The Gist

Are Americans not working hard enough? Jeb Bush told the New Hampshire Union Leader, "Workforce participation has to rise from its all-time modern lows. It means that people need to work longer hours and through their productivity gain more income for their families." We call in Adam Davidson to explain how economists understand our historic lows in workforce participation. He's a contributor to the New York Times Magazine and a founder of NPR's Planet Money. Also, Adam Davidson is hosting a new podcast with Adam McKay called Awesome Boring. Here's a teaser. For the Spiel, the warning signs along the road to Billy Joel Boulevard. 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

When a colleague in your office suddenly freezes you out without explanation, what's the best course of action? On The Gist, Emily Yoffe of Slate's Dear Prudence column advises a woman on how to deal with tension created by a passive-aggressive colleague. For the Spiel, Mike gets provincial as a New Yorker, but don't worry—he will also give you one news item from a state other than New York. 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 heels of our conversation with Slate's Leon Neyfakh about his book The Next Next Level, The Gist talks with the book's subject, the rap artist Juiceboxxx. Today Juice tells his own story, and explains what it's like to have your life story told in a book.  Here's our Spotify starter kit for becoming a Juiceboxxx fan. For the Spiel, Mike's writes a speech for Martin O'Malley. 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 shares an important lesson about Connecticut he discovered as a guest on the Colin McEnroe Show today. Then, Slate's Leon Neyfakh tells the story of how his early friendship with the rapper Juiceboxxx led to a new book about the life of an artist. That book is called The Next Next Level. Here's our Spotify starter kit for becoming a Juiceboxxx fan, including songs featured on today's show. For the Spiel, how we should label the killings in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Today's sponsor: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and printer. Use the promo code THEGIST to get a no-risk trial and a $110 bonus offer. 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

Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner recently said that beautiful women are "usually not funny." Is there anything to that? On The Gist, TV producer Mike Schur reacts to that statement and discusses the role of funny but attractive unicorns on hit comedies Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. For the Spiel, Mike offers a guiding principal for all: "Don't be horrible." 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, Ian Bremmer from the Eurasia Group has explored three options for what kind of country America should be: independent, moneyball, or indispensable. He defines these terms on the show, and in his book Superpower: Three Choices for America's Role in the World. For the Spiel, Jet.com's sky-high valuation. Today's sponsors: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and printer. Use the promo code THEGIST to get a no-risk trial and a $110 bonus offer. And by Citrix GoToMeeting. When meetings matter, millions choose GoToMeeting. Get a free 30-day trial by visiting GoToMeeting.com and clicking the "try it free" button. 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, Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. shares his journey from a 19-year-old rock star with massive hair, to a sober 35-year-old with a solo side project (and less hair).  His new album, Momentary Masters, is available for preorder, and out officially on July 31. For the Spiel, it's time to name our new lobstar of the antentwig. 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, one question with Frank Deford.  Then, are the core issues of traditional social conservatism on the wane? Slate's Reihan Salam explains why some Republicans may change their focus from gay marriage to the economy, and some won't. Plus, is there any good mechanism for fighting drug cartels? We ask Vanda Felbab-Brown from the Brookings Institution what the escape of El Chapo tells us about U.S./Mexico relations. For the Spiel, Mike's reaction to the uproar over Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman. Today's sponsor: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and printer. Use the promo code THEGIST to get a no-risk trial and a $110 bonus offer. 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

Even the most qualified arms control experts had little confidence that the Iran deal would even happen, much less be good. On The Gist, Dr. Jeffrey Lewis explains why you have to hate deals in order to dislike the Iran deal. Lewis hosts Mike's favorite arms podcast, Arms Control Wonk. For the Spiel, the worst ongoing analogy of American politics. Today's sponsor: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 off your first purchase with 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

On The Gist, a wave of Trump talk crashed down on the weekend news shows. We have the highlights. Plus, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to examine the scientific merits of political personality studies in a series we call "Is That Bulls--t?" She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, Mike attempts to outdo the comedy stylings of Rachel Campos-Duffy. 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

In the age of the vast and insatiable Internet, where zany headlines are compiled by the hive-mind, is it possible that the very notion of weird has been diluted? On The Gist, Slate contributing editor Dan Engber explores changing standards for the strange and bizarre. He recently wrote about this for Pacific Standard in a piece called "Who, What, Where, When, Weird." For the Spiel, why Iran is the perfect country for an arms control treaty. Today's sponsors: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and printer. Use the promo code THEGIST to get a no-risk trial and a $110 bonus offer. And by Citrix GoToMeeting. When meetings matter, millions choose GoToMeeting. Get a free 30-day trial by visiting GoToMeeting.com and clicking the "try it free" button. 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.c

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

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