Mickey Bergman: The Psychology of the Hostage Deal

The Gist

Peach Fish Productions

Daily News, News

4.5 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 16 March 2026

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today on The Gist, Global Reach CEO Mickey Bergman discusses the high-stakes world of international hostage negotiation. He details the emotional intelligence required to deal with foreign officials and clarifies the behind-the-scenes realities of securing the release of Americans like Paul Whelan, Trevor Reed, and Brittney Griner. Plus, Mike opens the show by analyzing the Republican-backed SAVE Act. He argues the proof-of-citizenship voting bill is purely a messaging tactic with no chance of passing the Senate, and points out that many of the voters most likely to lack ready access to a birth certificate actually favor Donald Trump. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/ Follow us on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X https://x.com/pescami TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠ad-sales@libsyn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist

Transcript

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0:00.0	What does it really mean to have a good life in our politics, our work, our relationships?
0:03.6	If you care about social justice, science, or the search for meaning, you'll find courageous,
0:07.8	practical conversations. No Small Endeavor, the Signal Award winning an M.B. Award-nominated podcast
0:14.4	produced by our friends at Great Feeling Studio.
0:17.3	We've talked about No Small Endeavor in the past.
0:19.9	Host Lisee Camp leads thought-provoking
0:22.6	conversations with artists, philosophers, politicians, and beyond. Where do politics and justice
0:28.0	meet the pursuit of the common good? Find out with no small endeavor available on Apple Podcast,
0:33.8	Spotify, or wherever you listen.
0:42.1	It's Monday, March 16th, 2026.
0:44.4	From Peachfish Productions, it's the gist.
0:45.3	I'm Mike Peska.
0:50.7	And Senate Republicans will be voting on Donald Trump's Save Act this week.
0:57.1	The Save Act, the Act, the act that could save America if the underlying assertions behind it weren't pretty much totalized.
0:59.3	But also, if it did what the Republicans say it's going to do.
1:04.5	And here's the third if, if it passes, which there is no chance of.
1:08.7	So this act, opposed by all Democrats, is one of those laws that
1:13.0	need 60 votes to pass. It's only at most going to get the 53 who are Republicans, and some
1:19.3	Republicans aren't even in favor of this, the Republicans who are no longer playing the game
1:24.0	of pretending that foreign citizens are stealing our elections.
1:29.0	So it's not going to pass.
1:30.1	So why worry?
	...

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