The Gist

We bet you an Andrew Jackson that you’ll like our show on fractions and Faxon. First up, Nat Faxon, star of the FX show Married, explains why being leading man doesn’t have to mean being boring-man. Then, Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to Be Wrong, explains why the true common core for mathematics instruction is pizza. And in the Spiel, Mike defends the selfie from the scorn of a Christian minister. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In preparation for Lebowski Fest, writer Alex Belth shares his story about working with the Coen brothers as a personal assistant. His Kindle single is The Dudes Abide. Then, Georgetown professor Bruce Hoffman explains how the beheading of James Foley signals a change in strategy for ISIS. For the Spiel, why Times Square needs to be swept clean of costumed creeps. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the Gist, Rolfe Winkler from the Wall Street Journal explains how the Google IPO has changed the stock market. Then, political writer Harry Enten from FiveThirtyEight breaks down early polling data for contested Senate elections, and even Hillary. For the Spiel, Alan Zweibel joins us in remembering Don Pardo. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On The Gist, Slate editors and special guest Brooke Gladstone from NPR’s On the Media debate American icons from the Smithsonian Summer Showdown contest. Slate’s Culture Editor Dan Kois speaks on behalf of Bao Bao, Slate’s Deputy Editor John Swansburg argues for the Star-Spangled Banner, Slate’s editor–in-chief Julia Turner makes the case for “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie, and NPR’s Brooke Gladstone defends the George Washington Lansdowne portrait. For the Speil, Mike discusses the many forms of useless stats we hear all the time. Also, we’d like to welcome new listeners who discovered the show on This American Life this weekend. We’re glad you’re here. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The visuals coming out of Ferguson, Missouri, evoke memories of a much uglier time in our history. On the Gist, Slate’s Jamelle Bouie shares observations from his recent visit to the protests. Plus, author Megan Abbot explains why high school mass hysteria was the perfect subject for her new novel The Fever. For the Spiel, it’s time to elect a new Lobstar of the antentwig. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton can often be heard speaking proudly about diplomatic progress in Burma. Today on The Gist, RAND Corp. political scientist Jonah Blank puts the success story in context. Plus, Ted Kaye joins us in a vexillology corner to assess the flag of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine. For the Spiel, you get a tank and you get a tank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When a bored copy-shop employee spotted a chilling letter on the copy machine, he was left with an ethical dilemma. On The Gist, Emily Yoffe of Slate’s Dear Prudence column explains when it’s your duty to report discussions of sexual conduct with minors. Plus, Slate columnist Reihan Salam reveals how Rand Paul and Chris Christie are courting black voters. For the Spiel, Mike responds to flack for defending race-car driver Tony Stewart on last night’s All In With Chris Hayes. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can gathering happiness data help countries evaluate the success of public policies? For our regular segment “Is This Bulls--t,” we examine the value of happiness studies with Maria Konnikova of The New Yorker. Also, Arab studies professor Justin Stearns explains how the Muslim world interprets extremist calls for a return to the caliphate. For the Spiel, Mike remembers Robin Williams in light of our recent report on comedy and mental health. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, Tamara Cofman Wittes of the Brookings Center for Middle East Policy offers insight into the threat of ISIS in Iraq and President Obama’s selective humanitarian efforts. Then, famed horserace announcer Tom Durkin takes a partial break from calling a race in Sarasota to reflect on his storied career as a horserace announcer. In honor of Durkin’s retirement this month, we’ll remember some of his best calls of all time and his appearance on the TV show Match Game. For the Spiel, who gets to speak about women’s body image? Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Amy Solomon was growing up in Chicago, she was obsessed with Gilda Radner. She wanted to be a comedian but worried she didn’t have enough problems to talk about. For her Princeton senior thesis, Solomon explored the link between confessional comedy and mental health. In this special segment, Mike also speaks with comedians Sara Benincasa, Chris Gethard, and Gary Gulman about where they find balance. For the Spiel, the value of living through history. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, we speak with Elizabeth Gilbert about the phenomenon of Eat, Pray, Love tattoos. We learn how she’s moved on creatively after selling 10 million copies, but isn’t going to stop taking requests for her hit. Her newest book, The Signature of All Things, is best enjoyed with a gin and tonic. For the Spiel, Mike comes out in favor of pleasure within reason. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, how the alchemy of two helps creativity thrive. Joshua Wolf Shenk, author of Powers of Two, explains how genius comes in pairs. For the Spiel, the problem with defending the indefensible use of a chokehold. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Chris Gethard shows The Gist his guns. We’ll hear how his fans are demanding a new range of creative experimentation and interactivity on his public access program The Chris Gethard Show. His new album is called My Comedy Album. For the Spiel, the country in Africa that’s a runaway success story. Photo Illustration by Slate. Photo by Jewel Frankfeldt Photography: https://www.facebook.com/JewelFrankfeldtPhotography Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: http://slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, we observe the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I with a feature about the start of World War II. Mike asks Ron Rosenbaum, author of Explaining Hitler: The Search for the Origins of His Evil, about how a genocidal monster is formed, and whether the Holocaust would have happened without him. For the Spiel, all you missed on ABC’s This Week. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Committee to Establish a Suitable Flying Banner for the City of Sioux Falls has elected their first city flag. On The Gist, CESFBCSF President Hugh Weber and celebrity vexillologist Ted Kaye explains why Sioux Falls should raise the new banner high. Then Ammon Shea, author of Bad English, has a very unique take on the English language that will, like, literally aggravate the linguistically nonplussed. For the Spiel, five myths about myths. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When is it best to know when our privacy has been violated? Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA passes around nude photographs. A doctor in Maryland may have photographed thousands of women during their gynecological exams. Aaron Zimmerman from UC–Santa Barbara brings an epistemological approach to the question, “Can you be a victim without knowing you’re a victim?” For the Spiel, what a bad beat at the World Series of Poker reminds us about how we make decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With only two days left before August recess, what’s left on Congress’ agenda? Slate’s senior political reporter David Weigel explains why Republicans are sitting on their hands. Plus, Wall Street Journal sports columnist Jason Gay talks about his conversion to biking, even down to the spandex shorts. For the Spiel, an exclusive leaked OkCupid commercial. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, Canadian human rights worker Diana Buttu joins us from Nazareth to share her perspective on the conflict in Gaza. Plus, Maria Konnikova from The New Yorker shares what the physiology of reading screens means for our brains. For the Spiel, Mike’s imagined dialogue with Mike Francesa. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The world used to be full of empires. Is it time for an imperial resurgence? On today's Gist, Robert D. Kaplan, national correspondent for the Atlantic, makes the argument for something that looks a lot like a modern empire, although with a less fraught name. Plus, a look at new research into how we taste, with Charles Spence of the Crossmodal Research Laboratory, who wrote on the subject in Flavour Journal. For the Spiel, remembering NPR’s good witch, Margo Adler. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on The Gist, where do you draw the line with your husband’s close female friends? Emily Yoffe of Slate’s Dear Prudence column joins us for a post-Prudie impact statement concerning a husband’s proposed road trip with an ex. Then, Susan Crawford, author of Captive Audience, explains why Hollywood and cable subscribers everywhere have the right to be spooked and outraged by the possible Fox-Time Warner merger. For the Spiel, it’s time for another an-twentig. Get The Gist by email as soon as it’s available: slate.com/GistEmail Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/slate…id873667927?mt=2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices