The Gist

On The Gist, costs and benefits in the government. In the interview, Matthew Heineman is here to discuss his new film A Private War. Though usually a documentary filmmaker, this time around he tried his hand at a feature. Focused on the life of journalist Marie Colvin, it's surprising how many documentary techniques Heineman employed when making the film, which uniquely fits the story being told. A Private War will be available on Feb. 5. In the Spiel, the rhyming Kellyanne Conway. This episode is brought to you by Capterra. Try it today, for free, at Capterra.com/GIST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, the days are getting longer, the brand names shorter. In the interview, millennial whisperer (or, you know, just plain millennial) Anne Helen Petersen recently diagnosed "the burnout generation" in a viral feature for BuzzFeed. Student debt, the 2008 financial crisis, relatively low levels of family wealth—all have contributed to their dire straits. But could their biggest burden be a mental one? In the Spiel, President Trump's unsurprisingly empty Oval Office address. This episode is brought to you by Doctors Without Borders. Donate today at doctorswithoutborders.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, do presidential addresses change anything? In the interview, NPR's David Folkenflik joins us to talk about Donald Trump's Oval Office address. Should the networks give airtime to someone so averse to facts, even if he is the president? Is there any precedent for this? And what repercussions for lying will Trump face, if any? In the Spiel, 5G networks. This episode is brought to you by Slack, the collaboration hub for work. Learn more at Slack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, news networks should do us a favor and not air Trump's prime-time speech on Tuesday night. In the interview, Greg Sargent is an indispensable voice for anyone looking to grasp the inner workings of American democracy. In his new book, he argues that compromise is possible even on issues as stark as voter suppression (the implementers are all Republican on this one, folks). Sargent's book is An Uncivil War: Taking Back Our Democracy in an Age of Trumpian Disinformation and Thunderdome Politics. In the Spiel, likability in 2020? It's overrated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, works produced 75 years ago are now entering the public domain. And some are what 2019 would call "problematic." David Bowie once sang that we can all be heroes … but villainy is where it's really at. In the Ringer podcast Villains, host Shea Serrano and his guests analyze film's best baddies to figure out their true motives and chances at redemption. What makes The Silence of the Lambs'Hannibal Lecter the most memorable villain of all? How justified is Amy Dunne in Gone Girl? And are there any villains they won't even touch? In the Spiel, Rep. Rashida Tlaib used a bad word. But boy, it's also such a great word. This episode is brought to you by Slack, the collaboration hub for work. Learn more at Slack.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, what do Kim Jong-un's letters and Shaquille O'Neal sneakers have in common? In the interview, you've likely heard of microplastics, but are they something to worry about? Maria Konnikova is here with answers in another round of "Is That Bullshit?". Konnikova is the author of The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It . . . Every Time. In the Spiel, and in New York City, even shutting down a subway train comes with delays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, the government shutdown continues. In the interview, impeachment proceedings have never removed a president from office (in Bill Clinton's case, they even offered a bump in approval ratings). So is it really the best route for those who see nothing but rot in Trump's presidency? Lawfare Institute COO David Priess surveys the options in his latest book, How to Get Rid of a President: History's Guide to Removing Unpopular, Unable, or Unfit Chief Executives. In the Spiel, Louis C.K. and punching down. This episode is brought to you by Doctors Without Borders. Donate today at doctorswithoutborders.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, Mike Pesca is leaving Facebook, mostly. In the interview, Andy Serkis is here to discuss his newest movie, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, along with the film's star Rohan Chand. They talk about the magic of working in motion capture, how it really isn't all that different from other types of acting, and what it was like jumping on Christian Bale's back. Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle is available on Netflix. In the Spiel, finding the appropriate punishments for things like drones at the airport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, why do daily news podcasts think they can take off for the holidays? In the interview, journalist Priska Neely has been writing about the rates of black infant mortality and why they're so much higher than American infant mortality rates overall. She joins us today to discuss the possible reasons, including community support systems, health care–related problems, and how racism factors into it all. In the Spiel, Donald Trump visits Iraq and says a lot. This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers: SimpliSafe, protect your home today with twenty-four seven monitoring for just fifteen dollars a month, visit simplisafe.com/gist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, Donald Trump is to "wall" as zombies are to "braaaains." In his Broadway show (The New One) Mike Birbiglia tells you why procreation is a terrible idea, before waxing lyrical on the joys of raising a daughter—it's complicated; he's complicated. On The Gist, he spares a thought for how to tip at an Olive Garden, the future of email leaks, and Fox News' underwhelming Christmas tree. In the Spiel, abandoning arguments of good (or bad) faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices