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Today, Explained
Today, Explained
Vox

Today, Explained is Vox's daily news explainer podcast. Hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King will guide you through the most important stories of the day. Part of the... more

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Episodes

Almost Heaven

The appeal of "Country Roads" extends far beyond West Virginia or even the United States. We're revisiting an episode from... more

27 Dec 2024 · 31 minutes
Our trillion-dollar credit card bill

Christmas is over and now comes the financial hangover. In an episode from earlier this year, guest host Jonquilyn Hill... more

26 Dec 2024 · 28 minutes
The case against legal sports betting

Sports betting is a costly mistake, says addiction researcher Charles Fain Lehman. He and NBA great Danny Green discuss how... more

23 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
One year of Sphere

The Las Vegas Sphere was supposed to be the future of live entertainment. But just over a year into its... more

20 Dec 2024 · 29 minutes
The price of paying college athletes

Name and likeness rights are fundamentally changing college sports at a rapid pace. SB Nation’s JP Acosta and sports commentator... more

19 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
Can Trump get a Gaza ceasefire?

He'd love to take credit for a deal, although Israel and Hamas are still deadlocked. But Amir Tibon of Haaretz... more

18 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
The right to die

A growing number of countries are legalizing assisted suicide, mostly for terminally ill patients. The Washington Post's Karla Adam and... more

17 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
Trump trolls the neighbours

President-elect Trump says he can see Justin Trudeau becoming governor of “the great state of Canada.” It’s part of a... more

16 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
Trad wife takeover

Trad wives are having a moment. A new conservative women’s magazine promising to be the anti-Cosmo is capitalizing on the... more

13 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
Will Syrians return home?

Syrian refugees are celebrating the end of the Assad regime. But for Omar Alshogre and millions like him, going back... more

12 Dec 2024 · 29 minutes
A win in the opioid crisis

The US saw a significant drop in the number of drug overdose deaths. The Trump administration has a shot at... more

11 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
The UnitedHealth CEO shooting

Gothamist’s Brittany Kriegstein explains who police just arrested. STAT News’s Bob Herman explains the anger resonating against UnitedHealthcare. This episode was... more

10 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
Target misses the mark

As Target struggles to retain its customers, rivals like Walmart are making gains. The Wall Street Journal’s Sarah Nassauer explains... more

09 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
The truth about Y2K

Kyle Mooney dreams up a New Year’s Eve 1999 apocalypse. Historian Zachary Loeb explains why the real Y2K wasn't one. This... more

06 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
Reigniting Syria's civil war

A rebel group changed the course of Syria's long civil war when it seized Aleppo this past weekend. The Syria... more

05 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
Can DOGE cut $2 trillion?

Elon, Vivek, and the Department of Government Efficiency want to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. A libertarian says... more

04 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
The Hunter becomes the pardoned

On Saturday, future President Donald Trump announced Kash Patel would lead the FBI. On Sunday, current President Joe Biden pardoned... more

03 Dec 2024 · 29 minutes
Wrestling with the Education Department

Trump has named wrestling tycoon Linda McMahon to be his secretary of education. She’ll be tasked with his campaign promise... more

02 Dec 2024 · 27 minutes
How Abercrombie made a comeback

Fast Company’s senior fashion writer Elizabeth Segran explains how the company overcame a problematic history to pull off a renaissance... more

29 Nov 2024 · 24 minutes
Why volunteering is worth it

Many of us think our individual actions can’t combat systemic problems. Vox's Rachel Cohen and Bowling Alone author Robert Putnam... more

27 Nov 2024 · 24 minutes
Handing off a war

Two American presidents are trying to shape the future of the war in Ukraine at the same time. This episode was... more

26 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
The Democrat who won in Trump country

US Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez was one of the few Democrats to win a swing district in the 2024 election.... more

25 Nov 2024 · 28 minutes
Breaking up with your parents

Writer Emi Nietfeld says she felt relief when she cut her mom out of her life. Clinical psychologist Joshua Coleman... more

22 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
Robert Fluoride Kennedy Jr.

If RFK Jr. leads the Department of Health and Human Services, he could radically reshape public health priorities in America,... more

21 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
The kids aren't reading all right

College students in 2024 are less willing and able to read full books. Today, Explained asks whether that matters. This episode... more

20 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
Deportation nation

President-elect Donald Trump has promised mass deportations. "Operation Wetback" from the Eisenhower days is serving as inspiration. This episode was produced... more

19 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
Team America

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated some unconventional people to his Cabinet, including Fox News host Pete Hegseth as secretary of... more

18 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
When docs cry

Prince is the subject of a new film from one of the greatest living documentarians, but it might never come... more

15 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
There's a new tariff in town

Trump’s tariffs could remake world trade. The Wall Street Journal’s Greg Ip explains the president-elect’s plan and how the world... more

14 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
The Bro Brogan presidency

An air of musky manliness settled over the 2024 presidential campaign and brought the bros to the polls. But a... more

13 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
A live-forever diet?

The quest to live forever has taken us from diet fads to geographic fantasies like Blue Zones. But none of... more

12 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
Does #Resist still exist?

It looks like Donald Trump will arrive in Washington without much of a movement in place to challenge him. Politico’s... more

11 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
The world Trump inherits

Vox’s Joshua Keating explains how Trump’s foreign policy will influence some of the world’s biggest conflicts. This episode was produced by... more

08 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
Pin the fail on the donkey

Democrats lost big on Election Day: the presidency, the Senate, and maybe the House too. Vox's Eric Levitz explains what... more

07 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
Trump country

Donald Trump won. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains how and Semafor’s Shelby Talcott explains what comes next. Today’s show was produced by... more

06 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
The most important “most important election”?

It seems as though every election is “the most important election of our lifetime." Historian Jeffrey Engel and political scientist... more

05 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
How Gaza could decide the election

The key battleground state of Michigan could be decided by Arab American voters disappointed with Democrats' handling of the war... more

04 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
Why everybody's running marathons now

Marathon participation is surging, fueled in large part by 20-somethings who’ve embraced distance running as a way to deal with... more

01 Nov 2024 · 27 minutes
Did the Dodgers save baseball?

Dodger Blue Dream podcast host Richard Parks III looks back on a cinematic season. The Wall Street Journal’s Jared Diamond... more

31 Oct 2024 · 29 minutes
Polar opposites

Florida is looking to turn one of its last apolitical offices into yet another partisan job. It's the latest example... more

30 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
How Trump could steal the election

Donald Trump doesn't want to let losing the election stop him from taking the White House. Politico's Kyle Cheney details... more

29 Oct 2024 · 26 minutes
It's the economy, stupid

Economic concerns are shaping this year’s election, especially in Nevada. As candidates promise no taxes on you-name-it, it’s a glimpse... more

28 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Why do I keep getting these weird fundraising texts?

In this special feed drop of the new Vox podcast Explain It to Me, we answer some of the questions... more

27 Oct 2024 · 57 minutes
Is there a Dr Pepper in the house?

Dr Pepper has overtaken Pepsi as the second-bestselling soda in the US. Its rise helps explain dirty sodas, healthy sodas,... more

25 Oct 2024 · 24 minutes
Musk’s million dollar giveaway

Elon Musk has become Trump’s most important fundraiser and his hands-on approach is breaking political norms, according to Tim Higgins... more

24 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Demographics aren't destiny

Latinos and other groups that typically vote for Democrats are showing weaker support for Kamala Harris. Vox's Christian Paz and... more

23 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
The battle for Congress

Republicans are projected to take the Senate in November, but Democrats have a fighting chance to win the House —... more

22 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Category 2024

WFAE’s Steve Harrison explains how North Carolina is readying itself for Election Day after Hurricane Helene. And CNN’s Sara Murray... more

21 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Reconsidering the Menendez brothers

A new documentary and a Ryan Murphy drama have Lyle and Erik Menendez back in the news. Vox's Aja Romano... more

18 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Is Trump for real?

Donald Trump talked over the weekend about deploying the military against an "enemy from within." The Washington Post's Isaac Arnsdorf... more

17 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
The minds behind MAGA

Vox's Andrew Prokop and Zack Beauchamp explain the right-wing thinkers whose ideas could dominate Trump's next term. This episode was produced... more

16 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Can Democrats win back rural voters?

Wisconsin wasn’t always a battleground state, but following Trump’s victory there in 2016, Democrats are trying to regain their footing... more

15 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Pennies don’t make cents

Pennies cost more than a cent to make — and no one spends them. The New York Times Magazine’s Caity... more

11 Oct 2024 · 24 minutes
A hurricane of misinformation

Lies about disaster relief are spreading like never before this hurricane season, and it’s making FEMA’s job harder. Juliette Kayyem,... more

10 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Mysterious Melania

Book critic Martin Pengelly read MELANIA so you don’t have to. Intelligencer’s Margaret Hartmann says the book is the latest... more

09 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Abortion on the ballot

Ten states have an initiative on the ballot that would protect access to abortion. KJZZ’s Camryn Sanchez explains how Arizona's... more

08 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
The future of Gaza

It's been one year since Hamas attacked Israel and started a war in Gaza. Israelis and Palestinians look back, and... more

07 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Puberty hits different now

Kids are going through puberty earlier, and scientists think they have found another reason why. Pediatrician Dr. Cara Natterson and... more

04 Oct 2024 · 24 minutes
Christmas in October

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro landed himself on the naughty list for stealing an election. He's hoping an early Christmas will... more

03 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
Mr. Veep

Vox's Andrew Prokop says the vice-presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance was about policy, but in a weird... more

02 Oct 2024 · 26 minutes
Israel’s escalation

Tanks, rockets, missiles, and the death of Hassan Nasrallah. Israel is asserting itself as the most powerful player in the... more

01 Oct 2024 · 27 minutes
How to win Pennsylvania

Vox’s Christian Paz and Miles Bryan head to Philadelphia and Lancaster to see what the Harris and Trump campaigns are... more

30 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
The office vs. everyone else

Amazon is the latest high-profile company to mandate in-person work five days a week. Today, Explained heads to Miami, where... more

27 Sep 2024 · 25 minutes
Leaving America for work-life balance

Today, Explained flies to Portugal to find out how the dust has settled on the pandemic-era quest for better living... more

26 Sep 2024 · 25 minutes
AI’s nuclear option

Microsoft needs so much energy for its AI data centers that it’s helping to reboot Three Mile Island, the site... more

25 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
War in Lebanon?

It looks a lot like all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah. Semafor’s Sarah Dadouch has the latest from Beirut and... more

24 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
Start the steal?

A partisan election board in Georgia has been trying to change the rules around voting and election certification. It's giving... more

23 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
Everybody's gone country

Country music is cool again!!!!! Billboard's Melinda Newman explains. This episode was reported and produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina... more

20 Sep 2024 · 24 minutes
Republicans are getting raunchy

Conservatives have started claiming hot girls as a culture war victory. Vox's Constance Grady explains why. This episode was produced by... more

19 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
Your phone is banned, fellow kids

Educators and politicians across the nation are banning cellphones in classrooms. Today, Explained’s Miles Bryan visits a school in Philadelphia... more

18 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
The return of easy money

The Federal Reserve is set to make its first interest rate cut since the pandemic ended. Marketplace's Kimberly Adams explains... more

17 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
The Ohio pet panic

No, Haitian immigrants aren’t eating anyone’s pets. USA Today-Ohio’s Erin Glynn and the Verge’s Gaby Del Valle explain why Republicans... more

16 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
We can't trust photos anymore

This week Apple announced its first AI iPhone with features that will make it even easier to edit your photos.... more

13 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
Stop the steel

Once the world's largest corporation, the now-struggling US Steel wants to sell itself to Japan's Nippon Steel. The United Steelworkers... more

12 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
Who took debait?

A conservative and a liberal wrangle over how the Harris-Trump debate should have gone. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy... more

11 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
The Pope’s big bet on China

One of the most significant parts of Pope Francis’s Asia tour might be a country he isn’t visiting: China, home... more

10 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
Revenge of the regulators

The arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov by French authorities is part of a broader shift away from the free... more

09 Sep 2024 · 28 minutes
Antibiotics for coral reefs

Vox’s Benji Jones takes us diving in a coral reef to learn how scientists are trying to save them. This episode... more

06 Sep 2024 · 28 minutes
How sanctions backfire

American sanctions can destroy a country’s economy. The unintended consequences are massive in places like Venezuela and Syria. Jeff Stein... more

05 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
How Trump wins

Donald Trump hasn’t yet figured out how to run a disciplined campaign against Kamala Harris. In the meantime, he’s leaning... more

04 Sep 2024 · 27 minutes
The silent war

The story of Army specialist Austin Valley highlights a crisis the US military can’t seem to solve: More service members... more

03 Sep 2024 · 32 minutes
Equal-opportunity murderball

For the first time, a woman is playing on the US wheelchair rugby team at the Paralympics. It’s a sign... more

30 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
Israel vs. Hezbollah

The two are on the brink of starting a regional war. An analyst and a negotiator say without a ceasefire... more

29 Aug 2024 · 29 minutes
Minion Jesus

A meme of a Minion being crucified went viral on TikTok in a very unusual way. Today, Explained’s Laura Bullard... more

28 Aug 2024 · 28 minutes
Hackers probably stole your Social Security number

Vox’s Adam Clark Estes explains why that might be a good thing. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by... more

27 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
Stuck in space

Bloomberg’s Loren Grush explains how two astronauts got stuck on the International Space Station and astronaut Cady Coleman tells us... more

26 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
How Kamala wins

Noel closes out her week in Chicago with a recap of Kamala Harris’s speech. Political strategist Mike Podhorzer looks ahead. This... more

23 Aug 2024 · 28 minutes
The migrant crisis, via Chicago

Around 50,000 migrants have poured into Chicago in the last two years. Some Chicagoans are furious. We talk to residents,... more

22 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
Kamala's party

The Democrats call Black women the "backbone" of their party. We ask three Black women delegates in Chicago about making... more

21 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
What kind of Democrat should Kamala Harris be?

The last two Democratic presidents took distinct approaches toward leading their party and the nation. New York magazine’s Jonathan Chait... more

20 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
The Chicago DNC everyone wants to forget

When Chicago hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1968, it descended into riots in the street and chaos on the... more

19 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
Dating sucks right now

But it doesn't have to. Myisha Battle, a sexologist and host of KCRW’s How's Your Sex Life?, tells us how... more

16 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
The late, great Hannibal Lecter

Donald Trump keeps referencing the infamous fictional cannibal in his speeches. Intelligencer’s Margaret Hartmann attempts to explain why. This episode was... more

15 Aug 2024 · 25 minutes
So you toppled an autocrat

Bangladeshis are about to find out if a Nobel laureate can run their government better than a nepo baby. This episode... more

14 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
The tech titans backing Trump

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are vying for Silicon Valley's support. Democrats typically get it. But Elon Musk threw his... more

13 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
ClassGPT

Students are returning to college campuses this month armed with generative AI tools. One professor who has banned them and... more

12 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
A green medal for Paris?

Paris wanted this to be the greenest Olympics ever. We assess. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra, edited by Amina... more

09 Aug 2024 · 28 minutes
Ecstasy Therapy: Bad trip

A clinical trial for MDMA-assisted therapy showed promising results. But participants who say they suffered afterward allege their experiences aren’t... more

08 Aug 2024 · 28 minutes
Riots in the UK

Disinformation after a knife attack in the UK transformed a local tragedy into nationwide upheaval. The Guardian's Robyn Vinter explains... more

07 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
It's Tim Walz

The governor of Minnesota is Kamala Harris’s running mate. Minnesota Public Radio’s Dana Ferguson and Vox’s Andrew Prokop explain the... more

06 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
RIP Project 2025?

Project 2025 and J.D. Vance have brought fringe policies to the presidential campaign. Democrats are using both to label the... more

05 Aug 2024 · 27 minutes
Ecstasy Therapy: How MDMA became medicine

Military veterans are unlikely collaborators with the psychedelic counterculture. The two groups’ efforts are being tested this month, when the... more

02 Aug 2024 · 29 minutes
Ecstasy Therapy: Penicillin for the soul

In 1980s Berkeley, an eccentric chemist and his wife, a self-taught therapist, experimented with MDMA. Their work would kickstart a... more

01 Aug 2024 · 29 minutes
What will save men’s gymnastics

2008 was the last time the US men’s gymnastics won a team medal at the Olympics. Justin Spring was part... more

31 Jul 2024 · 27 minutes
Why we’re all populists now

Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and Kamala Harris all want to distance themselves from the inflation and bad vibes of President... more

30 Jul 2024 · 27 minutes
Is your refrigerator running?

Fridges are our go-to way of storing food, but they’re not good for the planet or even good for a... more

29 Jul 2024 · 27 minutes
Breaking the Olympics

Breaking will dance its way into the Olympics this summer. B-boy historian Alien Ness says this is destiny. This episode was... more

26 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Kamala’s meme-mentum

Kamala Harris memes have taken over the internet. Now she needs to figure out how to capitalize on them. This episode... more

25 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Abercrombie is back

Fast Company’s senior fashion writer Elizabeth Segran explains how the company overcame a problematic history to pull off a renaissance. This... more

24 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Dengue’s biggest year ever

More than 10 million people worldwide have contracted dengue from mosquitos this year. Now experts are worried it might show... more

23 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
You did it, Joe

All bets are off as President Biden exits the 2024 race. Vox’s Andrew Prokop and Democratic strategist David Axelrod explain. This... more

22 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Trump-a-mania at the RNC

Hulk Hogan delivered at the final night of the RNC, but did Donald Trump? We hear from two conservative strategists... more

19 Jul 2024 · 27 minutes
Why banning Juul backfired

The US cracked down on Juul after an uptick in teen vaping and a flurry of health concerns. Podcaster Leon... more

18 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Trump just avoided 40 felony counts

A federal judge has thrown out Trump's classified documents case. Wall Street Journal Justice Department reporter C. Ryan Barber explains... more

17 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
VP J.D.

Donald Trump’s running mate is Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. Politico’s Ian Ward describes Vance’s transformation from a self-described hillbilly to... more

16 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Is this us?

The assassination attempt on Donald Trump is part of a steady uptick in political — and increasingly partisan — violence... more

15 Jul 2024 · 26 minutes
The song of the summer is DEAD

Long live the song of the summer. But wait! Switched on Pop’s Charlie Harding disagrees. And Rolling Stone’s Brittany Spanos... more

12 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
What is Project 2025?

Donald Trump is trying to distance himself from it. Joe Biden wants you to Google it. Semafor’s Shelby Talcott explains... more

11 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
The Supreme Court’s power grab

The Supreme Court just fundamentally changed how the federal government works. Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains. This episode was produced by Victoria... more

10 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Dancing in the Dark Money

Prosecutors ain’t nothing but tired of New Jersey’s political corruption. WNYC’s Nancy Solomon, host of the Dead End podcast, explains... more

09 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Joe Almighty

President Biden says only the “Lord Almighty” can get him to end his re-election campaign, though more and more Democrats... more

08 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Why “Country Roads” feels like home

John Denver’s ode to West Virginia might be more popular abroad than it is in the United States. This Independence... more

03 Jul 2024 · 29 minutes
Criminalizing homelessness?

The Supreme Court has weighed in on homelessness for the first time in decades. The Economist's Steven Mazie tells us... more

02 Jul 2024 · 25 minutes
Once again, immunity is back up for grabs

The Supreme Court sent the question of Donald Trump’s presidential immunity back to the lower courts. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains. This... more

01 Jul 2024 · 24 minutes
Panic! At The White House

Joe Biden needed to win the debate. He didn’t. Vox’s Christian Paz explains if Democrats can find a better candidate. This... more

28 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
How Spotify picks its winners

No, Sabrina Carpenter probably isn’t paying the streamer to play “Espresso” every time you’re listening to music. But the app... more

27 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
The end of Made in China?

President Biden recently raised Trump-era tariffs, which could lead to even higher prices on Chinese imports. US Trade Representative Katherine... more

26 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
It’s not Islamophobic, it’s anti-Palestinian

Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents are on the rise. Author Moustafa Bayoumi and Vox’s Abdallah Fayyad tell us about another kind... more

25 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
Why investors look past Elon’s musk

Elon Musk has had inappropriate relationships with SpaceX employees. Tesla shareholders knew that, and chose to reward him with a... more

24 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
How UFC explains USA

The Ultimate Fighting Championship went from niche bloodsport to multibillion-dollar league. Donald Trump might be its biggest fan. Journalists Luke... more

21 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
It’s not easy being a green conservative

Fighting climate change is not a very common Republican position. Climate activist Benji Backer argues it should be, and Climate... more

20 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
France's far-right youth

President Macron has called snap elections in France that could lead to him sharing power with the far right. Le... more

18 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
Save Darfur, again

A bloody civil war is spreading famine and fear through Sudan. It’s a near-repeat of a crisis from two decades... more

17 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
Party in the USA?

How do you talk about colonialism and slavery at a birthday party? New York City is trying to tackle that... more

14 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
Will LGBTQ voters come out for Biden?

The LGBTQ+ voting bloc has traditionally favored Democrats, but as Vox's Christian Paz explains, this year their support may be... more

13 Jun 2024 · 26 minutes
We’re drowning in credit card debt

Americans owe more than $1 trillion to credit card companies, a record sum that’s likely to keep growing as rising... more

12 Jun 2024 · 26 minutes
Was that antisemitic?

Since October 7 there has been a lot of debate over what is and isn’t antisemitic. Rabbi Jill Jacobs and... more

11 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
Tiktalk therapy

Some therapists are turning to TikTok as a way to make more money and avoid burnout, but is a nightly... more

10 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
The last good day on the internet

Remember when the only thing anybody could talk about was white and gold versus blue and black? NatGeo’s Brian Resnick... more

07 Jun 2024 · 26 minutes
A win for democracy in India

India's prime minister suffered a humiliating win this week. Vox's Zack Beauchamp explains a shocking election. This episode was produced by... more

06 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
Immigration lemonade

When it comes to immigration solutions, the federal government is handing out lemons. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is making lemonade. This... more

05 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
Our immigration identity crisis

Americans hold contradictory views on immigration: They’re more supportive of it than ever before, while also calling it the nation’s... more

04 Jun 2024 · 26 minutes
The backlash to America’s racial reckoning

The murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed looked like a turning point in the fight against systemic... more

03 Jun 2024 · 25 minutes
Florida man convicted

Former President Donald Trump is now also convicted felon Donald Trump. It didn’t have to be this way. New York... more

31 May 2024 · 25 minutes
Can Mexico’s first woman president fix Mexico?

The AP’s Megan Janetsky and Falko Ernst of the International Crisis Group explain how Mexico’s first woman president will inherit... more

30 May 2024 · 25 minutes
Chasing the storm

Aaron Rigsby has built a career out of documenting tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme weather up close. So he’s seen... more

29 May 2024 · 27 minutes
The Hamas org chart

Seven months in, Israel has not “eliminated” Hamas leadership. Newsweek’s Tom O’Connor introduces them, and Mairav Zonszein from International Crisis... more

28 May 2024 · 25 minutes
America’s shellfish behavior

Americans consume more shrimp than salmon and tuna combined. But where’s it all coming from? Listen to this episode of... more

27 May 2024 · 25 minutes
How to steal a team

The billionaire owner of the Oakland A’s is trying to move his team to Vegas, and he wants public money... more

24 May 2024 · 26 minutes
Red Lobster’s bankrupt-sea

The seafood chain found itself deep in the red after a disastrous unlimited shrimp promotion. Wall Street Journal restaurant reporter... more

23 May 2024 · 25 minutes
The AI hype machine

Big Tech companies have rolled out a new batch of AI-powered products, improving upon what came before. But as Wired's... more

22 May 2024 · 25 minutes
Weed did it, Joe

The federal government has moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous controlled substance. Politico cannabis policy reporter Natalie Fertig... more

21 May 2024 · 26 minutes
Is Russia winning now?

It sure seems like it. The Wall Street Journal’s Matthew Luxmoore reports from Ukraine on why $60 billion of your... more

20 May 2024 · 25 minutes
Amazon’s garbage book factory

Vox senior correspondent Constance Grady went inside the seedy underbelly of online self-publishing and lived to tell the tale. This episode... more

17 May 2024 · 25 minutes
Cicada time

The last time these exact cicada broods emerged from the ground at the same time, Thomas Jefferson was president. The... more

16 May 2024 · 25 minutes
Florida man’s unhushed money

The hush money trial has exposed the ecosystem that once protected former president Donald Trump. Journalist Andrea Bernstein tells us... more

15 May 2024 · 25 minutes
What fixes medical debt

It's gotten so bad in America, people are crowdfunding their doctor bills. Vox's Dylan Scott and associate professor Nora Kenworthy... more

14 May 2024 · 25 minutes
Separation of church and church

Leaders of the United Methodist Church, one of the largest Christian denominations in the US, gathered in North Carolina to... more

13 May 2024 · 27 minutes
The real victims of Baby Reindeer

The Netflix show Baby Reindeer is a hit. It's been viewed 56 million times. The writer claims it's a true story.... more

10 May 2024 · 25 minutes
Biden’s breaking point on Gaza

President Joe Biden says the US won’t supply further weapons if Israel is going to use them in Rafah. Axios... more

09 May 2024 · 25 minutes
Kendrick, Drake, and the last great rap beef

The best rapper in the world is beefing with the biggest rapper in the world. The Ringer’s Charles Holmes explains... more

08 May 2024 · 27 minutes
Israel, Gaza, and Eurovision

The pop music competition is facing boycott calls over Israel’s participation. Switched on Pop’s Charlie Harding and historian Tess Megginson... more

07 May 2024 · 25 minutes
Is divesting from Israel possible?

Yes, but it’s hard. Inside Higher Ed’s Josh Moody and UC Merced’s Charlie Eaton explain. This episode was produced by Avishay... more

06 May 2024 · 25 minutes
The tourist tax

Venice is drowning in tourists. A new fee for day-trippers is the latest tool aimed at keeping overtourism at bay. This... more

03 May 2024 · 27 minutes
Paramount’s looking for a deal they can’t refuse

Media behemoth Paramount Global is struggling. Stock prices are down. The CEO was just ousted. And the head of this... more

02 May 2024 · 25 minutes
One Flu Over The Cowcow’s Nest

Avian flu, which recently leapt from chickens to cows, has now been detected in milk. Vox’s Keren Landman and Kenny... more

01 May 2024 · 25 minutes
North America’s biggest city is running out of water

Officials say “Day Zero” is imminent in Mexico City. A walk through the city reveals the historical roots of the... more

30 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
The failed promise of egg freezing

Egg freezing was once hailed as a reproductive game changer, but as Vox's Anna North reports, it might not live... more

29 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Honey, We Saved the Bees

Millions of bees died because of colony collapse disorder over the past few decades, but America’s honeybee population has now... more

26 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
The TikTok “ban” is law

President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that would ban the app unless it’s sold to an American company.... more

25 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Columbia’s free-speech fight

Daily Spectator news editor Sarah Huddleston reports on the protests at her university. AAUP President Irene Mulvey explains the stakes... more

24 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Florida man wants immunity

You can beat the heat if you beat the charges too. Vox’s Ian Millhiser previews the Donald Trump immunity case... more

23 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Just in: Trudeau’s plan to fight populism

Canadian-American podcast host Sean Rameswaram goes one-on-one with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to find out how he might win... more

22 Apr 2024 · 28 minutes
Feeling Bluey

Bluey delights children and reduces their grown-ups to tears. But the latest episode has fans young and old wondering whether... more

19 Apr 2024 · 28 minutes
The great American squatter panic

Politicians and conservative news outlets say there’s an epidemic of people moving into a stranger’s house and refusing to leave.... more

18 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
How car ownership got so expensive

Drivers are increasingly paying sticker price or more for a new car. Then there are sky-high insurance rates and mortgage-level... more

17 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Florida man’s first criminal trial begins

The first of former President Donald Trump's four criminal trials began this week. Vox's Andrew Prokop explains what's at stake,... more

16 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Why Iran attacked Israel

The Economist’s Gregg Carlstrom explains. Jerusalem-based journalist Noga Tarnopolsky explores whether the unprecedented attack hurts or helps Benjamin Netanyahu. This episode... more

15 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
America at war, now in theaters

The new movie Civil War delivers a sensational story about political polarization spilling into mass violence. If that seems reckless,... more

12 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Speaker Johnson's next test

Congress is back in session and the House speakership is once again on the line. The New Yorker’s David Kirkpatrick... more

11 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Prosecuting parents

The Oxford, Michigan, school shooter's parents will serve up to 15 years in prison. Jennifer and James Crumbley are the... more

10 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
The man with a pig kidney

A pig’s kidney was just transplanted into a human. But Vox’s Dylan Matthews says we shouldn't need the pigs. This episode... more

09 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Is college still worth it?

More and more Americans feel like college isn’t a good deal anymore. One state thinks it’s found a way to... more

08 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
The Sephora kids

Tweens are shopping for trendy, expensive skincare products. Gen Z worries it’s “aging like milk.” Are today’s young people too... more

05 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Israel’s attack on World Central Kitchen

The Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Kalin explains what happened, and Refugees International President Jeremy Konyndyk lays out what this means... more

04 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Project 2025

Donald Trump arrived at the White House in 2017 without a lot of plans to actually govern. The conservative Heritage... more

03 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
The fight for control of Disney’s kingdom

CEO Bob Iger is fighting off activist investor Nelson Peltz, who argues the company spends too much on message-based “woke”... more

02 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
Making taxes less taxing

The IRS finally has a brand-new, totally free tax-filing software for you. But not everyone’s excited about it. This episode was... more

01 Apr 2024 · 25 minutes
The kids are all home

Living with your parents is so hot right now, with more adults doing it now than at any other time... more

29 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Buy a house? In this economy?

Home affordability hasn’t been this bad in decades. Wall Street Journal housing reporter Nicole Friedman explains the economic forces shaping... more

28 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
The Baltimore bridge collapse

The Key Bridge disaster is yet another reminder of the vulnerability of global shipping. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan... more

27 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Why ISIS attacked Moscow

The Moscow terror attack could mark the beginning of an even more brutal phase in Russia’s war in Ukraine —... more

26 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Spoiler alert: RFK’s VP

Robert Kennedy Jr. is set to announce his running mate this week. To mark the occasion, Semafor’s Dave Weigel explains... more

25 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Beyoncé country

Beyoncé has a new country album. The first single has already broken records and drawn criticism from those who think... more

22 Mar 2024 · 27 minutes
Can Caitlin Clark fix college sports?

The biggest star of this year’s March Madness basketball tournament isn’t one of the male players, explains SB Nation’s Ricky... more

21 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Can Congress ban TikTok?

Probably not. Punchbowl’s Andrew Desiderio and Kate Ruane from the Center for Democracy and Technology explain. This episode was produced by... more

20 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
How gangs took over Haiti

Haiti’s latest crisis is being driven by something new: The country’s gangs have united, and they are demanding political power.... more

19 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Conned into the Russian army

Desperately low on troops for its protracted war with Ukraine, the Russian military is relying on men from countries like... more

18 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Live from SXSW: Noel King interviews Charlamagne tha God and Angela Rye

In this no-holds-barred interview from the SXSW stage, Vox's Noel King asks comedian and radio host Charlamagne tha God and... more

17 Mar 2024 · 1 hour, 9 minutes
Hollywood’s still not back

Covid and last year’s strikes delivered a one-two punch that the entertainment industry still hasn’t recovered from. Entertainment journalists Mark... more

15 Mar 2024 · 26 minutes
Lip gloss, gum, and the Pill

Soon you can buy them all at your local drugstore. The FDA approved an over-the-counter birth control pill that will... more

14 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Where's Kate?!?

Two grainy paparazzi shots and an edited Mother’s Day photo are the only “sightings” of the Princess of Wales the... more

13 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
The real fight over fake meat

Americans are eating more meat than ever, and it’s wreaking havoc on the environment. Vox’s Kenny Torrella explains how lab-grown... more

12 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Charlamagne tha God on Biden v. Trump

A recent poll shows almost a quarter of registered Black voters would vote for Donald Trump. We ask Charlamagne tha... more

11 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Bringing back the SAT

Four years after a pandemic pause, some colleges and universities are again requiring applicants to submit standardized test scores. Inside... more

08 Mar 2024 · 27 minutes
Can Reddit survive going public?

It’s the first major social media IPO since 2017. CNN’s Clare Duffy breaks down what is at stake, and New... more

07 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Why measles is back

One state (cough, cough Florida) is leading the US in measles cases. The contagious disease was once declared eliminated, but... more

06 Mar 2024 · 24 minutes
How Israel is upending Democratic races

Super Tuesday is the biggest day of the presidential primary campaign, but the biggest race in the biggest state isn’t... more

05 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
Why groceries are still so expensive

When it’s time to Stop & Shop, the American Publix is finding it costs more than ever to fill a... more

04 Mar 2024 · 25 minutes
It’s Shotime!

Shohei Ohtani made his Dodger debut this week. His record-setting contract solidifies an international era for Major League Baseball, which... more

01 Mar 2024 · 26 minutes
The politics of IVF

A theologian explains why he agrees with Alabama’s Supreme Court ruling that embryos are children. A conservative pollster explains why... more

29 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
“Make Argentina Great Again!”

US inflation feels bad until you look at Argentina’s, which is breaking 200 percent. Today, Explained’s Sean Rameswaram reports from... more

28 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
The protest vote against Biden

Michigan’s primary today will test President Biden’s viability with Muslim voters amid the war in Gaza. One Arab American leader... more

27 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
What Ozempic can't fix

Fat women make less money than thin women and get fewer raises and promotions. It’s going to take more than... more

26 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
The Ozempic economy

The weight loss drug is so profitable that its parent company, Danish health care giant Novo Nordisk, is propping up... more

23 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
Fight at the Museum

New federal regulations are forcing museums across the United States to take down, cover up, or close their exhibits. ProPublica... more

22 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
Florida man owes half a billion

Former President Donald Trump has now lost back-to-back civil trials in New York. Reporter Andrea Bernstein says it’s a big... more

21 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
The Panama Canal is drying up

A drought has dramatically reduced the Panama Canal’s capacity, leading to higher costs and big delays for US-bound goods. Reporter... more

20 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
What dies with Alexei Navalny?

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, 47, has died in an Arctic prison. The Guardian’s Luke Harding explains the life and... more

16 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
Rafah, the last “safe” zone

Palestinians are trapped in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, where about 1.5 million people have sought refuge. After bombings this weekend,... more

15 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
Why America loves faerie smut

Romantasy is the most popular literary genre in America right now. Vulture’s Kathryn VanArendonk and Circana’s Kristen McLean explain why. This... more

14 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
Forgetful old men

Joe Biden’s age and mental acuity are center stage after a Justice Department prosecutor described him as an “elderly man... more

13 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
A Tale of Two Chinatowns

Residents of Philadelphia’s Chinatown have mobilized against plans for a new arena in their backyard. To find out how their... more

12 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
Why Taylor left TikTok

Her label, Universal Media Group, pulled its entire catalog off TikTok. The Verge’s Nilay Patel explains why, and author Cory... more

09 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
When one (airplane) door opens ...

Missing bolts, door panels flying off in midair — and that’s not even on the planes that crashed. The Washington... more

08 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
The border standoff in Eagle Pass

Congress has failed to pass an immigration bill. The House is attempting to impeach Biden’s secretary of homeland security. As... more

07 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
“The world’s coolest dictator”

That’s how El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele describes himself. Silvia Viñas from the news podcast El hilo explains how his victory... more

06 Feb 2024 · 27 minutes
Build Back Biden

New York magazine’s Jonathan Chait wants Joe Biden to win. He explains how his coalition has fallen apart. Former White... more

05 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
A new treatment for deafness

A promising gene therapy can help kids born without the ability to hear. A Deaf bioethicist wants you to consider... more

02 Feb 2024 · 26 minutes
Make the economy Trump’s again?

As president, Donald Trump presided over a good — sometimes great — economy. But his proposals are unnerving business leaders... more

01 Feb 2024 · 25 minutes
Iran and the Axis of Resistance

Iran-backed militias use drones, missiles, and even TikTok dances to antagonize the United States and Israel. The International Crisis Group’s... more

31 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Living in Zyn

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accidentally started a culture war over Zyn. Semafor’s Dave Weigel explains. And Vox health reporter... more

30 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Israel at the International Court of Justice

South Africa took Israel to court over claims of genocide. Courthouse News reporter Molly Quell and the International Crisis Group’s... more

29 Jan 2024 · 26 minutes
Music’s Pitchfork in the road

Pitchfork’s parent company is folding the influential music site into GQ. Vulture’s Craig Jenkins explains how this is the end... more

26 Jan 2024 · 26 minutes
Prostate of the union

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin drew flak after trying to keep his prostate cancer surgery a secret. Health journalist Howard Wolinsky... more

25 Jan 2024 · 24 minutes
Is the Republican primary already over?

Nikki Haley pinned her presidential hopes on a powerful showing in New Hampshire but still wound up in second place.... more

24 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Modi’s temple grandstanding

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Hindu temple in the once-sleepy city of Ayodhya on Monday. The BBC’s Soutik... more

23 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Frosty the Tesla

New electric vehicle owners have been finding out the hard way that extreme cold weather and their cars don’t mix... more

22 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Buy me to the moon

NASA has long relied on private companies to build its rockets, but now it’s turning to private companies to own... more

19 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
How the war in Gaza ends

Israel's war against Hamas has now been raging for over 100 days. According to Ian Lustick, professor emeritus at the... more

18 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Cocaine problems

Growing cocaine demand and booming coca leaf cultivation is fueling unrest in Ecuador. The Economist’s Ana Lankes and Will Freeman... more

17 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Iowa caucused

Trump won big. DeSantis came in second, but Vox’s Zack Beauchamp says that won’t be enough to keep his campaign... more

16 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Hollywood’s secret musicals

The studios promoting Mean Girls, Wonka, and The Color Purple are hiding something from you. The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh explains... more

12 Jan 2024 · 27 minutes
Elections everywhere all at once

This weekend, Taiwan goes to the polls, kicking off the biggest election year in history. The Guardian’s Amy Hawkins brings... more

11 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Nikki Haley, maybe?

Nikki Haley is gunning for second place in the Iowa Republican caucuses. In New Hampshire polls, she’s gaining on Donald... more

10 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Is the US ghosting Ukraine?

Last year’s counteroffensive failed and Ukraine needs American aid to win. Republicans in Congress won’t give it up without a... more

09 Jan 2024 · 26 minutes
Pirates of the Red Sea

The Houthis, a rebel group from Yemen, are seizing cargo ships in retaliation for the war in Gaza. Vox’s Joshua... more

08 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Many unhappy returns

Your aunt mailed you a sweater for Christmas that’s three sizes too small. Armed with a gift receipt, you set... more

05 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Will Trump be on your ballot?

As states decide whether Donald Trump is eligible to be on their primary ballots based on his actions on January... more

04 Jan 2024 · 26 minutes
Israel’s next move

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces trouble at home and abroad. AP correspondent Tia Goldenberg and scholar Hussein Ibish explain... more

03 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
When solar power leaves you feeling burned

The potential of rooftop solar is being squandered. Time’s economic correspondent Alana Semuels reports a cautionary tale, and writer Andrew... more

02 Jan 2024 · 25 minutes
Dry January

The start of a new year is increasingly a time when people choose to abstain from drinking for a month.... more

28 Dec 2023 · 26 minutes
The Joshua Generation grows up

A group of evangelical Christians raised their children to become influential in the White House, on Capitol Hill, and in... more

27 Dec 2023 · 27 minutes
Let’s process food

Doctor and journalist Chris van Tulleken wanted to know how ultra-processed foods affect us, so for a month he ate... more

22 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
Shein wants to go public

The Chinese apparel company Shein, a favorite of Gen Z shoppers and the latest frontier in US-China tensions, has indicated... more

21 Dec 2023 · 26 minutes
The stretched-too-thin blue line

FBI data shows police departments have been solving fewer violent crimes since 2020. Data analyst Jeff Asher explains where policing... more

20 Dec 2023 · 26 minutes
How Barnes & Noble survived

The bookseller has gone from big-box villain to company on the brink of bankruptcy to bright spot in the mostly... more

19 Dec 2023 · 26 minutes
EU vs. AI

The EU has advanced first-of-its-kind AI regulation. The Verge’s Jess Weatherbed tells us whether it will make a difference, and... more

18 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
Why millennials dread motherhood

American policy failures and bad PR have made millennials dread motherhood. Vox’s Rachel Cohen and Momfluenced author Sara Petersen explain. This... more

15 Dec 2023 · 26 minutes
An oily climate deal

Semafor’s Tim McDonnell says what made COP28 successful was the same thing that made climate activists skeptical about the conference:... more

14 Dec 2023 · 26 minutes
Long live your dog

A drug that aims to increase life expectancy for dogs is getting closer to market. But pet ethicists aren’t sure... more

13 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
The fight over campus antisemitism

Three elite university presidents walk into Congress for a hearing on antisemitism. Only two still have their jobs. New York... more

12 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
A concrete solution to climate change

Concrete is one of the world’s biggest sources of carbon emissions. Tech companies, including a startup co-founded by former NBA... more

11 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
Are movies too long now?

No, movies aren’t getting longer. Even though, yes, it definitely does feel like they are. Slate’s Sam Adams makes it... more

08 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
Get the lead out

The Biden administration wants all lead pipes ripped up. It’ll take billions of dollars and rarely seen cooperation among government... more

07 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
Still hot and bothered

Earlier this year the FDA approved a game-changing drug to treat hot flashes, a symptom of menopause. But menopause is... more

06 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
They paved paradise

In our quest to accommodate parked cars, we’ve paved over downtowns, polluted the planet, and made it damn near impossible... more

05 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
How Palestine went global

People with no direct connection to the Middle East have taken to seeing the Palestinian cause as an anti-colonial struggle... more

04 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
The Golden Bachelor was actually good

72-year-old Gerry Turner has handed out his final rose on ABC’s The Golden Bachelor. In a season full of gendered... more

01 Dec 2023 · 25 minutes
Kissinger’s long goodbye

Noted American diplomat and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is revered by few, reviled by many, and now he’s... more

30 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
Today, Explained
Kissinger’s long goodbye
Today, Explained
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Description

Noted American diplomat and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is revered by few, reviled by many, and now he’s dead. Vox’s... more