The Gist

President Obama's speech to West Point graduates drew criticism for its restrained foreign policy prescriptions and less-than-lofty oratory. Today on the Gist, a look at Obama's turn toward more restrained rhetoric with former Carter speechwriter and New Yorker staff writer Hendrik Hertzberg. Then, Joe McGinty from The Loser's Lounge explains how his band performs tributes to our guiltiest of guilty musical pleasures. In the Spiel, we sniff through Mike's browser cookies until we uncover a truffle. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the Gist, a look at the release over the weekend of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in exchange for five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay. Jonah Blank of the RAND Corporation explains whether the circumstances of Bergdahl's capture matter. Then Mitchell Reiss, author of Negotiating with Evil, suggests that the question is not whether to negotiate with terrorists, but how to get the best deal. For the Spiel, Mike brings you news from places you might not have known existed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Gary Gulman, a comedian famous for his clever wordplay, teams up with Adam Davidson, founder of NPR’s Planet Money, to tackle juicy topics. They discuss why income inequality is a pressing issue for many Americans and the nuanced dynamics of wealth disparity. Gulman shares how precise language is vital in comedy, revealing the delicate art of joke crafting. The conversation even takes a humorous detour into the bizarre world of ferrets and their media moments, adding a lighthearted twist to serious themes.

Today on the Gist, the case for integrating math into everyday conversation. Mike talks with Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to Be Wrong. Then, a look at a hostile takeover attempt that harkens back to days of Barbarians at the Gate. Jeffrey McCracken from Bloomberg explains how the drug company Valeant is attempting to buy Botox-maker Allergan with the help of an activist investor. Plus, Mike's Spiel honors Massimo Vignelli, the late graphic designer best known for laying out the NYC subway map. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slates-the-gist/id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this insightful discussion, Paul Taylor, a demographic expert at the Pew Research Center, dives into how age influences racial attitudes, reflecting on how younger generations are more accepting than their elders. Emily Nussbaum, TV critic for The New Yorker, joins the conversation to critique 'Mad Men' and explore the narrative challenges in 'Silicon Valley.' They also tackle how media sensationalizes tragedies, urging a deeper examination of societal issues rather than focusing on individual perpetrators.

On today's episode of The Gist, Mike talks with Ari Schulman of the New Atlantis about how it may be even more dangerous than we think to give so much media coverage to mass killers like Elliot Rodger, perpetrator of Friday night's shootings at UC–Santa Barbara. Then, he talks with Scottish school teacher and blogger Craig McAllister about the big choice facing Scotland in September: Whether to declare independence from the United Kingdom. In his Spiel, Mike uses his holiday weekend to make the hard choices about un-assigning himself assigned reading. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A massive piece in the Atlantic by Ta-Nehisi Coates takes on the issue of reparations, and expands the conversation beyond slavery to include the much more recent past, and the present. We follow up with Slate's Jamelle Bouie about what reparations would actually look like today. Then, Slate's Dear Prudence, Emily Yoffe, follows up with past advisee "Please No Baby Daddy" to see whether her advice was helpful. For the Spiel, Mike conducts our first Gist shareholders meeting—and you're one of those shareholders. Get The Gist by email as soon as it's available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, a look at why peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians have broken down. Mike speaks with Ofir Akunis, a member of the Israeli Knesset, a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office, and right-hand man to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Then, Dan Kois and Allison Benedikt from Slate's podcast Mom and Dad Are Fighting perform the ultimate children's playground sign. For the Spiel, Mike has an honest discussion about Mark Cuban's admission of his own bigotry. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, the Wall Street Journal's Mary Lane tells Mike about the trove of art stolen by the Nazis that's been left to a Swiss museum. The art had been hidden for decades by Hitler's art dealer's son, who decided before his death to return the priceless works to the public. Then, science blogger Maria Konnikova assesses studies of the power of multitasking. And in today's Spiel, Mike considers what's in an animal name. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, we ask what it would be like to take the worst thing that has ever happened to you and see it displayed in a famous new building with a gift shop. We spoke with BuzzFeed's Steve Kandell about his Sunday visit to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Then, Patrick LaForge from the New York Times tells us the origin story behind a certain ubiquitous Twitter disclaimer that's attached itself to social media like a barnacle. For Mike's Spiel, he considers the North Korean pop star who shocked the world by actually being alive. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices