The Gist

On the Gist, don't touch your face. In the interview, Mike talks with legal analyst Jill Wine-Banks about her book, The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President. They discuss her role on the prosecutorial team during the Watergate scandal, the memorable Rose Mary Woods stretch, and how the American public kept Nixon accountable. In the spiel, Chris Matthews retired. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, 1946 was a good year for presidential births. In the interview, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat is here to discuss his new book The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success. He and Mike debate the meaning of decadence, Douthat's ideas of a way out of decadence, and whether or not we just need to pivot to a different religion. In the spiel, this Democratic nomination process sucks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, complaining to the FCC. In the interview, Maria Konnikova is back for another round of "Is That Bullshit?" This time she and Mike look into the light, blue light that is. Does it really affect sleep the way everybody claims it does? Should we all be buying those special glasses? Maria's latest book is The Confidence Game. In the spiel, the filibuster and Medicare for all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, why Bernie still needs the black vote. In the interview, Mike talks with senior fellow at the Brookings Institution E. J. Dionne about his most recent book, Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite to Save Our Country. They tease apart Dionne's arguments about visionary gradualism, and how moderates and progressives can move each other to greater social justice in the US. In the spiel, Trump's coronavirus press conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, the missed opportunities of the South Carolina debates. In the interview, Mike talks with Eitan Hersh, professor of Political Science at Tufts University, about his new book Politics is for Power: How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change. They discuss political hobbyism and why your news consumption is actually a form of slacktivism. In the spiel, who's the most like a muppet? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, Bernie Sanders' public access past. In the interview, journalist Conor Dougherty is here to talk about his new book Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America. They discuss potential solutions to the housing shortage in major cities, why we all flock to large metro hubs, and the difficulty of this problem when looking at people versus numbers. In the spiel, the rumble between the New York Times and West Side Story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, caucuses are bad. In the interview, Mike talks with Touré about why his podcast title, Touré Show, doesn't have a definite article. They discuss Touré's particular interview style, how he would write his Obama-era book on race and Blackness had he written it today during the Trump administration, and his upcoming podcast series on Prince. In the spiel, where the other candidates stand with Bernie before the South Carolina debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, Russia is at it again. In the interview, Mike chats with historian Alexis Coe, author of the new book You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington. They discuss the founding-father's height, dentures and that awkward obsession male historians have about the man's thighs. In the spiel, a lobstar of the antentwig. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, stop the racism. In the interview, Mike talks about the democrats with director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver Seth Masket. They discuss the way the debate went, and what could happen at the convention with all the delegates so spread out. In the spiel, what Bloomberg could've said. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, birtherism and deatherism. In the interview, Mike chats with Daily Beast reporters, Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsang about their new book, Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington. They discuss how they used their so-called "omni-shambles beat" to write the book and why there is nothing tempered about Trump's administration. In the spiel, visiting Ye Olde Bloomberg Soundbite Shoppe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices