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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

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
The American politics of Israel

The Israel-Hamas war is dividing the previously united Democrats and uniting the recently fractured Republican party. Semafor’s David Weigel explains... more

29 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
Taking Tuesday

Package theft is on the rise, and it affects everyone, from the retailer, to shippers, to consumers. So maybe it’s... more

28 Nov 2023 · 26 minutes
The hostage deal (brought to you by Qatar)

After 50 days of the Israel-Hamas war, both sides took a breather to save lives. And it couldn’t have happened... more

27 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
Chaos at OpenAI

It’s been a wild few days at OpenAI, whose board fired CEO Sam Altman on Friday only to rehire him... more

22 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
How Cassie sued Diddy

Sean "Diddy" Combs is the latest high-profile figure to be accused of sexual assault under New York’s Adult Survivors Act,... more

21 Nov 2023 · 24 minutes
Inside the occupied West Bank

With the world focused on Gaza, Israeli settlers and soldiers are increasing attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. Writer... more

20 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
F1: Gears and Loathing in Las Vegas

Formula 1 spent half a billion dollars to return to Las Vegas. Jalopnik’s Elizabeth Blackstock explains how a lackluster season... more

17 Nov 2023 · 26 minutes
Speaker Johnson’s first test

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, infamous election denier, moved to the middle to make a budget deal with Democrats.... more

16 Nov 2023 · 27 minutes
Who can fix 150% inflation?

That’s what voters are trying to figure out as they prepare for this weekend’s runoff election between Peronist insider Sergio... more

15 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
A call from Gaza

People are desperately trying to escape Gaza as the siege on the strip continues. Mohammed Ghalaieny, a Palestinian British man,... more

14 Nov 2023 · 26 minutes
China’s soft (and fluffy) power

Panda diplomacy couldn’t fix the US and China’s tense relationship. Perhaps a meeting between Presidents Biden and Xi can bring... more

13 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
A scam cost me $31k and a pool

Writer Devin Friedman has wanted a pool since he was a kid. As an adult, he saved tens of thousands... more

10 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
Adjust the tip

Tipping’s getting even more complicated thanks to a DoorDash change that will prioritize diners who tip over diners who don’t.... more

09 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
Ceasefire?

Protesters, politicians, and the pope are calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, but the US and Israeli governments... more

08 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
There’s Something About Romney

On his way out of the United States Senate, Mitt Romney gave one reporter unprecedented access to his emails, texts,... more

07 Nov 2023 · 29 minutes
Should domestic abusers lose gun rights?

The Supreme Court will decide if Zackey Rahimi, a man accused of domestic violence and involved in at least five... more

06 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
Is DEI DOA?

The lawyer behind the Supreme Court case that overturned affirmative action in university admissions has a new target: a small... more

03 Nov 2023 · 25 minutes
The view from Israel

Israelis overwhelmingly disapprove of their government’s handling of the October 7 attacks, but their desire for unity keeps Prime Minister... more

02 Nov 2023 · 27 minutes
The law that broke immigration

Supporters of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act pledged it wouldn’t radically change immigration. David Leonhardt, author of Ours Was... more

01 Nov 2023 · 26 minutes
Pope friction

The Pope, his bishops, and some women walk into the Vatican. The National Catholic Reporter’s Joshua McElwee explains what happens... more

31 Oct 2023 · 26 minutes
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis

Cut off from water and power and recovering from a communications blackout, Gaza is plunged deeper into crisis. It’s not... more

30 Oct 2023 · 28 minutes
The Dollar General will see you now

The primary care physician shortage is ruining health care in America. Dollar General, Best Buy, and Walmart are trying to... more

27 Oct 2023 · 25 minutes
New Dork City

Silicon Valley billionaires are battling local residents over plans to build a whole new city in California, part of a... more

26 Oct 2023 · 26 minutes
Why does the US always side with Israel?

This was the top question we got from Today, Explained listeners. Joel Beinin, Middle East history professor emeritus at Stanford,... more

25 Oct 2023 · 25 minutes
Trump, gagged

The most indicted president in history has judges grappling with how to balance the right to free speech against his... more

24 Oct 2023 · 26 minutes
Hearts, minds, and likes

False information about what is happening in Israel and Gaza is taking over social media faster than journalists like BBC... more

23 Oct 2023 · 26 minutes
Airbnbanned

To Airbnb, or not to Airbnb, that is the question. Wired’s Amanda Hoover and the Atlantic’s Kate Lindsay have the... more

20 Oct 2023 · 26 minutes
Speakerless

Republicans made history when they ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and they continue to make history in their inability to replace... more

19 Oct 2023 · 25 minutes
Biden goes to Israel

It’s been 11 days since Hamas attacked Israel, killing civilians and taking hostages. Israel’s retaliation has killed hundreds of Palestinians... more

18 Oct 2023 · 27 minutes
So I unelected an authoritarian

The outcome of Poland’s election surprised the world. Vox's Jen Kirby explains what happened, and Anna Grzymała-Busse of Stanford University... more

17 Oct 2023 · 26 minutes
How Palestinians view Hamas

The US along with Israel and many of its allies have long considered Hamas a terrorist group. Khaled Al-Hroub, a... more

16 Oct 2023 · 25 minutes
America’s most successful downtown?

And the ecological crisis that threatens everything. Today, Explained’s Miles Bryan heads to Salt Lake City. This episode was reported and... more

13 Oct 2023 · 25 minutes
RFK goes rogue

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is ditching his family’s party. David Freedlander explains how the candidate might have just gone from... more

12 Oct 2023 · 25 minutes
Driver’s license to kill

Across the country, traffic deaths are spiking. Vox’s Marin Cogan tells the tragic story of one grisly crash in Washington,... more

11 Oct 2023 · 25 minutes
Israel, Hamas, and how we got here

This Israel-Hamas war is unlike the ones that came before it, says Haaretz’s Allison Kaplan Sommer. But it was years... more

10 Oct 2023 · 26 minutes
Who shot ya, Tupac?

For 27 years there was no arrest in the shooting death of rapper Tupac Shakur. Slate’s Joel Anderson explains how... more

06 Oct 2023 · 26 minutes
Caste away

A bill outlawing caste-based discrimination in California could become the first law of its kind in the US. Reporter Sonia... more

05 Oct 2023 · 25 minutes
We Need to Talk About Kevin

As House speaker, Kevin McCarthy worked with Democrats to keep the government open. Then Matt Gaetz worked with Democrats to... more

04 Oct 2023 · 24 minutes
Crypto’s crown prince in court

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial begins today; a guilty verdict could represent the final nail in crypto’s coffin. Bloomberg’s Zeke... more

03 Oct 2023 · 26 minutes
Shutshow

The US government is open for business at the cost of Ukraine aid. Semafor’s Jordan Weissmann explains how we got... more

02 Oct 2023 · 24 minutes
Hip-hop is 50 and it's having a midlife crisis

So much of the coverage of hip-hop’s 50th birthday has been congratulatory, in spite of its record of misogyny and... more

30 Sep 2023 · 45 minutes
Blame Capitalism: Degrowing pains

Capitalism isn’t natural, was never inevitable, and endless growth is killing Earth. The final episode of “Blame Capitalism” examines the... more

29 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
Man’s best friend banned in UK

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says his government will ban a type of dog called the American Bully XL —... more

28 Sep 2023 · 25 minutes
Why the US is suing Amazon

The Federal Trade Commission has brought a landmark antitrust suit against Amazon. The Verge’s Makena Kelly and former FTC director... more

27 Sep 2023 · 25 minutes
Should you blow up a pipeline?

Climate activists have tried marching and lobbying. Now, a growing flank of movement radicals want to take more extreme action.... more

26 Sep 2023 · 25 minutes
Murder, Canada Wrote

Canada’s unprecedented decision to publicly accuse India of assassinating a Canadian citizen in Canada is upending the two countries' relationship. This... more

25 Sep 2023 · 25 minutes
Blame Capitalism: The 99%

Two wildly different political movements — Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party — emerged from the Great Recession. They... more

22 Sep 2023 · 25 minutes
The six D-words of climate change

It’s climate week. To mark the occasion we’re talking to scientist Michael E. Mann about six D-words that help us... more

21 Sep 2023 · 25 minutes
Taxing traffic

New York City wants to be the first in the nation to implement congestion pricing to charge people for driving... more

20 Sep 2023 · 25 minutes
Everybody’s moving to Florida

We’re not just talking snowbirds. The Sunshine State is the fastest growing in the nation despite, you know, climate change.... more

19 Sep 2023 · 25 minutes
Autoworkers slam the brakes

The United Auto Workers union is on strike at three different factories. We ask the Wall Street Journal's Nora Eckert... more

18 Sep 2023 · 24 minutes
Blame Capitalism: Profit over everything

Economist Milton Friedman published an essay in 1970 arguing that the job of a corporation was solely to make money... more

15 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
From North Korea with Love

Kim Jong Un took a bulletproof train to visit Vladimir Putin in Russia this week. Jenny Town at the Stimson... more

14 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
New variant just dropped

Seems like everyone’s got Covid again. Vox’s in-house epidemiologist, Dr. Keren Landman, delivers the good news and the bad news... more

13 Sep 2023 · 25 minutes
In Google we antitrust

Google is headed to court over allegations its search engine violates federal antitrust law. The Verge’s Adi Robertson breaks down... more

12 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
Hunter becomes the hunted

Hunter Biden is set to be indicted this month. The WSJ’s Aruna Viswanatha goes over the evidence with us, and... more

11 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
Blame Capitalism: Souring on the system

Capitalism has entered its villain era. In a new series running Fridays this month, we look at how Americans came... more

08 Sep 2023 · 28 minutes
From Pac-12 to Pac-2

The Pac-12 college football conference has lost nearly all its teams now that schools like USC and Colorado have announced... more

07 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
Why American sunscreen sucks

Better sunscreen exists, you just can’t get it in the US. Amanda Mull and Elise Hu explain why. This episode was... more

06 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
The new Cold War

The Cold War started earlier than we think — and maybe never ended at all. Historian Calder Walton says understanding... more

05 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
…We’re trusting it anyway

Tech companies are racing to make new, transformative AI tools, with little to no safeguards in place. This is the... more

04 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
We don’t know how AI works…

The researchers who create and study tech like ChatGPT don’t understand exactly how it’s doing what it does. This is... more

01 Sep 2023 · 26 minutes
#SeAcabo: Spain’s World Cup reckoning

Saying “it’s over,” Spain’s World Cup-winning women are using an unwelcome kiss to try to end sexism in sports. This episode... more

31 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
The Real Housewives of Today, Explained

Taking cues from striking actors and writers, reality TV stars are lobbying for better treatment from networks like Bravo and... more

30 Aug 2023 · 26 minutes
Why top Republicans want to invade Mexico

Long-shot presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said he would send US forces into Mexico “on day one.” Longer-shot presidential candidate Will... more

29 Aug 2023 · 26 minutes
China’s young and restless

China’s ambitious youth planned to cash in on their country’s meteoric rise on the world stage. Instead, many of these... more

28 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
America is so Messi

With Lionel Messi, footy may have finally arrived in the United States. The Athletic’s Tom Bogert and Men in Blazers... more

25 Aug 2023 · 26 minutes
Death of a Hot Dog Salesman

Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, the caterer-turned-warlord who recently attempted to overthrow Russia’s government, has apparently died in a plane... more

24 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
The other eight debate

Fox News desperately wants you to watch tonight’s Republican presidential debate. The Washington Post’s Erik Wemple explains why, and Vox’s... more

23 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Back to school loans

President Biden can’t stop, won’t stop trying to forgive student debt, even as borrowers are shortly expected to resume payments.... more

22 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Why Russians still support the war

Putin's war is hurting Russians, too. Writer Masha Gessen and researcher Jade McGlynn explain why public opinion doesn't reflect that. This... more

21 Aug 2023 · 26 minutes
After the Green Rush

Adelanto, California, was broke. Could legalizing marijuana cultivation offer a fix? Reporter David Weinberg’s podcast Dreamtown details how the path... more

18 Aug 2023 · 26 minutes
RoboCab

The San Francisco Standard’s Liz Lindqwister reports from San Francisco, where people are flipping her off for hailing rides in... more

17 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Florida man indicted (again) (again) (again)

Oft-indicted former President Donald Trump is at it again. Stephen Fowler, host of Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Battleground: Ballot Box podcast,... more

16 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Why Maui burned

Hawaii’s landscape has been rapidly changing for the last 200 years thanks to plantations, tourism, and climate change. A reporter... more

15 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
A postpartum pill

The FDA’s approval of a new pill that treats postpartum depression could be yet another signal that we are living... more

14 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Suing big food

Tostitos chips without real lime. Root beer made with fake vanilla. Instant mac and cheese that isn’t so instant. These... more

11 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
The Rikers takeover

Today a federal judge hears arguments on whether New York City Mayor Eric Adams should be stripped of control of... more

10 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Shein trouble

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

09 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
ESPN 4 SALE

Disney CEO Bob Iger says the company is looking for a “strategic partner” to invest in the massive sports network,... more

08 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Hot topic

When it comes to climate policy, President Biden has accomplished more than any of his predecessors. But activists want more:... more

07 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
The air-istocracy

Private jets aren’t what they used to be. AOC is calling out Hollywood executives for having too many, and European... more

04 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Battlechips

Semiconductors are used in just about every piece of technology. The US wants to limit what China can do with... more

03 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Florida man indicted (again) (again)

The latest unprecedented is about January 6, but does the American public still care about January 6? This episode was produced... more

02 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Where did the recession go?

A much-dreaded recession doesn’t actually seem to be materializing. We called up some experts — economics reporters Tracy Alloway and... more

01 Aug 2023 · 25 minutes
Will “parental rights” mobilize Muslims?

Some Muslim parents wanted their kids to opt out of reading schoolbooks with LGBTQ characters and themes. Today, Explained reporter... more

31 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Music’s nostalgia-industrial complex

A lot of our new hit music sounds just like our parents’ old hit music. Pitchfork’s Jayson Greene says you... more

28 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Sound of Freedom

The Wall Street Journal’s John Jurgensen explains how Sound of Freedom, an action-drama about fighting child sex trafficking, beat Tom... more

27 Jul 2023 · 32 minutes
A third nuclear superpower

For decades, a delicate strategy of deterrence kept Russia and the US from nuclear war. With China upping its nuclear... more

26 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Inside the AI factory

We are used to thinking of artificial intelligence as knowledge generated by machines. The Verge’s Josh Dzieza pulls back the... more

25 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
I want you! (to fight the culture war)

The defense bill is the latest piece of legislation to be weaponized by the far-right Freedom Caucus. It’s also the... more

24 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Barbie Dreampodcast

Is Barbie a toy commercial doubling as the first installment of an inevitable Mattel Cinematic Universe? Or does it have... more

21 Jul 2023 · 26 minutes
Bidenomics

A lot of Americans are still feeling iffy about the economy, but Joe Biden’s so proud of how things are... more

20 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Is ethical investing a sham?

Republican presidential candidates have a bone to pick with ESG investments. So does James Surowiecki, contributing writer at The Atlantic. This... more

19 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Inside the Actors Strike

The actors are officially on strike. Vox senior correspondent and critic Alissa Wilkinson breaks down what SAG-AFTRA is afta, and... more

18 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Vacation ... all I ever wanted?

🎵 Now that I’m away, I wish I had stayed. 🎵 Vox’s Allie Volpe explains why travel feels like such... more

17 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
The Joshua Generation

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

14 Jul 2023 · 27 minutes
Disaster unpreparedness

Vermont just got slammed with flash floods, road closures, and evacuations. Harvard’s Juliette Kayyem says the storm reveals how unprepared... more

13 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Can Threads unravel Twitter?

As Meta launches its Twitter competitor, The Verge’s David Pierce says that we are watching the end of the social... more

12 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
NATO to Ukraine: Not yet

President Biden and other world leaders say it’s too dangerous to admit Ukraine into NATO while it’s at war with... more

11 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Why everyone’s mad about equity

Everyone is fighting about “equity.” If only they could define it. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains. This episode was produced by Miles... more

10 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Where’s the beef?

A rancher in the Pacific Northwest scammed two companies out of $244 million. In this episode we first served in... more

07 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Excuseflation

Inflation happens for a lot of reasons that can be hard for even economists to fully grasp. But — as... more

06 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Even more forever chemicals

The chemical manufacturer 3M will pay $10 billion to settle claims it contaminated drinking water with “forever chemicals.” Good thing... more

05 Jul 2023 · 25 minutes
Smokeshow

For the second time this month, huge sections of the US are blanketed by wildfire smoke. Vox’s Rebecca Leber and... more

30 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
Supreme Court: Race need not apply

The Supreme Court ruled against race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard and UNC. The ruling is likely to reshape affirmative action... more

29 Jun 2023 · 24 minutes
Mall cop nation

The three biggest private employers in North America are Walmart, Amazon, and a security firm you’ve maybe never heard of:... more

28 Jun 2023 · 24 minutes
Woke, woke, woke, woke, woke

How “woke” went from Marcus Garvey to Childish Gambino to Ron DeSantis. This episode was produced by Siona Peterous, edited by... more

27 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
The man behind Russia’s mutiny

Yevgeny Prigozhin rose from hot dog seller to top chef to Russia’s leading mercenary. Journalist Paul Wood and Harvard’s Timothy... more

26 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
OceanGate

Deep-sea explorer G. Michael Harris has been down to the wreck of the Titanic 14 times. He begged his friend... more

23 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
Dinner and a Modi

Despite US concerns over the decline of Indian democracy and human rights, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is getting a prestigious... more

22 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
Okla-home-a

A group in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will pay remote workers $10,000 to move there. Vox’s Rani Molla explains why the city... more

21 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
Childproofing Pornhub

States want to restrict kids’ access to harmful content online via age verification systems. New York Times reporter Natasha Singer... more

20 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
The Today, Explained Center for Kids Who Can’t Read Good

For decades, American schools have taught reading with an approach that doesn’t work very well. Emily Hanford of the podcast... more

16 Jun 2023 · 26 minutes
How the Saudis bought pro golf

The PGA Tour wanted nothing to do with a rival Saudi-funded golf tour, but like Silicon Valley and the White... more

15 Jun 2023 · 26 minutes
Kids sue Montana over climate change

Held v. Montana, a first-of-its-kind climate lawsuit, pits young people — and their constitutionally enshrined right to a clean environment... more

14 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
Vivek Ramaswamy explains himself

The entrepreneur is running a longshot campaign for the GOP nomination on an “American nationalist,” anti-“woke capitalism” platform. Semafor’s Dave... more

13 Jun 2023 · 26 minutes
Why Marvel movies look bad

Bad visual effects in movies may have less to do with technology and more to do with workers being underpaid... more

12 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
Florida man indicted (again)

For the first time in American history, a former president faces federal charges. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains. This episode was produced... more

09 Jun 2023 · 26 minutes
Texas messed with Houston schools

The state of Texas took over Houston’s Independent School District and replaced the superintendent and the elected board. But state... more

08 Jun 2023 · 25 minutes
California is becoming uninsurable

Two insurance giants will stop issuing new policies for California homes. CalMatters reporter Ben Christopher and Vox’s Umair Irfan say... more

07 Jun 2023 · 26 minutes
Apple’s $3,500 goggles

Apple’s launch of a new mixed reality headset shows that, for Apple, the metaverse isn’t dead. The Verge’s David Pierce... more

06 Jun 2023 · 26 minutes
Real Housebans of Tallahassee

A new Florida law will restrict where Chinese citizens can buy homes, and other states may follow suit. The legislation... more

05 Jun 2023 · 26 minutes
Hannah Gadsby and “Pablo-matic" Picasso

Comedian Hannah Gadsby railed against Pablo Picasso in “Nanette.” So why are they curating an exhibition timed to the 50th... more

02 Jun 2023 · 26 minutes
Ukraine’s counteroffensive

Ukraine vowed to mount a counteroffensive against Russia. Drone attacks on Moscow might signal it has begun. The Washington Post’s... more

01 Jun 2023 · 26 minutes
Target-ing Pride

Companies have been leaning into Pride month for years. So why are brands like Target and Bud Light facing such... more

31 May 2023 · 26 minutes
The Kia Boyz are coming for your car

Turns out Kias and Hyundais are easy to steal. Teens are taking advantage, and putting it all on TikTok. This episode... more

30 May 2023 · 25 minutes
Hot and bothered

The FDA approved a game-changing drug to treat hot flashes, a symptom of menopause. Health writer Jancee Dunn talks about... more

26 May 2023 · 26 minutes
He's Ronning

NBC’s Matt Dixon explains how Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to Make America Florida. Vox’s Andrew Prokop spells out how the... more

25 May 2023 · 26 minutes
A cancer vaccine?

Dr. Vinod Balachandran explains how he and his colleagues successfully treated pancreatic cancer with bespoke mRNA vaccines. Science journalist Charles... more

24 May 2023 · 26 minutes
How wellness killed Jenny Craig

The diet company is shutting down. Bloomberg’s Emma Court explains how Jenny Craig’s strategy — heavy on celebrity endorsements and... more

23 May 2023 · 26 minutes
The rehabilitation of Bashar al-Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad became a regional pariah after brutal crackdowns on his own citizens. But on Friday, the most... more

22 May 2023 · 26 minutes
Parking is a lot

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

19 May 2023 · 25 minutes
Kevin McCarthy wants you to get a job

With the debt ceiling deadline approaching, Republicans want to expand rules that require welfare recipients to work. Vox’s Dylan Scott... more

18 May 2023 · 26 minutes
The most important election of 2023

After 21 years of leading Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a global political giant. But a crumbling Turkish economy and... more

17 May 2023 · 26 minutes
The new border crisis

Title 42, a Covid-era policy that included strict limits on migration into the US from Mexico, has expired. El Paso... more

16 May 2023 · 26 minutes
Can power plants go green?

The EPA has just announced new rules for power plants to clean up their act. But to get to those... more

15 May 2023 · 26 minutes
How Zelda changed gaming

It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this podcast. This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by... more

12 May 2023 · 26 minutes
Covid is “over”

Or at least the federal government is over spending money on it. Vox’s resident epidemiologist, Keren Landman, explains the end... more

11 May 2023 · 26 minutes
Trump loses sexual abuse lawsuit

A New York jury awarded $5 million to journalist E. Jean Carroll, whose civil suit against the former president alleged... more

10 May 2023 · 26 minutes
Today, Explained
How Zelda changed gaming
Today, Explained
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Description

It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this podcast. This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard,... more