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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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Artwork for The Gist

Latest Episodes

Today on The Gist, reaching into the archives for a pre-July 4th holiday treat, sharing a classic 2017 spoof that features dramatic readings of unexpected July 3rd historical texts. Then, the final episode of Not Even Mad, Mike Pesca, Elizabeth Bruen... more

Today on The Gist, we explore the media framing of the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship decision. Then, author and cultural critic Isaac Butler joins the show to discuss his new book, The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America'... more

Today on The Gist, a look back at a Webby Award nominated focus group spoof from the vault before diving into a major analysis of the Supreme Court's monumental ruling against Donald Trump's birthright citizenship executive order. Then, Pulitzer Priz... more

Today on The Gist, Mike Pesca delivers a bittersweet announcement. Then, acclaimed novelist and political chronicler Ben Fountain joins for the entire hour to discuss his sprawling, scathing new satirical novel, Rasputin Swims the Potomac. Fountain d... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ben Rhodes
Former Deputy National Security Advisor; author of All We Say
Obama administration
Episode: Ben Rhodes: "The Thing They Do As The Next Step Is The Most Consequential Part Of The Deal"
Mike Schur
Writer and creator/producer of The Good Place; also involved with Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Universal Television / NBC
Episode: Michael Schur: "The Afterlife Score Is Mathematical and Omniscient, But It Might Be Wrong"
Matt Welch
Editor-at-large of Reason Magazine, co-host of The Fifth Column
Reason Magazine
Episode: Not Even Mad: Anthony Weiner & Matt Welch
Joe Posnanski
Sports journalist and author; co-author of Big Fan, Two Friends, 82,490 Miles and the Wild, Wonderful Sports We Love
Author, The Athletic? (as discussed)
Episode: Joe Posnanski: "Life Is Lonely, and Sports Provides a Community"
Michael Schur
TV writer and producer; co-creator of The Good Place, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Television
Episode: Joe Posnanski: "Life Is Lonely, and Sports Provides a Community"
Gary Slutkin
Physician and epidemiologist, founder and CEO of Cure Violence
Cure Violence
Episode: Gary Slutkin: "Violence Meets Every Scientific Definition of a Contagious Disease"
Charles Fain Lehman
Senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, senior editor of City Journal
Manhattan Institute
Episode: Not Even Mad: Bradley Tusk & Charles Fain Lehman
Benoit Denizet-Lewis
Author of You've Changed
Book author
Episode: Benoit Denizet-Lewis: The Case Against “I’ve Changed”
Tom Steyer
American billionaire investor and environmentalist
Tom Steyer for President campaign / author
Episode: Tom Steyer’s Very Expensive Optimism

Host

Mike Pesca
American journalist and host of The Gist; known for political analysis and interviews; associated with Peach Fish Productions and The Gist.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 4.5k ratings
  • Centrist

    He’s white. He’s a man. He thinks everything is going great.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brudd3788
    United States2 months ago
  • Excellent

    Witty, refreshing sanity. Greet podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RokitanskyAschoff
    United States3 months ago
  • Poor interviewer

    Ricky intro of guest

    Only follow up thoughts to guest was disagreeing on a minor point

    Poorly engaged with the material of the guest.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DrewSauce…
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Iran

    What are talking about with respect to the danger of supersonic missile? Almost all missiles are supersonic. Always have been.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    justnuisance
    United States4 months ago
  • It’s a good show

    I actually love it. Kill me now.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brudd3788
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Highly informative and entertaining, with a good mix of humor and rigor.
Overall praised for honest journalism in a polarized media landscape.
Balanced, thoughtful questions and insightful guests.
Some listeners feel the host can lean too centrist for certain topics.
A few reviews note inconsistent interview pacing or tonal shifts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#46
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#51
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#60
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#82
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#132
Italy/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#190
France/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sadie Dingfelder: "You Cannot Be Burned by Wind Alone"
Q: Sadie, what did you do to explore the wind burn question?
She explains the 1974 mouse wind tunnel study showing wind alone didn't burn, but UV did, and wind amplified the burn when combined, clarifying that wind burn isn't a standalone phenomenon.
Ben Rhodes: "If We Had To Pay With All This Blood, It Was Worth It"
Q: What makes a speech great according to Ben Rhodes?
Rhodes argues that authenticity and a voice uniquely suited to the speaker are essential; great speeches articulate hard truths in a way that the speaker could not express differently, with backstory shaping that voice.
Not Even Mad: Anthony Weiner & Matt Welch
Q: How should cities and states handle the power of wealthy individuals who wield substantial influence?
Governments should strengthen regulatory frameworks and anti-trust tools to ensure markets remain competitive and accountable, without stifling innovation or the benefits of private-sector risk-taking.
Not Even Mad: Anthony Weiner & Matt Welch
Q: Is the rise of trillionaires compatible with broad-based economic opportunity?
The panel suggests there is a tension between wealth concentration and societal needs like healthcare and regulation; they advocate for strong but balanced capital markets and governance to avoid regulatory capture while maintaining innovation.
Not Even Mad: Anthony Weiner & Matt Welch
Q: What do you think about SpaceX and its impact on global economics and geopolitics?
SpaceX represents a leap in private-sector innovation that can drive new industries, but it also raises questions about governance, regulation, and how much public policy should accommodate a single company's influence.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Gist

What is The Gist about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show blends brisk, panel-style dialogue with sharp political and cultural commentary, balancing rigorous current-events analysis with humor and accessible storytelling. Episodes feature a rotating cast of guests—journalists, authors, academics, and public figures—discussing media, policy, and society through a centrist, sometimes contrarian lens. The format often includes sponsor reads and cross-promotions, creating a dynamic, fast-paced daily briefing that still invites thoughtful critique of both political parties and public narratives. Noteworthy are the host's tireless probing questions, willingness to challenge guests, and a reputation for honest, no-frills discussion that aims to inform as it entertains. Potential listeners who en... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Gist?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Gist:

1. Political Gabfest
2. Central Air
3. Reflector
4. KCRW's Left, Right & Center
5. The Good Fight

How many episodes of The Gist are there?

The Gist launched 12 years ago and published 3055 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Gist?

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What guests have appeared on The Gist?

Recent guests on The Gist include:

1. Ben Rhodes
2. Mike Schur
3. Matt Welch
4. Joe Posnanski
5. Michael Schur
6. Gary Slutkin
7. Charles Fain Lehman
8. Benoit Denizet-Lewis

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