The Gist

Trigger warning: Scrutiny of safe spaces ahead. Jonathan Zimmerman discusses the political-correctness fever sweeping the nation's elite college campuses. Zimmerman is the author of Campus Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know.  In the Spiel, blinded by a baccalaureate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did the polls lead us astray in this election, or did we simply fail to heed everything they were telling us? FiveThirtyEight senior political writer Harry Enten says the lesson of 2016 is familiar to any close observer of politics: "There are no permanent majorities." Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, puts the 2016 election in historical context. Zelizer hosts the Politics & Polls podcast produced by the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a rare Saturday Gist, as the show's post-election interview blitz continues: New York Times columnist Gail Collins explains what we tend to forget about the way women vote, and NPR's David Folkenflik ponders the media problems exposed by the presidential race and its surprise outcome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, another double feature. Evan Osnos explains what Trump's first term might look like, based on reporting he did before the election for the New Yorker. Reid Wilson, who covers down-ballot politics for the Hill, surveys the Republican gains in statehouses across the country.  For the Spiel, some introspection. And keep an eye on this feed for more interviews over the weekend.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Gist isn't serving up a Spiel today—too many questions, too few answers. Instead, Mike puzzles through the day with a few friends of the show: Jacob Weisberg reacts to the chants of "not my president." Weisberg is the chairman and editor-in-chief of The Slate Group and the host of Trumpcast. The New Yorker's Adam Davidson expects a poorer country and world under President-elect Donald Trump. He outlines the range of possible economic changes. John Dickerson, moderator of Face the Nation on CBS, delves into the details of Hillary Clinton's loss. Dickerson is also a political columnist for Slate and author of Whistlestop: My Favorite Stories from Presidential Campaign History.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, things are getting dark, but at least the show isn't going dark, which is more than we can say for our friends at the Radio Free GOP podcast. Host Mike Murphy, a longtime GOP strategist and Trump critic, says the show will go on hiatus in light of the election result. Plus, the New Yorker's Adam Davidson explains the link between the presidential election and confusion in the financial markets. For the Spiel, a clarifying idea from Slate's Election Night Watch Party featuring author and journalist Virginia Heffernan.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jamelle Bouie has written about the deep, ugly divides in America that have surfaced during this presidential campaign. In the final hours of election day, Slate's chief political correspondent approaches the idea of national unity after the most unruly campaign in modern history.  Bouie was recently named the breakout star of the 2016 campaign by the Poynter Institute for Journalism.   Our Sponsors:  Goldman Sachs. To learn about developments currently shaping markets, industries, and the global economy, subscribe to the firm's podcast, Exchanges at Goldman Sachs, available on iTunes. And InterContinental Hotels and Resorts. Take a multisensory journey into the InterContinental life and discover stories that will excite your curiosity by going to intercontinental.com/life. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Join the discussion of this episode on Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast

Much of the 2016 presidential campaign media coverage has cast Trump fans not as bigoted, but "economically disaffected." As Slate's Michelle Goldberg reports, for many supporters, that's far too charitable. Goldberg has been reporting on issues like sexual assault and feminism in the Republican Party throughout the campaign. She argues 2016 might turn many women off to the idea of running for president, even if the glass ceiling is broken.    In the Spiel, the final Trump Anxiety Hotline (we hope).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you're like us, you've been checking the FiveThirtyEight election forecast like it's a weather report before a hurricane. This week, Donald Trump's chance of victory in the presidential race went from 15 percent to over 30 percent, causing much anxiety for Democrats. But how serious is the swing? Harry Enten is the senior political writer for FiveThirtyEight and a frequent Gist guest.   For the Spiel, why Hillary Clinton should own her terrible comic timing. Today's sponsors: Indochino, the company that's reinventing men's fashion. Go to Indochino.com to get any premium suit for just $389, plus free shipping, when you use promo code gist at checkout. And Rocket Mortgage from Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage brings the mortgage process into the 21st century with an easy online process. Check out Rocket Mortgage today at QuickenLoans.com/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 ch

We have (almost) survived a presidential campaign. Are we any smarter about taxes? On The Gist, Adam Davidson considers Donald Trump's apparent tax practices and explains the biggest barrier to bipartisan compromise on tax policy. Davidson covers business and economics for the New Yorker.  For the Spiel, even Mike Pesca can't sooth your nerves over volatile polling.  Today's sponsors: Placemakers, a new Slate podcast made possible by JPMorgan Chase. This podcast tells the stories of neighborhoods, businesses, and nonprofits who are working together to move their communities forward. Download and subscribe to Placemakers wherever you get your podcasts. And InterContinental Hotels and Resorts. Take a multisensory journey into the InterContinental life, and discover stories that will excite your curiosity by going to intercontinental.com/life. 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 choi

On The Gist, a pair of political heavyweights.  Obama administration alumnus Tommy Vietor wonders how the interregnum following this election will be different for Hillary Clinton than it was for President Obama. Vietor co-hosts the Ringer podcast Keepin' It 1600 with his former White House colleagues Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Dan Pfeiffer. Plus, Steve Sebelius, columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, assesses the U.S. Senate race in Nevada, including the Republican candidate's efforts to distance himself from Donald Trump without denouncing the nominee.  For the Spiel, how Clinton is using Miss Universe to bait Donald Trump all over again.  Today's sponsors: Basecamp,a cloud-based system with tools to help you get work done in a sane, organized way. Try it for free today at basecamp.com/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

A look inside one of the closest congressional races this year, New York's 19th. Former Gist guest and Bernie Sanders–favorite Zephyr Teachout takes on Republican state Assemblyman John Faso for an open seat. The race is one of the few that the Cook Political Report has labeled a toss-up, and it's a microcosm for lots of American anxieties. Teachout opposes fracking and supports carbon pricing in a district that relies heavily on cars, while Faso is a Trump-ambivalent Republican who hasn't even said who he'll be voting for come Election Day. In The Spiel, the antics of James Comey, explained.  Our Sponsors: Harry's. Get quality shaving products delivered right to your door. Sign up for a shave plan at Harrys.com and use promo code gist at checkout to claim your Free Trial Set and post-shave balm. And Betterment, the largest automated investing service. Get up to six months of investing FREE when you go to Betterment.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and mor

Eric Zorn from the Chicago Tribune joins Mike to discuss two contentious races happening in Illinois this year that could swing the balance of power in Congress. Incumbent Republican Sen. Mark Kirk is trailing badly to his Democratic opponent, Tammy Duckworth. And in the 10th congressional district, Rep. Bob Dold is facing a tight battle against his predecessor, Brad Schneider. Both races showcase an increasingly rare breed in Congress: the moderate Republican. In The Spiel, what Halloween can tell us about partisan politics. 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 we're reaching into The Gist's vault to bring you two favorite segments from the past year. First, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper explains why he saw the movie Deep Throat with his mother and reflects on his state's move to legalize marijuana. Hickenlooper's book is called The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics. For the Spiel, why are we so scared when we hear talk of a rigged election?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are dating longer. We are dating differently. Is it making us happier? Mike's not buying it. Former Gist producer Andrea Silenzi wades into an impromptu debate about dating today. Check out Andrea's new show, Why Oh Why, a Panoply podcast about dating and relationships. Andy Miccolis created Why Oh Why's theme music, included in today's show. For the Spiel, Donald Trump's surrogates.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does Trump so need women that he despises them? On The Gist, love and sex advice columnist Dan Savage considers Trump's misogyny. Savage also clears the air about his withering criticism of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and gives third-party enthusiasts a reality check: "Elect some congressmen, elect a governor, and then we can talk about who you're running for president." Savage hosts the Savage Lovecast and writes for the Stranger.  In the Spiel, poor old Admiral Kuznetsov. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America's favorite debunker, Adam Conover, takes on the election in his TruTV special. Conover, famous for "Adam Ruins Everything," talks to Mike about how comedians can change society, and the limits of satire as an art form. Conover's special airs Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 9 p.m.  For the Spiel, what America was like the last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No to a student loan bailout. No to debt-free state schools. Prepare to be enlightened, if a bit disheartened, as our friend Adam Davidson explains why eliminating college debt falls short of solving the country's inequality crisis. Davidson is a contributing writer for the New Yorker. For the Spiel, it's another Lobstar of the Antentwig.  Today's sponsor: Placemakers, a new Slate podcast made possible by JPMorgan Chase. This podcast tells the stories of neighborhoods, businesses, and nonprofits that are working together to move their communities forward. Download and subscribe to Placemakers wherever you get your podcasts. 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, former Daily Show head writer Elliott Kalan talks about his new Audible series Presidents are People Too! Kalan looks at the reasons so many mediocre candidates make it the White House, and tries to find something to admire in our crappiest commanders-in-chief. Kalan says watching this year's presidential election while studying American political history has been sobering. Think America has never been more divided? Congressmen used to cane each other in the 1850s.   Today's sponsors:  The Gist is brought to you by MVMT Watches. Get 15 percent off today—with free shipping and free returns—by going to mvmtwatches.com/gist.   And by InterContinental Hotels and Resorts. Take a multisensory journey into the InterContinental life, and discover stories that will excite your curiosity by going to intercontinental.com/life. 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 po

The first fifty minutes felt…strange. Calm. Like a real debate. Then Chris Wallace asked if Trump would recognize the election as legitimate. Mike Pesca was in the spin room after the third and final presidential showdown.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices