
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.
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 3055 | Founded | 12 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsDaily News | |||

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
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He’s white. He’s a man. He thinks everything is going great.
Witty, refreshing sanity. Greet podcast.
Ricky intro of guest
Only follow up thoughts to guest was disagreeing on a minor point
Poorly engaged with the material of the guest.
What are talking about with respect to the danger of supersonic missile? Almost all missiles are supersonic. Always have been.
I actually love it. Kill me now.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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Apple Podcasts | #190 |
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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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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
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.
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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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