The Gist

Today on The Gist, we listen back to Billboard hits from 1965. Our regular guest Chris Molanphy explains why many of these songs remain utterly immortal. He writes Slate’s Why Is That Song No. 1 column. For the Spiel, more about the sexagenarian gyronaut who panicked the Washington press corps. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, Phil Galewitz from Kaiser Health News explains an aspect of the new health care law that new Medicaid recipients should know about. Unlike other Obamacare scares, this one is nonfiction. Plus, reporter Lukas Alpert explains that the most effective propaganda is often the hardest to spot. We ask about his Kindle single Kremlin Speak: Inside Putin's Propaganda Factory. For the Spiel, air mail on the Capitol lawn. Today’s sponsor: Stamps.com. Sign up for a no-risk trial and get a $110 bonus offer, when you visit Stamps.com and enter promo code TheGist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, an update from Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick on the abortion bans in Kansas and Oklahoma. She’s the host of the Slate podcast Amicus. Plus, Masha Bell joins us to discuss the effects of irregular English spellings on educational achievement in English-speaking countries. She’s the author of Spelling It Out: The Problems and Costs of English Spelling. For the Spiel, Mike celebrates his favorite tense: the historical present. Today’s sponsors: 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

Do women make better presidents? Today on The Gist, we talk with Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. Plus, we wish Thomas Jefferson a happy 272nd birthday by discussing how his name is evoked today. Historian Andrew Burstein is the author of Democracy's Muse: How Thomas Jefferson Became an FDR Liberal, a Reagan Republican, and a Tea Party Fanatic, All the While Being Dead. For the Spiel, vetting the vetting of Hillary Clinton. Today’s sponsor: Stamps.com. Sign up for a no-risk trial and get a $110 bonus offer, when you visit Stamps.com and enter promo code TheGist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick puts news of the abortion bans in Kansas and Oklahoma into a Supreme Court context. She’s the host of the Slate podcast Amicus. Plus, the accomplished actor Vincent D’Onofrio joins us to discuss his latest role in the film Broken Horses, which comes out today. For the Spiel, it’s time to name our 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

Today on The Gist, Mike tests the assertion that tolerance is a two-way street. By consulting a map. Plus, Kevin Allison shares his journey from the legendary MTV sketch show The State to having his balls tied to his sneakers. He hosts the aptly named Risk podcast and teaches storytelling with the Story Studio. For the Spiel, are arrests of suspected terror recruits such as Joshua van Haften and Shahawar Siraj important steps to a safer world? Today’s sponsors: 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 http://www.slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For a tourist’s paradise, the Maldive Islands is wading into some deep political waters. Today on The Gist Jonah Blank from the RAND Corporation explains the outlook for democracy in the Maldives. Then, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker about the importance of expiration dates on food and medication, the latest in a series we call “Is That Bulls—t?” For the Spiel, we remember the man who filled Lake Michigan with hot chocolate. Today’s sponsor: Stamps.com. Sign up for a no-risk trial and get a $110 bonus offer, when you visit Stamps.com and enter promo code TheGist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, Brian Koppelman, the accomplished screen and television writer, director, and—most importantly—podcaster. His show, The Moment, is the newest addition to the Slate and Panoply firmament, and you can subscribe to on iTunes. Plus, Mike finally spiels about the nuclear deal. Today’s sponsor: The BET miniseries The Book of Negroes. Now available on DVD, in a special three-disc package. Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes is a universal story of loss, courage, and triumph starring Aunjanue Ellis, Lyriq Bent, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Lou Gossett Jr. Own it today on DVD from E One. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, we explore a new form of dark tourism: ecotourism. Tom Zoellner’s Kindle single Come See the Mountain tells the story of his visit to the Potosi silver mine in Bolivia. Plus, Megan Hustad explains why TED talks remind her of the tent revival sermons of her youth. She’s the author of How to Be Useful and More Than Conquerors: A Memoir of Lost Arguments. And to end the show, Mike can’t stop spieling about the New York Times’ coverage of the Chicago elections. Today’s sponsor: Stamps.com. Sign up for a no-risk trial and get a $110 bonus offer, when you visit Stamps.com and enter promo code TheGist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While Mike Pesca’s off hosting Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me, we bring you two of our favorite segments from the past few months. Bill Browder tells the story of how he went from investing in Russian markets to fleeing the wrath of Vladimir Putin. He’s the author of Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice. For the Spiel, we debut our new line of other NFL erotica. From now until April 6, tweet titles of imaginary movies to @slategist using the hashtag #NotAMovie. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a past Gist, we gave you drunk Shakespeare. Now, it’s time to see how the bard fares when subjected to sober improvisation. (We think it was sober.) Joey Bland, Blaine Swen, and Steve Waltien join us from Chicago’s Improvised Shakespeare Company. For the Spiel, WBEZ’s Lauren Chooljian explains what makes the Chicago mayoral election a compelling national story. From now until April 6, tweet titles of imaginary movies to @slategist using the hashtag #NotAMovie. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, Mike joins us from a Chicago Transit Authority station as he prepares to host Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me this weekend. First up, Chris Molanphy explains how the secret sauce in some of your favorite pop songs might just be the walking bass line. He writes Slate’s Why Is That Song No. 1 column. For the Spiel, the governor of Indiana supports clarifying a law that in no way needs clarification. From now until April 6, tweet titles of imaginary movies to @slategist using the hashtag #NotAMovie. Today’s sponsor: Automatic, the connected car adapter that pairs your car to your smartphone. Save 20 percent with free shipping and a 45-day return policy when you go to automatic.com/gist Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, James Ledbetter from Inc. explains why the influential NYC parish Trinity Wall Street is taking Walmart to court. You can subscribe to the new Inc. Uncensored podcast here. Plus, is there a secret cancer-spewing, nutrient-robbing killer in America’s kitchens? Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker explains the truth about microwaves for a game we call “Is That Bulls---t?” For the Spiel, Mike offers his advice to Trevor Noah, the new host of The Daily Show. From now until April 6, tweet titles of imaginary movies to @slategist using the hashtag #NotAMovie. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, we imagine the hearts and minds of the most powerful through the iconic character Frank Underwood. Beau Willimon, the showrunner and creator of Netflix’s House of Cards joins us in studio. For the Spiel, bring back Pat from In the Papers. From now until April 6, tweet titles of imaginary movies to @slategist using the hashtag #NotAMovie. Today’s sponsor: The Great Courses, engaging audio and video lectures taught by top professors, with courses like “Fundamentals of Photography.” Right now, get 80 percent off the original price when you visit thegreatcourses.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, Adam Davidson of NPR’s Planet Money explains what economists really think of immigration laws. He recently wrote the feature Debunking the Myth of the Job-Stealing Immigrant for the New York Times Magazine. For the Spiel, what to do when you’re hungry for change. From now until April 6, tweet titles of imaginary movies to @slategist using the hashtag #NotAMovie. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How should we understand the evolving nature of U.S. dietary guidelines? Today on The Gist, Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, explains how the committees modify nutritional guidelines. Plus, what can McDonald’s learn from Smashburger or Shake Shack? We speak with consultant Barry Klein, the creator of Ronald McDonald. For the Spiel, how Pesca was bit by the radioactive spider. From now until April 6, tweet titles of imaginary movies to @slategist using the hashtag #NotAMovie. Today’s sponsor: Stamps.com. Sign up for a no-risk trial and get a $110 bonus offer, when you visit Stamps.com and enter promo code TheGist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive members-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remember when Mike Pesca gargled Pond’s cold cream on The Gist? That gargle honored the master orator and Republican Sen. Everett Dirksen, who collaborated with a Democrat, Lyndon B. Johnson, to pass major civil rights legislation. Today, Todd Purdum tells the story of the Senate minority leader who liked to give news conferences in the lotus position. He’s the author of An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For the Spiel, Angelina Jolie is brave. Don’t forget the #NotAMovie Challenge! From now until April 6, tweet titles of imaginary movies to @slategist using the hashtag #NotAMovie. Today’s sponsor: Automatic, the connected car adapter that pairs your car to your smartphone. Save 20 percent with free shipping and a 45-day return policy when you go to automatic.com/gist Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus Learn more about your

Now that we’ve become indifferent to illegal and even legal forms of corruption, what will it take to improve the accountability of our public officials? Our guest Zephyr Teachout examines corruption’s past and present. She’s the author of Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin’s Snuff Box to Citizens United. Plus, They Might Be Giants have always aspired to write movie themes, so they’ve asked Mike Pesca to enlist listeners to help with a demo. From now until April 6, tweet titles of imaginary movies to @slategist using the hashtag #NotAMovie. For the Spiel, the return of talk-show karaoke. Today’s sponsor: Stamps.com. Sign up for a no-risk trial and get a $110 bonus offer, when you visit Stamps.com and enter promo code TheGist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster rarely analyze why their brand of two-man radio comedy is so potent. Today on the Gist, they pause to consider 13 years of hilariously weird phone calls from Newbridge, NJ. Their box set The Best of The Best Show is available from the Numero Group. For the Spiel, Mike takes a stand against dictators (although a couple are all right). Today’s sponsor: The Great Courses, engaging audio and video lectures taught by top professors. Courses like "Fundamentals of Photography." Right now, get 80% off the original price when you visit thegreatcourses.com/gist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, we ask Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution about the landmark LGBT-Mormon compromise in Utah. Will this become a model for other states? Plus, does your girlfriend’s hairless cat love you? Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker explains recent insights into animal emotions for a game we call “Is That Bulls---t?” For the Spiel, starting a necessary conversation about Caramel Macchiatos. Today’s sponsor: Stamps.com. Sign up for a no-risk trial and get a $110 bonus offer, when you visit Stamps.com and enter promo code TheGist. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at http://www.slate.com/gistplus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices