The Gist

Today on The Gist, something none of us know anything about—porn. Pesca is away, but Felix Salmon from Fusion, Piper Text (and, of course, Slate Money) will be your guide. First up, we explore the difference between art and pornography with Amy Adler from New York University. Does it have anything to do with the price tag? For the Spiel, what the July 8th glitches tell us about complex systems and illusory correlation. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, Mike is joined by Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer for a game we call "One Question, One Question Only." What are the best, worst, and most likely scenarios for the Greek economy? Plus, our regular guest Chris Molanphy explores the curiously fragmented and frequently shifting Billboard chart from 1975. Don't like our Spotify playlist of the songs mentioned in today's show? That's just your jive talkin'. Later, we flash back to The Gist circa 1975, when the Spiel was still called the Radio Ramble and when Mike mixed Harvey Wallbangers and smoked during the show. Come see the writers and editors of Outward live on stage at City Winery in New York this Monday, July 13. They'll have special guests Evan Wolfson and Ted Allen. For tickets, go to slate.com/nycoutward And guess what -- if you want a sneak preview of what's in store Monday, you can check J. Bryan Lowder, June Thomas, and Mark Joseph Stern in a special pilot episode of an Outward podcast. It's called "Outward Kiki," Listen here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, NPR's Frannie Kelley explains why Tuesday has lost its significance for the music industry. That will all change this Friday. She hosts the Microphone Check podcast on NPR and edits Yours Truly. Plus, Stephen Walt from the Harvard Kennedy School expands on his essay "Chill Out, America" in Foreign Policy. For the Spiel, Hillary Clinton is evading the question. Today's sponsor: Volvo. Have a month's payment on Volvo, and spend your summer doing the things that matter to you. Plus get up to five years full coverage, including wear and tear. Go to volvocars.com/us. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, Mimi Valdés explains her work as chief creative officer for Pharrell Williams' collective I Am Other. She's a co-producer of the film Dope, the new drama-comedy from writer and director Rick Famuyiwa. For the Spiel, it didn't take long for the joy of the U.S. winning the World Cup in women's soccer to turn to a serious question. If you've seen the movie Dope—or just want its plot spoiled for you—make sure to check out Slate's Spoiler Special on Dope, featuring Slate film critic Dana Stevens and the three hosts of the Panoply podcast About Race. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, Matthew Dicks offers more tricks for helping Gist listeners tell better stories. You're welcome. This class focuses on how to bring the emotions behind our experiences into how we tell our stories. Dicks is the author of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend. For the Spiel, Rick Perry holds the Democrats accountable for race relations in America. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kristin Gore, Tallulah Bankhead, and Alice Roosevelt Longworth are all known for their comedic writings and the daughters of elected officials. Add to that list the Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri. She's the daughter of retired Wisconsin congressmen Tom Petri, and author of A Field Guide to Awkward Silences. For the Spiel, some numbers to consider alongside stories of church burnings. Join Slate Plus! Mem bers get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, Jeff Ross' harsh comedic roasts have finally landed him in prison. We'll speak to the roastmaster general about his new special Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live At Brazos County Jail. Then, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to poke and prod research into the benefits of acupuncture. For the Spiel, Mike dives into a 1984 lecture at Harvard by John Rawls. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage will welcome a new era in equality, acceptance, and fretting. A recent headline even predicted a "twinge of loss" for modern gay culture. On The Gist, Slate's J. Bryan Lowder explains what the ruling means for gay culture. Be sure to read his cover story "What Was Gay?" from earlier this year. For The Spiel, Mike explores what the Chris Christie presidential candidacy should sound like. Today's sponsor: Casper, the online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. Get $50 toward any mattress purchase by visiting casper.com/gist and using the promo code GIST. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, the return of "Names in the News!" Plus, Brad Melzer from the Lost History TV series explains how real presidential lore and relationships influenced his new novel The President's Shadow. You can hear Brad's previous appearance on The Gist here. For The Spiel, Mike unwraps how Obama's heartfelt eulogy in Charleston was an insight into his political strategy. Today's sponsor: Volvo. Have a month's payment on Volvo and spend your summer doing the things that matter to you. Plus get up to five years full coverage, including wear and tear. Go to volvocars.com/us. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, Slate's Dahlia Lithwick explains the vulnerability of Friday's SCOTUS ruling on gay marriage, and a favorite Scalia moment from the arguments. She's the host of the Slate podcast Amicus. Plus, our regular guest Chris Molanphy suffers recalling the wide range of hits from 1990. For The Spiel, the tragedy of Bristol Palin, who recently announced that she's expecting. Read more of Slate's coverage of same-sex marriage at the Supreme Court. Today's sponsor: Vegas.com. With Vegas.com, your summer vacation is just a click away. Find great deals on hotels, shows, tours, and VIP treatment at top clubs. Go to Vegas.com, and enter the promo code GIST for 10 percent off everything but air-hotel packages. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices