Podcast Summary: The Gist — "Is Anyone Not A Fan Of Eileen Gu?"

Host: Mike Pesca (with Ethan Strauss)
Date: February 21, 2026
Episode Theme:
An exploration of the surprising positivity in American media coverage toward Eileen Gu, a Chinese-American ski star who chose to compete for China in the Olympics, and what this says about patriotism, media narratives, and cultural identity in contemporary America.

Overview

This episode of The Gist features Mike Pesca and guest Ethan Strauss discussing Pesca’s recent Free Press article on Eileen Gu. The conversation dives into Gu’s unique position as an elite, American-born skier representing China, the lack of widespread criticism she receives in U.S. media, and how this ties into larger conversations about patriotism, media selectivity, and generational attitudes toward nationalism and China.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Eileen Gu Paradox: Talent, Image, and National Allegiance

• Introduction of Eileen Gu:
  • Gu is a Chinese-American skier born, raised, educated, and trained in the United States.
  • Despite her American roots, she decided to compete for China in the Olympics, garnering lucrative endorsement deals (estimated $12–15M) and representation as not just an athlete, but a cultural phenomenon.
• Positive Media Portrayal:
  • Major media outlets (NBC, New York Times, BBC) provide overwhelmingly positive coverage—rarely mentioning controversy.
  • Pesca notes: "She has seemed to suffer no loss of popularity in America. And a big part of it is the coverage." [18:06]
• "Is Anyone Not A Fan?":
  • NBC’s on-air commentary directly asked: "Is anyone not a fan of Eileen Gu?" [18:02]
  • Pesca’s response: "You might not know this, but yes, there are some people who at least question what's going on here." [18:58]

2. Media Criticism, or Lack Thereof

• The Dog That Doesn’t Bark:
  • Strauss expresses fascination with not just controversial figures, but stories that strangely avoid controversy.
  • "I'm fascinated by Taboo. And when people aren't getting angry about something, to me it can be as revealing as when they are just why? Why isn't this a cause for uproar?" [14:08]
• Who Actually Criticized Gu?
  • Most notable criticism comes from specific conservative personalities; mainstream media often filters it as “conservatives say this,” distancing themselves.
  • Pesca: "Some people came at me and said she's the most controversial... But she gets almost zero guff on any BBC, New York Times, and most importantly, NBC." [18:38]
• Gu’s Handling of Scrutiny:
  • She employs careful messaging centered around culture, family, and belonging, deftly sidestepping geopolitics and criticism.

3. Generational Shifts & Patriotism

• Changing Attitudes:
  • Both hosts discuss polling that shows declining patriotism, especially among younger Americans.
  • "To get angry at somebody betraying you, you have to have any sort of fuel... that there's something to betray." [29:47 - Strauss]
  • For many, cultural identity is more important than national allegiance.
• American Exceptionalism & Its Decline:
  • Strauss: "If everybody buys into the idea that this is a bad place, it almost does become self perpetuated." [37:52]
  • Pesca stresses that lacking patriotism can dissolve the very notion of a country as a shared idea. [37:52]

4. China, COVID-19, and Unpopular Outrage

• Why No Elite Anger at China?
  • Strauss posits it's a "xenophobia phobia"—an elite fear of seeming xenophobic shuts down criticism, even in the context of COVID-19’s origins.
  • "It is rather odd, isn't it, that there's not more populist anger towards China. What's up?" [24:05]
• Pesca’s Analysis:
  • Populist anger does exist, but is filtered by media elite who hesitate to legitimize any stance associated with conspiracy or right-wing rhetoric (e.g., lab leak theory).

5. Olympics, Obscurity, and the Allure of National Competition

• Winter Olympics as a Nationalist Event:
  • Both hosts note that, absent patriotism, the Olympics’ appeal—especially the Winter Olympics with its niche sports—makes little sense.
  • Pesca: "We do [care], because it's this thing called the Olympics and because flags are involved and countries are involved." [40:33]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Gu’s Marketability:
  • Pesca: "She's beautiful, she's well spoken, she's great at skiing, and she competes for China. So she has the 1.6 billion Chinese market to appeal to as well as the $300 million American market." [17:34]
• On Her Flawless Persona:
  • Pesca: "As good as she is at skiing, she's better at just being poised... You can't believe how great she is in an interview." [16:10]
• On the Absence of Outrage:
  • Strauss: "I love the dog that doesn't bark... I'm fascinated by Taboo. And when people aren't getting angry about something, to me it can be as revealing as when they are just why?" [14:08]
• On American Patriotism:
  • Strauss: "I think to get angry at somebody betraying you, you have to have any sort of fuel… that there's something to betray." [29:47]
• On Global Times Coverage:
  • Pesca: "China pays Eileen Gu to beat Americans. And then to argue that America is a beaten country." [32:37]
• On the State of the Country:
  • Pesca: "If you have a country that doesn't even care or believe about the country, I will suggest you don't have a country. A country is an idea." [37:52]
• A Dinner Party Strategy:
  • Strauss: "This is how I shock people, Mike, at a Bay Area dinner party, I just go, yeah, this is the best country. People go, monocles drop into champagne flutes. But then I go, okay, what other country's better?" [35:20]

Important Timestamps

• 06:05: Conversation begins; podcasting banter
• 14:03: Switch to discussion of Pesca’s Free Press article on Eileen Gu and media narratives
• 15:23: Pesca’s full Eileen Gu explanation and background
• 22:44–25:13: The absence of elite anger toward China (re: COVID origins and geopolitics)
• 29:28–32:37: Discussion of patriotism, populism, and Gu’s reception in media
• 35:20: Strauss’s “dinner party” line about American exceptionalism
• 37:52: Pesca’s reflections on the meaning of country and patriotism
• 40:31–42:42: Debate on the purpose and continuing appeal of the Winter Olympics

Tone and Language

• Frank, wry, intellectually curious—both hosts challenge prevailing narratives while maintaining humor and accessibility.
• "Responsibly provocative" in spirit, the episode mixes reasoned critique, cultural observations, and playful banter.

Summary Takeaway

This episode uses the Eileen Gu phenomenon as a lens to examine the evolving landscape of American patriotism, media selectivity, and the geopolitics of sport. The hosts also reflect on what America’s muted response to certain provocations—from China’s global behavior to the Olympics themselves—says about generational and elite attitudes toward nationalism and identity.