The Gist

On The Gist, corn syrup and beer. In the interview, what's the difference between a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old? In terms of maturity, not so much. But only one of them has the right to vote. In Oregon, state Sen. Shemia Fagan is hoping to change that, and she's letting young activists take the lead. In the Spiel, who wants to talk about reparations? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, asymmetric warfare means America's got some pretty lame enemies. In the interview, women aren't the only demographic group making the 2020 race especially diverse. Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is considering a run for office; he's a millennial, a veteran, and openly gay. We get his thoughts on the size of the Supreme Court and Congress, and his feelings about the humble penny. Buttigieg's new book is Shortest Way Home: One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future. In the Spiel, what the Oscars, the Virginia governorship, and Amazon HQ2 have in common. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, even with a genuinely good story, president Trump just can't get his facts right. In the interview, his name is Mo Rocca, and he's out with a new podcast of obituaries. So it's only natural, of course, that it be called Mobituaries. His audio tributes can be for both people and things, including JFK impersonator Vaughn Meader and the humble station wagon. In the Spiel, America's billionaires do some good, and they don't make the rest of us any poorer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, the deep state or a shallow president? In the interview, director Leslye Headland has been on The Gist before, and is back for more. But unlike the protagonist of Russian Doll, her new Netflix show, he isn't likely to find herself stuck in a time loop, reliving the same moments over and over again. Headland joins alongside Rebecca Henderson, who stars in the show. And, fun fact: the two are married! In the Spiel, Disney World's Hall of Presidents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, news should be new. In the interview, our resident vexillologist Ted Kaye is back to talk about San Francisco's flag. Where does its design come from, and is it really the best modern representation of the city? Kaye's book is Good Flag, Bad Flag. In the Spiel, Bernie Sanders and the viability of policy ideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, Bernie is in. Are billionaires out? In the interview, president Trump may be the chief saber-rattler when it comes to China, but acting tough against the world's second biggest economy is a bipartisan pastime. With challenges like global warming and nuclear armament on the line, Kaiser Kuo says, the U.S. might do better with cooperation instead of rivalry. Kuo is a co-founder of the Sinica podcast and the editor-at-large of SupChina. In the Spiel, algorithms aren't just for Facebook—they're also used in criminal justice. Here's why they shouldn't be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, racy names for missiles. In the interview, Chris Molanphy is here to talk about the Billboard hits of 1979, disco's last hurrah, and how the year prepares for the coming wave of pop. Molanphy is the host of Hit Parade and writes the column Why Is This Song No. 1? In the Spiel, Amazon leaving New York City is a big loss but people don't seem to realize it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, sometimes Howard Stern can be helpful. In the interview, stand-up comedian and podcaster Matt Braunger is here to discuss his new special Finally Live in Portland, his podcast Advice From a Dipshit, and whether or not he would eat racist fudge. In the Spiel, the human tragedy of losing animals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, Democratic leaders should slow down the next time a Virginia-sized fiasco comes along. In the interview, podcasters can storm off a set too—even if it's their own. Words Matter host Adam Levine pressed his colleague Steve Schmidt on details about his advising gig for 2020 hopeful Howard Schultz. And it wasn't just because that posed a possible conflict of interest for the political podcast; Levine says his regular listeners wanted answers on the guy who, in their eyes, could get enough votes to cause another Trump victory. In the Spiel, and in El Paso on Monday: presidential logorrhea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, if president Trump wanted to denounce bullying, he could have done better than inviting a boy named Trump (no relation) to the State of the Union address. In 2001, Congress gave president Bush a nearly blank check for command of an American military bent on punishing the terrorist groups directly (and not so directly) responsible for 9/11. The Authorization for Use of Military Force still benefits U.S. presidents, and few in Congress today seek to curb it. Our guest, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, is among them. In the Spiel, Sen. Amy Klobuchar is in for 2020, and reports of her being too tough a boss should be taken in stride. This episode is brought to you by Simplisafe. Start protecting your home today at simplisafe.com/gist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices