cover of episode HTDE: Josh Gad defeats earworms, and we make a pitch to Pete Buttigieg

HTDE: Josh Gad defeats earworms, and we make a pitch to Pete Buttigieg

2024/10/30
logo of podcast Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Key Insights

Why do election mailers stop coming after you vote early?

Campaigns save money by not mailing to voters who have already voted.

Why can federal elected officials send mail without stamps?

They use congressional franking privileges for official communication.

Why does chewing gum help get a song out of your head?

It interferes with the brain regions used for singing to yourself.

Why can't Mike and Ian create their own time zone?

Time zones are regulated by states, not the Secretary of Transportation.

Why did Indiana have different time zones at different times?

They didn't observe daylight saving time, causing confusion.

Why did railroads standardize time zones in the U.S.?

To avoid confusion and ensure consistent schedules across regions.

Why does Josh Gad recommend listening to other catchy songs to get rid of an earworm?

It distracts your brain from the stuck song, replacing it with another melody.

Chapters

Douglas Herman explains how voting early can stop election mailers from reaching your mailbox, saving both you and the campaign money.
  • Voting early stops campaign mailers.
  • Campaign mailers are expensive for campaigns.
  • Franked mail is used by federal elected officials.

Shownotes Transcript

This week on the show, when a mother can't get her four-year-old's favorite song out of her head, Mike and Ian call up Broadway's beloved Josh Gad to help. Plus, Ian has a formal request for the Secretary of Transportation, and the guys find a tip to quell those pesky election mailers.You can email your burning questions to [email protected]).How To Do Everything won't live in this feed forever. If you like what you hear, scoot on over to their very own feed and give them a follow.Both How To Do Everything and Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me! are available without sponsor messages for supporters of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me+, who also get bonus episodes of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! featuring exclusive games, behind-the-scenes content, and more. Sign up and support NPR at plus.npr.org).How To Do Everything* is hosted by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag. It is produced by Heena Srivastava. Technical direction from Lorna White.*Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)