The Gist

Today on The Gist, the Wall Street Journal’s Mary Lane tells Mike about the trove of art stolen by the Nazis that’s been left to a Swiss museum. The art had been hidden for decades by Hitler’s art dealer’s son, who decided before his death to return the priceless works to the public. Then, science blogger Maria Konnikova assesses studies of the power of multitasking. And in today’s Spiel, Mike considers what’s in an animal name. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on The Gist, we ask what it would be like to take the worst thing that has ever happened to you and see it displayed in a famous new building with a gift shop. We spoke with BuzzFeed’s Steve Kandell about his Sunday visit to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Then, Patrick LaForge from the New York Times tells us the origin story behind a certain ubiquitous Twitter disclaimer that’s attached itself to social media like a barnacle. For Mike’s Spiel, he considers the North Korean pop star who shocked the world by actually being alive. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We hear that a common obstacle to prosecuting campus sexual assault cases is the so-called “he said, she said” problem. Veteran prosecutor Christopher Mallios the joins us to explain how district attorneys can use existing laws to crack down on rape much more effectively. Then we’ll talk with comic actress Judy Greer. You know her from somewhere (probably Arrested Development) and we’ll find out how she handles being recognized on line at the grocery store. Plus, Mike’s take on media diet sanctimony. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, NPR's David Folkenflik explains the frayed relationships that led to an embarrassing week for the New York Times. Then, Slate's Julia Turner joins us for a look at the newspaper of record’s leaked innovation report. Plus, Mike’s Spiel on who we describe as pushy and brusque. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi has been denied entry into the United States, but may very likely be the next Prime Minister of India. Shikha Dalmia, senior analyst at the Reason Foundation explains the diplomatic stakes on today’s Gist. Then, the heroic moderator from today’s viral Idaho GOP Gubernatorial debates explains how a cowboy, curmudgeon, biker, and a normal guy ended up on stage together. For The Spiel, Mike weighs the cost of the delayed arrival of the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Photo illustration by Lisa Larson-Walker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, who belongs on the terrorism watch list? Georgetown University Professor Daniel Byman explains what’s involved in classifying guerrilla groups like Boko Haram as counter terrorist threats. Plus, Slate’s Willa Paskin on depictions of sex and violence in HBO’s Game of Thrones. For the Spiel, Mike decries the outmoded proof of identity that harkens back to the Middle Ages and affects who represents us in congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Mike Pesca talks with Cathy O’Neil about the protest at Smith College that resulted in the withdrawal of IMF head Christine Lagarde as graduation speaker. Then, a wide ranging conversation between Ed Dunn, the coach featured in the new documentary “We Could be King,” and Bill Courtney, the coach from the Academy Award winning doc “Undefeated.” Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: www.slate.com/gistemail. Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo "Against the Wall" by BoxCat Games "Rio" by 1000 Names "As I Figure" by Kevin MacLeod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on The Gist, is buying Beats by Dre a good deal for Apple? NPR's Frannie Kelley weighs in on the headphones, the streaming service, and Hip-Hop's first billionaire. Then, Professor Rob Brooks from the University of New South Wales shares new research about how beards affect male attractiveness. Plus, in today’s Spiel Mike notes the reopening of the Washington Monument. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail. Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo "Against the Wall" by BoxCat Games "As I Figure" by Kevin MacLeod “Power Glove” by C. Scott Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo "Rio" by 1000 Names “Power Glove” by C. Scott "Against the Wall" by BoxCat Games "As I Figure" by Kevin MacLeod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Friday’s Gist, Mike Pesca talks with Felix Salmon, senior editor at Fusion, about why it’s not popular to prosecute bankers. Professor Ben Yagoda teaches us the power of the literary technique polysyndeton as demonstrated everywhere from the King James Bible to Lil Wayne. And for today’s Spiel, Mike’s outraged about the culture of outrage. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Slate's The Gist with Mike Pesca: The Telegraph's Tom Rogan speaks with Mike about the wisdom of sending forces to rescue the Nigerian schoolgirls. Later in the show, Mike tries his hand at freestyle hip-hop, and he shares recent news items related to urine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Mike Pesca talks with Mark Leibovich about politicians leaving Congress for on-air punditry. He then talks with Maria Konnikova about what personality quizzes really tell us. And today's Spiel centers on whether it’s time for Americans to give Monica Lewinsky a break. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail. Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo “Readers! Do You Read?” By Chris Zabriskie “Power Glove” by C. Scott "Kosmiche Slop" by Anenon "Divider" by Chris Zabriskie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 6, 2014: Mike Pesca talks with Russia expert Strobe Talbott about Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on free speech in Russia. Then, a talk with the author of the book Taming Lust, about “crimes against nature” in colonial America. And why tiny Moldova should be worried about Putin too. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail. Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo “Readers! Do You Read?” By Chris Zabriskie “The Great” by Broke For Free” “Power Glove” by C. Scott Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike talks with Slate's Dahlia Lithwick about today's Supreme Court decision allowing explicitly Christian prayers in public meetings. Radiolab’s Jad Abumrad then turns the tables and interviews Mike about how he came to host his own show. And finally, we end with The Spiel, Mike's daily take on…something.  Today's Spiel is about the promise of living forever, thanks to new insights from rat blood. Get notified as soon as The Gist posts each weekday: http://www.slate.com/gistemail. Music: "Eclosion" by Salmo "Enjoyable to Know” by C. Scott “The Great” by Broke For Free “Power Glove” by C. Scott "Against the Wall" by BoxCat Games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Pesca gives a little preview of his new daily show, debuting May 5, 2014 on Slate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices