The Gist

Michelle Buteau, a stand-up comedian and actress known for her Netflix special and role in 'Survival of the Thickest,' brings her humor to the conversation. She shares a hilarious tale of getting high in a reptile house and discusses the backlash from her branded soup promotion. Buteau reflects on her Dutch husband, her skepticism of spirituality, and the balance between ambition and her socialist leanings. The discussion also touches on comedy as a coping mechanism and the complexities of authenticity in humor.

Joel Souza, the director of Rust, reflects on the tragic on-set shooting that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. He shares his emotional journey through grief and the moral necessity to complete the film amidst public scrutiny. Souza discusses the need for stricter safety protocols on film sets and his estrangement from Alec Baldwin. He emphasizes the film's themes of guilt and legacy while honoring Hutchins' influence, revealing the complexities of creating art in the wake of tragedy.

Sadie Dingfelder, author of 'Do I Know You?', dives into the viral craze of 'mewing', examining its dubious claims of enhancing jawlines and the lack of scientific evidence backing it. She humorously recounts absurd stories about people falling for this trend. The conversation also touches on geopolitical happenings during Trump's presidency, particularly his deals in Ukraine, blending laughs with serious insights on international relations. Additionally, the importance of the Interagency Council on Homelessness is highlighted, underscoring the need for effective government agencies.

Faiz Siddiqui, a Washington Post writer and author of 'Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk,' delves into Musk’s ambitious yet controversial vision. He dissects the self-driving delusions that fuel both innovation and tragedy, comparing Musk’s maximalism to competitors like Waymo. Siddiqui also addresses political implications surrounding Amazon's tariff strategies. With sharp insights into Musk's impact on industries and the importance of financial literacy, he presents a captivating critique of ambition and its consequences.

David Frum, a staff writer for The Atlantic and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, breaks down the chilling impact of Donald Trump’s 2025 ambitions on American democracy. He critiques Republican cowardice and Democratic excess, underscoring the systemic threats facing the nation. Frum also discusses the lack of accountability in humor at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and reflects on the erosion of democratic norms in political discourse, emphasizing the importance of voter engagement and sincerity in dialogue.

Today on the Gist, we open the vaults to 2020 to revisit and interview with Dr. Paul Offit and we replay Monday's spiel on The Full Ginsburg. ⁠⁠Join The Gist Team⁠⁠ Produced by Corey Wara Email us at ⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠sales@advertisecast.com⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alan McPherson author of The Breach: Iran-Contra and the Assault on American Democracy joins to discuss the Iran-Contra affair and how it plagued both the end of Regans Presidency and George H. W. Bush’s, but also how it ties into the politics of today. Also, Pete Hegseth is a dirty dirty boy, or at least has a dirty dirty line.  Plus, its an Antwentig.  ⁠⁠⁠Join The Gist Team⁠⁠⁠ Produced by Corey Wara Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com⁠⁠⁠⁠To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠sales@advertisecast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff Maurer, a former writer for Last Week Tonight, digs into the nuances of today’s political landscape through the lens of humor. He examines the fears surrounding fascism in past and present times, and critiques John Oliver's use of straw men in political comedy. The conversation also touches on Jon Stewart's return to The Daily Show, exploring his evolution and attempts at balanced critique. Plus, they dive into the cultural dynamics of the U.S.-China trade battle, illuminating the stark contrasts in societal values.

Stephen Macedo, a Princeton professor and co-author of 'In COVID's Wake,' joins the discussion to explore how our political systems intensified the pandemic crisis. He examines the disconnect between experts and the public, highlighting the consequences of withheld knowledge. The conversation revisits misinformation challenges and critiques the lack of transparency in public health. They stress the significance of accountability and the need for diverse viewpoints in academia to rebuild public trust and improve health communication.

The authors of In Covid’s Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us, political scientists Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee, join for a full-show interview to discuss our failures during the pandemic. The evidence shows non-pharmaceutical interventions did nothing, but the tradeoff was trillions of dollars in deficit spending, lost learning and solitary deathbeds. Plus, Pete Hegseth may be leaking more than leadership; after his second round of Signal-based scheming, the veteran Fox-man-turned-defense-secretary is reportedly on the chopping block.Produced by Corey WaraEmail us at thegist@mikepesca.comTo advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGistSubscribe to The Gist: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_gSubscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: GIST INSTAGRAMFollow The Gist List at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices