The Gist
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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Special Announcement from The Gist
04/02/2026
Special Announcement from The Gist
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Why Brazil Stopped Its Bolsonaro and We Didn't Stop Ours
03/27/2026
Why Brazil Stopped Its Bolsonaro and We Didn't Stop Ours
Zack Beauchamp on democratic resilience, the WhatsApp group that saved Brazil's Supreme Court, and why corruption in Congress can sometimes be a feature. Plus: Trump may end the Iran war with the Strait of Hormuz still closed — which is somehow worse than before it started. And the surprising history of "bimbo." Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Zack Beauchamp: "You Kind of Have to Pick a Lane to Be an Effective Autocrat"
03/30/2026
Zack Beauchamp: "You Kind of Have to Pick a Lane to Be an Effective Autocrat"
Today on The Gist, The bizarre off-field behavior of Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is facing questions (and a lawsuit) after biting a woman and hurling anti-Semitic slurs. Then, Vox's Zack Beauchamp joins the show to discuss his research on democratic resilience. Instead of just looking at how democracies die, Beauchamp analyzes countries like Brazil, Poland, and South Korea to learn how they actually survive, while comparing America's current trajectory to the "competitive authoritarianism" of Viktor Orban's Hungary. Plus, Donald Trump's supposedly agreed-upon 15-point peace plan with Iran, breaking down all the reasons why the entire negotiation might just be a figment of the President's imagination. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Magic Shops, $200 Million Horse Ads, and the Ghost of Nibbles the Goat
03/28/2026
Magic Shops, $200 Million Horse Ads, and the Ghost of Nibbles the Goat
It's the Saturday Show, bringing you one from the vault and one from the week. First, Mike pulls up a world-exclusive, posthumous interview with Nibbles, the ghost of Kristi Noem's late family goat, who finally gets to have his say. Then, in the Spiel of the week, Mike dissects the recent ouster of Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem from Homeland Security. He unpacks the allegations surrounding Lewandowski's evasion of DHS guardrails, as well as Noem's $200 Million horse-riding commercial—an expensive campaign that somehow included a $500 line item from a South Dakota magic shop. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Julia Minson: You're Probably 50% Wrong
03/27/2026
Julia Minson: You're Probably 50% Wrong
Harvard Kennedy School's Julia Minson joins to discuss her new book, How to Disagree Better, and why the goal of most arguments shouldn't be persuasion at all. She explains naive realism, the boomerang question trap, and why understanding where someone is coming from beats trying to change their mind. Plus, Anthropic wins in court and the Prairieland antifa trial ends in across-the-board terrorism convictions, a reminder that when the stakes are so high outrage is not a legal strategy. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Not Even Mad: Yascha Mounk & Colin Cole
03/26/2026
Not Even Mad: Yascha Mounk & Colin Cole
Today on a Not Even Mad edition of The Gist, Mike is joined by political scientist Yascha Mounk (The Good Fight) and Colin Cole, director of policy outreach and communications at More Equitable Democracy and host of The Future of Our Former Democracy, to fiercely debate whether adopting proportional representation would cure America's polarization or simply plunge the country into parliamentary chaos. The trio also tackles the stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations, analyzing the conflicting strategic goals between the U.S. and Israel, and Donald Trump's temptation to rely on swift military might to solve complex diplomatic issues. Plus, Mike opens with a reality check on the viral ICE airport detentions, and the panel airs their "Goat Grinders" regarding lazy political headlines, the intellectual cop-out of the word "problematic," and movie trailers that spoil the entire plot. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Ben Ritz on Slopulism and the Democrats’ 2024 Lesson
03/25/2026
Ben Ritz on Slopulism and the Democrats’ 2024 Lesson
Ben Ritz, of the Progressive Policy Institute, joins to discuss his Atlantic piece, “Democrats Learned the Wrong Lesson From 2024,” and his argument that the party is drifting toward “slopulism.” He explains why half-baked promises on taxes, deficits, and affordability may be politically tempting but fiscally hollow. Plus, Iran’s reported response to a U.S. peace framework demands not just an end to hostilities but guarantees that war cannot simply be resumed under another name. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Larry Charles: "I Am Willing To Die To Get This Scene"
03/24/2026
Larry Charles: "I Am Willing To Die To Get This Scene"
Today on The Gist, comedy legend Larry Charles returns to discuss the fragile nature of comic genius, theorizing why Sacha Baron Cohen lost his "superpower" to the Hollywood bubble, how a rough Brooklyn upbringing prepared him for the life-threatening chaos of directing Borat, and why Seinfeld succeeded precisely because its creators didn't know the rules of sitcoms. Plus, in the Spiel, the cacocracy surrounding Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem's ouster from Homeland Security, marveling at Noem's $200,000 horse-riding commercial and a highly suspicious $500 line item from a South Dakota magic shop. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Larry Charles: "I Finally Had to Fire the Kid"
03/23/2026
Larry Charles: "I Finally Had to Fire the Kid"
Today on The Gist, legendary comedy director Larry Charles (Borat, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm) joins Mike to discuss his new book, Comedy Samurai, breaking down the chaotic, high-stakes reality of shooting with a live bear, the mechanics of building a "wave of laughter," and why crafting compelling characters always beats worrying about likability. Plus, in the Spiel, Mike reflects on the passing of Robert Mueller and how the intense, almost messianic fixation on his investigation ultimately distorted both his role and the reality of his findings. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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The Myth of the Iranian Moderate & The "Undecided" War
03/21/2026
The Myth of the Iranian Moderate & The "Undecided" War
On this week's Saturday show, Mike delivers a double-dose of Iran-focused analysis, starting with a sharp critique of the Western media's bizarre framing of assassinated Iranian leader Ali Larijani as a "pragmatic" peacemaker rather than an active enemy combatant. Then, we open the vault to revisit June 2019, unpacking the chaotic fallout after President Trump abruptly called off a retaliatory strike on Iran, and demonstrating how bluster and impatience can easily drag the U.S. into the dangerous territory of an "undecided war." Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Derrick Stroup: "I Sound Like a Bowl of Gravy and You Sound Like a Traffic Cone"
03/20/2026
Derrick Stroup: "I Sound Like a Bowl of Gravy and You Sound Like a Traffic Cone"
Comedian Derrick Stroup joins the show to talk about his new Netflix special Nostalgic — what it's like to have an Alabama accent in New York City, why working clean sharpened his comedy more than any other decision he's made, and how the school bus was the internet before the internet existed. Also: moving to Nashville, opening for Nate Bargatzi, and why ranting deserves more respect as a comedic form. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Is That Bulls*it: Does The Body Keep the Score - in Your Hips
03/19/2026
Is That Bulls*it: Does The Body Keep the Score - in Your Hips
Science journalist Sadie Dingfelder is back with "Is That Bullshit?" — this time investigating the yoga-class truism that trauma lives in your hips, and the broader claim behind Bessel van der Kolk's massively influential book The Body Keeps the Score. Also: Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard, and John Ratcliffe testified before Congress on election security, and the numbers on non-citizen voting are in. WIll it reach low double digits? Stay tuned! Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Molly Worthen: "Charisma Is a Tool of the Weak"
03/18/2026
Molly Worthen: "Charisma Is a Tool of the Weak"
Historian Molly Worthen discusses her new book Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump — arguing that charisma isn't charm but a polarizing story that tells followers who the heroes are, who the villains are, and where they fit in. Also: Israel killed Ali Larijani, one of Iran's most powerful figures, and Western outlets responded by mourning a lost future negotiator. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Mickey Bergman: "Even Maduro Has a Soft Spot"
03/17/2026
Mickey Bergman: "Even Maduro Has a Soft Spot"
Mickey Bergman, who negotiates the release of political prisoners, returns to explain how freeing hostages from the world's most hostile regimes runs entirely on emotional intelligence, not geopolitical leverage. He walks through two cases — using Bill Richardson's death to unlock a Venezuelan prisoner release, and a single carefully orchestrated meeting with Myanmar's military junta leader. Bergman also discusses the Gilad Shalit exchange that put Yahya Sinwar back in circulation. Plus, Mike updates the March Madness bracket with injury news: Ali Larijani is out for the tournament. And in the Spiel, why Burger King's Baba O'Riley rebrand is less a comeback than a confession. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Mickey Bergman: The Psychology of the Hostage Deal
03/16/2026
Mickey Bergman: The Psychology of the Hostage Deal
Today on The Gist, Global Reach CEO Mickey Bergman discusses the high-stakes world of international hostage negotiation. He details the emotional intelligence required to deal with foreign officials and clarifies the behind-the-scenes realities of securing the release of Americans like Paul Whelan, Trevor Reed, and Brittney Griner. Plus, Mike opens the show by analyzing the Republican-backed SAVE Act. He argues the proof-of-citizenship voting bill is purely a messaging tactic with no chance of passing the Senate, and points out that many of the voters most likely to lack ready access to a birth certificate actually favor Donald Trump. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Chris Cillizza: Male Friendships, Political Posturing, and the Death of Shared Sacrifice
03/15/2026
Chris Cillizza: Male Friendships, Political Posturing, and the Death of Shared Sacrifice
For this weekend's Saturday Show, Mike shares a recent Substack Live conversation with political analyst and commentator Chris Cillizza. They kick things off by diagnosing the crisis of adult male friendship, why society fails to foster it, and Mike's "erosion theory" of bonding. Then, they pivot to politics, contrasting Donald Trump's inability to sell the unpopular war in Iran with Ronald Reagan's successful messaging during the 1983 invasion of Grenada. Are modern Americans too accustomed to the friction-free "age of abundance" to accept genuine wartime sacrifices? Plus, a breakdown of the cynical legislative maneuvering behind the SAVE Act—noting that 36 states already require some form of voter ID, compared to 14 that do not—and a look at the shifting coalitions in the Texas Democratic primary, where affluent white liberals turned out in higher numbers than Black and Hispanic voters to propel James Talarico past Jasmine Crockett. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Geeta Gandbhir: "She Weaponized Her Privilege"
03/13/2026
Geeta Gandbhir: "She Weaponized Her Privilege"
Today on The Gist, historic double Oscar-nominated director Geeta Gandbhir joins the show to discuss her Netflix documentary feature, The Perfect Neighbor. She breaks down the tragic murder of AJ Owens by her neighbor Susan Lorincz, explaining how Florida's "Stand Your Ground" laws, racial bias, and easy access to firearms enabled a deadly escalation. Gandbhir also explores the ethical complexities of using raw police body cam and Ring doorbell footage to document the community's grief without re-traumatizing the victim's family. Plus, why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is acting like a media critic instead of fighting an actual war. And in the Spiel, Donald Trump's repeated attempts to unlawfully install loyalist U.S. Attorneys keep getting smacked down by federal judges—proving the Constitution's guardrails are made of steel, not hanging by a thread. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Not Even Mad: Jeff Nussbaum & Dan Rothschild
03/12/2026
Not Even Mad: Jeff Nussbaum & Dan Rothschild
Jeff Nussbaum and Dan Rothschild debate the Iran war’s shaky public support, the administration’s failure to make a clear case for sacrifice, and whether the mission is deterrence, regime change, or just another round of mowing the lawn. Then they turn to the Democrats who won in 2025, asking whether Abigail Spanberger, Mikie Sherrill, and Zohran Mamdani are actually governing on affordability or drifting toward the usual cultural and ideological fights. Plus, in Goat Grinders, conference badges, left-side driving in St. Lucia, and the humiliations of the new Acela. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Aaron Tracy and Roald Dahl’s Dangerous Double Life
03/11/2026
Aaron Tracy and Roald Dahl’s Dangerous Double Life
Aaron Tracy joins to talk about The Secret World of Roald Dahl, his podcast about the children’s author as war spy, improvised medical inventor, and world-class fabulist with a vicious streak. The conversation gets into Dahl’s improbable second act as a children’s writer, the darkness that made books like James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory endure, and the harder question of how to reckon with his explicit anti-Semitism. Also, a look at why Ronald Reagan sold the Grenada invasion to the public in a way recent presidents have not matched, and why Americans can sometimes be rallied by a rationale as much as by the facts. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Nir Eyal: "Your Brain Is Already Lying To You"
03/10/2026
Nir Eyal: "Your Brain Is Already Lying To You"
Today on The Gist, bestselling author Nir Eyal joins the show to discuss his new book, Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Extraordinary Results. He explains how the lead singer of Sofi Tukker cured her chronic neuroplastic pain by "throwing ass," why vision boards and manifesting actually ruin your chances of success, and why the placebo effect is getting statistically stronger every year. They also break down the critical difference between facts, faith, and beliefs—and why treating our beliefs as immutable truths is tearing society apart. Plus, Mike gives it to you straight. A geographical rundown of the world's most important, and underrated, straits. Interested in Nir's book? Free belief change guide is here: nirandfar.com/belief-change Bonus content and the 30-Day Belief Transformation Journal is here: Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Elizabeth Tsurkov: Surviving 900 Days as a Hostage
03/09/2026
Elizabeth Tsurkov: Surviving 900 Days as a Hostage
Today on The Gist, Princeton PhD researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov joins the show to share her harrowing experience of being kidnapped and held hostage in Iraq for over 900 days by the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah. She details the brutal realities of her captivity, how she used her intellect to outsmart her captors by leaving hidden "breadcrumbs" for intelligence agencies in forced confession videos, and the bizarre reality of being ordered to write geopolitical analysis for the militants. She also provides a rare, firsthand look at how the proxy group reacted in real-time to the October 7th attacks and the subsequent regional fallout. Plus, the differing approaches of the Trump and Biden administrations to hostage recovery. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Mike Pesca on Lifelong: The Bliss Molecule and the Psychology of Weight Loss
03/07/2026
Mike Pesca on Lifelong: The Bliss Molecule and the Psychology of Weight Loss
For this Saturday Show, Mike takes the guest seat on Lifelong with Ethan Suplee. Actor Ethan Suplee (Remember the Titans, My Name Is Earl) is well-known for his incredible physical transformation, having lost hundreds of pounds. Together, he and Mike get into a deep, candid discussion about the lifelong psychology of weight management, the economic politics of GLP-1 drugs, and why the extremes of the "Healthy at Every Size" movement veer into anti-science cultism. Plus, Mike reveals his biological "bliss molecule" advantage against anxiety. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Funny You Should Mention: Jena Friedman
03/06/2026
Funny You Should Mention: Jena Friedman
Today on The Gist, A jet-lagged yet very gracious comedian and writer Jena Friedman joins the show to discuss her new stand-up special, Motherfucker. She talks with Mike about why writing abortion jokes is harder than ever in a post-Roe reality, the challenges of making dark topics funny on her true crime series Indefensible, and the current landscape of risky political comedy. Jena also opens up about the vulnerability of tackling grief on stage after losing her mother while eight months pregnant. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Jamie Denbo: Why I Walked Away From Grey's Anatomy
03/05/2026
Jamie Denbo: Why I Walked Away From Grey's Anatomy
Today on The Gist, the line between free speech and harassment, and why the progressive left's blind spot for anti-Semitism turns "anti-Zionism" into a convenient excuse for abuse. Then comedian, actress, and writer Jamie Denbo joins the show to discuss reviving her beloved alt-comedy character, Beverly Ginsberg, for The Beverly Podcast. She opens up about her tenure as a writer and producer on Grey's Anatomy, revealing how the network's progressive double standards and post-October 7th hypocrisy forced her to resign. Plus, a healthy dose of "Jewish joy" and a few biting, in-character critiques of self-help gurus like Mel Robbins and Glennon Doyle. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Brian Platzer: A Story that Literally Couldn't be Told
03/04/2026
Brian Platzer: A Story that Literally Couldn't be Told
Novelist and middle school teacher Brian Platzer discusses the real teacher who inspired his book, a stroke that stole the man’s ability to communicate, and Platzer’s own baffling neurological disorder. In the Spiel: when deeply unserious rhetoric collides with the deadly serious business of war, and whether Donald Trump’s approach to conflict ever moves beyond slogans. Plus, the cheap-drone revolution in warfare. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Gina Gershon: "They Treat You Differently With Boobs"
03/03/2026
Gina Gershon: "They Treat You Differently With Boobs"
Today on The Gist, Actress Gina Gershon joins the show to discuss her candid new memoir, Alpha Pussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs. She shares the hilarious story of how a tequila-fueled comedy roast landed her a memorable role on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and drops actionable advice on dodging Hollywood predators, setting ironclad boundaries, and surviving the entertainment industry on her own terms. Bound, Showgirls and more are discussed. Plus, how the concept of ‘imminence’ is playing too literal a role in discussions of the war in Iran. And in the Spiel, the steelman answer to the question: ‘What is the Trump administration’s reason for going to war? Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Eli Lake: "It Could Be An Epic Historic Geopolitical Mitzvah"
03/02/2026
Eli Lake: "It Could Be An Epic Historic Geopolitical Mitzvah"
The U.S. is in its third day of war with Iran, prompting inevitable warnings of another Iraq-style quagmire. But is that the right historical analogy? Long-time national security reporter Eli Lake (The Free Press) joins Mike to explain why this air-only regime decapitation strategy is completely unprecedented in modern warfare. They break down the dangerous math of missile defense, the race to secure Iran's nuclear material, and why this is Trump’s ultimate foreign policy gamble. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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John Fugelsang & Corey Brettschneider: "Stochastic Self-Censorship"
02/28/2026
John Fugelsang & Corey Brettschneider: "Stochastic Self-Censorship"
It's the Saturday Show and we are airing Mikes appearance The Oath and the Office, hosted by Brown University political science professor Corey Brettschneider and comedian John Fugelsang. The trio dives into the broken pipeline of modern journalism, the unique occupational hazards of political comedy, and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s "stochastic self-censorship" campaign against late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert. Plus, Mike pushes back on the narrative surrounding CBS News and Bari Weiss, sparking a spirited debate on whether traditional journalistic objectivity still holds up when democratic institutions are under attack. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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James Kimmel Jr. : “Revenge Is Dopamine With a Law Degree”
02/27/2026
James Kimmel Jr. : “Revenge Is Dopamine With a Law Degree”
James Kimmel Jr. joins to argue that revenge is less a moral impulse than a brain chemistry trap. He tells a rural Pennsylvania origin story that starts with bullying, a beagle named Paula, and a mailbox bombing, then ends with the moment his “stop” circuitry saved him from becoming a murderer. His book is The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World’s Deadliest Addiction andHow to Overcome It, Plus, Anthropic backs away from its slow down for safety pledge as the Pentagon snarls at Dario Amodei, compelling the sorcerer to conjure smarter weapons. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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Not Even Mad: Austin Berg & Andrew Egger
02/26/2026
Not Even Mad: Austin Berg & Andrew Egger
Austin Berg (Chicago Policy Center) and Andrew Egger (The Bulwark) join Mike to dissect Trump's marathon State of the Union: was it a missed opportunity to reach the median voter, or a "clip farming" masterclass? They also unpack the awkwardly timed Supreme Court tariff ruling that derailed his economic pitch, and the high-stakes standoff between the Pentagon and AI giant Anthropic over autonomous weapons. Finally, Goat Grinders tackles the agony of vinyl record tariffs, the performative scourge of handheld lavalier mics, and how Twitter ruins the Winter Olympics. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List Follow us on Social Media: YouTube Instagram X TikTok To advertise on the show, contact or visit
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