For this weekend's Saturday Show, Mike shares a recent Substack Live conversation with political analyst and commentator Chris Cillizza. They kick things off by diagnosing the crisis of adult male friendship, why society fails to foster it, and Mike's "erosion theory" of bonding. Then, they pivot to politics, contrasting Donald Trump's inability to sell the unpopular war in Iran with Ronald Reagan's successful messaging during the 1983 invasion of Grenada. Are modern Americans too accustomed to the friction-free "age of abundance" to accept genuine wartime sacrifices? Plus, a breakdown of the cynical legislative maneuvering behind the SAVE Act—noting that 36 states already require some form of voter ID, compared to 14 that do not—and a look at the shifting coalitions in the Texas Democratic primary, where affluent white liberals turned out in higher numbers than Black and Hispanic voters to propel James Talarico past Jasmine Crockett.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Today on The Gist, historic double Oscar-nominated director Geeta Gandbhir joins the show to discuss her Netflix documentary feature, The Perfect Neighbor. She breaks down the tragic murder of AJ Owens by her neighbor Susan Lorincz, explaining how Florida's "Stand Your Ground" laws, racial bias, and easy access to firearms enabled a deadly escalation. Gandbhir also explores the ethical complexities of using raw police body cam and Ring doorbell footage to document the community's grief without re-traumatizing the victim's family. Plus, why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is acting like a media critic instead of fighting an actual war. And in the Spiel, Donald Trump's repeated attempts to unlawfully install loyalist U.S. Attorneys keep getting smacked down by federal judges—proving the Constitution's guardrails are made of steel, not hanging by a thread.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Jeff Nussbaum and Dan Rothschild debate the Iran war's shaky public support, the administration's failure to make a clear case for sacrifice, and whether the mission is deterrence, regime change, or just another round of mowing the lawn. Then they turn to the Democrats who won in 2025, asking whether Abigail Spanberger, Mikie Sherrill, and Zohran Mamdani are actually governing on affordability or drifting toward the usual cultural and ideological fights. Plus, in Goat Grinders, conference badges, left-side driving in St. Lucia, and the humiliations of the new Acela.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Aaron Tracy joins to talk about The Secret World of Roald Dahl, his podcast about the children's author as war spy, improvised medical inventor, and world-class fabulist with a vicious streak. The conversation gets into Dahl's improbable second act as a children's writer, the darkness that made books like James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory endure, and the harder question of how to reckon with his explicit anti-Semitism. Also, a look at why Ronald Reagan sold the Grenada invasion to the public in a way recent presidents have not matched, and why Americans can sometimes be rallied by a rationale as much as by the facts.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Today on The Gist, bestselling author Nir Eyal joins the show to discuss his new book, Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Extraordinary Results. He explains how the lead singer of Sofi Tukker cured her chronic neuroplastic pain by "throwing ass," why vision boards and manifesting actually ruin your chances of success, and why the placebo effect is getting statistically stronger every year. They also break down the critical difference between facts, faith, and beliefs—and why treating our beliefs as immutable truths is tearing society apart. Plus, Mike gives it to you straight. A geographical rundown of the world's most important, and underrated, straits. Interested in Nir's book?

geni.us/beyondbelief

Free belief change guide is here: nirandfar.com/belief-change Bonus content and the 30-Day Belief Transformation Journal is here:

nirandfar.com/beyond-belief

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Today on The Gist, Princeton PhD researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov joins the show to share her harrowing experience of being kidnapped and held hostage in Iraq for over 900 days by the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah. She details the brutal realities of her captivity, how she used her intellect to outsmart her captors by leaving hidden "breadcrumbs" for intelligence agencies in forced confession videos, and the bizarre reality of being ordered to write geopolitical analysis for the militants. She also provides a rare, firsthand look at how the proxy group reacted in real-time to the October 7th attacks and the subsequent regional fallout. Plus, the differing approaches of the Trump and Biden administrations to hostage recovery.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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For this Saturday Show, Mike takes the guest seat on Lifelong with Ethan Suplee. Actor Ethan Suplee (Remember the Titans, My Name Is Earl) is well-known for his incredible physical transformation, having lost hundreds of pounds. Together, he and Mike get into a deep, candid discussion about the lifelong psychology of weight management, the economic politics of GLP-1 drugs, and why the extremes of the "Healthy at Every Size" movement veer into anti-science cultism. Plus, Mike reveals his biological "bliss molecule" advantage against anxiety.

https://www.americanglutton.net/listen

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Today on The Gist, A jet-lagged yet very gracious comedian and writer Jena Friedman joins the show to discuss her new stand-up special, Motherfucker. She talks with Mike about why writing abortion jokes is harder than ever in a post-Roe reality, the challenges of making dark topics funny on her true crime series Indefensible, and the current landscape of risky political comedy. Jena also opens up about the vulnerability of tackling grief on stage after losing her mother while eight months pregnant.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Today on The Gist, the line between free speech and harassment, and why the progressive left's blind spot for anti-Semitism turns "anti-Zionism" into a convenient excuse for abuse. Then comedian, actress, and writer Jamie Denbo joins the show to discuss reviving her beloved alt-comedy character, Beverly Ginsberg, for The Beverly Podcast. She opens up about her tenure as a writer and producer on Grey's Anatomy, revealing how the network's progressive double standards and post-October 7th hypocrisy forced her to resign. Plus, a healthy dose of "Jewish joy" and a few biting, in-character critiques of self-help gurus like Mel Robbins and Glennon Doyle.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Novelist and middle school teacher Brian Platzer discusses the real teacher who inspired his book, a stroke that stole the man's ability to communicate, and Platzer's own baffling neurological disorder. In the Spiel: when deeply unserious rhetoric collides with the deadly serious business of war, and whether Donald Trump's approach to conflict ever moves beyond slogans. Plus, the cheap-drone revolution in warfare.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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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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