The Gist

Ruy Teixeira, senior fellow and political analyst of party coalitions and immigration. Jesse Adams, writer at The Ivy Exile on politics and culture. They debate whether Minnesota’s ICE actions were deliberate theater or policy failure. They unpack Trump’s Greenland remarks as bluster versus leverage on NATO. Quick asides hit sports money, TV ads, and pop-culture oddities.

Thomas Goetz, journalist and host of Drug Story, explores how medications shape history and policy. He and Mike debate pharma marketing, from disease awareness ads to GLP-1s like Ozempic. They unpack patents, pricing, and whether drug promotion sometimes achieves public-health aims while ignoring deeper system fixes.

Thomas Goetz, award-winning science journalist and host of Drug Story, unpacks the history from FDR to cholesterol science and the rise of statins. He explores cold math like number needed to treat, Lipitor’s population impact, and how medical guidance and pharma incentives reshaped EpiPen use and allergy advice. The conversation highlights how good intentions and industry dynamics alter public health at scale.

Elliot Williams, CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor who wrote Five Bullets, guides a dive into Bernie Goetz and his 1980s subway shooting trial. He recounts courtroom oddities like a ballistics reenactment with Guardian Angels. They probe how New York's fear, race, and juror perceptions shaped the case and why conviction or acquittal were both legally defensible.

Michelle Tafoya, former Monday Night Football sideline reporter turned political podcaster, discusses border chaos, fentanyl and the rule of law. She talks school choice and funding that follows the child. She reflects on involvement in GOP politics, the toll of potential runs for office, and a painful ambush interview that shaped her resilience.

Kenneth P. Vogel, investigative reporter and author of Devil's Advocates, delves into the rise of foreign lobbying and its murky economy. He maps Paul Manafort's model of selling access, Rudy Giuliani's pivot to security consulting, and the legal and ethical optics around Hunter Biden. Sharp, probing conversation about influence, money, and how the system incentivizes questionable players.

Jason Guriel, a critic and poet known for his cultural insights in "Fan Mail," discusses the evolution of cultural criticism. He argues that without gatekeepers, the abundance of voices leads to confusion rather than democratization. Guriel also examines how social media reshapes poetry into lifestyle branding, diluting artistic standards. They share thoughts on the shift from critical judgment to empty celebration and explore how our fractured attention informs perceptions, using Trump's Davos speech as a prime example.

Chuck Klosterman, a cultural critic and author known for his insights on pop culture, dives deep into the paradoxes of football. He argues how the sport's identity, particularly with brands like the Raiders, is at risk due to short-term financial gains overshadowing tradition. Klosterman discusses the implications of conference realignment, the nuances of player safety amid concussions, and the emerging role of gambling. Additionally, he humorously critiques America’s obsession with forensic sports analysis, offering a clever take on the evolving world of college football.

Chuck Klosterman, an author and cultural critic, dives deep into his latest book on football, exploring its unique mechanics and cultural significance. He argues that football represents the last American monoculture, shaped by its bizarre structure and the way it resists casual play. Klosterman warns that future critics might misinterpret the sport as decadence, overlooking its vital reflection of late 20th-century America. The conversation also touches on the role of football in TV culture and its anti-individual nature, emphasizing team over personal identity.

Mike Pesca, a sharp radio and podcast journalist known for his insightful commentary, joins Jeremy Hobson to unpack complex issues. They delve into the morally fraught Minneapolis ICE shooting, exploring its legal ramifications. The conversation shifts to how the Trump administration's extreme tactics can alienate voters. Pesca also critiques the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro, expressing concerns over the lack of a long-term strategy. Lastly, they discuss the implications of anonymous sources in media, challenging listeners to think critically about biases.