Today, Explained
News comes at you fast. Join us at the end of your day to understand it. Monday to Friday. All killer, no filler. Hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Featuring the finest explainers from Vox and more. Produced by Vox and Stitcher, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
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Ebola is back
January 23rd, 2019
The second-largest Ebola outbreak in history is spreading toward a major city. Vox’s Julia Belluz explains whether you should panic now, later, or …
SHUTDATE UPDOWN
January 22nd, 2019
President Donald Trump would very much like a deal to end his shutdown. The Republican-controlled Senate is with him. Vox’s Dara Lind explains why …
28 Days Later
January 18th, 2019
The partial government shutdown is now officially a record-breaking, trip-cancelling, State of the Union-postponing, Cardi B-angering hot mess.
When your power company is a felon
January 17th, 2019
What if your utility were a felon filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy? You would be one of 16 million in California. KQED’s Marisa Lagos lays out …
The Roberts Court
January 16th, 2019
The Supreme Court is back in session and Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick says Chief Justice John Roberts is ready to take a swing at balancing an increasingly partisan bench.
The $600 EpiPen
January 15th, 2019
If there’s one thing pretty much everyone in the government can agree on, it’s this: prescription drug prices are too damn high. But how to fix them? …
Chapo Big House
January 14th, 2019
Brooklyn really does have everything: a basketball team, a laundromat-pinball bar, and now the drug lord trial of the century. Keegan Hamilton, host of the “Chapo” podcast from Vice News, explains what it’s like to …
The shutdown gets very, very real
January 11th, 2019
Come midnight, the government shutdown will be the longest in US history. Vox’s Li Zhou runs through the consequences for federal workers and the rest of America.
What can the president do during a national emergency?
January 10th, 2019
This morning, the president doubled down on his threat to declare a national emergency to build a border wall. Such a declaration could also allow …
Let's talk about tax, baby. Let's talk about AOC.
January 9th, 2019
Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has floated a marginal tax rate of 70% for top earners in America. A lot of people are upset, and even more have no idea how it works.********************************** Check out …
The troop withdrawal withdrawal
January 8th, 2019
National security advisor John Bolton traveled to Turkey to meet with President Erdogan, who cancelled today. It's the latest development in a very …
The nine lives of Obamacare
January 7th, 2019
Obamacare’s back in the crosshairs. Vox’s Sarah Kliff breaks down a lawsuit that’s pitting states’ attorneys general against each other, and how the new House will defend the landmark legislation.
You should not throw away your shot
January 4th, 2019
Around 80,000 people died of the flu last season. Despite that, Sean doesn’t want to get the flu shot. Luckily, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health is here to hit him with some hard and fast facts. …
Who is Paul Whelan and why does Russia think he’s a spy?
January 3rd, 2019
Paul Whelan went to Moscow for a wedding. The Russians arrested him, and today charged him with espionage. Amie Ferris-Rotman, Moscow correspondent …
Shutdown
January 2nd, 2019
It’s Day 12 of the government shutdown. Vox’s Li Zhou explains what that means for the country and Matthew Yglesias argues that the core issue of the wall is fundamentally dumb.
All my friends are robocalls
December 28th, 2018
Why even answer the phone anymore? All your questions about all those pesky automated phone calls are answered in this holiday rebroadcast.
The Stanford Prison Correction
December 27th, 2018
In 1971, a professor locked a bunch of young men in a basement to understand evil. The results were explosive. This summer, it all came crashing …
Black Panther is (still) the most important movie of 2018
December 26th, 2018
We called it! Sean Rameswaram attends a "Black Panther"-themed engagement party and speaks to Evan Narcisse, writer of the "Rise of the Black …
"A horrible miscarriage of justice"
December 21st, 2018
A Florida millionaire created a system to rape or abuse at least 80 young girls for years. The current Secretary of Labor may have helped him get away with it.
The most powerful woman in the world
December 20th, 2018
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is officially planning her exit from politics. The Guardian’s Kate Connolly explains how an awkward scientist became …
Take a penny, take a penny
December 19th, 2018
The Trump Foundation is shutting down. The Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold shares a series of increasingly unbelievable stories about the …
The World in 2018
December 18th, 2018
The North Korea summit. Brexit chaos. The brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The hosts of Vox's Worldly podcast look back on the biggest international stories of the year.
Tumblr's war on sex
December 17th, 2018
Tumblr is removing adult content from its platform today. Vox’s Aja Romano says it's about much more than banning “female-presenting nipples".
This episode is unrated
December 14th, 2018
"The House That Jack Built" opens in select theaters across the country today, but it’s not the version director Lars von Trier wanted you to see. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) put the kibosh on the …
Paul Ryan vs. himself
December 13th, 2018
After 20 years, Speaker Paul Ryan is set to leave the House of Representatives in early January. Ezra Klein says Paul Ryan’s legacy would be a big …
Fraud, actually
December 12th, 2018
One man in North Carolina may have swung an election by defrauding voters. But North Carolina is interested in stopping a different type of voter …
The Replacements
December 11th, 2018
President Trump is looking to fill some key positions. One pick is a former attorney general, another comes from "Fox & Friends".
"Totally clears the President. Thank you!"
December 10th, 2018
Except it doesn't. Vox's Andrew Prokop explains why the latest pieces of Robert Mueller's puzzle are bad news for President Trump.
Wait, why did Canada arrest a Chinese CFO?
December 7th, 2018
Canada arrested a Chinese executive at the request of the United States this week. It may set off a whole new Cold War.
Don Jr.
December 6th, 2018
There used to be one Trump Tower controversy. Now there are two. Donald Trump Jr. is in the middle of both of them. The Washington Post’s David …
Power, stripped
December 5th, 2018
Wisconsin Republicans are scrambling to pass last-minute measures that would strip the incoming Democratic governor of a lot of his powers. North …
Is it time to delete Facebook?
December 4th, 2018
Facebook has landed itself in another scandal. This time it involves COO Sheryl Sandberg, George Soros, and a PR firm with a penchant for fake news. …
One-term wonder
December 3rd, 2018
George H. W. Bush went from a record-breaking 89 percent approval rating after the Gulf War to losing his re-election bid to an upstart from …
Humans 2.0
November 30th, 2018
A Chinese scientist says he has genetically engineered two human babies, with another on the way. Is this the beginning of the end?
Madam Speaker
November 29th, 2018
Nancy Pelosi is now officially the nominee for Speaker of the House. Time's Molly Ball explains who's happy and who's mad about it.
Mandatory minimums
November 28th, 2018
President Trump and both parties actually agree on something: mandatory minimum sentences are too harsh. Can they fix them?
Battleship: Russia vs. Ukraine
November 27th, 2018
Russia rammed one of its ships into a Ukrainian tug boat, further straining an already strung-out relationship. Vox’s Alex Ward takes us on a voyage to the Black Sea.
From bad to worse at the border
November 26th, 2018
U.S. Border Patrol tear-gassed asylum seekers who rushed the border yesterday. Maya Averbuch was there reporting for the New York Times. Vox’s Dara …
When dogs fly
November 21st, 2018
Airlines are getting tough on emotional support animals. Some people think they're a scam. Science isn’t sure. An expert weighs in, as does an emotional support dog.
Those weird Cuban attacks
November 20th, 2018
The Trump administration is punishing Cuba in response to mysterious attacks on U.S. diplomats in Havana. ProPublica's Sebastian Rotella explains what we know and what we don't.
Still burning
November 19th, 2018
The Camp Fire is the most destructive fire in California history, surpassing a record set just a few months ago. Vox’s Umair Irfan heads to Paradise.
Do it for the gram
November 16th, 2018
Massive news: Scientists in France voted to officially redefine the kilogram today. They’ve been weighing their options for centuries.
The simplest way to fix our gun laws
November 15th, 2018
California has the strictest gun laws in the country, but they didn't prevent last week’s mass shooting in Thousand Oaks. Vox’s German Lopez explains the flaws in California’s laws, and points to a far-away state doing …
The citizenship question
November 14th, 2018
The Trump administration would very much like to know if you’re a citizen come the 2020 census. NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang explains how that might break the …
Sit in a circle. Save your baby’s life.
November 13th, 2018
South Carolina used to be one of the most dangerous places in America to have a baby. But now, it’s reducing infant mortality with an unconventional …
Total Recount
November 12th, 2018
Almost a week after the midterm elections, several key races remain undecided and recounts are coming. The president calls shenanigans.
Could one man’s death change the conflict in Yemen?
November 9th, 2018
The journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder has put the spotlight on an unlikely place: Yemen.
thank u, next (Attorney General remix)
November 8th, 2018
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is out. His replacement has criticized the Mueller probe. Is the investigation safe? Vox’s Andrew Prokop isn’t so sure.
What now?
November 7th, 2018
The results are in! Vox’s Libby Nelson provides a rundown. Matthew Yglesias predicts the future.
Why is voting optional?
November 6th, 2018
For answers, we head to Australia where it isn't. Turnout surpasses 90% and elections are celebrated with democracy sausages on the barbie.
Everything you need to know about tomorrow’s midterms
November 5th, 2018
In case you’ve been living under a rock, the midterm elections are tomorrow. A pair of Vox’s congressional reporters take a tour of key races before Ezra Klein takes a deep breath and talks stakes.
Can I hack it? (Yes, you can.)
November 2nd, 2018
Hacking our elections is so easy, a 7-year-old can do it. (Really.) How we got here and why the best solution is one you might not expect.
$$ FREE MONEY FREE MONEY $$
November 1st, 2018
What if the government just gave everyone money? No strings attached. Crazier things have happened. Nixon even tried to implement such a program once. The Atlantic's Annie Lowrey explains how universal basic income …
What the frack is up with Colorado
October 31st, 2018
Colorado's Proposition 112 is dividing the state. The ballot measure could severely limit oil and gas production, including fracking. Sean Rameswaram …
One week to midterms, 5000 troops to border
October 30th, 2018
THE CARAVAN IS COMING! DISEASE! MUSLIMS! DANGER! LOCK THE BORDER! Or maybe just listen to this episode in which Vox’s Dara Lind separates truth from fiction about the migrant caravan heading to the U.S.
Tree of Life
October 29th, 2018
A mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue has confirmed what many believed to be true: Anti-Semitism is on the rise in America, and it's fueling white nationalism.
The Purge
October 26th, 2018
More than 50,000 voters in Georgia have found themselves on a “pending list.” One candidate for governor is responsible for it. The other is fighting …
Bombs in the mail
October 25th, 2018
America’s favorite Democrats are getting pipe bombs in the mail. Who even mails bombs anymore?
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Kill the Treaty
October 24th, 2018
The Trump administration announced it’s throwing out a decades-old arms treaty with Russia. Arms control specialist Alexandra Bell explains why this …
What the transgender memo means
October 23rd, 2018
A leaked Health and Human Services memo has left transgender Americans feeling like the Trump administration wants to define them out of existence. …
We're gonna need a bigger vote
October 22nd, 2018
A ballot initiative on November 6 might re-enfranchise over a million Floridians. Demetrius Jifunza explains what it would mean to regain the right …
FW: FW: FW: SECRETS TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM
October 19th, 2018
Metabolism is one of the greatest mysteries of the human body. Vox’s Julia Belluz spends a day in a metabolic chamber and emerges with some answers.
Consequences
October 18th, 2018
It is now almost certain that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered at the hands of the Saudi government. As more and more gruesome details emerge, things get worse and worse for Crown Prince Mohammed bin …
Affirmative reaction
October 17th, 2018
Harvard is on trial. A group of Asian Americans is facing off against the college in court, where it might dismantle the very affirmative action law …
Beto and Ted's Excellent Adventure
October 16th, 2018
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including a Senate race that feels more like a presidential one. Texas Monthly’s Eric Benson explains how Beto O’Rourke might break the Democrats’ dry spell in the Lone Star State on the …
Remember, remember the 6th of November
October 15th, 2018
Midterm elections are three weeks and a day away. Vox’s Dylan Scott says if you think the country's polarized, you ain't seen nothing yet.
The $629 Band-Aid
October 12th, 2018
Imagine a world where a Band-Aid costs $629. Bad news: you live in that world. Vox’s Sarah Kliff explains how American hospitals tack on “facility …
Disappeared
October 11th, 2018
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last week, but he never left. Now, Turkish officials claim he was killed and …
Earth is cancelled due to weather
October 10th, 2018
The United Nations now says the planet has 12 years to avoid catastrophic climate change. Vox’s Umair Irfan explores the options humanity has left.
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Vox crunched 3.1T of data so …
Nikki out
October 9th, 2018
Surprise! Nikki Haley, President Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, has resigned. Vox’s Alex Ward explains why one of the most popular members …
The death penalty and the gopher frog
October 8th, 2018
Brett Kavanaugh starts his new job tomorrow. The Washington Post’s Robert Barnes previews the Supreme Court’s new term and Vox’s Matthew Yglesias says his first day cements a shift 25 years in the making.
All my friends are robocalls
October 5th, 2018
Why even answer the phone anymore?
The Kavanaugh report is here and no, you can't see it
October 4th, 2018
The FBI has finished its investigation of Brett Kavanaugh. Today, senators entered a highly secured room to review it.
How to run for president from a hospital bed
October 3rd, 2018
One candidate was stabbed. Another is sitting in jail. His replacement was slapped with corruption charges. Just your friendly neighborhood candidates for president in Brazil.
*********** Correction: This episode …
Good news for Canadians who like milk
October 2nd, 2018
The United States, Mexico, and Canada have a new trade deal. It’s called USMCA, or “the new NAFTA.” Vox’s Jen Kirby breaks it down before political …
Internet fist fight
October 1st, 2018
California passed the strongest net neutrality law the country’s ever seen this weekend. The Department of Justice immediately sued. Who’s gonna win this broadband spat?
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Tap here to find …
"Somebody's gotta explain this to Trump"
September 28th, 2018
After tense words and a walkout, the Republicans got their man and the Democrats got their FBI investigation. Vox's Ezra Klein explains how both sides sorta won.
Testimony (Part 2 of 2)
September 27th, 2018
Today, Brett Kavanaugh responded to Christine Blasey Ford's testimony that he tried to rape her in high school. (An episode on Ford's testimony was …
Testimony (Part 1 of 2)
September 27th, 2018
Today, Christine Blasey Ford publicly testified about her allegations that Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her in high school. (Expect an …
The ghost of Florence
September 26th, 2018
Dozens died, millions of animals drowned, billions of dollars worth in damage done, and Hurricane Florence isn’t even over yet. Before rebuilding …
Red light, green card
September 25th, 2018
The Trump administration wants to make it a whole lot harder to get a green card. Vox's Dara Lind explains the newest proposal to rein in legal …
Accusers, plural
September 24th, 2018
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is facing more accusations of sexual misconduct.
Chicago on trial
September 21st, 2018
Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke shot Laquan McDonald 16 times. His murder trial began this week, four years after Laquan was killed. WBEZ's …
elon r u ok
September 20th, 2018
Elon Musk is having a bit of a week, a month, a year. Now the Department of Justice is investigating him, as is Today, Explained.
China's concentration camps
September 19th, 2018
China has a secret that’s slowly slipping out: roughly a million Uighurs are being held in “reeducation camps”. Gulchehra Hoja, a Uighur journalist, …
Now’s a great time to commit some white-collar crime
September 18th, 2018
The Mueller investigation has revealed how easy it is to get away with white-collar crime in the United States. ProPublica’s Jesse Eisinger explains …
What the letter said
September 17th, 2018
Christine Blasey Ford has come forward to accuse Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. Vox's Li Zhou recounts the alleged assault and Emily Bazelon from …
Back to Juul
September 14th, 2018
The FDA announced this week it’s cracking down on e-cigarettes, demanding that manufacturers like Juul prove within 60 days they aren’t harmful to …
Have you talked to God about this?
September 13th, 2018
Today, Pope Francis met with American bishops at the Vatican to discuss the fallout from a report on decades of abuse by priests. A religion reporter explains the widening crisis within the Church, before a Jesuit …
CAROLINAS, PLEASE EVACUATE
September 12th, 2018
Meteorologist Angela Fritz forecasts the catastrophic storm that's about to slam the Carolinas.
Deadname
September 11th, 2018
Three transgender women of color have been murdered in the past two weeks. ProPublica’s Lucas Waldron explains why so many murders of trans people …
Game, Upset, Match
September 11th, 2018
Naomi Osaka defeated her lifelong hero Serena Williams to win the US Open on Saturday. The match might be remembered for the wrong reasons.
Arrested for reporting a massacre
September 7th, 2018
Two Reuters reporters have been sentenced to seven years in prison for calling attention to a recent massacre in Myanmar. The United Nations says it's part of a larger genocide to wipe Rohingya from the country.
But his emails!
September 6th, 2018
Brett Kavanaugh’s emails are spilling out and they’re causing waves on Capitol Hill.
Bad blood
September 5th, 2018
The scandal-plagued blood-testing startup Theranos is shutting down. The Wall Street Journal’s John Carreyrou chronicles the rise and fall of a $10 billion business built on lies.
Confirmation screamings
September 4th, 2018
Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings for the United States Supreme Court began today. Slate's Dahlia Lithwick say they were unlike any she'd seen before.
America's worst defense attorney
August 31st, 2018
Who is Robert Mueller?
Don't call it a comeback
August 30th, 2018
Louis CK surprised New York City's Comedy Cellar with a fresh set of jokes Sunday night. Some were not amused. Vox's Constance Grady explains how to …
Take a penny, take a penny
August 29th, 2018
New York investigators are turning up the heat on the Trump Foundation this summer. The Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold shares a series of …
False profit
August 28th, 2018
The top student loan officer in the country kicked off the school year by quitting. He says the Trump administration "turned its back on young people …
The empty seat in Arizona
August 27th, 2018
Love him, hate him, or both, Senator John McCain will be remembered as a towering figure of American politics.
Kill me maybe
August 24th, 2018
The EPA is rolling back Obama-era regulations on coal-fired plants. It says its decision will kill 1400 Americans per year by 2030.
Insecurity complex
August 23rd, 2018
The president has threatened to revoke the national security clearances for current and former government officials. The Washington Post's Shane Harris explains why this is a bad idea for basically everyone.
Guilty. Guilty. Guilty?
August 22nd, 2018
In an unprecedented one-two punch Donald Trump’s personal lawyer pleaded guilty to and his campaign manager was found guilty of serious crimes yesterday evening. Vox’s Matthew Yglesias explores the implications.
19 cents per hour
August 21st, 2018
Inmates nationwide go on strike today to protest conditions they call “modern-day slavery": incarcerated Americans are paid pennies on the dollar for …
No fair, ride share
August 20th, 2018
New York City has approved the first cap in the U.S. on Uber and Lyft vehicles. WIRED’s Aarian Marshall explains who’ll be impacted the most, and whether this is scooters’ big chance to zip ahead.
Never tweet
August 17th, 2018
Twitter temporarily banned Alex Jones and Infowars this week. Why'd it take so long?
Saw something, said nothing
August 16th, 2018
A Pennsylvania grand jury has released a 1300-page report on child sex abuses within the state's Catholic Church. Jack Jenkins from Religion News …
Crazy. Rich. And finally seen.
August 15th, 2018
Crazy Rich Asians hits theaters today. Los Angeles Times film critic Jen Yamato says it's been 25 years in the making.
Democracy Dies in Daylight
August 14th, 2018
Democracies can fall many ways: military coups, assassinations, mass protests. But what does it look like when a democracy quietly backslides into autocracy? Vox’s Zack Beauchamp went on a trip to Hungary to explore …
NASA shoots a billion dollars at the sun
August 13th, 2018
You might have missed it this weekend, but NASA shot a spaceship at the sun. Once it gets there, the Parker Solar Probe might find the secret to …
"These bastards tried to kill me"
August 10th, 2018
Aubtin Heydari tells the story of how he was almost murdered by a white supremacist at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville last year.
This too shall MoviePass
August 9th, 2018
MoviePass is changing the way we see movies, but it's going to have to get its act together. Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson explains.
When a season lasts a year
August 8th, 2018
California’s Mendocino Complex Fire is now the biggest in the state’s recorded history, surpassing a record set… last year. Vox’s Umair Irfan says the worst is yet to come.
Wrestling with Ohio State
August 7th, 2018
Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan wants to be the next Speaker of the House, but a pack of wrestlers could be blocking his path. Corky Siemaszko broke the …
HQ2
August 6th, 2018
Amazon will soon announce which city will land its second headquarters along with 50,000 new jobs. There’s a lot to win and maybe just as much to lose.
Is the economy great again?
August 3rd, 2018
The US economy is booming, unemployment keeps dropping, and the country is in the midst of one of the longest economic expansions in our history. Guest host Ezra Klein talks with economist Betsey Stevenson about what's …
You must sign here
August 2nd, 2018
An immigration lawyer at the border says ICE agents are pressuring parents into being deported with their children. Vox’s Dara Lind broke the story.
Ready, print, fire
August 1st, 2018
Today was supposed to be a big day for people who wanted to make their own guns with 3D printers. But last night, a federal judge in Seattle temporarily banned a man named Cody Wilson from sharing blueprints for his …
How to solve the opioid crisis
July 31st, 2018
Vox's German Lopez explains America's opioid crisis and goes looking for a solution.
Manafort, day in court
July 30th, 2018
The first trial of the Mueller investigation begins tomorrow. Vox’s Andrew Prokop runs through the many, many charges Paul Manafort is facing.
Delete your account
July 27th, 2018
Dan Harmon quit Twitter. James Gunn was fired by Disney. Sarah Silverman defended a nine-year-old joke about molestation. Vox’s Aja Romano explains …
Cricketer-in-Chief
July 26th, 2018
A thrice-married, nightclub-loving cricket star just won Pakistan’s election. Mehreen Zahra-Malik explains why the military backed Imran Khan and Brookings’ Madiha Afzal explains why democracy in Pakistan never seems to …
Soy Story
July 25th, 2018
The Trump administration stirred up a flurry of trade disputes that threatened to put farmers in the red. Then it threw out a lifesaver: $12 billion in emergency relief. A farmer in Minnesota tells us what she really …
Graduating Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
July 24th, 2018
What’s up with the Parkland teens? Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School inspired over a million people to march for gun control a few …
The Endangered Endangered Species Act
July 23rd, 2018
The White House has proposed stripping the Endangered Species Act of key provisions - the same legislation that helped save the grizzly bear, bald eagle and humpback whale. But Congressional Republicans say protecting …
Mr. Trump's wild week
July 20th, 2018
What a week. President Trump sided with President Putin, then he didn’t, then he did, then he didn’t again. Vox’s Alex Ward tries to keep up.
The Stanford Prison Correction
July 19th, 2018
In 1971, a professor locked a bunch of young men in a basement to understand evil. The results were explosive. This summer, it all came crashing …
Open casket, reopened case
July 18th, 2018
One of the most brutal murder cases in American history has been reopened. The Washington Post’s Wesley Lowery explains how Emmett Till’s family might finally find justice.
Does America need Sacha Baron Cohen?
July 17th, 2018
Bernie Sanders, Sarah Palin, and Dick Cheney walk into an interview. Sacha Baron Cohen is waiting for them. Vox’s Todd VanDerWerff explains.
Vladimir's best day ever
July 16th, 2018
Vladimir Putin flatly denied Russian interference in the United States’s 2016 elections and President Trump refused to call him out. Former …
What are Democrats doing even?
July 13th, 2018
Republicans control the White House, Congress and most state legislatures. Pod Save America’s Dan Pfeiffer explains how Democrats can dig themselves …
I can't believe it's not breastmilk
July 12th, 2018
Breastmilk. Research says it’s the best, so why did the U.S. threaten to shut down a breastfeeding proposal at the World Health Assembly? Vox’s Julia …
Brexiting is hard to do
July 11th, 2018
British Prime Minister Theresa May is losing cabinet members left and right. She can’t figure out how to Brexit. BBC's Rob Watson says the UK's …
The New Justice
July 10th, 2018
Brett Kavanaugh is President Trump’s pick to replace Anthony Kennedy on the United States Supreme Court. The New York Times Magazine’s Emily Bazelon says the nomination was decades in the making.
Roe v. Wade v. Trump
July 9th, 2018
Tonight the president announces who might replace Anthony Kennedy on the United States Supreme Court. During his campaign, he promised he would …
Say goodbye to Pruitt
July 6th, 2018
It’s official: Scott Pruitt will no longer lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Vox’s Umair Irfan explains why it doesn’t really matter who replaces him.
Tonight. Midnight. Trade war.
July 5th, 2018
When the clock strikes twelve tonight, the US government plans to hit Chinese goods with $34 billion in tariffs. China plans to lash back. Vox’s Matthew Yglesias explains who this trade war will hurt the most.
Abolish ICE?
July 3rd, 2018
#AbolishICE has gone from an online murmur to a national movement, but a lot of Americans are confused about what exactly Immigration and Customs …
They call him AMLO
July 2nd, 2018
Meet Mexico’s next president: Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Call him AMLO. He’s a leftist, a populist, and wasn’t shy about calling Donald Trump a …
We need to talk about Yemen
June 29th, 2018
The Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s travel ban this week, making it all but impossible for the citizens of seven countries to enter the United States. One of those countries is Yemen, which the United Nations …
Born to run
June 28th, 2018
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is set to become the youngest woman to ever serve in Congress this November. The 28-year-old Democratic Socialist defeated …
The most powerful man in America retires
June 27th, 2018
After 30 years on the Supreme Court, Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement today. Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick explains what the departure of the swing vote means for the Court and the country.
Yes we ban
June 26th, 2018
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s travel ban. Emily Bazelon from The New York Times Magazine explains the opinion, a fiery dissent, and how the justices used this case to undo one of the …
Controversy for controversy's sake
June 25th, 2018
A 32-year-old from Santa Monica, California, helped President Trump conceive of the most divisive immigration policy in decades. The Atlantic’s McKay …
Redesigning life on Earth
June 22nd, 2018
Bill and Melinda Gates are messing with nature. But they’re doing it to save the world. This week, their foundation gave away millions to make malaria-carrying mosquitoes extinct before long. On the way, they’ll have to …
What the executive order doesn't fix
June 21st, 2018
President Trump signed an executive order which aims to end his own policy of family separation at the border. Yeah... it's confusing. Martha Mendoza …
UNHRC ya later
June 20th, 2018
The United States has been threatening to withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council for some time, but President Trump and Ambassador Nikki Haley made it official last night. The announcement comes just one …
Happy Juneteenth!
June 19th, 2018
It's Juneteenth! What is this holiday that hardly anyone fully understands? UCLA's Brenda Stevenson explains the history, and argues that the …
2,000
June 18th, 2018
That’s how many kids have been separated from their parents at border crossings over a six-week span since the Trump administration’s new zero …
Little summer vampires
June 15th, 2018
Tiny blood-sucking Lyme-disease-carrying ticks are out to ruin your summer. Since 1991, Lyme disease has doubled in the United States due to a variety of factors, including global warming and suburbanization. Vox’s …
Mo Salah will make you care about soccer
June 14th, 2018
The World Cup kicks off today. Looking for a country to cheer for? Consider Egypt. The team might not be the most storied or stacked, but it’s got Mohamed Salah. The New York Times’ chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith …
The Sessions Doctrine
June 13th, 2018
On Monday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions made it harder for Central Americans fleeing gang violence or women escaping domestic violence to gain …
How do you solve a problem like Korea?
June 12th, 2018
Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un made history today. Or did they? NPR’s Elise Hu was there. She explains what happened and what didn’t. Plus, The New Yorker’s Robin Wright recounts United States summit history. She says …
Will work for healthcare
June 11th, 2018
Good news for poor Americans: Medicaid is expanding in several states. Bad news for poor Americans: Medicaid is expanding in several states with work requirements. How do poor people who can’t find work prove that …
Riding in cars without boys
June 8th, 2018
This week, the Saudi government issued driver’s licenses to women for the first time in the country’s history. But London School of Economics …
You're tariffing us apart
June 7th, 2018
North America isn't getting along anymore. Canada's Prime Minister is having testy phone calls with President Trump about the War of 1812. Mexico has …
Pardon me
June 6th, 2018
Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Scooter Libby. Dinesh D'Souza. So far, none of President Donald Trump’s pardons have had anything to do with his administration, …
When your president acts like a dictator
June 5th, 2018
Nicaragua is spiraling into a state of national catastrophe, as clashes between police and student protesters over the past two months have left more …
You can't have your cake
June 4th, 2018
Today the Supreme Court issued a decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, or as it’s colloquially known, the “gay …
2 Big 2 Fail
June 1st, 2018
Congress is rolling back the bank regulations implemented after the 2008 financial crisis. Vox’s Matthew Yglesias explains why, and what it means for …
Why does everyone hate George Soros?
May 31st, 2018
There are three things you need to know about George Soros:
1) You’re pronouncing his name wrong.
2) He’s richer than rich.
3) He’s one of the most …
Roseanne gets canned
May 30th, 2018
ABC canceled the popular reboot of Roseanne after its star likened President Obama’s former advisor, an African-American woman, to an ape on Twitter. …
We've updated our privacy policy
May 29th, 2018
You know those privacy policy emails flooding your inbox lately? Turns out those are thanks to the European Union’s crackdown on websites that …
The poorest rich country in the world
May 25th, 2018
Venezuela has been crippled by poverty, starvation, five-figure inflation, and on Sunday, an election that many countries didn’t recognize as legit. …
We'll never have Singapore
May 24th, 2018
President Trump cancelled his historic Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un today. The announcement comes after a North Korean official called Vice President Pence “ignorant and stupid” for likening …
Kneecapped
May 23rd, 2018
Today the National Football League released a statement saying players will be fined if they kneel during the national anthem. It’s the ultimate …
Arbitration Nation
May 22nd, 2018
The Supreme Court may have taken away your ability to file a class action lawsuit against your employer. In a 5-4 decision yesterday, the Court decided that workers who signed contracts with arbitration clauses aren’t …
Ireland's great divide
May 21st, 2018
This Friday, Ireland holds a historic vote that could overturn one of the strictest abortion policies in the world. The race is razor-tight: Facebook …
A cynic's guide to the royal wedding
May 18th, 2018
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you might have heard that there’s a royal wedding happening this Saturday. (Even Sean’s mom is tuning in!) England’s Prince Harry is set to wed American actress Meghan Markle with …
Go ahead. Legalize it.
May 17th, 2018
This week, the Supreme Court of the United States fundamentally changed... sports. It struck down a 1992 law that prevented states from legalizing sports gambling. Now, New Jersey is at the head of a long line of states …
Hawaii versus the volcano
May 16th, 2018
Explosions are ramping up on Hawaii’s Big Island this week, as the Kilauea volcano continues to spew lava and blow a 12,000-foot plume of ash into …
What you need to know about Gaza
May 15th, 2018
Sixty Palestinians were killed at the Israel-Gaza border yesterday, the day the U.S. moved its embassy to Jerusalem. Vox’s Yochi Dreazen breaks down the conflict, the history, and whether there’s a way forward.
Jordan Peterson explains himself
May 14th, 2018
Jordan Peterson has gone from being an obscure Canadian academic to a kind of political rock star for the right. Overnight. Vox’s Zack Beauchamp …
#MeToo's big betrayal
May 11th, 2018
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigned Monday after four women accused him of physical assault. The news was a rough blow to the #MeToo …
Dial C for Cohen
May 10th, 2018
Stormy D, AT&T, and nine Fabergé eggs. The investigation into the president’s personal lawyer keeps getting more colorful. This week, it was …
No deal!
May 9th, 2018
President Donald Trump has pulled the United States out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Everyone else - including France, Russia, China, even Iran - …
"We tortured some folks"
May 8th, 2018
Tomorrow is the Senate confirmation hearing for Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the C.I.A. The 33-year veteran of the organization …
This is America
May 7th, 2018
The NRA announced a new president today: Fox News contributor and Iran-Contra alum Oliver North. The news caps a big weekend for the organization. Tens of thousands of Americans (including President Trump) descended on …
The $5,751 ice pack
May 4th, 2018
Imagine a world where a Band-Aid costs $629. Bad news: you live in that world. Vox’s Sarah Kliff explains how American hospitals tack on “facility fees” to cover their expansive costs. Then, a Kentucky doctor gives us …
Too Juul for school
May 3rd, 2018
On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to 13 companies that appear to market their vaping products directly to kids. E-cigarettes are a gangbuster business but one device, the …
Nowhere to go
May 2nd, 2018
Forty-nine Central Americans seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border were granted entry today. They're part of a caravan of around 200 migrants who arrived Sunday and camped in the rain, after traveling 2,000 miles and …
Golden State Killer opens Pandora's box
May 1st, 2018
After 40 years, police say they have finally caught the Golden State Killer, a man responsible for at least 12 murders, 50 rapes, and 100 break-ins …
There's something about Sean
April 30th, 2018
Sean Hannity is curiously close to President Donald Trump — so close that some say he may as well have a desk in the Oval Office. In recent weeks, the Fox News host has gone from covering the news to being in the …
Just call us "Korea"
April 27th, 2018
For the first time in history, the leader of North Korea took a trip to South Korea today. Kim Jong Un met with President Moon Jae-in to talk …
Oh, SNAP!
April 26th, 2018
Next up on the chopping block? Food stamps or SNAP as it’s now known. A new farm bill, fresh out of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, could …
Don't drink the water
April 25th, 2018
Four years ago today, Flint, Michigan switched water supplies to save a few million dollars. To date, that decision has cost over $400 million. …
SEE YOU IN COURT
April 24th, 2018
The Supreme Court wraps up its term with a bang tomorrow: Trump v. Hawaii, the travel ban case. The Court will hear arguments on whether the ban exceeds the president’s powers under federal immigration law, and whether …
Too little, too latte?
April 23rd, 2018
On May 29th, Starbucks will shut 8,000 locations and lose millions of dollars to provide racial bias training for employees. The training comes after …
Yes we cannabis
April 20th, 2018
Today Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a plan to decriminalize marijuana federally. But the debate over legalization rages on at the local level. Sean Rameswaram speaks with a Massachusetts mayor who wants …
"I don't get confused"
April 19th, 2018
Nikki Haley has had a rough week. On Sunday, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations announced sanctions against Russia. On Monday, the White House …
Congress just broke the Internet
April 18th, 2018
Donald Trump signed FOSTA into law a week ago today. The “Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act” looks good on paper, but Vox’s Aja Romano says it alters …
The $43,000 phone booth
April 17th, 2018
Scott Pruitt, the embattled head of the Environmental Protection Agency, is facing a host of new scandals: a $43,000 soundproof phone booth, a security detail to Disneyland, and even using a siren on his car to get to a …
Why did the U.S. just bomb Syria?
April 16th, 2018
President Trump and United States allies bombed chemical weapons facilities in Syria on Friday. The attacks came in response to President Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons on his own people. Vox’s Alex Ward …
Mile-high mutiny
April 13th, 2018
When its corporate owner introduced new budget cuts and layoffs, journalists at The Denver Post decided to fight back. They ran a front-page …
He said, she said, she said, she said....
April 12th, 2018
Today is Day 4 of Bill Cosby’s retrial. The first trial ended in a hung jury, but this time things are different. Five new women are testifying, …
The raid
April 11th, 2018
President Trump today called the raid on the office of his personal lawyer Michael Cohen “unthinkable.” Vox’s Zachary Fryer-Biggs explains what the FBI was looking for, and Vox’s Andrew Prokop reveals Cohen’s …
What's my wage again?
April 10th, 2018
Today is Equal Pay Day. Vox’s Sarah Kliff reveals the real reason why working women earn about 82% as much as men. Then Valerie Wilson of the …
1, 2, 3, 4... I declare a trade war
April 9th, 2018
President Trump said he would “always be friends” with China’s leader, but the two countries have been acting anything but these past few days. …
It’s never too late to understand the war in Syria
April 6th, 2018
President Trump announced this week he wants to withdraw US troops from Syria over the next six months. The country’s civil war has killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced around 13 million. Vox’s Zack …
They're not gonna take it
April 5th, 2018
The West Virginia teacher strike has ended, but walkouts are just getting started in Kentucky and Oklahoma, where lawmakers are scrambling to pass …
20 shots and a cell phone
April 4th, 2018
289. That’s the number of people who have been shot and killed by police in 2018 alone. One of them was Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old black man from …
Mark Zuckerberg Explains Himself
April 3rd, 2018
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg seldom gives interviews, but in the wake of the massive Cambridge Analytica privacy breach, he made an exception to …
Gerrymandering 101
April 2nd, 2018
The Supreme Court is currently deliberating two cases that could reshape the entire country’s political maps. At issue is partisan gerrymandering—the …
Quitting the Border Patrol
March 30th, 2018
Mexican-American Francisco Cantú never expected to become a U.S. Border Patrol Agent. But for nearly four years, Cantú both detained and rescued …
Chief Wahoo Strikes Out
March 29th, 2018
It’s Opening Day — peanuts, cracker jack, and for some, racism. Sundance, a Native American activist, has been protesting the Cleveland Indians …
The New Abortion Wars
March 28th, 2018
Kentucky just joined a wave of states attempting to severely limit when a woman can terminate her pregnancy. Vox’s Anna North surveys the growing restrictions on women’s reproduction under the Trump administration, and …
Bolton's Back
March 27th, 2018
President Trump announced John Bolton will be his new National Security Advisor just as the White House prepares for historic talks with North Korea. …
The Survivors
March 26th, 2018
Dantrell Blake traveled from Chicago to Washington, D.C., to join hundreds of thousands for the March of Our Lives on Saturday. Sean Rameswaram spent …
Flagrant Foul
March 23rd, 2018
The FBI is investigating over twenty colleges for paying athletes under the table, reigniting the age-old debate: Should college athletes be formally …
Me Too, Mr. Trump
March 22nd, 2018
A judge gave the green light this week for a woman to sue President Trump for defamation. Summer Zervos claims Donald Trump sexually assaulted her; …
Cambridge Analytica
March 21st, 2018
Today Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted the social media giant “made mistakes” in the Cambridge Analytica scandal and vowed to fix them. The UK-based company improperly acquired the data of some 50 million Facebook …
It's Been Six Months
March 20th, 2018
Today is the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Maria, one of the worst natural disasters in American history. But Puerto Rico remains without …
One Man vs. InfoWars
March 19th, 2018
The white nationalist rally in Charlottesville sparked outrage when a driver barreled through the crowd, killing one woman and injuring more than 30. Brennan Gilmore filmed it, and everyone saw his video. Then came the …
Lady and the Trump
March 16th, 2018
A president. A porn star. A lawyer with a $130,000 payoff. The allegation is Donald Trump had an affair with Stormy Daniels and his lawyer paid her to keep quiet. Now, she’s suing so she can talk freely and just today, …
The Colder War
March 15th, 2018
There’s a new Cold War being fought in the North Pole between the United States and Russia (but also China, Finland, Norway, Canada, Greenland and …
Default in Our Loans
March 14th, 2018
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told states to back off regulating the nine private companies that lend money to students last week. That could mean …
Rexit
March 13th, 2018
Twitter. That’s how Secretary of State Rex Tillerson found out he was fired today. The news came on the heels of Tillerson calling Russia “an irresponsible force of instability”. He hands over the reins to CIA director …
The United States vs. California
March 12th, 2018
Donald Trump takes his first trip to California as president tomorrow. Making matters awkward, his administration sued the Golden State last week …
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
March 9th, 2018
After months of name calling and test missiles, Donald Trump will be the first sitting United States president to meet with a North Korean leader. Vox’s Yochi Dreazen lays out what to expect from the historic meeting. …
The Disability Belt
March 8th, 2018
Out of the ten counties with the most adults on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), nine voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump. But in the …
That'll Teach 'Em
March 7th, 2018
An historic walkout in West Virginia ended yesterday. Teachers managed to shut down every single public school in the state for nine days to demand …
What's the Deal with Steel?
March 6th, 2018
President Trump announced that he's okay with a trade war late last week and he's got the tariff proposals to prove it: 25% for steel, 10% for …
Inclusion Riders, Explained
March 5th, 2018
Quick bonus episode! Frances McDormand won the Academy Award for Best Actress last night for her performance in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” In her memorable acceptance speech, she asked all the …
President for Life
March 5th, 2018
China's National People's Congress opened its annual two-week meeting today. The country’s parliament is expected to change China’s constitution to …
The Gun Problem No One Wants to Talk About
March 2nd, 2018
It was a week of whiplash in the national fight over gun control. First, major retailers like Dick’s and Walmart raised the gun-buying age from 18 to …
The Deep Fake
March 1st, 2018
There’s a new kind of algorithm that allows you to take a video of one person and map the face of another person onto his or her body. Not surprisingly, it’s being used to map celebrities’ faces onto the bodies of porn …
The Quiet War on Obamacare
February 28th, 2018
A coalition of 20 states filed a lawsuit claiming Obamacare is unconstitutional yesterday. Vox’s Sarah Kliff says that’s just the latest pushback on the Affordable Care Act. Idaho has been quietly allowing insurance …
Mueller 101
February 27th, 2018
Today, special counsel Robert Mueller dropped over 20 criminal counts against former Trump campaign official Rick Gates, just days after Gates agreed to a plea deal. Mueller's Russia probe has a lot of people and moving …
Give Us Your No One
February 26th, 2018
Today, the United States Supreme Court denied a request from the Trump administration to expedite a decision on DACA. This keeps the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program on life support for a few more months, …
This Time Could Be Different
February 23rd, 2018
Something changed this week. Teenagers managed to break the deadlock over gun control. Marches, walkouts, and serious policy debates are on the way. …
Countdown to Day Zero
February 22nd, 2018
Cape Town is just a few months away from being the first major city to shut off its taps in the history of the modern world. Day Zero - the day Capetonians in South Africa will need to line up at water distribution …
Breaking the Ice with North Korea
February 21st, 2018
North and South Korea are on opposite sides of a demilitarized zone, separated by barbed wire, tank traps, and guard towers. But in the 2018 Winter Olympics, they came together on the rink. Is hockey the key to peace …
Black Panther Is the Most Important Movie of 2018
February 20th, 2018
"Black Panther" is the biggest movie in the world, but what makes this comic book adaptation more important than the nearly 20 Marvel movies that came before it? Sean Rameswaram attends a "Black Panther"-themed …
Six Easy Steps to Nuclear War
February 19th, 2018
Today we launch our show, but it turns out it's a lot easier to launch a nuclear weapon. Vox's Alex Ward walks us through the six easy steps and tells Sean Rameswaram about the time we accidentally dropped a nuke on …
Let's Explain "Today, Explained"
February 7th, 2018
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