The Gist

Today on The Gist, Actress Gina Gershon joins the show to discuss her candid new memoir, Alpha Pussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs. She shares the hilarious story of how a tequila-fueled comedy roast landed her a memorable role on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and drops actionable advice on dodging Hollywood predators, setting ironclad boundaries, and surviving the entertainment industry on her own terms. Bound, Showgirls and more are discussed.  Plus, how the concept of 'imminence' is playing too literal a role in discussions of the war in Iran. And in the Spiel, the steelman answer to the question: 'What is the Trump administration's reason for going to war?
Produced by Corey Wara
Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig
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The U.S. is in its third day of war with Iran, prompting inevitable warnings of another Iraq-style quagmire. But is that the right historical analogy? Long-time national security reporter  Eli Lake (The Free Press) joins Mike to explain why this air-only regime decapitation strategy is completely unprecedented in modern warfare. They break down the dangerous math of missile defense, the race to secure Iran's nuclear material, and why this is Trump's ultimate foreign policy gamble.
Produced by Corey Wara
Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig
Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]
For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠
For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/
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It's the Saturday Show and we are airing Mikes appearance The Oath and the Office, hosted by Brown University political science professor Corey Brettschneider and comedian John Fugelsang. The trio dives into the broken pipeline of modern journalism, the unique occupational hazards of political comedy, and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's "stochastic self-censorship" campaign against late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert. Plus, Mike pushes back on the narrative surrounding CBS News and Bari Weiss, sparking a spirited debate on whether traditional journalistic objectivity still holds up when democratic institutions are under attack.
Produced by Corey Wara
Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig
Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]
For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠
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James Kimmel Jr. joins to argue that revenge is less a moral impulse than a brain chemistry trap. He tells a rural Pennsylvania origin story that starts with bullying, a beagle named Paula, and a mailbox bombing, then ends with the moment his "stop" circuitry saved him from becoming a murderer. His book is The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction andHow to Overcome It, Plus, Anthropic backs away from its slow down for safety pledge as the Pentagon snarls at Dario Amodei, compelling the sorcerer to conjure smarter weapons.
Produced by Corey Wara
Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig
Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]
For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠
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For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/
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Austin Berg (Chicago Policy Center) and Andrew Egger (The Bulwark) join Mike to dissect Trump's marathon State of the Union: was it a missed opportunity to reach the median voter, or a "clip farming" masterclass? They also unpack the awkwardly timed Supreme Court tariff ruling that derailed his economic pitch, and the high-stakes standoff between the Pentagon and AI giant Anthropic over autonomous weapons. Finally, Goat Grinders tackles the agony of vinyl record tariffs, the performative scourge of handheld lavalier mics, and how Twitter ruins the Winter Olympics.
Produced by Corey Wara
Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig
Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]
For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠
For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/
For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/
Follow us on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X https://x.com/pescami TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist
To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist