Today on The Gist. John McWhorter joins Mike Pesca to discuss his new book Pronoun Trouble, which unpacks the politics and poetry of tiny words. Also, Trump touts his tariff triumph by jabbing Canada, walloping China, and baffling Wall Street into bullishness. He riffed on trade

Me and ⁦Mike Pesca⁩ Mike! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

I had so much fun talking to John McWhorter about all the words. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

More of me and Mike Pesca! Mike Pesca podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

Quick - what are ten old (as in black-and-white, people wearing hats and such) movies your kids should at least see once? I give my list here! nytimes.com/2025/04/10/opi…

Tomorrow night! John McWhorter: Pronoun Trouble commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-04…

Check out this guest piece - too many smart people think smoking out racism should be the North Star of serious thought about blackness. This limits creativity and curiosity. We need a reset. open.substack.com/pub/persuasion…

I used to think people playing music from their phones without using headphones or airpods just sucked. Must admit that once I even frowningly barked at one guy on the subway "Turn that off!!" and luckily was not murdered. But I've been rethinking this lately. This is about

Folks, if I may, this went pretty well. Take a look when they show it tonight (or, I'll send it out from YouTube tomorrow).

Last night on Colbert. All about PRONOUN TROUBLE (or mostly). youtu.be/eClNdXq3NWw?si… via YouTube

Me and the brilliant ⁦Eli Lake⁩ - his podcast, on (in our part) Lenny Bruce and the profanity revolution. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vul…

From my friend music critic Joseph Horowitz, who is always right, this must-read: American Cultural Diplomacy in South Africa Right Now, Courtesy of the University of Michigan artsjournal.com/uq/2025/05/ame…

More from Joseph Horowitz about how classical music actually LIVES in South Africa. (Yes, there!) Cultural Diplomacy in South Africa Continued: the University of Michigan Concert Orchestra Goes to Soweto artsjournal.com/uq/2025/05/cul…

This is the kind of interview of me I'd want my children to see and share in the future. One of the most real I've ever done. Thank you Malcolm Gladwell!! John McWhorter with Malcolm Gladwell: youtu.be/8ld1YKNUFtk?si… via YouTube

Fun Summit this weekend. Here I am talking with David Shor on how to fashion an argument. This went many places.

Mike and I just TALKED. About STUFF. It's like an evening cocktail! Mike Pesca open.substack.com/pub/mikepesca/…

Important podcast on how classical music, in all of its whiteness, MATTERS in South Africa. "A Service to the Nation" -- The University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra Tours South Africa artsjournal.com/uq/2025/06/a-s…

Is language power? Earlier this year we hosted renowned linguist John McWhorter in convo with Nick Enfield. Now you can catch their fascinating chat on the Big Ideas program — tonight @ 8pm AEDT! Tune in to ABC Radio National live or on the ABC Listen app: bit.ly/4epgtsg