The Gist

On the Gist, the little ones. In the interview, Mike talks to journalist and public health researcher Katherine Rowland about her new book, The Pleasure Gap: American Women and the Unfinished Sexual Revolution. They discuss why American women are reporting dissatisfaction with their sexual lives despite the current climate of sex positivity, and the debates surrounding the female Viagra. In the spiel, the future for Warren.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, talking is hard. In the interview, Maria Konnikova is back for her usual game of "Is That Bullshit?" Today she and Mike tackle essential oils, talking through the history of using essential oils, modern studies, and the potential uses they might have. Maria's most recent book is The Confidence Game. In the spiel, weak arguments about political opponents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, Central Casting strikes again. In the interview, comedian Moshe Kasher is here to talk about his new comedy album Crowdsurfing. He and Mike discuss the difference between crowd work and prepared material, and the history of Moshe's family. In the spiel, Nancy ripping his speech.  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, we went through hell. In the interview, Mike talks with linguist Dennis Baron about his new What's Your Pronoun?: Beyond He and She. The two analyze the history of English language pronouns and debate whether or not language is meant for communicating "correctly" or simply for communicating. In the spiel, translating the Iowa results. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, Donald Trump slurred his way through the State of the Union. In the interview, Mike talks with public education advocate Diane Ravitch about her most recent book, Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America's Public Schools. They discuss why she left the "dark side" of advocating for charter schools, and why schools should stop testing the children to death. In the spiel, the acquittal of Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, the Iowa caucuses was created to disenfranchise babysitters. In the interview, Mike talks with NPR's Steve Inskeep about his new book, Imperfect Union: How Jessie and John Frémont Mapped the West, Invented Celebrity, and Helped Cause the Civil War. They discuss the ways in which the Frémonts navigated their world, and the modern currents found in their story. In the spiel, the Iowa caucuses were a mess. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, how Elizabeth Warren inspires her supporters before the Iowa caucuses. In the interview, Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon is here to discuss how the state has the highest voter-turnout rate, the possibility of granting 16-year-olds the vote, rent-control, and her favorite sketch from the show Portlandia. In the spiel, the kingdom of the Kansas City Chiefs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, Bloomberg will join the debate stage. In the interview, Crooked Media's Jon Favreau is here to talk about the new season of his series The Wilderness, where he goes to different parts of the country and explores politic tastes with focus groups. He and Mike discuss the four types of voters he targeted, what people want from a Democratic candidate, and the importance of the upcoming election. In the spiel, landmines and military. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, Pam Bondi at the impeachment trial. In the interview, journalist Ezra Klein is here to discuss his new book Why We're Polarized. They debate if extremism and polarization are related, and talk about the increasing difficulty of compromise, and if there's a solution to this problem. In the spiel, Alan Dershowitz's terrible argument. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, could Bernie Sanders win in Iowa? In the interview, humorist and numbers ninja Matt Parker is here to discuss his new book Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World. He and Mike discuss the peculiarities of his page numbers, how he kept math fun, and a detailed exploration of what a decade is. In the spiel, impeachment continues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, Mike Pompeo and Mary Louise Kelly. In the interview, Fred Kaplan is back and this time he and Mike are talking about nuclear bombs. They discuss the history of nuclear weapons in the US, why it's concerning that Trump holds the detonator, and how these bombs factor into modern day peacekeeping. Kaplan's new book is The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War. In the spiel, Trump team's closing arguments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, the likely acquittal of Trump. In the interview, we're back with political reporter and host of Stranglehold, Lauren Chooljian. We discuss how the New Hampshire primaries are likely to shake out, which candidates will remain after many of them have strategically camped out in the state, and the difference between the polls and the actual feelings of New Hampshire voters. In the spiel, the artistry and athleticism of Kobe Bryant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, Wells Fargo strikes again. In the interview, Chris Molanphy is back to talk Mike through the hits of 1983. Enjoying vegemite sandwiches, the rains in Africa, and a bunch of sweet dreams, they indulge in the pop mainstays that continue to persist on the radio and at the karaoke bar. Molanphy is the host of Hit Parade and writes the "Why Is This Song No. 1?" column for Slate. In the spiel, too many thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, the how the senators are occupying themselves. In the interview, writer Will Self is here to talk with Mike about his new memoir Will. They discuss addiction, how Will accesses memory, and the difficulty of his name. In the spiel, Mitch's monotone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, revisiting the travel ban. In the interview, we talk with Susan Hennessey and Benjamin Wittes, the editors of Lawfare, about their new book, Unmaking the Presidency: Donald Trump's War on the World's Most Powerful Office. They discuss the precedents that Trump has broken as POTUS and paint a stark picture of the future of the executive office if he is re-elected. In the spiel, "a bunch of dopes and babies." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, the New York Times endorsement. In the interview, senior fellow and director of the Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Matthew Levitt is here to talk about the killing of Qasem Soleimani. What calculus went into the decision, whether it was worth it, and what this means for the future of the US and Iran. In the spiel, the beginning of the Senate impeachment trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, Joe Biden and the New York Times. In the interview, Maria Konnikova is back for another episode of "Is That Bullshit?" This time she and Mike tackle whether or not we're currently experiencing the latest mass extinction event. We may not have noticed, but the insects certainly have. In the spiel, the difference between journalism and activism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, Donald Trump and Devin Nunes know Lev Parnas. In the interview, Mike talks with author Dave Eggers about his new book, The Captain and the Glory, a story about the clownish captain of a great ship. Eggers discusses how satire can help us admit the absurdities of our times and how writing the book helped him process our current political climate. In the spiel, bunging a bob for a big ben bong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, cats will eat you. In the interview, economist Daniel Susskind is here to discuss his new book A World Without Work: Technology, Automation, and How We Should Respond. They talk about the future of work, how technology is shifting, and the effectiveness of Andrew Yang's proposal of universal basic income. In the spiel, the debate was lackluster.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Gist, the latest debate and Corey Booker. In the interview, John Tierney is here to talk about his and Roy F. Baumeister's new book The Power of Bad: How the Negativity Effect Rules Us and How We Can Rule It. They discuss why the bad is always more memorable than the good, and the real uses of such negativity. In the spiel, Elizabeth Warren's plan to forgive student debt by executive order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices