimately extract all value for themselves, leaving everyone else with a "pile of shit." He cites the outrageous cost of printer ink, famously more expensive than the semen of a Kentucky Derby winning stallion, as a perfect example of this predatory behavior. The discussion also highlights the crucial battle for "right to repair" laws, exposing how companies like Apple use obscure trademark claims like "tarnishment" to prevent independent repair, and how digital locks can turn simple wheelchair maintenance into a felony. Doctorow argues that this "Darth Vader MBA" approach, where companies constantly alter the deal, is a direct result of weakened competition and lax regulation, urging for a return to interoperability and user autonomy.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.

🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro
00:08 Is Printer Ink More Valuable than Horse Semen?
02:40 Right to Repair: Fighting for Interoperability
05:09 The Wheelchair Scam & DMCA's Digital Locks
08:24 Apple's iPhone Shredding & 'Tarnishment' Trademark
11:41 Is Brand Tarnishment a Consumer Protection?
14:11 Inshitification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse
16:55 Facebook's 3 Stages of Inshitification
20:56 Ad Blockers & The Myth of 'Revealed Preference'
23:58 Ad Blockers, GDPR & The Advertising Equilibrium
28:41 Greedflation: Why Companies Get Shitty Beyond Tech
34:47 The Darth Vader MBA: Altering the Deal
38:44 Apple & Google's 30% Mobile Duopoly Tax
43:40 Uber's Inshitification: From Disruptor to Predator
48:03 Disrupting Uber: Decomposing Monolithic Offers
53:30 Blue Sky: A 'Swinging Party' Without Fire Exits?
58:30 The Value of Competition & Autonomy in Online Forums

Slam Frank creator on part of the inspiration for the satirical musical

The Gist 2025-10-13 | ...

...feels like you read an essay

The Gist 2025-10-12 | Andrew Fox on his satirical musical Slam Frank and how the audiences come away with very different interpretations.

Full video: youtu.be/v-BQnIrZeCg

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist, Hosted by Mike Pesca: open.spotify.com/episode/21r75vvfFay9QCBFWg3PVt?si=uA_RQrP9Sy2ohqqi71WFQA

Andrew Fox (@andrewfoxmusic)
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CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

@Steph_Tolev sits down with Mike Pesca on the Funny You Should Mention Podcast S3E1

The Gist 2025-10-11 | Did comedian Steph Tolev really do a Hustler Magazine photo shoot? Yep. And it's gonna be classy as hell.

Steph Tolev Kicks Off Funny You Should Mention Season 3

The Gist 2025-10-10 | Go check out Steph Tolev on Season 3 of the Funny You Should Mention Podcast Hosted by Mike Pesca.

Full episode: youtu.be/0ZfSTsVV_90

🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/episode/1Qn5GAG1sh2hfEe6kl0ZVr?si=fO5t6luvRTSInQk-9-Pn2g
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CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

The Filth Queen on Why Gross Can Be Smart | Steph Tolev

The Gist 2025-10-10 | Season 3 of Funny You Should Mention begins with the “Filth Queen” herself Steph Tolev to explore why gross can be smart, how crowd work goes viral, Bill Burr’s boost to her career, and the Canadian comedy grind. Big laughs, sharp ideas, adult themes. We also get into slapstick dummies, family lore, Steph's Hustler Magazine shoot (yes that's real), and why Boston brings the best chaos. Come for the filthy stories, stay for the surprisingly thoughtful theories on why certain jokes land, and what that says about us.

Listen to Funny You Should Mention Here:
open.spotify.com/episode/1Qn5GAG1sh2hfEe6kl0ZVr?si=fO5t6luvRTSInQk-9-Pn2g

And Go check out @Steph_Tolev on her podcast Steph Infection : open.spotify.com/show/4BNQpoa9i9wFvjDcWuqDZM?si=04665a11832f4880

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
00:10 Steph Tolev: Filth Queen & Netflix Special
02:10 The Raw Chicken Story: A Shocking ER Tale
04:10 Which Guests on Steph Infection have more Disgusting Body Storiest?
05:10 Mexico Sun Eczema & Cruise Ship Skin Disasters
06:10 Hustler Magazine: Steph Tolev's Classy Photo Shoot
08:15 Why Women Have More Disgusting Body Stories
10:15 Family Jokes: Dad's "Bulgarian Tits" & Big Dick Photo
12:15 Steph Tolev's Real Life Comedy Has No "Punchlines"
14:15 How Bill Burr Became Steph Tolev's Comedy Champion
16:15 Bill Burr's Impact: From C-Clubs to Netflix Special
18:15 The Unsupportive Canadian Comedy Scene & Boston Show
20:15 Slapstick & Dummies: Filming the Netflix Special Intro
22:15 What is "Filthy"? Steph Tolev's Comedy Definition
24:15 "I Hate Female Comedians": Men DMing Steph Tolev
26:15 Crowd Work Gone Wild: OnlyFans Mom & Landlord with Guns
28:15 "Two Guns, One Landlord": The Viral Crowd Work Clip
30:15 Stalkers & Security: The Dark Side of Crowd Work
32:15 The Algorithm's Curse: Crowd Work vs. Polished Sets
34:15 Lady Stash: Sketch Comedy & Canadian Festival Snubs
36:15 Just for Laughs: Why Canada Ignores Its Own Comedians
38:15 Why Canadian Comedians Are So Funny: British Influence
40:15 Steph Tolev's Green Card & US Citizenship Journey
42:15 Steph Tolev's Comedy Style: Dave Attell & Rizzo from Grease
44:15 Scottish Dancing: The Roots of Steph Tolev's Physicality
46:15 Bulgarian Heritage, Bagpipes & Cultural Identity
49:45 The Stifling Nature of Scottish Dancing
51:45 Prop Comedy, Physicality & Dad's "Biggest Dick" Joke
53:45 Parents' Influence: Fake F*cking a Blow-Up Doll
55:45 Life Beyond Comedy: Golden Retrievers & Dog Farms
57:45 Online Hate: Men's Comments on Steph Tolev's Nose
59:45 Susan the Golden Retriever: Name Origin & Bad Recall
01:01:45 Citizenship Quiz, Political Comedy & Filth Queen Conclusion

Leaving Gaza isnt normal - its a privilege. #eyesongaza #plestiaalaqad

The Gist 2025-10-09 | ...

Jake Tapper examines the first prosecution of someone who killed U.S. soldiers on foreign soil...

The Gist 2025-10-08 | ...

How U.S. Prosecutors Brought an al-Qaeda Operative to Trial in the USA | Jake Tapper

The Gist 2025-10-08 | “Even some of the loved ones of those who were killed wondered—was it even illegal?”

In this Interview from The Gist, Jake Tapper joins to discuss his new nonfiction book Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al-Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War. The book recounts the remarkable true story of how U.S. prosecutors brought to trial an al-Qaeda operative responsible for killing American soldiers on a foreign battlefield—the first case of its kind. Tapper explains the immense legal and moral complexities: even some victims’ families wondered whether the act was illegal, given that it took place in a war zone. He explores how prosecutors built a case almost entirely from scratch, using fragments of battlefield evidence and testimonies from traumatized veterans. The story also sheds light on the evolution of terrorism prosecution, contrasting it with the failures of Guantanamo, where evidence gained through torture often undermined justice. Tapper underscores that real security came not from indefinite detention, but from due process and painstaking investigative work. The conversation broadens into the legacy of the War on Terror, the erosion of institutional trust under Trump, and the loss of experienced DOJ officials like George Toscas—warning that political purges and the “death of expertise” make America less safe, and how current conflicts like Gaza risk fueling the same cycles of radicalization the U.S. once fought to contain.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/episode/0qGAOlzoksyotQ4l7FcQDS?si=RG1un6tdRAiKtGuuqp0UEg

People Mentioned in this Video:
Spin Ghul — al-Qaeda operative at the center of the case.

Dave Bittkauer & Shreve Ariel — DOJ and FBI officials who led the prosecution.

George Toscas — senior DOJ official later sidelined after approving Mar-a-Lago warrant.

Gitmo (Guantanamo Bay) — symbol of flawed justice during the War on Terror.

Libya & Gaddafi — where Spin Ghul was imprisoned before being released during the Arab Spring.

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro: Jake Tapper's Race Against Terror
00:02:05 Prosecuting Al-Qaeda: The First Foreign Terrorist Tried in US Court
00:04:15 Criminal Trial vs. Gitmo: Making Us Safer
00:06:25 Ibrahim Harun's Confession: A Terrorist’s Proudest Moment
00:07:38 Why did they call him “Spin Ghul”?
00:09:00 Was Spin Ghul's handler actually a Saudi government official?
00:12:20 How did the veterans react to prosecuting their friend’s killer in New York?
00:15:05 The Incredible Sleuthing to Build the Case
00:17:15 The American Mosaic: Diverse Team of Investigators
00:19:25 The Allure of Mystery: Why Sleuthing Captivates Us
00:21:35 Why George Toscas was pushed out of DOJ & Why it is a Huge Loss
00:23:45 Lead Prosecutor of Abbey Gate Terror Suspect Fired for...what?
00:26:00 Government Working Right: The Spin Ghul Prosecution Model
00:28:10 Can Ideas Be Killed? The Enduring War on Terror
00:30:20 The Degradation of Agencies: A Loss of Values
00:32:30 Political Cases vs. Legitimate Inquiries: A Crucial Distinction
00:34:40 The Peril of Torture: Tainted Evidence & Less Safety
00:37:00 The Irreplaceable Value of Experience & Expertise

100 Million Americans dont have a primary care doctor. Former CDC Director Dr.Tom Frieden explains

The Gist 2025-10-07 | Why Americans live shorter lives than people in France — and it’s not just about diet or exercise. Public health pays too little, treats too late, and rewards procedures over prevention.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.

🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

Video interview here: youtu.be/dgMD2yqtRRg

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CREDITS:

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Producer:
Corey Wara

The Moment Joe Biden’s Decline Became Common Knowledge and why it mattered...

The Gist 2025-10-06 | What happens when everyone knows that everyone else knows? Steven Pinker dives into how shared awareness transforms power, politics, and everyday life — from market behavior to cultural revolutions.
@StevenPinkerPod

👍Like and Share to help support the Gist!

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉 open.spotify.com/episode/5ITHJ31td3QmhpfgL7fkaf?si=7IB_kfQLQT28TvW0AN9cwA

Social medias unique power S. Asia expert Jonah Blank breaks down Nepals recent political chaos.

The Gist 2025-10-03 | ...

Gen Z Uprising in Nepal | Jonah Blank

The Gist 2025-10-03 | “Very Quickly and Then Very Slowly” in Nepal;
South Asia expert Jonah Blank explains how a Gen-Z–driven uprising—fueled by social media, flaunted elite wealth, and ubiquitous VPNs—toppled Nepal’s government. He sketches a country where remittances power daily life, institutions lack public trust, and political parties play musical chairs. Also: Trump fires another U.S. attorney and pressures Microsoft to oust a former DOJ official. And in the Spiel: Hamas’s willingness to release hostages, and how Israel’s democratic self-image shapes the next move.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jonah-blank-very-quickly-and-then-very-slowly-in-nepal/id873667927?i=1000730017032

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
02:31 Gen Z Uprising: Social Media, Flaunted Wealth & VPNs in Nepal
05:20 Nepal's Populist Uprising: Why Are People So Angry?
08:15 Royal Massacre & Political Musical Chairs: Nepal's Instability
11:35 Nepal's Squandered Potential: The Resilience of the Gurkhas
13:50 Can New PM Shashilla Ki Fix Nepal's Credibility Crisis?
16:40 Nepal: Things Happen 'Very Quickly, Then Very Slowly'

The Ball State Firing, Cancel Culture, & Free Speech Under Heat

The Gist 2025-10-02 | The ACLU’s Ben Wizner and the Manhattan Institute’s Ilya Shapiro square off (and sometimes align) on the “ethos” of the First Amendment—from the Ball State firing over Charlie Kirk comments to cancel culture, government jawboning, and campus heckler’s vetoes. We dig into the Supreme Court’s shadow docket and unitary-executive fights, birthright citizenship, visas vs speech rights, and why institutions keep ducking protests. Plus: goat-grinders (the NBA’s three-point bloat, Lyme disease, and one painfully predictable sitcom).

This interview is from a Full episode of Not Even Mad, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/episode/4LS9Ac2dV3JBNlB26cWTR0?si=dmqsay8nSA2f2VnWJuKrpA
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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
02:26 Ball State Firing for controversial comments about Charlie Kirk
06:06 Cancel culture: Where do we draw the line?
11:47 Ilia Shapiro's Georgetown tweet controversy
17:15 Is government chilling free speech now?
26:00 What is 'jawboning'? Government pressure on speech
32:00 NYU disinvites Ilia Shapiro: The Heckler's Veto
40:18 Supreme Court's 'shadow docket': What is it?
49:54 Should we worry about the Supreme Court's shadow docket?
55:00 Goat Grinders: NBA, Lyme disease, & bad TV
59:00 Upcoming Supreme Court cases: Campaign finance & voting rights

While Israel Slept: The Intelligence Failures That Led to October 7th | Yaakov Katz

The Gist 2025-10-02 | Yaakov Katz co-author with Amir Bohbot, of While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East, traces the failures that led to October 7 and how Israel's security establishment misread Hamas's strength and intent. He explains how world opinion, hostage leverage, and casualty ratios constrain Israel differently in Gaza than against Hezbollah, and how Netanyahu's post-ceasefire decisions prolonged the war. Katz argues Israel allowed hardliners to define the mission and assesses the current 20 point plan. Plus: the shutdown as a real-world experiment in Trump's expanded executive power.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/episode/7fn6sTPeIDJxXkyr6TmGRj?si=OzeJfAH8QdikKORXgFqP8Q

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CREDITS:

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Producer:
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We know that fast food and fast fashion arent great. But what about fast flowers?

The Gist 2025-10-02 | ...

October 6, 2023 → normalization with Suadi Arabia was on the table. Then Hamas attacked.

The Gist 2025-10-01 | ...

Why Dont We Remember Any American Hostages?

The Gist 2025-10-01 | In today’s spiel, Mike digs into points three through six of the Gaza Peace Plan. He highlights Israel’s fierce commitment to rescuing its hostages—sometimes at huge political and military cost—and contrasts that with America’s relative indifference to its own citizens held abroad. Mike walks through In this Spiel Mike goes over the Gaza Peace Plan, Israel’s history of lopsided prisoner swaps, daring rescue missions, and the national consensus that no hostage can be forgotten. Then he asks what it says about America that so few hostages’ names are known, or that their plight barely registers. From there, Mike broadens the lens to consider what solidarity really means, how disunity erodes it, and how a distracted, divided nation leaves itself vulnerable to autocracy.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.

🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/episode/3Gl4NEVsK70PgHcb58qwY8?si=G1tEdZlISwuQwQ_0Wf8AIw

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CREDITS:

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Producer:
Corey Wara

“You don’t have to be a psychopath to wrongly convict somebody.” | Amanda Knox

The Gist 2025-09-30 | Knox recounts confronting prosecutor Giuliano Mignini and explores how certainty, incentive structures, and “alternate realities” turned her story into a sprawling international conspiracy. She parses the feedback loop between media and Italian justice, and why today’s true-crime-savvy public might have questioned the case sooner. Also: the 21 point Gaza peace plan that hasn't been faxed to Hamas, and a Spiel on why the Comey indictment reads as impermissible lawfare, not a good-faith prosecution.

Full episodes of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca...
🎧 Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt
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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
04:32 Amanda Knox interview with Mike Pesca
26:07 The Spiel on James Comey Indictment

When the gatekeepers of media were forced to compete with the entire internet...#podcastclips

The Gist 2025-09-30 | @therealamandaknox Amanda Knox on how the media and information environment changed for the worse (and the better) around the time she was accused....

Maybe an internet of true crime sleuths would have save her years in prison.

Full episode here - youtu.be/fo7zuFA0Nho

How to logically derive an insane theory. Amanda Knox on her prosecutors priors.

The Gist 2025-09-29 | Full episode here - youtu.be/fo7zuFA0Nho

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Most confusing TV commercial ever? Christian McCaffrey VISA toaster ad baffles Mike Pesca.

The Gist 2025-09-28 | This interview is from a Full episode of Not Even Mad Hosted by Mike Pesca.

watch here: youtu.be/7Q2hJ96iBQo

🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/episode/56RDFetcuVrv5U4WIGnLgD?si=f08b57f0ae904a6c

or search "Not Even Mad" on any podcast platform

When you have a podcast everyone wants to help.

The Gist 2025-09-27 | ...

Is the system rigged for Wealth in Equality? If so why do blue collar voters keep voting for it?

The Gist 2025-09-26 | ...

Blue-Collar Voters Don’t Want Blue-Collar Politicians | Andrew J. Taylor:

The Gist 2025-09-26 | IN this interview form The Gist, North Carolina State political scientist Andrew J. Taylor about his new book, A Tolerance for Inequality: American Public Opinion and Economic Policy, probing why voters often prefer public goods and tax cuts over classic redistribution—and how policy frequently tracks aggregate opinion more than pundits admit. Taylor also explores why blue-collar districts don’t reliably elect blue-collar representatives and what that says about representation.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca. 🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/episode/5mjD3VHq7a5TnLpVrGfYpv?si=2a23aacc517640f5

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Is the American political system rigged for the wealthy?
04:10 How accurate are income inequality measurements?
06:40 Do Republican policies increase income inequality?
09:50 Why Americans care more about personal finances than inequality
12:20 What economic policies do lower-income voters prefer?
15:20 Do voters want blue-collar representatives in Congress?
17:50 Income & education polarize policy preferences
22:00 Social mobility: The real problem with inequality?
24:30 Is America becoming a plutocracy? What the data shows
29:00 Solutions for inequality: Public goods, taxes & regulation

Yale Law Prof. delivers a searing analysis of how the Supreme Court’s affirmative action bans are...

The Gist 2025-09-25 | ...

The Fall of Affirmative Action: Yale Law’s Justin Driver on SCOTUS & Higher Ed’s Future

The Gist 2025-09-25 | Yale Law’s Justin Driver argues that SFFA v. Harvard/UNC broke with precedent and embraced a faux “colorblindness,” spotlighting the Court’s creative reading of Grutter’s 2028 “sunset.” He lays out the early fallout—sharp drops in Black enrollment at elite schools, Asian American gains, and the perverse incentive for applicants to “essay their trauma.” We debate mismatch theory, legacy and athletics preferences, and how universities can lawfully pursue diversity without outright defiance. Also: Argentina’s bailout, the Tylenol culture war, and new federal threats to district DEI funding.

#AffirmativeAction #HigherEd #SCOTUS #RaceAndEducation #Equality #Justice #CollegeAdmissions #Diversity

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca. 🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/episode/60ttVdtwLG9IDWatBjvLnu?si=fwYtCB04QsWtM-zHJL7ssw

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CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro: The Supreme Court's Affirmative Action Rulings
02:54 Plummeting Black Enrollment: The Ruling's Catastrophic Impact
04:55 Stare Decisis & The Sunset Provision in Grutter v. Bollinger
07:55 Affirmative Action's Positive Impact on American Society
10:20 Is Affirmative Action Still Needed? The 'Timing' Question
12:37 Asian Students & Admissions: Who Benefits from the Ruling?
15:00 Racial Non-Disclosure & Skewed Enrollment Data
19:00 Beyond Merit: Legacy Admissions & 'Boutique Sports'
22:00 Harvard Law's Black Enrollment Plummets Post-SFFA
26:50 Challenging the Hierarchy: Supreme Court & Elite Law Schools
29:00 Mismatch Theory: Does Affirmative Action Harm Students?
33:00 A Path Forward: Preferences for Descendants of Slaves?
35:00 Class vs. Race: Rethinking Admissions Criteria & Wealth
38:00 Parading Trauma: The New College Essay Requirement

What does Indo-European actually mean? And Why do billions speak it? Author Laura Spinney explains.

The Gist 2025-09-24 | Laura Spinney, author of the new book "Proto", helps unravel the remarkable story of Proto-Indo-European, the common ancestor of hundreds of languages spoken by billions today, including English.

full video interview here : youtu.be/v_0RmhoXWns

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca. 🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

The Language That Conquered the World: Laura Spinney on Proto

The Gist 2025-09-24 | Laura Spinney, author of the new book Proto, joins us to unravel the remarkable story of Proto-Indo-European, the common ancestor of hundreds of languages spoken by billions today, including English. She explains how this ancient tongue—never written down—likely originated 5,000–6,000 years ago in the steppe lands north of the Black Sea, around the contested borderlands of modern Ukraine and Russia, a historical irony that lends her research emotional weight. Spinny describes the interdisciplinary detective work combining linguistics, archaeology, and the game-changing science of ancient DNA, which has helped trace the migrations of the Yamnaya people who carried their language across Eurasia. We explore how early scholars began to dismantle the idea of languages as static—long before Dante, though his observations are part of the story—often against strong religious and nationalist resistance. The conversation also highlights the inherently political nature of language, captured in the quip that “a language is a dialect with an army and a navy,” and touches on the dynamic evolution of communication today, from slang to emojis.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca. 🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

www.lauraspinney.com

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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
00:43 What is Proto-Indo-European? The Ancestor of Languages
02:00 Indo-European: From Sanskrit to Western Europe
03:27 The Slow Realization of Language Evolution
04:41 What things got in the way of understanding our common language?
07:12 Cross-Pollination: Linguistics, Archaeology, and Evolution
09:00 Genetics Revolutionizes Ancient Language Study
11:40 How Genes, Culture, and Language Transfer Differ
13:45 The Black Sea Origins of Proto-Indo-European
16:31 Is Language Functionality Neutral? Why Languages Spread
18:50 Emojis, Slang, and Language Innovation
21:16 Writing About Language: A Humbling Process
23:51 The Tragic Irony of Proto-Indo-European's Cradle

Is that Bush*t? Do mosquitoes really prefer some people over others?

The Gist 2025-09-23 | ...

The Science of Mosquito Bites: Are You a Mosquito Magnet? | Sadie Dingfelder

The Gist 2025-09-23 | Are some people really more tempting to mosquitoes than others?
Sadie Dingfelder (@sadiefd) investigates… with her husband Steve as test subject. Is he really a bug buffet, or is that bullsh*t?

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca. 🎧Listen Here👉
open.spotify.com/episode/6ZYabWC2P5UIaEpEjhdfXw?si=592DzFtWTi6IPL_fcLcqew

Sadie's website:
sadied.com
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_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Do Mosquitoes prefer some people over others?
02:30 The Gambia Hut Study: Uncovering Human Attractiveness to Mosquitoes
05:00 The Science - What Attracts Mosquitoes?
07:30 The "Tasty" Factor: How Diet & Microbiome Influence Mosquito Bites
10:00 The Evolution of Mosquito Research: From Huts to Lab Assays
12:00 The Decoy Effect: Can Your Partner Save You from Mosquito Bites?
14:00 The Horrifying Truth: How a Mosquito's Proboscis Sucks Your Blood
16:00 Our Fault? The Surprising Origin of Human-Specializing Mosquitoes

Andrew Fox on his satirical musical Slam Frank. #satire

The Gist 2025-09-22 | ...

What if Anne Frank Were a Pansexual Latina Immigrant? | Andrew Fox

The Gist 2025-09-22 | Was the musical Slam Frank based off a tweet? Did Anne Frank Ever Check her Privilege? Andrew Fox, creator of the new controversial musical “Slam Frank,” answers questions about its audacious origins: re-imagining Anne Frank as a Latina with intersectional identities and her equally diverse family. Born from viral tweets and industry frustration, the show uses a satirical, Hamilton-esque style to challenge contemporary identity politics, "perspective empathy," and the theatrical world's descent into a "parody of a progressive space." Fox critiques the policing of minority actors' identities by white progressives and argues that the industry needs more dangerous, provocative art to combat boredom.

This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist, Hosted by Mike Pesca: open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt

Andrew Fox (@andrewfoxmusic)
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CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Slammin' Intro
00:02:07 What was the Genesis for Slam Frank?
00:04:22 Anne Frank's Privilege & Theatrical Identity Politics
00:06:49 "Present Your Papers": The Problem with Identity Casting
00:11:01 Andrew Fox on "Latinx" & Theatrical Language Policing
00:14:54 Why Modern Art Lacks Empathy for the Past
00:18:41 BMI Workshop & The "Portlandia" Effect on Progressive Theater
00:25:50 Dehumanization & DEI: The Pain Behind "Slam Frank"
00:32:25 Unifying Audiences w/ Satire & Ambiguity
00:49:25 Andrew Fox: Quitting the Industry for Fearless, Dangerous Art
00:57:42 Slam Frank: Show Dates & The Change.org Petition

H-1B for $100k? Dr. Ho say No!

The Gist 2025-09-21 | ...

Debunking Myths of Political Violence in America | Brendan Nyha

The Gist 2025-09-20 | Debunking Myths of Political Violence in America | Brendan Nyhan on The Gist Podcast

American political scientist and professor at Dartmouth College Brendan Nyhan reveals the hard data surrounding political violence in America. In this episode, Nyhan refutes the widely reported but misleading statistic that 39% of Democrats support using force to remove Donald Trump from office. Through rigorous survey methodologies and insightful analysis, Nyhan reveals the actual support for physical violence is significantly lower, challenging current media narratives. The discussion also explores the dangers of misperceptions, the role of political elites in shaping public opinion, and the potential implications for democracy. Tune in to understand the true pulse of American political sentiment and the importance of accurate data interpretation.

Listen to the episode: open.spotify.com/episode/4qWK59R8cdiMeGuXSoLhOd?si=0c00735c825d4d1d

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CREDITS:

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Producer:
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#TheGist, #MikePesca, #podcast, #podcasting, #dailynews, #news, #currentaffairs, #politics, #commentary, #politicalanalysis, #politicalcommentary, #freethinking, #media, #medialiteracy, #unbiasednews, #criticalthinking

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
02:00 Unpacking "Support for Political Violence": What Do People Really Mean?
04:30 How we Accurately Measure Political Violence Support in Surveys
07:51 Support for Political Violence Actually Dropped After Trump Assassination Attempt
09:30 Authoritarian Speed Run: How Events Are Used for Crackdowns
12:00 Is Authoritarianism Tolerable? The Jimmy Kimmel Incident & Free Speech
14:30 Why Past Predictions of Election Violence Were Wrong & Jan 6th
17:00 The Power of Trump: Reshaping Narratives & Excusing Violence
19:30 Brendan Nyhan: Political Science, Democracy & Bright Line Watch

Endorsement for Political Violence went DOWN after 1st Trump assassination attempt. #podcastclips

The Gist 2025-09-19 | ...

Is the president not held to a higher standard anymore? #trump #freespeech

The Gist 2025-09-18 | ...

Is Trump a Fascist Yet?

The Gist 2025-09-18 | On this week's episode of "Not Even Mad" Historian Michael A. Cohen and author James Kirchick join Mike Pesca for a sharp discussion on the Charlie Kirk assassination and the immediate retreat to priors — who’s weaponizing grief, what counts as incitement, and whether “fascistic” vs. “authoritarian” language clarifies or inflames. Plus, the TikTok law end-run and why process crimes don’t move voters the way visible force does.

In Goat Grinders: antisemitic conspiracies about Kirk’s murder; presidential pressure to prosecute Letitia James; and one deeply baffling Visa/Christian McCaffrey toaster ad that raises more questions than it protects appliances.

Listen to the full episode:
open.spotify.com/episode/56RDFetcuVrv5U4WIGnLgD?si=c02fcbff92d14d3a

Not Even Mad Feed: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-even-mad/id1651047503

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CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Editor:
Corey Wara