Cover art for podcast Today, Explained

Today, Explained

1417 EpisodesProduced by VoxWebsite

News comes at you fast. Join us at the end of your day to understand it. Today, Explained is your all-killer, no-filler, Monday to Friday news explainer co-hosted by Sean Rameswaram and Noel King. Every episode features the finest reporters from the Vox Media Podcast Network and beyond.

episodes iconAll Episodes

Crypto’s crown prince in court

October 3rd, 2023

26:06

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

Shutshow

October 2nd, 2023

24:30

The US government is open for business at the cost of Ukraine aid. Semafor’s Jordan Weissmann explains how we got here. And White House …

Hip-hop is 50 and it's having a midlife crisis

September 30th, 2023

45:33

So much of the coverage of hip-hop’s 50th birthday has been congratulatory, in spite of its record of misogyny and anti-LGBTQ sentiment. In this …

Blame Capitalism: Degrowing pains

September 29th, 2023

26:04

Capitalism isn’t natural, was never inevitable, and endless growth is killing Earth. The final episode of “Blame Capitalism” examines the degrowth movement, whose proponents call to end capitalism as we know it.

This …

Man’s best friend banned in UK

September 28th, 2023

25:50

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says his government will ban a type of dog called the American Bully XL — a relative of the pit bull. Political editor …

Why the US is suing Amazon

September 27th, 2023

25:22

The Federal Trade Commission has brought a landmark antitrust suit against Amazon. The Verge’s Makena Kelly and former FTC director Bill Baer explain how it’s part of chair Lina Khan’s effort to change the way the US …

Should you blow up a pipeline?

September 26th, 2023

25:46

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

Murder, Canada Wrote

September 25th, 2023

25:39

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

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, …

Blame Capitalism: The 99%

September 22nd, 2023

25:47

Two wildly different political movements — Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party — emerged from the Great Recession. They forever changed the way …

The six D-words of climate change

September 21st, 2023

25:07

It’s climate week. To mark the occasion we’re talking to scientist Michael E. Mann about six D-words that help us understand where the conversation around climate change has been and where it’s going.

This episode was …

Taxing traffic

September 20th, 2023

25:40

New York City wants to be the first in the nation to implement congestion pricing to charge people for driving during peak hours. New Jersey says fuhgeddaboudit.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by …

Everybody’s moving to Florida

September 19th, 2023

25:14

We’re not just talking snowbirds. The Sunshine State is the fastest growing in the nation despite, you know, climate change. Vox’s Marin Cogan and Umair Irfan explain why.

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, …

Autoworkers slam the brakes

September 18th, 2023

24:46

The United Auto Workers union is on strike at three different factories. We ask the Wall Street Journal's Nora Eckert what the union workers want, and management professor Marick Masters explains why the Detroit Big …

Blame Capitalism: Profit over everything

September 15th, 2023

26:06

Economist Milton Friedman published an essay in 1970 arguing that the job of a corporation was solely to make money for its shareholders. General …

From North Korea with Love

September 14th, 2023

26:06

Kim Jong Un took a bulletproof train to visit Vladimir Putin in Russia this week. Jenny Town at the Stimson Center explains how the two leaders have …

New variant just dropped

September 13th, 2023

25:25

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

This …

In Google we antitrust

September 12th, 2023

26:22

Google is headed to court over allegations its search engine violates federal antitrust law. The Verge’s Adi Robertson breaks down the case, and …

Hunter becomes the hunted

September 11th, 2023

26:06

Hunter Biden is set to be indicted this month. The WSJ’s Aruna Viswanatha goes over the evidence with us, and Politico’s Jonathan Lemire looks at …

Blame Capitalism: Souring on the system

September 8th, 2023

28:45

Capitalism has entered its villain era. In a new series running Fridays this month, we look at how Americans came to blame it for just about …

From Pac-12 to Pac-2

September 7th, 2023

26:05

The Pac-12 college football conference has lost nearly all its teams now that schools like USC and Colorado have announced they’re leaving for rival …

Why American sunscreen sucks

September 6th, 2023

26:44

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

This episode was produced by Jon Ehrens, edited by …

The new Cold War

September 5th, 2023

26:06

The Cold War started earlier than we think — and maybe never ended at all. Historian Calder Walton says understanding the US-Soviet conflict prepares …

…We’re trusting it anyway

September 4th, 2023

26:08

Tech companies are racing to make new, transformative AI tools, with little to no safeguards in place. This is the second episode of “The Black Box,” …

We don’t know how AI works…

September 1st, 2023

26:06

The researchers who create and study tech like ChatGPT don’t understand exactly how it’s doing what it does. This is the first episode of “The Black Box,” a two-part series from Unexplainable.

This episode was reported …

#SeAcabo: Spain’s World Cup reckoning

August 31st, 2023

25:35

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

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah with help from Jon Ehrens, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked …

The Real Housewives of Today, Explained

August 30th, 2023

26:22

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

This episode …

Why top Republicans want to bomb Mexico

August 29th, 2023

26:05

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

China’s young and restless

August 28th, 2023

25:58

China’s ambitious youth planned to cash in on their country’s meteoric rise on the world stage. Instead, many of these 20-somethings are disillusioned and “lying flat.” Economist Nancy Qian explains why.

This episode was …

America is so Messi

August 25th, 2023

26:02

With Lionel Messi, footy may have finally arrived in the United States. The Athletic’s Tom Bogert and Men in Blazers founder Roger Bennett explain how the Argentine superstar is transforming American soccer.

This episode …

Death of a Hot Dog Salesman

August 24th, 2023

25:58

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

The other eight debate

August 23rd, 2023

25:46

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

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited …

Back to school loans

August 22nd, 2023

25:54

President Biden can’t stop, won’t stop trying to forgive student debt, even as borrowers are shortly expected to resume payments. The Washington Post’s Danielle Douglas-Gabriel explains.

This episode was produced by Jon …

Why Russians still support the war

August 21st, 2023

26:02

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

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked …

After the Green Rush

August 18th, 2023

26:49

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

RoboCab

August 17th, 2023

25:59

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

Florida man indicted (again) (again) (again)

August 16th, 2023

25:55

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

Why Maui burned

August 15th, 2023

25:52

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

A postpartum pill

August 14th, 2023

25:50

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

This …

Suing big food

August 11th, 2023

25:52

Tostitos chips without real lime. Root beer made with fake vanilla. Instant mac and cheese that isn’t so instant. These products are among the hundreds targeted by lawyer Spencer Sheehan. We talked to him last year …

The Rikers takeover

August 10th, 2023

25:49

Today a federal judge hears arguments on whether New York City Mayor Eric Adams should be stripped of control of the jails on Rikers Island. …

Shein trouble

August 9th, 2023

25:50

The Chinese apparel company Shein is a favorite of Gen Z shoppers and the latest frontier in US-China tensions. Vogue Business editor Hilary Milnes explains why Congress, designers, and worker advocates are all …

ESPN 4 SALE

August 8th, 2023

25:43

Disney CEO Bob Iger says the company is looking for a “strategic partner” to invest in the massive sports network, which has been struggling in an …

Hot topic

August 7th, 2023

25:39

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

The air-istocracy

August 4th, 2023

25:49

Private jets aren’t what they used to be. AOC is calling out Hollywood executives for having too many, and European nations are trying to ban them. …

Battlechips

August 3rd, 2023

25:50

Semiconductors are used in just about every piece of technology. The US wants to limit what China can do with them. Alex W. Palmer explains the …

Florida man indicted (again) (again)

August 2nd, 2023

25:40

The latest unprecedented is about January 6, but does the American public still care about January 6?

This episode was produced by Siona Peterous with help from Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by …

Where did the recession go?

August 1st, 2023

25:51

A much-dreaded recession doesn’t actually seem to be materializing. We called up some experts — economics reporters Tracy Alloway and Greg Ip, plus our boss, Vox CEO Jim Bankoff — to figure out what’s going on.

This …

Will “parental rights” mobilize Muslims?

July 31st, 2023

25:48

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

Music’s nostalgia-industrial complex

July 28th, 2023

25:34

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

This …

Sound of Freedom

July 27th, 2023

32:37

The Wall Street Journal’s John Jurgensen explains how Sound of Freedom, an action-drama about fighting child sex trafficking, beat Tom Cruise and Indiana Jones at the box office. Writer Meg Conley explains the murky …

A third nuclear superpower

July 26th, 2023

25:54

For decades, a delicate strategy of deterrence kept Russia and the US from nuclear war. With China upping its nuclear ambitions, things are about to get a lot more complicated. 

This episode was produced by Amanda …

Inside the AI factory

July 25th, 2023

25:52

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

I want you! (to fight the culture war)

July 24th, 2023

25:50

The defense bill is the latest piece of legislation to be weaponized by the far-right Freedom Caucus. It’s also the latest test for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Jon Ehrens, …

Barbie Dreampodcast

July 21st, 2023

26:19

Is Barbie a toy commercial doubling as the first installment of an inevitable Mattel Cinematic Universe? Or does it have something important to say? …

Bidenomics

July 20th, 2023

25:51

A lot of Americans are still feeling iffy about the economy, but Joe Biden’s so proud of how things are going that he’s stuck his name on it. The Washington Post’s Jeff Stein explains “Bidenomics.”

This episode was …

Is ethical investing a sham?

July 19th, 2023

25:50

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

This episode was produced by Jon Ehrens, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked …

Inside the Actors Strike

July 18th, 2023

25:52

The actors are officially on strike. Vox senior correspondent and critic Alissa Wilkinson breaks down what SAG-AFTRA is afta, and the New Yorker’s …

Vacation ... all I ever wanted?

July 17th, 2023

25:51

🎵 Now that I’m away, I wish I had stayed. 🎵 Vox’s Allie Volpe explains why travel feels like such a mess right now (and how to make it a bit …

The Joshua Generation

July 14th, 2023

27:14

A group of evangelical Christians raised their children to become influential in the White House, on Capitol Hill, and in the Supreme Court. Now, as …

Disaster unpreparedness

July 13th, 2023

25:54

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

Can Threads unravel Twitter?

July 12th, 2023

25:57

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

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked …

NATO to Ukraine: Not yet

July 11th, 2023

25:58

President Biden and other world leaders say it’s too dangerous to admit Ukraine into NATO while it’s at war with Russia. But, to the dismay of allies, the US will send cluster bombs to the front.

This episode was …

Why everyone’s mad about equity

July 10th, 2023

25:53

Everyone is fighting about “equity.” If only they could define it. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by …

Where’s the beef?

July 7th, 2023

25:58

A rancher in the Pacific Northwest scammed two companies out of $244 million. In this episode we first served in February, KUOW’s Anna King — host of the Ghost Herd podcast — explains how Cody Easterday went from …

Excuseflation

July 6th, 2023

25:51

Inflation happens for a lot of reasons that can be hard for even economists to fully grasp. But — as we learned this spring in an episode we’re …

Even more forever chemicals

July 5th, 2023

25:52

The chemical manufacturer 3M will pay $10 billion to settle claims it contaminated drinking water with “forever chemicals.” Good thing we already spoke with Barbara Moran, WBUR’s climate and environmental correspondent, …

Smokeshow

June 30th, 2023

25:55

For the second time this month, huge sections of the US are blanketed by wildfire smoke. Vox’s Rebecca Leber and climate journalist Jeff Goodell say we’re gonna have to get used to it.

This episode was produced by …

Supreme Court: Race need not apply

June 29th, 2023

24:54

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

Mall cop nation

June 28th, 2023

24:53

The three biggest private employers in North America are Walmart, Amazon, and a security firm you’ve maybe never heard of: Allied Universal. Time’s Alana Semuels explains the rise of poorly trained and poorly paid …

Woke, woke, woke, woke, woke

June 27th, 2023

25:59

How “woke” went from Marcus Garvey to Childish Gambino to Ron DeSantis.

This episode was produced by Siona Peterous, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, …

The man behind Russia’s mutiny

June 26th, 2023

25:48

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

OceanGate

June 23rd, 2023

25:51

Deep-sea explorer G. Michael Harris has been down to the wreck of the Titanic 14 times. He begged his friend PH Nargeolet not to get on the OceanGate …

Dinner and a Modi

June 22nd, 2023

25:53

Despite US concerns over the decline of Indian democracy and human rights, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is getting a prestigious state dinner from the Biden administration. Sadanand Dhume and Irfan Nooruddin explain.

Okla-home-a

June 21st, 2023

25:55

A group in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will pay remote workers $10,000 to move there. Vox’s Rani Molla explains why the city is banking on a digital workforce — …

Childproofing Pornhub

June 20th, 2023

25:50

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

The Today, Explained Center for Kids Who Can’t Read Good

June 16th, 2023

26:06

For decades, American schools have taught reading with an approach that doesn’t work very well. Emily Hanford of the podcast “Sold a Story: How …

How the Saudis bought pro golf

June 15th, 2023

26:14

The PGA Tour wanted nothing to do with a rival Saudi-funded golf tour, but like Silicon Valley and the White House, it couldn’t resist the Kingdom’s …

Kids sue Montana over climate change

June 14th, 2023

25:56

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

Vivek Ramaswamy explains himself

June 13th, 2023

26:06

The entrepreneur is running a longshot campaign for the GOP nomination on an “American nationalist,” anti-“woke capitalism” platform. Semafor’s Dave Weigel explains why so many Republicans now think they have a chance …

Why Marvel movies look bad

June 12th, 2023

25:21

Bad visual effects in movies may have less to do with technology and more to do with workers being underpaid and overworked. Vulture senior reporter …

Florida man indicted (again)

June 9th, 2023

26:05

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

This episode was produced by Miles …

Texas messed with Houston schools

June 8th, 2023

25:45

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

California is becoming uninsurable

June 7th, 2023

26:06

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

Apple’s $3,500 goggles

June 6th, 2023

26:06

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

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, …

Real Housebans of Tallahassee

June 5th, 2023

26:06

A new Florida law will restrict where Chinese citizens can buy homes, and other states may follow suit. The legislation is eerily similar to racist …

Hannah Gadsby and “Pablo-matic" Picasso

June 2nd, 2023

26:12

Comedian Hannah Gadsby railed against Pablo Picasso in “Nanette.” So why are they curating an exhibition timed to the 50th anniversary of his death? …

Ukraine’s counteroffensive

June 1st, 2023

26:06

Ukraine vowed to mount a counteroffensive against Russia. Drone attacks on Moscow might signal it has begun. The Washington Post’s Mary Ilyushina and the Guardian’s Luke Harding explain.

This episode was produced by …

Target-ing Pride

May 31st, 2023

26:06

Companies have been leaning into Pride month for years. So why are brands like Target and Bud Light facing such intense backlash now? Vox’s Emily Stewart and historian Kyle Williams explain.

This episode was produced by …

The Kia Boyz are coming for your car

May 30th, 2023

25:21

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

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, …

Hot and bothered

May 26th, 2023

26:06

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

He's Ronning

May 25th, 2023

26:06

NBC’s Matt Dixon explains how Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to Make America Florida. Vox’s Andrew Prokop spells out how the governor’s brain works. Please clap.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt …

A cancer vaccine?

May 24th, 2023

26:06

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

How wellness killed Jenny Craig

May 23rd, 2023

26:06

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

The rehabilitation of Bashar al-Assad

May 22nd, 2023

26:06

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

Parking is a lot

May 19th, 2023

25:11

In our quest to accommodate parked cars, we’ve paved over downtowns, polluted the planet, and made it near impossible to get anywhere without …

Kevin McCarthy wants you to get a job

May 18th, 2023

26:23

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

The most important election of 2023

May 17th, 2023

26:06

After 21 years of leading Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a global political giant. But a crumbling Turkish economy and the opposition candidate pose …

The new border crisis

May 16th, 2023

26:06

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

Can power plants go green?

May 15th, 2023

26:06

The EPA has just announced new rules for power plants to clean up their act. But to get to those lower limits, companies might have to switch to two …

How Zelda changed gaming

May 12th, 2023

26:06

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, …

Covid is “over”

May 11th, 2023

26:06

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

Trump loses sexual abuse lawsuit

May 10th, 2023

26:06

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

Ed Sheeran and the “Blurred Lines” effect

May 9th, 2023

26:14

Ed Sheeran just won a big copyright trial. But he might not have even been in court if not for Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s “Blurred Lines.” Pitchfork’s Jayson Greene explains how the song of the summer from 10 years ago …

The killing of Jordan Neely

May 8th, 2023

26:15

A subway rider choked to death Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man known to New Yorkers for his impersonations of Michael Jackson. WNYC …

Charles in charge

May 5th, 2023

26:06

King Charles is struggling to get his subjects to care about the historic coronation this weekend. Professor Brooke Newman explains the complicated road to ditching the monarchy.

This episode was produced by Victoria …

Get used to higher interest rates

May 4th, 2023

26:06

The Federal Reserve has once again raised interest rates, which means borrowing money for your mortgage or your business is once again more expensive. New York Times economics reporter Talmon Joseph Smith explains why …

Disney vs. DeSantis

May 3rd, 2023

25:51

Once upon a time, a Magic Kingdom took issue with a ruler’s law and, well, everyone ended up suing each other. The Wall Street Journal’s Robbie …

The Supreme Court’s corruption crisis

May 2nd, 2023

26:05

In a hearing today, the Senate Judiciary Committee took on the Supreme Court’s lack of ethics standards. ProPublica’s Joshua Kaplan explains how his reporting on Justice Clarence Thomas’s history of accepting gifts from …

Why parents are suing social media

May 1st, 2023

26:07

Congress has yet to pass legislation regulating social media companies, so parents are taking matters into their own hands. A lawyer representing …

Fake Drake

April 28th, 2023

26:36

The Verge’s Nilay Patel explains how a spurious collaboration between Drake and The Weeknd started a copyright fight over generative AI. Holly …

Can Title IX protect trans athletes?

April 27th, 2023

26:06

President Biden hopes so. His administration is preparing to roll out new rules that would counter state and local bans aimed at keeping transgender …

The new war in Sudan

April 26th, 2023

25:34

Foreign powers are arming and funding opposing military leaders in Sudan, who are now battling for control of the country. It’s just the latest in a …

He’s running

April 25th, 2023

26:06

The oldest president in the history of the United States wants a second term. Vox’s Andrew Prokop and Dylan Matthews explain why Joe Biden doesn’t …

The Adderall shortage

April 24th, 2023

26:06

There is a nationwide shortage of medications to treat ADHD. One culprit: the DEA. Vox’s Dylan Scott explains.

This episode was produced by Miles …

Cocaine hippos (and the case against pets)

April 21st, 2023

26:06

The descendants of Pablo Escobar’s pet hippopotami are wreaking havoc in Colombia. They can teach us non-druglords a thing or two about pet ownership.

Make it rain

April 20th, 2023

26:06

The Colorado River is disappearing and the government is now spending millions on one wild idea to ease the pain: seeding clouds to make it rain.

This …

What does the Fox pay?

April 19th, 2023

25:50

$787.5 million. (To Dominion Voting Systems, averting a defamation trial that could have been disastrous for the network. The Washington Post’s Erik …

Hollywood writers are ready to strike

April 18th, 2023

26:06

TV and film writers just voted to authorize a strike, which could leave studios without fresh scripts as soon as May 1. Bloomberg business reporter …

The forever chemicals in your blood

April 17th, 2023

26:06

The Biden administration has new plans to reduce the amount of PFAS or “forever chemicals” in America’s drinking water. Barbara Moran, WBUR’s climate and environmental correspondent, explains why that will only get us …

The Discord leaks

April 14th, 2023

26:06

Federal officials have charged a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard with posting a trove of classified documents online. …

Phantom ghosts Broadway

April 13th, 2023

26:06

The chandelier crashes for a final time as Broadway’s longest-running musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s extremely ’80s Phantom of the Opera, closes …

Why stuff isn’t getting cheaper

April 12th, 2023

27:06

The traditional explanation of inflation is simple: too much money chasing too few goods. But some experts are now wondering if companies’ aggressive pursuit of profit is driving up inflation as well.

This episode was …

The new fight over abortion pills

April 11th, 2023

27:06

A federal judge in Texas invalidated the FDA’s decades-old approval of the abortion drug mifepristone. Vox’s Anna North explains the battle over a …

Why Russia arrested an American reporter

April 10th, 2023

27:06

Evan Gershkovich’s detention is a callback to the last time a US journalist was accused of espionage in Russia — and to a Soviet-era tactic for …

Table for 10 billion, please

April 7th, 2023

29:57

Feeding the world’s growing population is an increasingly difficult challenge, and climate change won’t make it any easier. Vox’s Kenny Torrella …

Uncle Sam really wants you

April 6th, 2023

27:06

The US military faces its worst recruiting crisis since the draft ended in 1973. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth — aware of the military’s …

Should you carry Narcan?

April 5th, 2023

27:05

The drug that brings people overdosing on opioids back from the brink of death in minutes just got approved for over-the-counter use. The Wall Street …

City Limits: Blame the mayor

April 4th, 2023

27:06

Chicagoans feel unsafe, and many blame Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The two Democrats on the ballot to replace her have starkly different views on what the …

City Limits: Crime vibes

April 3rd, 2023

27:06

Americans aren’t going downtown like they used to, and a lot of them say it’s because they don’t feel safe there. Today, Explained got the data to untangle crime facts from crime feelings.

This episode was produced by …

Florida man indicted

March 31st, 2023

27:06

Donald Trump is the first US president to be indicted. Now what? Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains.

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah and Amanda …

The fake nation of Kailasa

March 30th, 2023

27:05

Newark officials rescinded a sister city agreement with the United States of Kailasa after finding out it wasn’t actually a real place. Reporter …

How an AI pope pic fooled us

March 29th, 2023

27:11

An AI-generated image of Cool Pope in immaculate drip went viral over the weekend and most everyone thought it was real. The Verge’s James Vincent …

The Israeli-Israeli conflict

March 28th, 2023

27:06

Far-right judicial reforms have inspired what might be the largest protests in the history of Israel. If adopted, the reforms could spell the end of …

New Mexico low-key fixes child care

March 27th, 2023

27:06

The US has a child care crisis. But New Mexico just figured out a way to fix it (hint: they’re paying for it).

This episode was produced by Victoria …

City Limits: Should public transit be free?

March 24th, 2023

27:06

Transit agencies nationwide are facing an existential crisis. Washington, DC’s city council has a paradoxical solution: make subways and buses free.

Rep. Frost and David Hogg on what Gen Z wants

March 23rd, 2023

27:06

Five years after March for Our Lives, one of the historic protest’s organizers and his historic friend explain why it’s easy to forget how much progress has been made. Plus, Rep. Frost breaks some news about his first …

A tents standoff at the VA

March 22nd, 2023

27:06

When the Veterans Administration failed to build the homes it promised, unhoused vets built a tent city across the street — in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. KCRW’s Anna Scott tells their story in …

The US is obsessed with China

March 21st, 2023

27:06

There’s rare bipartisan consensus in Washington: China is a threat to be countered. Cornell professor Jessica Chen Weiss says the American approach …

7,300 days

March 20th, 2023

38:26

The war in Iraq has been declared over by nearly every president since the one who started it 20 years ago today. But it’s still not done. At SXSW in Austin, Texas, Sean Rameswaram explained why it’s important we …

City Limits: Beware the Doom Loop

March 17th, 2023

27:06

Pandemic restrictions are mostly over, but cities are still struggling to recover. Empty offices threaten to set off a downward spiral of falling tax revenue and declining services. Today, Explained’s Miles Bryan tries …

The “Lean In” era is over

March 16th, 2023

27:06

Execs like YouTube’s Susan Wojcicki and Meta’s Sheryl Sandberg paved the way for women in tech. Now they’re leaving the industry — and being replaced by men.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited and …

The Republicans breaking up with Tucker Carlson

March 15th, 2023

27:06

The Fox News host aired a splashy exclusive this month about the January 6 insurrection. Some Republican senators saw his coverage — and publicly called “b******t.”

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah with help …

The kids defying family court

March 14th, 2023

27:06

Two siblings in Utah are defying a court order to reunite with their father, who they allege abused them. ProPublica’s Hannah Dreyfus explains a controversial concept known as “parental alienation.”

This episode was …

Silicon Valley Bank goes bust

March 13th, 2023

26:42

SVB’s collapse is the biggest bank failure since 2008. Insider’s Ben Bergman explains why the bank collapsed, why the Biden administration …

Top Fun: Oscars vs. blockbusters

March 12th, 2023

30:41

Huge hits like Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water got nominated alongside Tár. In this episode of Into It, which is now available twice a …

The war on drag

March 10th, 2023

27:05

Melissa Brown, a state politics reporter for The Tennessean, spills the tea on Tennessee’s new drag restrictions. And drag performer Bella DuBalle …

Congress is daddy

March 9th, 2023

27:05

DC is baby.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Paul Robert Mounsey, and …

Auditing Ukraine

March 8th, 2023

27:24

Congress wants more oversight of how the billions in US aid to Ukraine are being used. But our own military can’t even seem to pass an audit.

This …

How to save a murderer

March 7th, 2023

27:06

Should past trauma prevent a convicted killer from being executed? The Marshall Project’s Maurice Chammah reports on “mitigation specialists” who try …

The fight for affordable insulin

March 6th, 2023

27:06

Insulin was the poster child of overpriced life saving drugs, but a manufacturer finally capped the cost at $35. Vox’s Dylan Scott explains how …

The rockstar maestro

March 3rd, 2023

27:07

Gustavo Dudamel brought classical music to the masses in Los Angeles. Now he’s announced that he’s taking his talents to New York, which could revive …

Why newspapers fired Dilbert

March 2nd, 2023

27:06

Newspapers across the country pulled the long-running comic “Dilbert” after its creator uploaded a racist tirade about Rasmussen poll results. …

Block the sun, save the earth?

March 1st, 2023

27:06

Solar geoengineering — the idea of cooling the planet by deflecting the sun’s rays — is so risky that scientists and policy experts can’t even agree …

Biden’s border orders

February 28th, 2023

27:06

President Biden promised a more humane approach to immigration when he entered office. After two years and a flurry of activity on asylum policies, …

The shadow war on Russian yachts

February 27th, 2023

27:06

Bloomberg's Stephanie Baker and the New Yorker’s Evan Osnos explain the fight to seize (and maintain) billionaire boats.

This episode was produced by …

Another phone call from Ukraine

February 24th, 2023

27:06

On the morning Russia invaded Ukraine, we called Yulya and Kurii. A year later, we’re calling them back.

This episode was produced by Victoria …

Pharrell Vuitton

February 23rd, 2023

27:02

Pharrell Williams was happy to be named the new head of Louis Vuitton’s menswear, but his appointment had fashion industry hopefuls feeling like they …

Just how dangerous is the Ohio train crash?

February 22nd, 2023

25:22

The derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals has residents of East Palestine, Ohio fearing for their health and safety. Two weeks after the incident, many feel like they have more questions than answers.

This …

Ban TikTok?

February 21st, 2023

27:06

Politicians across the United States are calling for an outright ban on the popular social media platform. Alex Heath, deputy editor at The Verge, …

Honey, they stole the bees

February 17th, 2023

36:09

Humanity can’t survive without bees, which is why bees are big business for thieves. Today, Explained’s Haleema Shah heads to the capital of sting operations — California’s Central Valley — to find out who’s beehind …

Turkey's man-made catastrophe

February 16th, 2023

27:07

Thousands of buildings collapsed after Turkey’s massive earthquakes. Now President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is facing a backlash for an amnesty program …

Nikki Haley kicks off a Republican mutiny

February 15th, 2023

27:06

Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, is running for president. Vox’s Andrew Prokop says she’s likely the first of many prominent …

Democratizing spying

February 14th, 2023

27:10

“Zero-click spyware” is making it easier for governments to get their hands on individuals’ personal data. New York Times investigative reporter Mark Mazzetti says that when it comes to spyware, the United States is …

Pow pow power grid

February 13th, 2023

27:06

Attacks on vulnerable electrical infrastructure are surging. The tactic — embraced by everyone from copper-seeking vandals to chaos-minded white …

The great American cattle swindle

February 10th, 2023

27:06

Cody Easterday was ranching royalty in Washington state until he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for swindling two companies out of $244 million. KUOW’s Anna King — host of the Ghost Herd podcast — explains.

This …

Decisions after Dobbs

February 9th, 2023

27:05

The Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade is reshaping the way a lot of Americans think about pregnancy and abortion. Vox’s Marin Cogan talks to patients and doctors about how reproductive health care has …

One earthquake, two recoveries

February 8th, 2023

27:06

Turkey is digging itself out from the devastating earthquake that has killed thousands across the country. Recovery efforts have been more difficult …

The fight over AP African American Studies

February 7th, 2023

27:06

The College Board piloted an AP course on African American Studies. Then, after conservative pushback, it debuted a revised curriculum. But the group …

Hullaballoon

February 6th, 2023

27:06

The balloon crisis is blown up. Politico’s Alex Ward deflates it for us.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette, …

Paying ex-gang members to stop shootings

February 3rd, 2023

27:07

Policymakers across the country are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on “violence interruptor” programs to try to stop shootings before they …

Sickened chickens

February 2nd, 2023

27:06

Poultry farmers are in flock-down. The bird flu known as H5N1 is being called “the largest foreign animal disease outbreak in US history.” Vox’s …

Dry February?

February 1st, 2023

27:06

New national health guidelines in Canada say any amount of alcohol consumption could lead to serious health risks. The guidance comes as more and …

The police killing of Tyre Nichols

January 31st, 2023

26:56

Memphis braced for an explosive reaction to footage of the deadly police beating. It never came. Wendi C. Thomas of the nonprofit newsroom MLK50: …

“Okay, Google, what’s a monopoly?”

January 30th, 2023

27:05

The Department of Justice wants Google to break up its advertising business. The Wall Street Journal’s Keach Hagey explains how the DOJ’s antitrust …

Why are businesses acting like there’s a recession?

January 27th, 2023

27:06

Wealthy companies like Google and Microsoft are announcing unprecedented layoffs — all while the economy is trending in the right direction. Vox’s Emily Stewart explains.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited …

Peru’s democracy crisis

January 26th, 2023

27:05

Dozens have died in anti-government protests in Peru. Journalist Simeon Tegel reports from Lima on how the mounting anger over corruption and inequality has implications for the entire hemisphere.

This episode was …

Fine dining isn’t fine

January 25th, 2023

26:56

Chef René Redzepi said his Copenhagen restaurant, Noma, deemed the best in the world, isn't sustainable and will close next year. But if an …

Why Mexico’s top cop is on trial in NYC

January 24th, 2023

27:06

The US and Mexican governments trusted Genaro Garcia Luna to crack down on the drug trade. Now he’s on trial for conspiring with El Chapo’s Sinaloa cartel. Peniley Ramírez, co-host of the new podcast USA v. Garcia Luna, …

Thanks but no tanks, Ukraine

January 23rd, 2023

26:18

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine desperately needs tanks to fight Russia. The US, which has provided many other weapons, is refusing.

This …

The politics of India’s biggest blockbusteRRR

January 20th, 2023

27:06

Most people watch RRR and see one of the greatest action epics in the history of cinema. But some see an insidious brand of Hindu nationalism that’s …

It’s debt ceiling season

January 19th, 2023

27:07

House Republicans are refusing to raise the US debt ceiling without huge concessions. Vox’s Dylan Matthews explains why we have a debt ceiling to …

The half-baked gas stove debate

January 18th, 2023

27:02

No, the government isn’t coming for your gas stove. Vox’s Rebecca Leber explains why you might want to switch anyway.

This episode was produced by …

Compost yourself

January 17th, 2023

27:06

Remember you are dirt and to dirt you shall return. Science journalist Eleanor Cummins and law professor Tanya Marsh explain the rise of human composting, now legal in six states, as an alternative to burial or …

What’s up, docs?

January 13th, 2023

26:53

What do a Delaware garage and a Florida palace have in common? We dig into Joe Biden’s classified document mess.

This episode was produced by Siona …

Too much water for California

January 12th, 2023

27:10

Rain is good for California, but the state was not prepared for what might be a megastorm. KQED’s Dan Brekke assesses the damage from the San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Institute’s Peter Gleick explains how we …

The Taliban vs. women

January 11th, 2023

27:06

When the Taliban took power, it promised a place for women in its new Afghanistan. Now, hardliners are embracing policies that do the opposite.

This …

Brazil’s January 6?

January 10th, 2023

27:06

Except it was on January 8. The Brazilian Report’s Gustavo Ribeiro explains from São Paulo.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt …

Andrew Tate: The king of toxic masculinity

January 9th, 2023

27:06

Controversial manfluencer Andrew Tate is in a Romanian prison, accused of rape and human trafficking. Vox’s Rebecca Jennings and sociolinguist Robert …

Will Kevin McCarthy become speaker?

January 6th, 2023

27:06

The 118th Congress has begun with a showdown over who will be elected House speaker. Vox’s Andrew Prokop argues that this is the culmination of a …

Why we’re all on antidepressants

January 5th, 2023

27:09

Ray Osheroff was a successful doctor in the DC area until his depression became debilitating. The way he was treated — and not treated — changed …

The many lies of George Santos

January 4th, 2023

27:01

George Santos is supposed to become a member of Congress this week. We still have no idea who he is.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, …

Let’s eat lab meat

January 3rd, 2023

27:03

Happy New Year! Maybe you’re interested in trying new things? Sean and his mom are. In today’s episode, they drive to Alameda, California to try “hybrid meat” — a mixture of lab-grown meat and veggie meat substitute …

Abortions before Roe

December 29th, 2022

27:07

Before Roe v. Wade, Eleanor Oliver was a Jane: a member of a group in Chicago that helped women get safe but illegal abortions. Sean Rameswaram sat down with her on the day Roe was overturned.

This episode was edited and …

How to save kids from online extremism

December 28th, 2022

27:07

A lot of IRL violence starts with online radicalization. We revisit our conversation with writer and parent Joanna Schroeder, who wrote a guide for …

Why the Ukraine war happened

December 27th, 2022

27:04

Vladimir Putin believes Ukraine belongs to Russia, and he used that a pretense to invade. In an episode originally released in February, historian Timothy Snyder explains why Putin is wrong.

This episode was produced by …

What’s the dill with pickleball?

December 22nd, 2022

27:03

Pickleball is bringing America together. Pickleball is tearing America apart. Sports Illustrated’s John Walters explains.

This episode was produced by …

Why gaslighting is the word of the year

December 21st, 2022

27:06

It’s sooo 2016, but the word still mattered a lot in 2022. Merriam-Webster explains.

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, edited by Matt …

Criminal referrals for Donald Trump

December 20th, 2022

26:15

The January 6 committee sent the Justice Department four criminal referrals against the former president, who it alleges engaged in an elaborate criminal conspiracy to remain in office after his 2020 defeat. Vox’s …

The case against movie trailers

December 19th, 2022

27:56

Movie trailers are misleading audiences. Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson says you should stop watching them.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited …

Do I have to care about the Twitter Files?

December 16th, 2022

27:06

Maybe not, but you’re going to be hearing about them for a while anyway. Republicans are saying they’ll use them to investigate the Biden administration.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn and Victoria …

Megan Thee Stallion

December 15th, 2022

27:06

Megan Thee Stallion is everywhere — including in court, testifying against the rapper Tory Lanez, who is charged with shooting her. Vox’s Fabiola …

Throwing soup at art

December 14th, 2022

27:06

Tensions are simmering in London as climate protesters turn up the heat on their soup-flinging activism. Rishi Sunak’s government is attempting to keep the situation from boiling over.

This episode was produced by …

Art-ificial intelligence

December 13th, 2022

27:05

Between chatbots and image generators, artificial intelligence has gotten scary good lately. The Verge’s James Vincent explains what’s behind the latest wave of AI-powered creations.

This episode was produced by Amanda …

Hint of crime

December 12th, 2022

27:06

Tostitos chips without real lime. Root beer made with fake vanilla. Instant mac and cheese that isn’t so instant. These products are among the hundreds targeted by lawyer Spencer Sheehan, who wants Big Food to stop …

R-E-S-P-E-C-T (for Marriage Act)

December 9th, 2022

27:06

Sen. Tammy Baldwin managed to rally bipartisan support for a marriage equality bill, but she’s the first to admit the legislation is “humble.” An activist wonders if there’s an overemphasis on the institution of …

The prisoner swap for Brittney Griner

December 8th, 2022

27:13

US officials are sending the “Merchant of Death” — a notorious arms dealer named Viktor Bout — back to Russia in exchange for the WNBA star’s release. We revisit our conversation with author Douglas Farah, author of …

Power-tripping sheriffs

December 7th, 2022

27:06

A growing number of county sheriffs believe they hold ultimate power in their jurisdictions. Some have even stopped enforcing state and federal laws …

The Moscow murders

December 6th, 2022

27:23

Investigators are still trying to solve the brutal November killings of four college students in Moscow, Idaho. Making their work harder: the hordes …

Digging tunnels for cars

December 5th, 2022

27:04

Elon Musk created The Boring Company to fix traffic, but his fantasy of underground Tesla tunnels is running on empty. Curbed’s Alissa Walker and author Paris Marx explain.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, …

8 billion humans

December 2nd, 2022

27:05

The United Nations says humanity has reached 8 billion, but Western nations are worried about population decline. Africa isn’t, though. The continent …

China’s biggest protests since Tiananmen Square

December 1st, 2022

27:06

The protests in China might force the government to back down from its extreme Covid restrictions and ramp up its extreme surveillance programs. The Wall Street Journal’s Josh Chin explains.

This episode was produced by …

Disney’s boomerang CEO

November 30th, 2022

26:53

Disney’s board wished upon a star and brought back former CEO Bob Iger, who replaced his own replacement, the now-axed CEO Bob Chapek. The Hollywood …

Nancy podcast

November 29th, 2022

27:07

Democrats vote on new leadership this week, meaning Nancy Pelosi is out. Time’s Molly Ball explains why the country might really miss her.

This …

Can you spare some climate change?

November 28th, 2022

25:20

In a UN-brokered agreement, more than 190 countries agreed to pay for “loss and damage” caused by climate change. But determining who owes what — and for what and to whom — will be a real challenge.

This episode was …

NASA wants to live in space

November 25th, 2022

33:52

NASA’s Artemis mission is the first step toward a long-term human settlement on the moon. Vox’s Unexplainable examines whether humans are even capable of living far from Earth for an extended period of time.

Transcript …

Little influencers, big business

November 23rd, 2022

27:06

Parents are turning their kids into influencers on social media. What could go wrong?

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, fact-checked …

Gen Z in the House

November 22nd, 2022

27:05

Florida’s Maxwell Frost, 25, is the first member of Generation Z elected to Congress. He tells us what he plans to get done.

This episode was produced …

Ticketmaster (Taylor’s Version)

November 21st, 2022

27:07

It’s me, Ticketmaster. I’m the problem, it’s me.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, …

World Cup: How 2 B a legend

November 18th, 2022

27:07

Pelé. Maradona. Ronaldo. Soccer’s greats are so good, they’re typically known by one name. Men in Blazers soccer journalist Roger Bennett explains how winning the World Cup can turn a player into a legend. 

This episode …

Pushing the Russians back

November 17th, 2022

27:06

In its biggest victory yet, Ukraine retook its vital port city, Kherson. The Guardian’s Luke Harding calls Russia’s retreat a turning point in the …

An inconvenient glacier

November 16th, 2022

27:06

While the world’s leaders are meeting at COP27 to discuss climate change, Antarctica’s massive Thwaites Glacier is melting. The world’s coastlines …

The FTX cryptocalypse

November 15th, 2022

26:56

With the collapse of one of its largest exchanges, crypto’s having its very own Lehman Brothers moment. Semafor’s Liz Hoffman explains the …

The tech boom is over

November 14th, 2022

27:11

Mark Zuckerberg fired 11,000 employees at Meta. Elon Musk axed half his staff at Twitter. Other tech giants are slashing jobs and eliminating perks, too. Recode’s Peter Kafka says the era of big tech growth is over.

This …

World Cup: They built this city

November 11th, 2022

27:05

The people who built Qatar’s stadiums, hotels, and transit systems were employed under the country’s exploitative migrant worker system. Officials …

A vaccine for RSV

November 10th, 2022

27:06

A respiratory virus called RSV has a lot of kids in critical condition and hospitals overwhelmed. Vox public health reporter and epidemiologist Keren …

No red wave

November 9th, 2022

27:05

The midterms weren’t a clear victory for Republicans, and it’s still too early to know who’ll control Congress. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains.

This …

What if you HAD to vote?

November 8th, 2022

26:30

Midterm elections are a tough sell in the United States. Half of eligible voters show up in a good year. On Election Day, we’re revisiting an episode about how things work down under, where “sausage sizzles” and …

Kari Lake is MAGA’s rising star

November 7th, 2022

26:31

Perhaps the most consequential midterms in US history are this week. Arizona’s Kari Lake, a former news anchor turned gubernatorial candidate, embodies much of what’s at stake. Stacey Barchenger from The Arizona …

World Cup: Welcome to Qatar!

November 4th, 2022

24:54

Soccer is sometimes called “the second religion of the Arab World,” and Qatar is the region’s first country to host the World Cup. But FIFA’s pick of the desert nation comes with boundless controversy.

This episode was …

Elon’s Twitter hell

November 3rd, 2022

24:48

Twitter is about to suck for you. But it’s going to suck for self-proclaimed “Chief Twit” Elon Musk too. Recode’s Shirin Ghaffary and The Verge’s Nilay Patel explain.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn and …

How does the war in Ukraine end?

November 2nd, 2022

26:17

The next Congress could be a whole lot less willing to keep spending billions on aid to Ukraine. It’s time to talk about how this war could end.

This …

The teen’s gambit

November 1st, 2022

26:46

The chess world is in chaos after its top player accused 19-year-old Hans Niemann of using AI to cheat. Niemann is responding with a $100 million …

A win for Lula (and democracy) in Brazil

October 31st, 2022

26:08

Incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro vowed he wouldn’t accept the results of the Brazilian election if he lost. Then he lost. Samantha Pearson, Brazil …

Our annual Halloween hysteria

October 28th, 2022

34:42

This year’s fear of rainbow fentanyl in kids’ trick-or-treat bags is just the latest unfounded Halloween candy freakout. But the yearly panic has its …

Supermarket supermerger

October 27th, 2022

26:45

Grocery story giants Kroger and Albertsons want to become one mega-company. The chains say merging will allow them to lower their prices, but …

Teflon Ron

October 26th, 2022

26:25

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has hit on a winning — if possibly unethical — campaign strategy: prosecuting people who accidentally committed voter fraud. The Tampa Bay Times’s Lawrence Mower explains.

This episode was …

A police sketch based on DNA

October 25th, 2022

26:30

Earlier this month, police in Edmonton, Canada, released a sketch of a suspect. The issue is, no one knows what the suspect looks like.

This episode …

Investigating women’s soccer

October 24th, 2022

26:32

Allegations of misconduct have rocked US women’s soccer for the last year. The Athletic’s Steph Yang breaks down a new report on the degree to which league officials ignored complaints and protected abusers.

This episode …

On with Kara Swisher (and Stacey Abrams)

October 23rd, 2022

34:36

Stacey Abrams is running for governor of Georgia, again … against Brian Kemp, again. The two last faced off in a heated contest in 2018, with Kemp’s win hanging on 54,723 votes. This time, he’s an incumbent and even …

Nikola (not Tesla)

October 21st, 2022

27:05

The bombastic founder of an electric truck startup (no, not Elon) has been convicted for his role in his company’s “intricate fraud.” But even …

Truss fall

October 20th, 2022

27:16

Liz Truss accomplished at least one thing in her 45 days as prime minister: She set a record for the shortest term in office. The Atlantic’s Tom McTague explains her disastrous tenure.

This episode was produced by Miles …

The devil’s bargain on inflation

October 19th, 2022

27:05

The Federal Reserve knows raising interest rates disproportionately hurts Black people. It just doesn’t have any better tools, says the Minneapolis …

The Los Angeles city council meltdown

October 18th, 2022

25:19

Leaked audio revealed elected officials, including City Council President Nury Martinez, making xenophobic, homophobic, and racist statements about …

Legal weed’s half-baked promise

October 17th, 2022

27:06

Pro-pot Californians said legalizing marijuana would end the state’s black market for reefer. Instead, says LA Times investigative reporter Paige St. …

Made in China

October 14th, 2022

27:06

Chinese President Xi Jinping is a product of Mao Zedong’s revolution. On Sunday, he'll become the most powerful Chinese leader since the Communist …

A new law to “save the animals”

October 13th, 2022

27:06

The Endangered Species Act was transformative in protecting animals from extinction. Vox’s Benji Jones says its proposed successor, the Recovering …

#MahsaAmini was just the beginning

October 12th, 2022

27:11

The 22-year-old Iranian died in police custody after being arrested for wearing her hijab improperly. Her death has sparked a protest movement …

If Republicans win the midterms

October 11th, 2022

27:06

They’ve got a few legislative ideas and a LOT of investigative ones. Vox’s Rachel Cohen and Ben Jacobs explain.

This episode was produced by Avishay …

Fettermania

October 7th, 2022

28:25

John Fetterman, the 6-foot-8, hoodie and cargo shorts-wearing Democratic candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania, may be the model for how progressives can win elections. He just needs to beat Dr. Oz.

This episode was …

Small nukes

October 6th, 2022

27:06

Vladimir Putin keeps threatening to use smaller nuclear weapons to win his war. Author J. Peter Scoblic says “there’s no such thing as small nukes.”

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Amanda Lewellyn, edited by …

Student loan forgiveMESS

October 5th, 2022

27:06

President Biden’s plan to forgive billions of dollars in student debt is both historic and controversial. Now some red states are suing to block it. …

Puerto Rico’s power crisis

October 4th, 2022

27:06

Days after Ian, most Floridians now have their power back. Weeks after Fiona, more than 100,000 Puerto Rican households and businesses are still …

The Supreme Court is back and “even more consequential”

October 3rd, 2022

27:06

According to Vox’s Ian Millhiser (and no, he hasn’t forgotten they just overturned Roe).

This episode was produced by Siona Peterous, edited by Amina …

Brett Favre and the Mississippi welfare fraud

September 30th, 2022

27:06

An extraordinary case of fraud is unfolding in Mississippi, where a chummy cadre of nonprofit leaders, elected officials, and professional athletes …

The ’90s throwback no one wants

September 29th, 2022

27:06

Elvedin Pasic lived through the Bosnian genocide in the early 1990s. So why is one of Bosnia’s leaders saying it never happened? And what happens if that leader, Milorad Dodik, wins a national election this weekend?

This …

Europe’s looming energy crisis

September 28th, 2022

27:06

Pipelines are leaking, winter is coming, and concerns over an energy crisis in Europe are growing. Vox’s Jen Kirby heads to Oktoberfest to find out more.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt …

Can Beto flip Texas?

September 27th, 2022

26:54

Republicans have firmly held the Texas governorship since 1995. Beto O’Rourke’s campaign is both a long shot and Democrats’ best challenge in decades.

Putin’s fake elections

September 26th, 2022

27:06

The Russian president is calling on reservists and holding fake referenda to legitimize his war. Washington Post reporter Mary Ilyushina explains.

I wish I was a little bit taller

September 23rd, 2022

27:06

I wish I was a baller. I wish there was a doc who’d break my legs, I would call her.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, fact-checked by Laura …

Johnson & Johnson’s “bankruptcy”

September 22nd, 2022

27:06

Thousands of people say Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder gave them cancer. They’re suing — but the consumer giant is using a bankruptcy strategy called the “Texas two-step” to limit its liability.

This episode was …

Pakistan wants climate reparations

September 21st, 2022

27:06

After catastrophic flooding, Pakistani people are demanding better disaster management from their government. Their government wants reparations from wealthy countries.

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, edited …

Is Patagonia fleecing the IRS?

September 20th, 2022

27:06

The billionaire founder of Patagonia is giving away his company to fight climate change. He’s also getting a giant tax break.

This episode was …

You can’t spell “dysfunction” without the UN

September 19th, 2022

27:06

The war in Ukraine has demonstrated just how dysfunctional the United Nations is. Uri Friedman, managing editor at the Atlantic Council, explains how to fix it.

This episode was produced by Jillian Weinberger, …

The true story of The Woman King

September 16th, 2022

27:06

The historical epic The Woman King, in theaters today, is set in the Kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century. The kingdom’s elite all-female fighting force was evidence of its enlightened attitude toward women, but its …

I should have applied for a fraudulent PPP loan

September 15th, 2022

27:06

As the coronavirus pandemic disrupted business in the US, the government sent billions of dollars to people and businesses that were affected. That …

Is Ukraine winning now?

September 14th, 2022

27:06

A recent Ukrainian counteroffensive seems to have caught Russia on its back foot. That could have consequences for Putin in the war — and at home. …

When an election denier becomes election chief

September 13th, 2022

27:06

A quartet of 2020 election deniers are running for secretary of state this year in key swing states, raising questions about whether they could …

“Bringing the border to Biden”

September 12th, 2022

27:06

Texas and Arizona's governors are giving migrants bus tickets to the capital. The mayor of Washington, DC, says it’s causing a humanitarian crisis in the city — and that the White House isn’t helping.

This episode was …

The queen is dead

September 9th, 2022

27:06

Long live the king.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Hady Mawajdeh, fact-checked by Serena Solin and Amina Al-Sadi with help from Amanda …

The water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi

September 8th, 2022

27:06

What’s happening in Jackson is hardly unique: Cities and states across the US are setting themselves up for failure by postponing expensive but critical work on aging water infrastructure. Climate change is making …

Your long Covid questions, answered

September 7th, 2022

27:09

Millions of people have long Covid; countless more could get it. Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez answers questions from Today, Explained listeners …

Curious Georgia

September 6th, 2022

27:06

Prosecutor Fani Willis and a special grand jury have some questions for the man with the yellow hair. Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Stephen Fowler …

It ain’t over 'til the crawdads sing

September 1st, 2022

27:06

Delia Owens’s runaway bestseller Where the Crawdads Sing tells the story of a killing in North Carolina’s marshland. The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg …

Heat waves been faking me out

August 31st, 2022

27:06

As devastating heat waves like the recent one in China become more common, we’re going to need new ways of talking about them. Vox’s Neel Dhanesha explains a proposal to name heat waves.

This episode was produced by …

What do we owe future humans?

August 30th, 2022

27:51

A new wave of philanthropists wants to make charity more effective. They’re focused not just on the present day but also thousands of years into the future. Vox’s Dylan Matthews explains how “effective altruism” became …

Instagram’s identity crisis

August 29th, 2022

27:06

If you think Instagram sucks now, it’s by design. Vox's Rebecca Jennings and Platformer's Casey Newton explain. 

This episode was produced by Victoria …

The Island of Explained: It’s electric!

August 27th, 2022

24:33

A magical theme park ride on the Island of Explained demonstrates the damage done by fossil fuels and why renewable energy might be the best way to power the future.  

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Is Russia a state sponsor of terror?

August 26th, 2022

27:04

Six months into its escalation of war with Ukraine, the calls to declare Russia a state sponsor of terror have never been louder. Delaney Simon from the International Crisis Group makes the case against doing so and …

Health care’s post-Roe nightmare

August 25th, 2022

27:06

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe has implications far beyond abortion; it complicates access to vital drugs and delays essential care for pregnant people. The president of the American Medical Association …

RIP OAN

August 24th, 2022

27:06

A cable news network tailor-made for the former president is getting canceled. The Daily Beast’s Justin Baragona chronicles the demise of One America News.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, fact-checked by …

Putin’s war comes to Russia

August 23rd, 2022

27:06

A car bomb killed Russian commentator Darya Dugina over the weekend. The bomb may have been meant for her father, the far-right, pro-Putin, pro-war philosopher Alexander Dugin. The Guardian’s Andrew Roth explains.

This …

FREE YSL

August 22nd, 2022

27:11

Two of the biggest rappers in the world, Young Thug and Gunna, are behind bars. And their bars will likely be used as evidence when they go to trial.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, fact-checked by Laura …

Hollywood’s IP industrial complex

August 20th, 2022

35:59

Noel and Sean join Sam Sanders to kick off the third episode of his new Vulture show, “Into It.” Sam then speaks to TV titan Damon Lindelof about …

You know nothing, HBO

August 19th, 2022

27:19

HBO hopes to win the streaming wars with House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones. But GoT’s disastrous finale disappointed viewers, and the prequel is being released as HBO’s parent company, Warner Brothers …

Merrick Garland’s dilemma

August 18th, 2022

27:01

The Justice Department is investigating Donald Trump, but the ex-president's still-large base likely won’t want him prosecuted under any circumstances. Vox’s Zack Beauchamp explains the ongoing fallout from the FBI raid …

The fatwa against Salman Rushdie

August 17th, 2022

27:06

Was never about Salman Rushdie. Journalist Robin Wright explains.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, fact-checked by Laura Bullard with help …

Dark Brandon

August 16th, 2022

27:06

A meme that mocks President Biden has been transformed by supporters to celebrate his recent wins. But questions about whether he should run for …

Russia’s back-to-school plan for Ukraine

August 15th, 2022

27:06

Russia is paying teachers big bucks to teach a pro-Kremlin curriculum in Ukraine. It’s part of a campaign to formally annex occupied Ukraine into the …

The Island of Explained: Listen up!

August 13th, 2022

21:34

Kiarra and Izii are having an argument when they are unexpectedly transported to the Island of Explained. There, they meet an Engin-Ear and a magical unicorn who teach them how hearing works and why actively listening …

Liz Cheney is losing (and winning)

August 12th, 2022

27:05

The Wyoming Republican will likely lose her primary, but she’s winning over a lot of Democrats in the process.

This episode was produced by Amanda …

The New Right’s pay pal

August 11th, 2022

27:06

From politicians to podcasters, one man’s money unites the New Right. Bloomberg’s Max Chafkin explains how Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel is …

Meet the New Right

August 10th, 2022

27:04

The newest conservative dissidents want to radically reshape the Republican party and American democracy. Journalist James Pogue explains the confounding movement, which includes Senate candidates Blake Masters and J.D. …

Raid-a-Lago

August 9th, 2022

28:11

Florida man's beach house searched by FBI.

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah and Avishay Artsy with help from Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt …

Brittney Griner for the Merchant of Death

August 8th, 2022

27:06

Viktor Bout might be the most successful arms dealer in history. The US could let him go free if Russia releases the WNBA star, who was just …

Authoritarianism, baby!

August 5th, 2022

25:21

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán traveled to Texas for CPAC this week. Back home, he’s trying to fight population decline by paying some citizens to have …

Monkeypox is a queer emergency

August 4th, 2022

27:06

Gay men, queer people, and their partners represent an overwhelming majority of monkeypox cases. But even though the WHO just declared the disease a global health emergency, resources like vaccines, testing, and …

Did Joe Manchin just save the planet?

August 3rd, 2022

27:06

Probably not, but he did finally compromise on the Inflation Reduction Act (née Build Back Better), which could be the most significant climate …

Pelosi in Taiwan

August 2nd, 2022

27:05

China didn’t want Speaker Nancy Pelosi to visit Taiwan. Neither did the White House. Politico’s Alex Ward explains why she went anyway.

This episode …

America has Afghanistan’s money

August 1st, 2022

27:06

The US froze billions in Afghanistan’s central bank reserves when the Taliban took control. Now it’s wrestling with how to trust the Taliban with the …

The Island of Explained: Plant-based party

July 30th, 2022

18:07

An invitation to a vegan party sends producers Kiarra and Izii to the Island of Explained, where a giant who once ate people explains why he switched to a plant-based diet — and why that diet might be beneficial for …

Fighting climate despair

July 29th, 2022

27:06

Climate change has driven some environmental activists to extremes. We talk about overcoming despair with Terry Kaelber, whose husband David Buckel took his life to protest inaction, and Tim DeChristopher, who was …

Are we in a recession?

July 28th, 2022

27:03

The US economy has shrunk for two consecutive quarters. That’s technically a recession. But economists aren’t so sure we’re actually in one. …

Riding in Cars with Robots

July 27th, 2022

27:06

The data is in on autonomous cars: They are crashing, but they're still doing a lot better than regular cars driven by humans. The Verge’s Andrew …

Replacing Boris Johnson

July 26th, 2022

27:06

Britain’s Conservative party is spending the summer choosing its next prime minister. The Atlantic’s Tom McTague introduces the candidates vying to replace him.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan with help from …

McMoscow

July 25th, 2022

27:06

The 1990 opening of a McDonald's in Russia heralded not just burgers and fries but, get this, a new era of peace and prosperity. The Economist’s …

Wrestling with Vince McMahon

July 22nd, 2022

25:21

The CEO who turned World Wrestling Entertainment into a global brand has retired after nearly 40 years, amid allegations of sexual assault and …

Dry Hot American Summer

July 21st, 2022

27:06

As the world heats up, the American West is drier than at any period in the past 1,200 years. But don’t expect people to stop watering their lawns.

FYI those telescope photos are kinda fake

July 20th, 2022

27:06

But the images from the Webb Space Telescope still provide our best look yet at the formation of the universe. NASA astrophysicist Amber Straughn and …

BA.5 and DIY Covid

July 19th, 2022

27:06

Surging cases, Paxlovid rebounds, and apathy everywhere. Vox’s Dr. Keren Landman explains how to navigate the do-it-yourself era of the pandemic.

This episode was produced by Victoria Dominguez and Miles Bryan, edited by …

What the January 6 committee has found (so far)

July 18th, 2022

27:06

A congressional committee set out to offer the definitive story of the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Things got dramatic.

This episode was …

The Island of Explained: The missing firefly

July 16th, 2022

22:42

Luz the firefly is missing, and producers Izii and Sara want to know why. They take a trip to the Island of Explained, where they learn why whole …

“To [REDACTED] a Mockingbird”

July 15th, 2022

27:06

Some conservative parents are trying to get books about race and sexuality banned from libraries and schools. Author Clint Smith says it’s dangerous …

Shinzo Abe’s call to arms

July 14th, 2022

27:06

The assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe may have given his agenda to militarize Japan new life. Abe biographer Tobias Harris explains.

The case of the fake Basquiats

July 13th, 2022

27:06

Art crime is booming and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s paintings (or at least some very realistic forgeries) are the loot du jour. Reporter Brett Sokol and …

Joe Biden’s Saudi vacation

July 12th, 2022

27:06

Candidate Biden said he would make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” on the world stage. Now President Biden is traveling there, asking for the kingdom’s help …

Joe Biden’s tampon shortage

July 11th, 2022

27:06

No, President Biden didn’t cause the tampon shortage — or any of the recent shortages. But that won’t stop him from taking the blame. 

This episode was produced by Victoria Dominguez and Haleema Shah, edited by Amina …

UFOMG

July 8th, 2022

24:54

Congress just had its first hearings on UFOs in over 50 years. We revisit a 2021 episode where the New Yorker’s Gideon Lewis-Kraus explained why the US government started taking sightings seriously.

This episode was …

What if you could talk without speaking?

July 7th, 2022

27:04

A groundbreaking new study claims to have found a way for a fully paralyzed person to communicate entirely via thought. But as we learned in an …

How the US learned to love sanctions

July 6th, 2022

27:05

The US hoped sanctions would end Russia’s war in Ukraine quickly. We revisit our conversation with historian Nicholas Mulder who explains the …

Ask for Jane

July 1st, 2022

27:04

Before Roe v. Wade, Eleanor Oliver was a Jane: a member of a group in Chicago that helped women get safe but illegal abortions. Sean Rameswaram sat down with her on the day Roe was overturned.

This episode was edited and …

This country is a lot right now

June 30th, 2022

27:06

The past week/month/year/pandemic has taken a toll on a lot of people’s mental health. And the US has proven woefully incapable of dealing with …

Roe v. Wade v. God

June 29th, 2022

27:06

A rabbi, a priest, and an imam walk into the abortion debate. The priest wins.

This episode was produced by Victoria Dominguez and Haleema Shah, …

Abortion pills

June 28th, 2022

27:03

It’s safe and easy to end a pregnancy during the first trimester using a pair of FDA-approved pills. Accessing them is the latest abortion battleground. Vox's Rachel Cohen explains.

This episode was produced by Miles …

Trigger bans

June 27th, 2022

27:05

The Supreme Court’s decision was most immediately felt in states that pegged abortion bans to the fall of Roe v. Wade.

This episode was produced by …

The end of Roe v. Wade

June 24th, 2022

25:21

The Supreme Court overturned a 49-year-old precedent that secured the right to an abortion. Irin Carmon from New York magazine breaks down the case …

Is Ukraine losing now?

June 23rd, 2022

27:06

The US is spending billions to arm Ukraine against Russian invaders. But without the proper training or supplies, Javelin missiles can only do so much.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Victoria Chamberlin, …

The rise and fall of the “millennial lifestyle subsidy”

June 22nd, 2022

27:06

Venture capitalists spent years subsidizing the price of things like Uber rides and food delivery. The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson explains why they’ve stopped.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt …

From Russia with cash

June 21st, 2022

27:06

Oligarchs from Russia and beyond stash their cash in British banks, which play a central role in the global offshore economy.

This episode was …

What if we saw the gunshot wounds?

June 17th, 2022

27:06

John Temple was the editor of Rocky Mountain News in April 1999, when two students committed mass murder at Columbine High School. The photos he …

A gun policy game-changer

June 16th, 2022

27:05

America’s gun violence epidemic is a public health crisis. After 24 years of blocked funding, Congress is finally starting to treat it like one.

This …

Gun laws that work

June 15th, 2022

27:05

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says tougher gun laws wouldn’t have stopped the Uvalde shooter. He’s wrong.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited …

Let’s untangle the Second Amendment

June 14th, 2022

27:06

It wasn’t until 2008 that the US Supreme Court established what a confusing sentence in the Constitution really meant for gun ownership.

Sean …

Has the gun control movement failed?

June 13th, 2022

27:06

You might look at school shootings and think “Yes, obviously.” But two people who have been studying and participating in the movement for decades …

ConGRADulations, fellow kids

June 10th, 2022

25:21

Ten months ago the faculty of Cramer Hill Elementary set out to get their kids back on track after a year of mostly remote learning. Today, …

Adderall via Instagram

June 9th, 2022

27:06

The mental health startup Cerebral benefited from pandemic-era changes to federal telehealth laws. But its easy-to-get prescriptions for tightly …

Ugraine

June 8th, 2022

27:06

Russia is weaponizing food by blockading Ukraine’s grain exports and withholding its own until other countries come to Putin to ask for it.

This …

Boris Johnson presents: Motel Rwanda

June 7th, 2022

27:06

The British government will deport UK-bound migrants to Rwanda. It’s part of a larger trend of rich countries offloading asylum seekers to poorer countries.

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, edited by Matt …

Innocence is not enough

June 6th, 2022

27:00

The Supreme Court is going to let Arizona kill Barry Jones, a man whose rape and murder convictions were vacated in 2018.

This episode was produced by …

Let’s vent about guns

June 3rd, 2022

27:06

We opened up our hotline. You called and asked questions. We found answers.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin and host Sean Rameswaram, …

Why the economy feels bad right now

June 2nd, 2022

27:06

The stock market tumble and crypto crash are symptoms of a broader shift in the US economy. Jacob Goldstein explains the end of the “Goldilocks Era.”

How often can you get Covid?

June 1st, 2022

27:06

Does your immunity still last for months? We asked a researcher who has been studying omicron reinfections.

This episode was produced by Jon Ehrens, …

Can women fix the police?

May 31st, 2022

27:06

Police departments across the US are signing a pledge to increase the share of women in their ranks, hoping the move will help reduce excessive force …

The shooters were 18

May 27th, 2022

25:21

Writer and parent Joanna Schroeder wrote a guide for parents about what to look out for and how to intervene.

This episode was produced by Avishay …

Monkeypox!?!?

May 26th, 2022

27:06

Good news: Epidemiologists don’t think monkeypox will be as bad as Covid-19. Bad news: We stopped vaccinating people against this type of disease …

How to not give up on gun control

May 25th, 2022

27:06

Vox’s Marin Cogan, who lived through a school shooting herself, explains why she hasn’t given up on a solution to our gun problem yet.

This episode …

Why the internet hates Amber Heard

May 24th, 2022

27:06

It’s not just Johnny Depp’s fans — it’s Amber Heard’s anti-fans, too. The Atlantic's Kaitlyn Tiffany explains the Depp-ressing social media hate campaign.

This episode was produced by Amina Al-Sadi with help from Hady …

Finland and Sweden have entered the chat

May 23rd, 2022

27:06

Their admission to NATO would further isolate Russia, leaving it the only Arctic country outside the alliance.

This episode was produced by Victoria …

Why the right is thirsty for Hungary

May 20th, 2022

27:06

The Conservative Political Action Conference, which is like Republican Coachella, is usually held stateside, but this week it's throwing a party in …

So I elected an autocrat

May 19th, 2022

27:06

Noel King traveled to Hungary to talk to people who voted for Viktor Orbán, people being persecuted by his government, and an American just along for …

How to lose a democracy in 10,000 days

May 18th, 2022

25:21

The same man who helped usher in democracy in Hungary is the one who’s chipping away at it now. American conservatives want to know how Prime Minister Viktor Orban did it.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited …

Formula None

May 17th, 2022

27:06

Millions of US parents are struggling to feed their infants due to a nationwide shortage of baby formula.

This episode was produced by Victoria …

Dr. Oz and the celebrity politician

May 16th, 2022

27:06

This week Pennsylvania voters decide whether to give Dr. Oz a shot at the US Senate. To mark the occasion, Sean Rameswaram tries to understand what makes a celebrity candidate viable, from “the Gipper” to “the …

Is abortion in the Constitution?

May 13th, 2022

25:21

Not explicitly, no. But neither is the right to travel from New York to New Jersey. NYU law professor Kenji Yoshino explains our unenumerated rights.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt …

Sri Lankans have had enough

May 12th, 2022

27:06

Sri Lanka’s “Go home, Gota!” protesters want to throw President Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office. Reveal’s Ike Sriskandarajah explains what could …

Dictator Jr.

May 11th, 2022

27:06

The son of repressive dictator Ferdinand Marcos was just elected president of the Philippines. All he had to do was rewrite his country’s history.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Victoria Dominguez, edited …

Free Brittney (Griner)

May 10th, 2022

27:04

A week before Russia invaded Ukraine, it detained WNBA superstar Brittney Griner. Now the United States is turning up the pressure to get her released. ESPN’s T.J. Quinn explains.

This episode was produced by Hady …

A priest explains Putin’s “holy” war

May 9th, 2022

27:06

Patriarch Kirill is the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. A former colleague describes him as a one-time anti-Kremlin nonconformist. Now, he’s …

A cure for sickle cell?

May 6th, 2022

27:06

Scientists have developed a long-sought treatment — perhaps even a cure — for sickle cell anemia. But getting it to patients might be an even bigger challenge.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt …

Why little kids don’t have vaccines

May 5th, 2022

27:06

And how the seemingly endless wait in the US is affecting their development.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Sean …

One man’s crusade against Roe v. Wade

May 4th, 2022

27:06

Indiana lawyer Jim Bopp has spent most of his life chipping away at Roe v. Wade. His incremental approach to overturning the Court’s decades-old …

Justice Alito’s opinion

May 3rd, 2022

27:06

A largely unprecedented leak of a draft Supreme Court decision reveals the Court’s conservative majority intends to overturn Roe v. Wade. New York magazine’s Irin Carmon explains what that means for reproductive rights.

Our (machine) gun problem

May 2nd, 2022

27:06

For less than $20 plus shipping everyday people can turn their handguns into machine guns. The Trace’s Alain Stephens explains the rise of the “auto-sear.”

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt …

Trumpbilly Elegy

April 29th, 2022

25:20

Liberals turned to J.D. Vance’s book to better understand Donald Trump’s victory. Now the “Hillbilly Elegy” author is turning to Trump to try and win the Republican primary in Ohio’s Senate race.

This episode was …

Twitter’s new Musk

April 28th, 2022

27:06

Elon Musk and Twitter have reached a deal. Recode’s Peter Kafka and Shirin Ghaffary explain what it means for the business of Twitter, and for free speech on the platform.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and …

The Senate’s age-old old age problem

April 27th, 2022

27:06

Dianne Feinstein’s colleagues are concerned the 88-year-old senator is struggling with memory loss, reports Tal Kopan of the San Francisco Chronicle. …

ok groomer

April 26th, 2022

27:06

Accounts like “Libs of TikTok” are fueling right-wing media to label people who speak openly about sexuality and gender as “groomers.” Vox’s Aja …

El Salvador’s bet on bitcoin

April 25th, 2022

27:05

By making bitcoin a national currency, El Salvador tried to transform its economy. Rest of World’s Leo Schwartz explains why the bet hasn’t yet paid …

A rough week for mask mandates

April 22nd, 2022

26:06

A Florida judge ended the federal government’s mass transit mask mandate this week. Vox’s Dylan Scott explains if mask mandates are over forever and …

Russia’s mercenary army

April 21st, 2022

27:06

The Wagner Group, a superviolent (and supersecretive) team of Kremlin-aligned mercenaries, is doing Vladimir Putin’s dirty work in Ukraine and around …

@elonmusk

April 20th, 2022

26:56

Elon Musk says he wants to buy Twitter, but is also making 420 jokes. Kara Swisher (who knows him) and Liz Lopatto (who doesn’t) explain whether the …

How Dylan got inflation wrong

April 19th, 2022

27:06

Last year, Vox correspondent Dylan Matthews didn’t think inflation would be a big deal. He wasn’t the only one to miss the mark.

This episode was …

The threat of Russian cyberwar

April 18th, 2022

27:06

Russia is ramping up attacks on Ukraine’s digital infrastructure. The US could be next.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by …

China’s grip on Hollywood

April 15th, 2022

25:23

Warner Bros. is censoring the newest Fantastic Beasts movie for Chinese audiences. It’s the latest reminder that Hollywood’s reliance on China comes …

The end of January 6

April 14th, 2022

27:06

The congressional committee investigating the Capitol insurrection has gathered an enormous amount of information. Now it must decide what to do with …

Let’s talk about Hunter Biden

April 13th, 2022

27:07

Hunter Biden may not be the archcriminal that conservatives describe, but his actions present problems for his father (the president of the United States). Vox's Andrew Prokop explains.

This episode was produced by Hady …

Pakistan’s vote of no Khanfidence

April 12th, 2022

27:07

Pakistan’s prime minister was ousted. He blames the US.

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim …

A grande victory for Starbucks workers

April 11th, 2022

27:06

Starting a union can be a tall order, but many baristas have found it’s an effective way to venti their frustration with management.

This episode was …

Canceling Russian culture

April 8th, 2022

27:05

Vladimir Putin says the West is trying to erase 1,000 years of culture. Arts organizations say they have an obligation to respond to the war in …

Buffalo Billions

April 7th, 2022

27:05

The Buffalo Bills are set to receive a record-breaking $850 million in public funds to build a new stadium — even though they’re owned by a fracking billionaire. An economist explains whether publicly funded stadiums …

Should Congress be able to trade stocks?

April 6th, 2022

27:05

A 2012 law tried to limit lawmakers' ability to make money on Wall Street. It hasn’t worked.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by …

The isolation of Vladimir Putin

April 5th, 2022

26:56

The Russian president has come to rely on a skewed version of history and an increasingly small circle of advisers. Journalist Marvin Kalb explains what that means for the war in Ukraine.

This episode was produced by …

Did we just invent telepathy?

April 4th, 2022

27:06

A groundbreaking new study claims to have found a way for a fully paralyzed person to communicate entirely via thought. But the scientists behind it …

Umami Mama

April 1st, 2022

36:24

For thousands of years, there have been four basic tastes recognized across cultures. But thanks to Kumiko Ninomiya (aka the Umami Mama), scientists …

Microdosing goes mainstream

March 31st, 2022

22:47

There is growing support for psychedelics as performance enhancers, mood boosters, and a shortcut to therapy. The science is mixed.

This episode was …

Ukrainians (and Russians) meet US Border Patrol

March 30th, 2022

25:58

The US southern border remains closed to asylum seekers on account of Covid-19, unless you happen to be Ukrainian.

This episode was produced by …

The National Guard is tired

March 29th, 2022

24:57

And in Texas, they’re trying to unionize.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, engineered by Efim Shapiro and Paul Mounsey, fact-checked …

“The greatest night in the history of television”

March 28th, 2022

25:57

The Oscars were bordering on irrelevancy until Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Will Reid, …

Is the war in Ukraine unwinnable?

March 25th, 2022

25:57

One month in, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine isn’t going according to plan. Historian and retired Army colonel Andrew Bacevich explains how it might …

(Ukrainian) refugees welcome!

March 24th, 2022

25:57

As Poland welcomes almost 2 million Ukrainians in, it’s spending $4 million on a wall to keep Syrians, Iraqis, and Afghans out. Vox’s Sigal Samuel …

Mariupol under siege

March 23rd, 2022

25:57

The Russian military may have committed war crimes in its brutal attack on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. International law expert Philippe Sands …

Permanent daylight saving time?

March 22nd, 2022

26:27

A bill to make daylight saving time permanent slipped through the Senate. Now, the real fight for time begins.

This episode was produced by Miles …

The Americans fighting for Ukraine

March 21st, 2022

26:31

President Biden insists he won’t send American troops to join Ukraine’s war with Russia. Veterans like Alexander Szokoly joined the fight anyway.

This …

South Korea’s incoming “anti-feminist” president

March 18th, 2022

24:42

With its neighbor distracted by domestic culture wars, North Korea is making new moves.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt …

“Don’t Say Gay”

March 17th, 2022

26:27

The furor over Florida’s latest culture-war legislation has Disney, among the state’s largest employers, turning red.

This episode was produced by …

Why Ukraine won’t quit

March 16th, 2022

24:41

Millions of people have fled Ukraine since Russia’s war begin. We check back in with Kurii Vasyl, who stayed behind, and his niece Yulya, who fled.

Defunding Covid-19

March 15th, 2022

26:27

The coronavirus pandemic isn’t over, but certain corners of Congress don’t want to spend a penny more on it. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel argues for $100 billion in new spending to fight Covid-19.

This episode was produced by …

Beware the Madness of March

March 14th, 2022

29:46

Americans bet more than $50 billion on sports last year, and that record will likely be broken in 2022 as more states legalize the practice. A professional named Captain Jack and a novice named Emily Stewart explain the …

Radio, someone still loves you

March 11th, 2022

26:27

The BBC is bringing back shortwave radio broadcasts to counter censorship and disinformation in Russia and Ukraine. Professor D.W. Stupples explains.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt …

Putin’s war spills into space

March 10th, 2022

26:27

Russia has threatened to let the International Space Station plummet. The Verge’s Loren Grush explains the Star Wars.

This episode was produced by …

From Kabul’s airport to Virginia’s burbs

March 9th, 2022

30:17

The world watched in horror as tens of thousands fled Afghanistan last August. Today, Explained’s Haleema Shah meets with an evacuee still stuck in immigration limbo.

This episode was reported and produced by Haleema …

Banning Russian oil

March 8th, 2022

26:17

Gas prices hit a record high in the United States today. Then the White House put an embargo on Russian oil. The Atlantic's Robinson Meyer explains.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Haleema Shah, …

Breaking Russia’s banks

March 7th, 2022

26:27

The US and EU are denying a handful of Russian banks access to SWIFT, a key tool in the global financial system.

This episode was produced by Miles …

Volodymyr vs. Vladimir

March 4th, 2022

24:39

Volodymyr Zelenskyy went from a middling peacetime president to a heroic wartime president. Kyiv Independent’s Oleksiy Sorokin explains from an …

The Texas transgender panic

March 3rd, 2022

23:42

Gov. Greg Abbott has instructed child protection officials to investigate the parents of transgender children. Dallas Morning News reporter Lauren McGaughy explains why.

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah and Hady …

Why Ukraine has to fight Russia alone

March 2nd, 2022

24:26

And how the fight might end.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro, fact-checked by Laura …

What Russians think of Putin’s war

March 1st, 2022

28:53

It depends a lot on where they get their news. Meduza’s Aleksey Kovalev reports from Moscow.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited …

Ketanji Brown Jackson

February 28th, 2022

27:47

President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee is historic but may have little impact on American law. Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains.


This episode was …

The real and imagined history of Ukraine

February 25th, 2022

28:51

Vladimir Putin says Ukraine isn’t a country. He’s wrong.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim …

A phone call from Ukraine

February 24th, 2022

24:29

Kurii Vasyl and his niece Yulya try to make sense of Russia’s invasion of their country. And Kyiv Independent reporter Igor Kossov explains the …

Why Ukraine matters

February 23rd, 2022

29:38

Vox’s Jonathan Guyer explains how a Russian invasion of Ukraine could affect me and you and everyone we know.

This episode was produced by Hady …

The Olympics on thin ice

February 22nd, 2022

28:37

This year’s weird Winter Olympics were overshadowed by politics, Covid-19, and the threat of war. But as NPR’s Tom Goldman explains, the biggest …

Weapons of cash destruction

February 18th, 2022

31:01

The US hopes the threat of sanctions will dissuade Russia from invading Ukraine. Historian Nicholas Mulder explains the surprising history of …

Bitcoin Bonnie and Clyde

February 17th, 2022

22:46

A tech investor and his rapper wife were busted for a multi-billion dollar bitcoin heist. They couldn’t really spend any of the money.

This episode …

All-American divorce

February 16th, 2022

29:34

In her Today, Explained debut, co-host Noel King heads to Atlanta to find out why some people in one of its wealthiest neighborhoods are trying to secede from the rest of the city.

This episode was reported by Noel King …

What the truck is happening in Canada?

February 15th, 2022

26:28

A convoy of truckers angry over Covid-19 mandates is disrupting life in Canada’s capital city. Their movement is gaining traction in cities around the globe.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh with Haleema Shah …

Sarah Palin v. The New York Times

February 14th, 2022

28:03

The New York Times published an editorial that made false claims about Sarah Palin. A lawsuit over the error could change American media.

This episode …

The best and worst of Tom Brady

February 11th, 2022

35:32

Quarterback Tom Brady will retire as the winningest football player in NFL history. ESPN's Seth Wickersham explains why so many people are happy to see him go.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt …

How Brett Kavanaugh views time

February 10th, 2022

23:22

When it comes to fixing discriminatory voting maps, nine months may not be enough for some justices. Ian Millhiser explains.

This episode was produced …

Why America loves a Jackass

February 9th, 2022

30:04

The Oscar nominations are out, but the No. 1 movie in America features Johnny Knoxville and his friends hurting each other. He attempts to explain why, and Vox's Alissa Wilkinson picks up his slack.

This episode was …

How this Syria raid was different

February 8th, 2022

24:25

President Biden gave strict orders to avoid collateral damage during a raid on an ISIS leader. Civilians still died, but it might be a sign of a …

RIP SAT

February 7th, 2022

26:09

Why are colleges ditching the test? A) The SAT is biased B) Colleges want to admit more diverse students C) The pandemic D) All of the above

This …

Is everything trauma now?

February 4th, 2022

30:29

Psychologists are worried that "trauma" is losing its meaning. A trauma survivor says they shouldn't be.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, …

The case against masks

February 3rd, 2022

29:13

At least in schools.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro, fact-checked by Laura …

Throwing money at the migrant crisis

February 2nd, 2022

22:03

Vice President Kamala Harris just attended Honduras’s presidential inauguration. Her trip was really about the US-Mexico border.

February 4, 2022 correction:

An earlier version of this episode incorrectly stated that …

Spotify’s Joe Rogan problem

February 1st, 2022

33:25

The podcast host built a massive audience by speaking to fringe figures in culture, business, and science. During the pandemic, that got him in …

Honey, I shrunk the kids’ tax credit

January 31st, 2022

28:51

The US government let the expanded child tax credit expire ... just as researchers produced a study showing giving parents money might help improve brain development in kids.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, …

Ukraine’s pipeline problem

January 28th, 2022

22:45

The US is negotiating to stop Russia from invading Ukraine, but a Germany-backed natural gas project complicates things.

This episode was produced by …

Breyer to Reteyer

January 27th, 2022

23:57

Vox’s Ian Millhiser says American politics shifted during Justice Stephen Breyer’s career, until he no longer had a place in them.

This episode was …

Joe Biden, r u ok?

January 26th, 2022

25:50

Build Back Blunders, and other presidential misadventures.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim …

A Syrian war criminal is actually going to prison

January 25th, 2022

26:21

Crimes against humanity are rarely prosecuted successfully, but a Syrian colonel got a life sentence for just that. Documentarian Adithya Sambamurthy …

China’s Winter Olympics (feat. Covid-19)

January 24th, 2022

28:35

The Games don’t begin until February 4, but the drama around the pandemic, free speech, and diplomatic boycotts has been building for months. NPR’s Emily Feng explains from Beijing.

This episode was produced by Hady …

10 Downer Street

January 21st, 2022

29:19

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing political ruin because his aides partied while the UK locked down.

This episode was produced by Will …

The man with a pig heart

January 20th, 2022

27:51

That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.

Today's show was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro and Paul Mounsey, …

The James Webb Time Machine

January 19th, 2022

25:44

To look into deep space is to look back in time. Ahead of the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, Unexplainable talked to scientists who hope to see “cosmic dawn,” a period long ago when the first starlight …

The James Webb Space Telescope

January 18th, 2022

29:57

This Sunday, the greatest telescope in the history of humanity is scheduled to reach its destination nearly a million miles away from Earth. Vox’s …

Chile’s millennial president

January 14th, 2022

27:51

The 35-year-old president-elect in Chile loves tattoos, Taylor Swift, and progressive policies. Gabriel Boric will now try to overhaul the government …

Why Russia sent its janky version of NATO to Kazakhstan

January 13th, 2022

20:29

The speedy arrival of CSTO troops in Kazakhstan is unprecedented in the 30-year history of the Russia-backed regional security alliance.

Today’s show …

"Break the Senate"

January 12th, 2022

28:37

President Joe Biden wants to change how the Senate works to pass voting reforms. Sen. Mitch McConnell is threatening hell if it happens.

Today’s show …

Novax Djokovic

January 11th, 2022

30:54

How the best-ranked men’s tennis player in the world went to Australia to become the greatest of all time and ended up being detained.

Today’s show was produced by Will Reid with help from Victoria Chamberlin, edited by …

No substitutes for the substitutes

January 10th, 2022

24:56

What happens when all the teachers get sick?

Today’s show was produced by Miles Bryan with help from Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt Collette, …

The high cost of cheap clothes

January 7th, 2022

26:16

Fast fashion took over the apparel industry, but consumers are tiring of its poor labor and environmental standards. Vox’s Terry Nguyen explains.

Life on the Russia-Ukraine border

January 6th, 2022

28:19

Russia has kept its military at Ukraine’s doorstep for almost a decade. But a recent escalation on the border is creating fears of a full-blown …

Theranope

January 5th, 2022

25:54

A tech startup said it could start a medical revolution with a little machine and a drop of blood. It was a fraud, but research into smarter, less …

Will omicron speed up the pandemic’s end?

January 4th, 2022

24:27

The omicron variant is very transmissible, but it might make Covid-19 less miserable.

Today’s show was produced by Miles Bryan with help from Hady …

America still can’t agree on its insurrection

January 3rd, 2022

34:45

One year later, the United States is still trying to wrap its head around what happened on January 6, 2021. (It was an insurrection.) This year, our democracy once again will be tested.

Today’s show was produced by …

2021

December 30th, 2021

4:43

This song was written and performed by Sean Rameswaram and Noam Hassenfeld, produced by Noam, engineered by Efim Shapiro, and features additional vocals from Christina Animashaun.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s American dream

December 29th, 2021

37:05

Giannis Antetokounmpo went from hawking watches and DVDs on the streets of Greece to winning an NBA championship for the Milwaukee Bucks. In this repodcast, the Ringer’s Mirin Fader tells the story of his improbable …

Taylor’s version

December 28th, 2021

30:12

One of the biggest pop stars in the world is rerecording her first six albums at the artistic peak of her career. In this repodcast, the Atlantic’s Shirley Li explains Taylor Swift’s strategy.

Today’s show was produced …

The spike in gun violence

December 27th, 2021

50:33

America's homicide rate rose by almost 30 percent in 2020. It was the biggest spike in 60 years, and the murder rate was even higher in 2021. In this repodcast, ProPublica’s Alec MacGillis explains what might be causing …

Four days of work?

December 23rd, 2021

27:59

The pandemic changed how we think about work. In this repodcast, Vox’s Anna North says it might be time to change how much we work, too.

Today’s show …

Good news

December 22nd, 2021

20:26

2021 was better than 2020. Here's proof.

Today’s show was produced by Matt Collette, edited by Jillian Weinberger, engineered by Efim Shapiro, …

Vanessa Nakate’s climate optimism

December 21st, 2021

27:49

Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate has been ridiculed, erased, and let down by the world's most powerful people. She explains how she remains …

We scored Biden’s first year

December 20th, 2021

29:46

We scored Biden’s first year

The New Yorker’s Evan Osnos evaluates President Biden’s first year in office and whether Biden managed to lower the temperature after the January 6 insurrection.

Today’s show was produced by …

Who killed Malcolm X?

December 17th, 2021

33:55

Nearly 60 years after the assassination of Malcolm X, some of the men wrongly put in prison for killing him are finally being redeemed. Abdur-Rahman …

The blood diamond of batteries

December 16th, 2021

31:05

Cobalt is powering the electric vehicle revolution, but much of the world’s supply is mined under deadly conditions in Congo. Journalist Nicolas …

(Some) omicron answers

December 15th, 2021

24:53

Thanks to South Africa, the world now has some data on omicron’s severity, transmissibility, and whether or not the vaccines will protect us from it.

Today’s show was produced by Miles Bryan with help from Hady Mawajdeh, …

Operation Flex

December 14th, 2021

35:27

A bodybuilder posing as a Muslim convert was welcomed into a California mosque. When he showed signs of extremism, members reported him to the FBI, only to learn that he was their informant. Now, their story is before …

Why we still can't predict tornadoes

December 13th, 2021

23:35

Most people get about eight minutes' advance warning of a tornado. This episode of Vox’s Unexplainable podcast explores how scientists need to confront more of these storms, head on.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

The new meth

December 10th, 2021

22:47

While the nation’s attention has been focused on the opioid crisis, a new, more dangerous form of methamphetamine has swept across the country.

The fastest economic collapse ever

December 9th, 2021

26:27

That’s what the United Nations says is taking place in Afghanistan right now.

Today’s show was produced by Will Reid, edited by Matt Collette, …

Are you vaxxed, fellow kids?

December 8th, 2021

30:55

Today, Explained returns to Cramer Hill Elementary School to explore the challenges of vaccinating children against Covid-19.

Today’s show was …

The shooter's parents

December 7th, 2021

23:13

The mass killing at Oxford High School in Michigan may seem comparable to those that preceded it, but the aftermath has taken several new turns.

Africa wants its stuff back

December 7th, 2021

23:49

The world’s most illustrious museums are finally having to reckon with the stolen art in their collections.

Today’s show was produced by Haleema Shah, …

C is for Culture War

December 3rd, 2021

29:16

Big Bird got vaccinated, an Asian American Muppet moved in, and conservatives got really mad at Sesame Street.

Today’s show was produced by Haleema …

What happened to Peng Shuai

December 2nd, 2021

28:52

A tennis star accused a former top Chinese official of sexual assault. Then she vanished. Now her case is changing sports in China.

Today's show was …

Unraveling Roe

December 2nd, 2021

22:10

The Supreme Court today heard oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains how the Court could undo Roe v. Wade …

Space trash

November 30th, 2021

24:59

Russia blew up a satellite and almost put the International Space Station in a precarious position. Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil explains how humans are trashing space. A space environmentalist (!) explains what cleanup …

Omicron

November 29th, 2021

23:38

AA-muh-kraan or OH-muh-kraan

Today’s show was produced by Miles Bryan and Will Reid, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro, fact-checked …

Salmonella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh

November 23rd, 2021

25:22

A deadly salmonella strain is spreading through American poultry, and there’s not much the government can do to stop it. ProPublica’s Bernice Yeung …

Kyle Rittenhouse and the “self-defense” defense

November 23rd, 2021

31:18

After the Chicago Tribune’s Stacy St. Clair runs through the Rittenhouse trial and verdict, legal scholar Eric Ruben explains how “self-defense” can …

The Future of Work: Retirement should be fun

November 19th, 2021

31:38

But somehow it got very scary.

Today’s show was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro, fact-checked by …

Why it's hard to find rapid tests in the US

November 18th, 2021

27:31

And why they're easy to find in Europe (though they don't seem to be helping much at the moment).

Today’s show was produced by Miles Bryan with help …

Is Zillow really buying all the houses?

November 17th, 2021

27:01

No. Vox's Jerusalem Demsas disproves a popular internet conspiracy theory.

Today’s show was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt Collette, …

Belarus manufactures a migrant crisis

November 16th, 2021

25:33

Belarus is promising migrants passage to Europe knowing the EU will turn them away.

Today’s show was produced by Haleema Shah with help from Amina …

Inflation nation

November 15th, 2021

24:13

Consumer prices are rising at their fastest rate in 30 years. Vox’s Emily Stewart explains why this is bad news for for drivers, shoppers, and President Biden.

Today’s show was produced by Miles Bryan and Will Reid, …

The Future of Work: The gig is up

November 12th, 2021

29:28

A third of American workers do gig work. In the third part of our series, The Future of Work, learn how the pandemic helped them discover their power.

Today’s show was produced by Will Reid, edited by Jillian Weinberger, …

China’s pursuit of ‘Zero Covid’

November 11th, 2021

27:53

China’s 1.4 billion people are averaging fewer than 100 cases of Covid-19 a day. All it takes is the willingness to shut down anything at any time.

NPR’s Emily Feng explains from Beijing.

Today’s show was produced by …

So I elected an Oath Keeper

November 10th, 2021

27:41

Extremists in the right-wing militant organization known as the Oath Keepers are present in law enforcement and in the military. Now, thanks to reporting from ProPublica’s Isaac Arnsdorf, we know they’re in the …

Astroworld

November 9th, 2021

27:35

How a music festival became a death trap, and what it would take for it never to happen again.

Today’s show was produced by Haleema Shah and Hady …

Trillion-dollar Biden

November 8th, 2021

23:35

You win some and you lose some. Just ask President Biden, who started last week with electoral setbacks and ended it with a big f***ing deal.

Today’s show was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Miles Bryan, edited by Matt …

The Future of Work: OOO

November 5th, 2021

28:20

They said the office would never be the same. In part two of our series, The Future of Work, what happens to your workplace when they're right.

The case for climate reparations

November 4th, 2021

30:24

While world leaders have descended on Glasgow to try to figure out how to slow emissions in the future, New York magazine’s David Wallace-Wells …

Sudan’s coup

November 3rd, 2021

25:13

After a bloody fight for democracy, Sudan is sliding back into the hands of the military. CNN’s Nima Elbagir says a successful military coup could …

School board brawl

November 3rd, 2021

26:19

It's Election Day in the USA. This time around, the nasty political fights and insurrections are going local. NPR's Anya Kamenetz explains.

Today’s …

For whom the door bells

November 1st, 2021

47:30

While the doorbell recovers from Halloween, Nice Try explains how it’s an essential part of the American dream.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox!

The Future of Work: “I quit!”

October 29th, 2021

29:53

There are millions of job openings in America, and millions of Americans are still not able to find work that suits. In the first part of our series, …

Facebook’s Meta-morphosis

October 28th, 2021

27:20

From the company that brought you alternate facts comes an alternate reality!

Today’s show was produced by Will Reid, edited by Matt Collette, …

Chappelle's Show(down with the trans community)

October 27th, 2021

31:46

Vox's Aja Romano explains how Dave Chappelle's latest standup special led to a reckoning at Netflix. Vulture's Craig Jenkins assesses whether there's …

The Alec Baldwin shooting

October 26th, 2021

27:47

Variety’s Brent Lang explains how cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died on the Rust film set—and how the tragic shooting might catalyze positive change in the entertainment industry.

Today’s show was produced by Hady …

Ruthless County, Tennessee

October 25th, 2021

27:25

For 11 years, a Tennessee judge sent kids to jail for a crime that doesn’t exist. Nashville Public Radio’s Meribah Knight explains why that judge is still in charge of “juvenile justice.”

Today’s show was produced by …

The Supreme Court’s legitimacy crisis

October 22nd, 2021

28:51

Since the Supreme Court’s "shadow docket" decision to allow the Texas abortion ban to go into effect, a growing chorus of politicians and legal …

Steve Bannon in contempt

October 21st, 2021

27:11

The House is holding Steve Bannon in criminal contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena as part of its January 6 investigation. Journalist Andrea …

Out of stock

October 20th, 2021

22:20

All I want for Christmas is a functional supply chain.

Today’s show was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro, …

What does Kyrsten Sinema want?

October 19th, 2021

32:21

Tim Murphy from Mother Jones explains how Sen. Kyrsten Sinema went from a left-wing activist to a Biden obstructionist.

Today’s show was produced by …

Iran’s hostage industrial complex

October 18th, 2021

28:46

Iran is entering its fifth decade of taking hostages. One who made it out tells his story.

Today’s show was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by …

How the iPhone changed everything

October 15th, 2021

34:00

In 2007, Steve Jobs introduced a product that would change our lives forever. The new season of Land of the Giants explores “The Apple Revolution.”

How Squid Game won Netflix

October 14th, 2021

23:58

And whether the show’s message is being lost in the shuffle.

Today’s show was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim …

Covid little pill

October 13th, 2021

21:06

Vox’s Umair Irfan explains how a new pill that might soon be authorized by the FDA could fill major gaps in treating Covid-19.

Today’s show was …

Why body cameras don’t work

October 12th, 2021

29:34

Body cameras were supposed to bring greater transparency to law enforcement. The case of Ronald Greene suggests police departments are still learning …

The Fyre Festival of vaccine rollouts

October 8th, 2021

26:30

The city of Philadelphia put an opportunistic 22-year-old in charge of its vaccine rollout. Nina Feldman of WHYY’s Half Vaxxed podcast explains how …

A vaccine for malaria

October 7th, 2021

20:16

But also, should we kill all the mosquitoes?

Today’s show was produced by Will Reid with help from Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by …

Drill, baby, drill

October 6th, 2021

28:28

An energy expert explains why offshore oil spills keep happening and whether they’ll ever stop.

Today’s show was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, …

The Facebook whistleblower

October 5th, 2021

29:45

Facebook kicked off the week with an outage and followed that up today with a whistleblower testifying before Congress. The Wall Street Journal’s …

How do you do, fellow kids?

October 4th, 2021

28:03

School’s been back for a month. Today, Explained spent a month checking in with Cramer Hill Elementary to find out how it’s going.

Today’s show was …

The $5,000 butt

October 1st, 2021

32:36

The Brazilian butt lift isn’t just a cosmetic surgery; it’s a lifestyle. Vox’s Rebecca Jennings explains how influencers gave a decades-old procedure …

The humanitarian crisis at Rikers Island

September 30th, 2021

31:09

Twelve people at Rikers Island have died in custody so far this year. The pandemic is only part of the problem, explains Nick Pinto, who is covering the string of deaths for the Intercept.

Today’s show was produced by …

Are boosters good science — or just good politics?

September 29th, 2021

36:48

Former CDC Director Nancy Messonnier and former White House Covid-19 adviser Andy Slavitt join Sean at Code Conference in Los Angeles to explain the back and forth on vaccine booster shots.

Today’s show was produced and …

Democrats play chicken

September 28th, 2021

20:17

Moderates and progressives are threatening to vote down different parts of their own party’s agenda, all while a government shutdown looms. Vox’s Li Zhou explains why.

Today’s show was produced by Will Reid with help …

Why is Guantanamo still open?

September 27th, 2021

33:31

A former Defense Department adviser says President Biden might succeed where President Obama failed, and the man formerly known as “Detainee 441” speaks.

Today’s show was produced by Haleema Shah, edited by Matt …

Free college for everyone!

September 24th, 2021

29:07

President Biden wants to give Americans four more years of free school: two years of pre-K and two of community college. In a two-part series, Today, …

The cost of free preschool

September 23rd, 2021

29:22

President Biden wants to give Americans four more years of free school: two years of pre-K and two of community college. In a two-part series, Today, …

The disappearance of Gabby Petito

September 23rd, 2021

23:31

Vox’s Aja Romano explains why the internet stopped what it was doing to find one particular missing person.

Today’s show was produced by Victoria …

Haitians at the southern border

September 21st, 2021

28:20

Vox’s Nicole Narea explains the latest border crisis, and Ayibopost’s Widlore Mérancourt documents deported Haitians’ return to Port-au-Prince.

Xi Jinping cracks down on everything

September 20th, 2021

24:10

Chinese President Xi Jinping has kicked off a "rectification" campaign that’s affecting every sector of Chinese society and business. Lily Kuo, the Washington Post's China bureau chief, explains.

Today’s show was …

Zemari Ahmadi

September 17th, 2021

31:23

A US drone strike in Afghanistan was meant to take out an ISIS-K target. Reporting on the ground shows an aid worker and several children were …

Havana syndrome

September 16th, 2021

30:51

The US military is redoubling its efforts to figure out what’s behind reports of mysterious sonic attacks. So is Vox’s Unexplainable podcast.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a …

Another bite at the Apple

September 15th, 2021

24:04

A California judge weighed in on whether Apple has a monopoly. NPR’s Bobby Allyn unpacks the ruling. Sen. Amy Klobuchar explains why she wants the …

Biden’s second shot

September 14th, 2021

26:22

President Joe Biden is taking a new approach to fight the pandemic. Former acting CDC director Richard Besser explains the vaccine mandates and the booster shot debate.

Today’s show was produced by Hady Mawajdeh with …

The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein

September 13th, 2021

25:54

Jeffrey Epstein has been dead for over two years, but his crimes and mysterious death still haunt his victims and friends. The Miami Herald’s Julie …

The Jessica simulation

September 10th, 2021

31:38

A love story between a person who's alive and a person who is dead, told by the San Francisco Chronicle's Jason Fagone.

Today’s show was produced by …

School’s back. Covid never left.

September 9th, 2021

26:56

NPR’s Anya Kamenetz explains how America is sending its kids back to school while delta surges. Politico’s Lauren Gardner has the latest on vaccines …

Horse paste?

September 8th, 2021

25:44

Neigh!

Today’s show was produced by Will Reid with help from Amina Al-Sadi, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro, fact-checked by Laura …

The cost of 9/11

September 7th, 2021

29:02

The Department of Defense tracks how much US wars cost, but last week President Biden cited instead accounting from the Costs of War Project at Brown University. Its co-director, Stephanie Savell, explains why.

Today’s …

The four-day workweek

September 2nd, 2021

27:48

The pandemic has changed how we think about work. Vox’s Anna North says it might be time to change how much we work, too.

Today’s show was produced by …

The Texas abortion law

September 1st, 2021

22:04

Texas didn't just make it almost impossible to get an abortion, the state made it easy to sue somebody who gets one after about six weeks of pregnancy — and anyone who helps. KUT reporter Ashley Lopez explains.

Today’s …

After the Afghan evacuation

August 31st, 2021

22:27

The United States’ 20-year war in Afghanistan is officially over. Vox’s Nicole Narea explains what’s next for the more than 100,000 refugees …

Recallifornia

August 30th, 2021

28:59

California could elect a Republican governor in a few weeks. KPCC reporter Libby Denkmann explains how. And the dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law …

ISIS-K

August 27th, 2021

27:36

The attack outside the Kabul airport on Thursday was perpetrated by an extremist group that doesn't think the Taliban is extreme enough.

This episode …

Jeopardy!

August 26th, 2021

29:10

I’ll take public scandal for $1000.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro, …

Fleeing Afghanistan

August 25th, 2021

21:49

The Afghan refugee crisis started long before the US withdrawal. Al Jazeera English correspondent Ali Latifi explains from Kabul.

This episode was …

Booster shots

August 24th, 2021

27:00

Vox’s Umair Irfan explains why you might need one. The Atlantic’s Sarah Zhang says the coronavirus is here forever, but ultimately, it might not be …

Addicted and alone

August 23rd, 2021

22:17

The pandemic wiped out the slow but steady progress America had been making against another deadly disease: opioid addiction. The Washington Post’s Peter Jamison explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

This …

How to forgive

August 20th, 2021

57:55

In this episode of Vox Conversations, the Atlantic’s Elizabeth Bruenig shares forgiveness strategies built for unforgiving times.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial …

Taliban 2.0

August 19th, 2021

28:33

The Taliban last controlled Afghanistan 20 years ago. They may be more pragmatic now, but their ideology hasn’t changed.

Transcript at

Who counts as white on the census?

August 18th, 2021

23:13

Some recent analysis of America’s changing demographics is inaccurate and dangerous. NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang makes sense of the 2020 census.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial …

Back-to-back crises in Haiti

August 17th, 2021

23:47

An assassination followed by an earthquake followed by a tropical storm strike a country where aid organizations often have more influence than …

How the Taliban took back Afghanistan

August 16th, 2021

25:05

And did it faster than the US ever imagined.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Delta in the Delta

August 13th, 2021

22:19

Covid-19 is surging so high in several states, you’d think we didn’t have a vaccine. A Mississippi nurse who was initially skeptical explains her path to getting the shot.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support 

The allies left behind

August 12th, 2021

26:22

While the US withdraws from Afghanistan, the Taliban is surging, which is a likely death sentence for the thousands of Afghans who helped the US military. An interpreter who escaped explains.

Transcript at

“Code red for humanity”

August 11th, 2021

22:55

A new UN report says humans are “unequivocally” causing climate change. Rich countries are to blame, but poorer ones, like Madagascar, are paying the price with an unprecedented climate-induced famine. 

Transcript at

Oye Cuomo va

August 10th, 2021

22:26

People said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo would never resign. Then he did. New York magazine contributing writer David Freedlander explains.

Transcript …

Were the Olympics worth it?

August 9th, 2021

25:40

The pandemic Olympics have come to an end. NPR’s Tom Goldman provides a highlight reel and an evaluation from Tokyo.

Transcript at

An MVP for the world

August 7th, 2021

36:21

Giannis Antetokounmpo went from hawking watches and DVDs on the streets of Greece to winning an NBA championship for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Ringer’s Mirin Fader tells the story of his improbable rise.

Transcript at

The fight to ban evictions

August 5th, 2021

24:15

Democrats this week scrambled to extend a federal evictions moratorium amid the government's failure to deliver tens of billions of dollars to …

Who owns Amanda Knox?

August 4th, 2021

32:57

The new Matt Damon movie, Stillwater, is based on Amanda Knox’s story. She wishes someone had asked her to tell it.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! 

Collect $5 billion. Do not pay taxes.

August 3rd, 2021

29:26

The Roth IRA was invented by Congress to incentivize middle-class retirement savings. ProPublica’s Justin Elliott explains how venture capitalist Peter Thiel ended up with $5 billion in his.

Transcript at

The Provincetown cluster

August 2nd, 2021

21:31

Vox’s Dylan Scott explains what an outbreak in a mostly vaccinated beach town taught the CDC about the delta variant.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to …

The spike in gun violence (Part II)

July 30th, 2021

28:15

A Philadelphia election tested progressive ideas on how to reduce shootings in America. ProPublica’s Alec MacGillis explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial …

The spike in gun violence (Part I)

July 29th, 2021

28:45

The nation’s murder rate rose by almost 25 percent last year — the largest increase in at least 60 years. This year might be even worse. ProPublica’s Alec MacGillis reports on “The Great Regression.”

Transcript at

The Capitol police speak

July 28th, 2021

25:47

Capitol police officers testified on Tuesday in the building they defended on January 6. Seamus Hughes, a former congressional investigator, explains …

The Covid Olympics

July 27th, 2021

20:37

The 2020 Games were mired in scandal before they even started. Vox’s Jen Kirby explains how things are going now that the Olympics have finally begun.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by …

Panic! At The Delta

July 26th, 2021

25:39

Vox’s Umair Irfan explains why the United States is seeing another Covid-19 surge. Dr. Rhea Boyd says the country is getting unvaccinated people all wrong.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by …

Infrastructure Pete

July 23rd, 2021

21:53

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg explains what he and his boss are calling a once-in-a-generation spending plan.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to …

Human infrastructure

July 23rd, 2021

24:52

President Biden wants infrastructure spending to include child care, elder care, food assistance, even community college. Vox’s Anna North explains …

Our No. 2 problem

July 21st, 2021

27:12

America’s sewage system is total crap, but there’s a new plumber in town.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts.

Learn more about …

Why we can’t have nice trains

July 20th, 2021

29:22

And how it got so dam expensive to build things in America.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. …

Hot infrastructure summer

July 19th, 2021

26:20

It’s a big week for President Biden’s infrastructure plans. Vox’s Li Zhou explains the obstacles in his way, and a historian says one of them is our …

#FreeBritney was right

July 16th, 2021

27:36

Britney Spears returned to conservatorship court this week. Vox’s Constance Grady explains how Spears has rapidly become the face of a legal reform movement.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained

Cuba's had enough

July 15th, 2021

26:32

Cubans hit the streets for unprecedented protests against their communist government. CNN's Patrick Oppmann is on the ground in Havana with spotty wifi.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by …

The Lone Star strategy

July 14th, 2021

20:58

Republicans in Texas are legislating so far to the right the state’s Democrats up and fled to Washington, DC. Vox’s Nicole Narea explains.

Transcript …

What’s happening in Haiti

July 13th, 2021

27:38

The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse is the latest in a long line of setbacks for Haiti’s stability. AyiboPost’s Widlore Mérancourt explains from Port-au-Prince.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support 

Postcards from pandemic purgatory

July 12th, 2021

25:58

Travel around the globe to hear how disparately people are experiencing the pandemic in July 2021.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, …

Where to go when the world burns

July 9th, 2021

22:50

An estimated 143 million people will relocate to escape climate change in the next three decades. Quartz’s Amanda Shendruk explains how cities can transform themselves into climate havens. 

Transcript at

CAHOOTS

July 8th, 2021

31:47

Thirty years ago, Eugene, Oregon, figured out an alternative to the police. They called it CAHOOTS. Seriously.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Let’s talk about terror (Part II)

July 7th, 2021

23:37

When people see Deeyah Khan's documentary about white supremacists, they tell her, "The real problem is jihad. You should spend time with jihadists." …

Let’s talk about terror (Part I)

July 6th, 2021

26:51

Documentary filmmaker Deeyah Khan grew tired of receiving death threats from white supremacists so she traveled to a Detroit motel to meet up with one.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by …

The case for drinking

July 2nd, 2021

30:19

Getting buzzed helped build civilization.. The Atlantic's Kate Julian explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by …

Law & Order: Special POTUS Unit

July 1st, 2021

23:21

The Trump Organization and its top lieutenant have been indicted for tax fraud. Andrew Prokop says the case could have uge implications for American …

Unfair housing

June 30th, 2021

24:19

A housing watchdog says real estate companies often discriminate against low-income tenants who use federal rental assistance. Now it’s suing.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a …

Canada’s residential schools

June 29th, 2021

27:34

The discovery of mass graves of Indigenous children in Canada has led to reckonings on both sides of the border.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! 

The doctors are not all right

June 28th, 2021

36:00

Doctors have suffered psychologically throughout the pandemic, but as Vox’s Julia Belluz reports, those who seek mental health treatment in the US …

Food fight

June 25th, 2021

35:36

Restaurant delivery apps have made it possible to order pretty much anything we want to eat with the click of a button. The latest season of the Land of the Giants podcast explores the cost of that convenience.

Bish, don't kill my vibe

June 24th, 2021

27:49

Catholic bishops want to deny President Biden communion, even though Pope Francis thinks that's a terrible idea. The Atlantic's Emma Green explains.

Why stuff is getting more expensive

June 23rd, 2021

24:29

Vox’s Emily Stewart explains how scared you should be of inflation.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a …

The delta variant

June 22nd, 2021

21:25

The fast-spreading coronavirus variant first detected in India is coming for the rest of the world.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! 

A $55,000 drug that doesn’t cure Alzheimer’s

June 21st, 2021

30:45

After 20 years of waiting, there’s a new drug to treat Alzheimer’s. For some patients, it’s a glimmer of hope. For some scientists, it’s one of the FDA’s worst drug approval decisions ever.

Transcript at

Tales from the crypto

June 17th, 2021

27:04

Cryptocurrency is everywhere! And now some people are saying it could be good for the environment?! New York Magazine's Jen Wieczner is here to …

Once more unto the Brexit

June 16th, 2021

26:57

The Atlantic’s Tom McTague provides a halftime report on Brexit. It appears it’s going very well for Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial …

Israel is under new management

June 15th, 2021

21:28

Benjamin Netanyahu is out. Israel has a new leader and a new coalition government. The question now is whether they bring anyone closer to peace.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a …

QAmom

June 14th, 2021

28:49

What to do when your mom is with Q.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

The Kardashi-end

June 11th, 2021

29:24

Over 14 years and 20 seasons of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” the show rewrote the rules of reality TV, social media, marketing, and popular …

You know who kinda crushed Covid?

June 10th, 2021

26:55

Senegal. Vox’s Jen Kirby flew there to find out how.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Mare of New York

June 9th, 2021

26:35

New York City is picking a new mayor with a new election system. What could go wrong?

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by …

Mexico’s deadly election

June 8th, 2021

22:02

Gangs and drug cartels killed dozens of candidates in Mexico’s midterm elections. Voters weren’t intimidated.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! 

Critical race theory

June 7th, 2021

26:38

Across the country, Republican lawmakers are pushing laws banning “critical race theory” in schools. It’s already had a chilling effect on teachers.

It’s getting harder to vote in America

June 4th, 2021

29:01

Texas isn’t the only state advancing legislation that would disenfranchise voters in Democratic strongholds. Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains why some …

The lab leak theory

June 3rd, 2021

27:14

The idea that Covid-19 emerged from a Chinese lab once sounded too fringe to take seriously. That’s starting to change.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to …

Myanmar wants a revolution

June 2nd, 2021

25:19

Despite a violent terror campaign by the military junta, protesters are still fighting for a new government. The latest conflict is uniting ethnic …

The Tulsa massacre, 100 years later

June 1st, 2021

26:57

It was one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history, but for a long time very few Americans learned what happened to the Black …

The truth is out there

May 28th, 2021

34:29

UFOs are having a renaissance. The New Yorker’s Gideon Lewis-Kraus explains what we stand to learn from an expected government disclosure, and why we want to believe.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, …

MO Medicaid MO Problems

May 27th, 2021

28:29

Missourians voted for more Medicaid. Missouri lawmakers said no. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum explains what happens when you bypass the will of the people.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, …

Why Belarus hijacked a plane

May 26th, 2021

24:02

The hijacking of Ryanair flight 4978 is a big escalation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s attempts to hold on to power. It might also …

You’re vaxxed. You test positive. Don’t panic.

May 25th, 2021

26:53

Nine New York Yankees tested positive for Covid-19, even though they were all vaccinated. Vox’s Brian Resnick says it’s proof the system is working, just as New York City is opening back up.

Transcript at

Remember the insurrection?

May 24th, 2021

29:26

Some would rather forget.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts.

A million Muslims detained

May 21st, 2021

58:55

China’s Uyghur minority has been subjected to torture, forced labor, religious restrictions, and even forced sterilization. NPR’s Throughline explains how they became the target of what many are calling a genocide.

Ctrl+Alt+Divorce

May 20th, 2021

25:58

For decades, Bill Gates exemplified the “good billionaire.” His reputation — tarnished almost overnight — highlights the danger of relying too much on billionaire philanthropists.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

America and Israel

May 19th, 2021

29:22

An arms deal between the United States and Israel is drawing criticism from Democrats. It's part of a shifting tide in the American approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support 

The 2020* Olympics

May 18th, 2021

31:03

*Are being held this summer in Tokyo. And it’s a mess.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Take this job and shove it

May 17th, 2021

26:32

Job growth has slowed, but there are plenty of positions posted. That's got politicians arguing about the cost of benefits. Matt Yglesias explains.

A new constitution

May 14th, 2021

31:13

This weekend, Chileans head to the polls to decide who will rewrite the country's constitution. CNN's Daniel Matamala explains why it's a historic …

Jerusalem

May 14th, 2021

32:09

Weeks of tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem have escalated into the region's worst violence in years. Two journalists in the …

How America’s gas got hacked

May 12th, 2021

28:30

The largest-known ransomware attack on American energy infrastructure is driving up gas prices and creating shortages. Wired's Lily Hay Newman says …

Liz Cheney and the Big Lie

May 11th, 2021

26:02

A push to remove Cheney from her House leadership position shows how Trump, marooned at Mar-a-Lago without Twitter, continues to hold sway in the GOP.

Vaccinated! (Still anxious.)

May 10th, 2021

28:36

There’s no vaccine for Covid-19 anxiety. Nor is there one for those who aren’t ready to “go back to normal.” But, as Vox’s Sigal Samuel explains, there is hope.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, …

“Free the vaccine!”

May 7th, 2021

29:28

President Joe Biden heeded calls from low-income countries to try to relax patents on Covid-19 vaccines so they can make cheaper generic versions. Big Pharma was furious.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support 

Fortnite fights Apple for your phone

May 6th, 2021

28:49

One of the world's biggest video games is suing one of the world's biggest tech companies. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins explains how the fight might fundamentally change your phone.

Transcript at

Can we get to 70%?

May 5th, 2021

26:51

That’s President Joe Biden’s new vaccination goal, and he’s got some fresh ideas on how to get there. Vox’s German Lopez explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial …

Congress takes on sexual assault in the military

May 4th, 2021

28:04

Congress wants to change how the military prosecutes sex crimes. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand explains her bill.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support 

The bonkers housing market

May 3rd, 2021

27:20

Is it a bubble? Is it going to pop? Do you need to bid over asking? Has it already sold? Are there any houses left? Will you ever find one? Vox’s …

The enduring mystery of long Covid

April 30th, 2021

25:37

An estimated 10 percent of people who test positive for Covid-19 experience long-haul symptoms. Vox’s Julia Belluz joins the Unexplainable podcast to …

We scored Biden's first 100 days

April 29th, 2021

28:45

Biden’s biographer, Evan Osnos, explains why the president is a weather vane for the Democratic Party.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! 

Apple vs. Facebook (feat. Privacy)

April 28th, 2021

22:59

Apple updated its software and Facebook was very upset. Recode’s Sara Morrison and Peter Kafka explain. Roller derby is involved.

Transcript at

Biden vs. Putin (feat. Navalny)

April 27th, 2021

30:17

President Biden is cranking the pressure on President Putin, but it was Russian dissident Alexei Navalny who scored a victory by refusing his prison food.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by …

India’s SOS to the world

April 26th, 2021

25:29

The world’s biggest vaccine manufacturer ended up with the world’s worst Covid-19 surge. Neha Arora, New Delhi correspondent for Reuters, explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making …

A plan to protect the planet

April 24th, 2021

32:23

Or at least 30 percent of it.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Is nuclear energy good or bad?

April 22nd, 2021

36:02

Listen to the Atlantic’s Robinson Meyer explain the arguments and then decide for yourself.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s electric!

April 21st, 2021

29:34

Norway has lapped the world in adopting electric vehicles. Vox’s Umair Irfan explains how the US might catch up.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The case for climate optimism

April 20th, 2021

30:09

In 2019, David Wallace-Wells wrote a book called The Uninhabitable Earth. Just two years later, he’s feeling hopeful — thanks to the world’s biggest …

Peanut butter and jellyfish

April 19th, 2021

28:36

And other items from the lunch menu of 2050.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America awaits a verdict

April 16th, 2021

29:04

Arguments in the trial of Derek Chauvin have wrapped after a brutal week for policing in America. Minnesota Public Radio’s Jon Collins shares his …

The Echo Park eviction

April 15th, 2021

30:32

The recent police crackdown on a tent camp in Los Angeles has left the city divided. One thing everyone agrees on is the dire need for lasting …

Gaetzgate

April 14th, 2021

29:11

Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz’s sex scandal.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnson & Johnson & Problems

April 13th, 2021

26:37

The US government is calling for an immediate pause in Johnson & Johnson vaccinations after six recipients (out of millions) developed blood …

Vaccine passport, please

April 12th, 2021

24:26

Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil explains how proving you got the shot became controversial. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad …

CICADAPOCALYPSE 2021

April 9th, 2021

27:55

Or maybe, after listening to this episode, it’ll be more like CICADAPALOOZA!

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taylor Swift rewrites her story

April 9th, 2021

29:01

One of the biggest pop stars in the world is rerecording her first six albums at the artistic peak of her career. The Atlantic’s Shirley Li explains Swift’s gambit to reclaim her catalog.

Transcript at

KKK High

April 7th, 2021

31:03

A group of students in Topeka, Kansas, discovered their high school was named after an exalted cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan. Then they tried to change …

Hot Senate procedural news

April 6th, 2021

19:48

On Monday night, the Senate parliamentarian gave Democrats an unprecedented blessing. Vox’s Ella Nilsen and Li Zhou explain what they might do with it.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad …

MLB to Georgia: You’re out!

April 6th, 2021

28:52

Major League Baseball, Delta, and Coke are calling out Georgia for its new voting reforms, but some of these corporations were involved in crafting …

“My friend” has a question about the vaccine

April 2nd, 2021

29:53

We asked if you still had vaccine questions, and you did. We found answers. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

High crimes

April 1st, 2021

28:48

New York is the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana, but President Joe Biden won’t budge. This means that it’s possible to become a billionaire or a convicted felon for selling weed in the US.

Transcript at

Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan

March 31st, 2021

24:28

It’s infrastructure week in America. President Joe Biden unveiled a plan to spend trillions on bridges, roads, housing, and clean energy to prove it. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about your ad …

Making tennis a misdemeanor

March 30th, 2021

32:51

More than half of US states are working to ban, or even criminalize, trans athletes playing sports. Vox contributor Katelyn Burns explains how …

Ship happens

March 29th, 2021

23:54

After six days, a very big boat is finally afloat. While stuck, it brought international trade through the Suez Canal to a halt and cost companies …

The original anti-vaxxer

March 26th, 2021

41:39

When a Swedish American pastor refused to get a smallpox vaccine in 1902, he ended up in the United States Supreme Court. The Atlantic’s new podcast The Experiment tells the story of Pastor Henning Jacobson.

Transcript …

The end of minty cigarettes?

March 25th, 2021

29:56

With Democrats in charge, there is a lot of talk about big ideas for the country, including … banning menthol cigarettes? Politico’s Sarah Owermohle …

Would NOT demanding gun control be more effective?

March 24th, 2021

26:47

The Trace’s Jennifer Mascia explains why two gun reform bills the House recently passed are likely to fail in the Senate. Patrick Blanchfield from the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research argues the American gun …

WTF is an NFT?

March 23rd, 2021

24:04

On Monday, a tweet sold for $2.9 million. That followed a JPEG that went for $69 million. The Verge’s Liz Lopatto explains how internet ephemera …

AnchoRage

March 22nd, 2021

25:42

The United States and China met in Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday to air grievances, and the cameras were rolling. Vox’s Alex Ward explains how the …

Why America needs a national pandemic memorial

March 19th, 2021

23:31

People want to move on from Covid-19, but that doesn’t mean forgetting its victims. Historian Paul Farber and Vox reporter Alissa Wilkinson explain …

Racism, misogyny, and the shootings in Georgia

March 18th, 2021

23:36

Eight people were killed in shootings at three Atlanta-area spas. Most of the victims were women. Six were Asian American. Georgia state Sen. Michelle Au explains how her community is coping, and author Kate Manne …

Why are more children crossing the border?

March 17th, 2021

23:25

A growing number of unaccompanied minors at the US-Mexico border is highlighting President Biden’s struggle to fulfill his campaign promises on …

Who gets to vote?

March 16th, 2021

25:55

It’s a question the US has struggled with since its founding.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vaccines4Kids

March 15th, 2021

27:49

President Biden says all adults will be eligible for a vaccine by May 1. But for the world to truly return to normal, young people will need shots, …

No one nose

March 12th, 2021

29:09

Believe it or not, scientists still don’t know how the sense of smell works. But that isn’t stopping one guy at MIT from trying to reverse-engineer it. Sounds like a job for Vox’s new podcast, Unexplainable.

Transcript …

It’s been a year

March 11th, 2021

21:36

The year in revue.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Biden’s Big F***ing Deal

March 10th, 2021

23:50

President Biden’s American Rescue Plan has been approved by Congress. It’s a revolution in American welfare disguised as stimulus.

Transcript at

You’re vaccinated. Now what?

March 9th, 2021

28:11

New guidelines from the CDC for fully vaccinated people suggest it’s finally time to hug your grandparents. Dr. Kavita Patel explains the do’s and …

Alabama shakes up Amazon

March 8th, 2021

29:00

Darryl Richardson, a worker at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, explains why he helped initiate a unionization effort that now has President Biden’s support. Recode’s Jason Del Rey explains how the Bessemer …

The Bachelor meets reality

March 5th, 2021

34:19

Beset by controversy, The Bachelor’s latest season is winding down with an identity crisis. It’s a rare case of reality TV reflecting our cultural …

The surge of anti-Asian violence

March 5th, 2021

28:52

The United States is stumbling through two racial reckonings at once. Author Jeff Chang says it’s an inflection point centuries in the making.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Manchin in the middle

March 3rd, 2021

26:34

Joe Biden won the presidency, but it’s Joe Manchin from West Virginia who seems to be the decider. The Charleston Gazette-Mail’s Joe Severino shadowed Senator Joe in the spotlight. Mountain State Spotlight’s Greg Moore …

The $15 dream

March 2nd, 2021

24:24

Washington’s hottest policy fight is over raising the minimum wage to $15. Emily Stewart explains the Democrats’ effort to get it through Congress, …

How acid trips led to better policing

March 1st, 2021

32:43

Thirty years ago, Eugene, Oregon, figured out an alternative to the police. They called it CAHOOTS. Seriously.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Canceling Keystone XL

February 27th, 2021

28:23

President Biden finally wants to put the Keystone XL pipeline to bed. But if the last 12 years of environmental fights are any indication, it won’t be easy.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad …

The case for Covid-19 optimism

February 25th, 2021

24:54

Vox’s German Lopez explains why he feels optimistic about the end of the pandemic even though 500,000 Americans have died, the virus is mutating, and it’s going to take a long time to vaccinate the world.

Transcript at

A tale of two governors

February 24th, 2021

32:33

Andrew Cuomo and Gavin Newsom were hailed for their leadership early on in the pandemic. Now, the former is mired in scandal and the latter is facing a recall campaign.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more …

Stimu-less

February 23rd, 2021

27:30

What’s taking so long? What’s happening with those $1,400 checks? Are the Democrats betraying the people who voted for them? Vox’s Li Zhou and Andrew Prokop explain.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about …

Googliath

February 22nd, 2021

44:40

Australia just reined in Google. Dozens of other countries want in on the action. The latest season of Land of the Giants explains how two grad …

A tough week for Texas

February 20th, 2021

26:11

First it was brutal winter weather, power outages followed, and then came a poorly timed trip to Cancun. Texas Public Radio’s Joey Palacios explains …

Rush Limbaugh’s legacy

February 19th, 2021

29:31

Author Nicole Hemmer explains how Limbaugh helped pave the way for Fox News, OAN, and Newsmax.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about …

Biden at the border

February 17th, 2021

28:42

President Biden says he wants to undo his predecessor’s immigration policies, so why are some of them still in effect? The El Paso Times’s Lauren …

57-43

February 17th, 2021

26:30

Democrats made a strong case against Donald Trump. Republicans are being punished for supporting it. Vox’s Zack Beauchamp explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

#FreeBritney

February 13th, 2021

28:09

The movement to liberate Britney Spears from her conservatorship may not succeed, but it’s revealing a lot about how we treat young women. Vox’s Constance Grady explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more …

The Republican(!) plan to give parents money

February 11th, 2021

25:02

Sen. Mitt Romney wants to throw money at parents, Andrew Yang-style. President Biden is into it, too. Vox’s Dylan Matthews explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Vaccine hoarding

February 10th, 2021

19:35

Poorer countries have received less than 1 percent of the Covid-19 vaccines distributed around the world. Vox’s Julia Belluz explains what the WHO is …

26 Words

February 9th, 2021

29:03

A quarter-century after it was signed, Section 230, the law that made the modern internet, has done the impossible: united Democrats and Republicans.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad …

Capitol punishment

February 9th, 2021

29:35

Vox’s Andrew Prokop previews the historic second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Law professor Alan Rozenshtein explains what the Justice Department can and cannot do to prosecute insurrectionists.

The Senate’s $1.9 trillion all-nighter

February 5th, 2021

19:15

The Senate voted on more than 40 pieces of legislation overnight. Vox’s Li Zhou explains what the “vote-a-rama” means for President Biden’s agenda.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. …

The Arab Spring, 10 years later

February 4th, 2021

36:30

Ten years ago, a Tunisian fruit vendor set himself on fire and set off a revolution across the Middle East and North Africa. The Independent’s Borzou …

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s “loony lies”

February 3rd, 2021

27:06

Vox’s Aaron Rupar explains why Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has likened a fellow Republican’s views to cancer. And New York magazine’s Olivia Nuzzi explores what lawmakers peddling conspiracy theories means …

The coup in Myanmar

February 2nd, 2021

21:30

Some would say the military has always been in control of Myanmar. On Monday morning, they made it official once again.

Transcript at

Introducing Chicano Squad

February 1st, 2021

50:44

After the 1977 murder of a young Latino man, the Houston Police Department created a team of five young Latino officers to solve homicides in their …

Biden’s latest 13 actions (in 13 minutes)

January 30th, 2021

23:37

And whether or not any of it will last beyond his presidency.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GameStock

January 29th, 2021

28:13

Vox’s Emily Stewart explains how GameStop’s stock jumped by 1,700 percent this month. Bloomberg’s Matt Levine ponders the purpose of the stock market.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad …

The military’s far-right problem

January 27th, 2021

26:34

Sen. Tammy Duckworth wants the military to do a better job of rooting out extremism in its ranks. A military investigator explains how to solve a …

Coronavirus, 365 days later

January 26th, 2021

25:23

One year after our first episode on the novel coronavirus, Vox’s Julia Belluz explains what we got right, what we got wrong, and what comes next.

Marianne Williamson on healing America’s soul

January 25th, 2021

27:05

Marianne Williamson was applauded as well as ridiculed on the presidential debate stage when she warned of the “dark psychic forces of collectivized …

Second in command, first in history

January 22nd, 2021

27:40

Kamala Harris has already broken barriers, but ahead lies the rare task of leading a polarized and evenly divided Senate.

Transcript at

Biden’s first 17 actions (in 17 minutes)

January 22nd, 2021

23:30

In his first few minutes in office, President Biden hit CTRL+Z on former President Trump’s agenda.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

46

January 21st, 2021

37:32

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn in today and got straight to work. Vox’s Laura McGann and Dylan Matthews explain what will be done immediately, and what’s possible with the slimmest of majorities in Congress.

Abolish the lame-duck period?

January 19th, 2021

26:09

America’s two-month lame-duck period gave supporters of the outgoing president ample time to plan a violent uprising. Vox’s Ian Millhiser argues the …

The first global vaccination

January 15th, 2021

23:12

Was distributed by 22 orphans.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Okay, Google: unionize!

January 15th, 2021

27:11

A very big tech company now has a very small union. Recode’s Shirin Ghaffary explains why highly paid workers in an anti-union industry still organized and made history.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more …

The people behind the insurrection

January 13th, 2021

24:55

President Trump has been impeached for inciting an insurrection on the Capitol one week ago. CNN’s Elle Reeve was there and explains who was duped …

A step past impeachment

January 12th, 2021

26:21

Impeachment won’t stop the United States’ slide towards authoritarianism. Voter reform might.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deplatforming Donald

January 12th, 2021

29:57

First he lost his Facebook. Then he lost his Twitter. As of today, President Trump had been limited or booted by more than a dozen platforms. Casey Newton, editor of Platformer, explains the historic shift on social …

The flamethrowers and the fire extinguishers

January 8th, 2021

36:35

Infighting among Republican lawmakers reached a breaking point this week. The Atlantic’s McKay Coppins explains why and the tough road ahead for the GOP.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad …

How security at the Capitol failed

January 8th, 2021

28:40

Washington Post national security reporter Dan Lamothe explains how a number of agencies and politicians put together a historically bad security …

The breach, explained by Rep. Maloney (locked in her office)

January 7th, 2021

11:44

Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York explains what it was like to live through today’s violent transfer of power.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

The virus gets more contagious

January 5th, 2021

22:26

Viruses mutate, but this time it’s different.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All eyes on Georgia

January 5th, 2021

28:41

Tuesday’s election will decide who controls the Senate, but the president is still hung up on the election he already lost.

Transcript at

The year in revue

December 30th, 2020

6:46

It's been a year.

It’s been a year

And after all the news 

We’re still not in the clear

It’s been a year


Can’t even remember what life was like 

Back before we didn’t need a mask to go outside

It’s been a year


Can’t even …

How 2020 changed us

December 29th, 2020

27:55

In the final episode of our five-part series, “You, Me, and Covid-19,” people look back on a very long year.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Animals catch Covid-19, too

December 28th, 2020

24:14

In the fourth of our five-part series, “You, Me, and Covid-19,” a reminder that we’re not the only animals who got Covid-19 this year. Science writer David Quammen explains why our health and theirs are intertwined.

Dr. Fauci’s nightmare before Christmas

December 23rd, 2020

25:20

In the third of our five-part series, “You, Me, and Covid-19,” Dr. Anthony Fauci reflects back on his pandemic year, what he’s learned, and what he’d do differently.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about …

The year live music died

December 22nd, 2020

30:11

 In the second of our five-part series, “You, Me, and Covid-19,” musicians explain how they got creative when live shows and tours were canceled.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. …

Moving home

December 21st, 2020

21:48

In the first of our five-part series, “You, Me, and Covid-19,” millennials are moving back in with their parents (again), but they are discovering …

A climate change of address

December 19th, 2020

23:24

An estimated 143 million people will relocate to escape climate change in the next three decades. Quartz’s Amanda Shendruk explains how cities can transform themselves into climate havens.

Transcript at

How Netscape created our tech world

December 17th, 2020

31:03

In this episode of the Go for Broke podcast, host Julia Furlan travels back to the mid-’90s to explain how a bygone web browser set the stage for …

Pornhub just deleted 80% of its videos

December 16th, 2020

22:10

One of the most popular porn sites on the internet just purged more than 10 million videos. Vice’s Samantha Cole explains why.

Transcript at

Your vaccine questions, answered

December 16th, 2020

32:53

The Covid-19 vaccine is being distributed in the United States, and you have questions. Vox’s Umair Irfan has answers.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

India’s farmers strike

December 14th, 2020

25:16

The world’s biggest democracy is contending with what might be the world’s biggest labor stoppage.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How movie theaters might survive

December 12th, 2020

44:15

On this episode of the Decoder podcast, host Nilay Patel speaks with Shelli Taylor, the CEO of Alamo Drafthouse. Taylor argues the government has failed to manage the pandemic effectively for business owners and …

The vaccine, explained by Martin (who got it)

December 10th, 2020

25:01

Martin Kenyon was one of the first people to get the Covid-19 vaccine this week. He talks about his experience, and an epidemiologist explains how to …

No coup for you!

December 9th, 2020

26:01

Joe won. And won. And won. Rudy can fail. And fail. And fail.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How Melbourne eradicated Covid-19

December 8th, 2020

21:31

Melbourne, Australia, had a first wave. Then it had a second wave. Then it decided it was done with Covid-19.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s beginning to look a lot like stimulus

December 8th, 2020

26:16

In an end-of-year plot twist, Congress is working on a fresh bipartisan stimulus bill.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad …

A woman’s work is never done

December 4th, 2020

24:24

Millions of women left the workforce as Covid-19 forced school closures, but that doesn’t mean they have less on their plates. Is government-funded …

God-given right?

December 3rd, 2020

23:35

The Supreme Court ruled that New York state can’t limit how many people gather in church, even during a pandemic. Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains why …

America Offline

December 2nd, 2020

21:48

Low-income students are dropping out of college because many don’t have a reliable way to get online. Vox’s Emily Stewart says the solution is …

The key to the Cabinet

December 1st, 2020

23:35

President-elect Biden has started announcing his Cabinet nominees, but Matthew Yglesias says the most important positions aren’t the ones you’d think.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad …

What if developing a vaccine was the easy part?

December 1st, 2020

19:05

Covid-19 vaccines are coming out faster than many thought possible. But distributing the vaccines could be an even tougher challenge.

Transcript at

Unexplainable

November 24th, 2020

32:50

Scientists all over the world are searching for dark matter: an invisible, untouchable substance that holds our universe together. But they haven’t …

Withdrawing won’t end the war

November 23rd, 2020

23:10

With two months left in the Trump presidency, the US is reducing the number of troops in Afghanistan in an attempt to end America's longest war. But Biden will still inherit the conflict.

Transcript at

All the mall things

November 20th, 2020

23:32

Retail was struggling. Then came the virus. Recode’s Jason Del Rey explains how the American mall will never be the same, and how the machines might save retail.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about …

The peacemaker’s civil war

November 19th, 2020

21:31

An ethnic conflict in Ethiopia has thrown the Horn of Africa into disarray and could upset order on the continent.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Badlands

November 18th, 2020

23:22

Covid-19 is surging across the United States, just in time for cold weather and major holidays. North Dakota is doing particularly badly. Vermont may …

America said yes to drugs

November 17th, 2020

26:59

Oregon decriminalized all drugs. Red states and blue states are doing the same with weed. It’s the culmination of a failed drug war.

Transcript at

MAGAlomaniac

November 16th, 2020

24:23

A weekend of protests, violence, and enmity in DC revealed what Donald Trump has planned post-presidency.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn …

(Home)school is cool

November 13th, 2020

26:53

Covid-19 is surging (again). Schools are closing (again). Kids are learning online (again). And more American parents than ever are turning to …

They fought the Lyft and the Lyft won

November 12th, 2020

23:15

California tried to strengthen labor rights for gig workers. Uber, Lyft, and their food-delivering cohorts responded with a $200 million propaganda offensive.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your …

Fox & Frenemies

November 11th, 2020

22:09

After a fraught Election Week, cable news is finally cutting away from President Trump’s falsehoods. Erik Wemple, media critic for the Washington Post, explains why it might not last.

Learn more about your ad choices. …

No concession!

November 10th, 2020

25:21

The 45th president of the United States has thus far refused to acknowledge the 46th. Political scientist Zeynep Tufekci explains this latest test of …

Biden’s coronavirus plan

November 9th, 2020

28:01

And some big vaccine news, too.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Biden wins

November 6th, 2020

32:59

-And Kamala Harris, too.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happened to Congress?

November 5th, 2020

22:37

Vox’s Ella Nilsen explains why Democrats are waving goodbye to the blue wave.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden?

November 4th, 2020

30:57

Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains the latest election math, and Ezra Klein argues that, despite record-setting turnout, it wasn’t a great night for American democracy.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about …

Today (should be a holiday), Explained

November 3rd, 2020

23:16

This Election Day, voter turnout is projected to break records in the United States, but it won’t get anywhere close to Australia’s. Professor Lisa Hill explains what happens when you make voting mandatory.

Transcript at

What to expect when you’re electing

November 2nd, 2020

29:13

Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains how Joe Biden — or President Trump — could win 270 electoral votes.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more …

The Trump Years: State of our union

October 30th, 2020

30:55

In the final episode of our five-part series, New York Magazine’s Rebecca Traister and Vox’s Ezra Klein explain how four years of the Trump …

The Trump Years: Health of the nation

October 29th, 2020

35:16

In the fourth of our five-part series, Vox’s Dylan Scott explains how a president with no plan on health care evolved into a president with no plan …

The Voters

October 28th, 2020

26:31

Election turnout is on track to be the highest in a century. Farmers, essential workers, prisoners, and two ladies named Ruth explain their 2020 presidential pick.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about …

The Supreme Court may disenfranchise you now

October 27th, 2020

20:10

Pandemic or not, the highest court in the land won’t extend Wisconsin’s deadline for mailed ballots. Good thing it’s not a swing state. Oh, wait ...

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. …

#EndSARS

October 26th, 2020

26:12

Alexis Akwagyiram, bureau chief for Reuters in Nigeria, explains how a protest to reform the country’s police made its way around the world.

The Trump Years: Win at all costs

October 23rd, 2020

33:15

In the third of our five-part series, Vox’s Andrew Prokop says there’s one key takeaway from the Mueller investigation and impeachment: Trump will do anything to win an election.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

“Hey Google,” the United States is suing you

October 22nd, 2020

21:39

Bill Barr and Elizabeth Warren have found a common enemy.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will Covid-19 cancel the holidays?

October 21st, 2020

22:13

Last Christmas, I gave you my health.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Block the vote?

October 20th, 2020

23:19

The 2020 election is well underway, as are efforts to prevent people from voting.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The parody-proof president

October 19th, 2020

28:48

Live from New York, impressions are trite! Vox critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff explains why late-night TV struggles to satirize President Trump, and argues the internet is doing a much better job.

Transcript at

The Trump Years: America First

October 16th, 2020

27:50

In the second of our five-part series, Vox’s Nicole Narea and Jenn Williams explain how President Trump has fundamentally changed the perception of …

Do you believe in magic?

October 15th, 2020

22:31

A Los Angeles magician struck gold with a glorified Zoom meeting. Some are asking if he’s figured out how to save theater.

Transcript at

Amy Coney Barrett’s originalism

October 14th, 2020

26:59

The judge isn’t saying much in her confirmation hearing, but Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains how her legal theory will guide her on the Supreme Court. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about your ad choices. …

The case for ending the filibuster

October 13th, 2020

24:51

Even if Democrats win the White House, take the Senate, and hold the House, most of their legislation could be doomed because of the filibuster. …

The Trump Years: Deregulator in chief

October 9th, 2020

24:40

In the first of our five-part series, Vox’s Matthew Yglesias explains why President Donald Trump seldom boasts about his biggest accomplishment.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. …

Did anyone defund the police?

October 8th, 2020

25:22

In June, nine members of the Minneapolis City Council stood onstage at a community rally and pledged to dismantle the police. Council member Alondra …

1600 Coronavirus Avenue

October 7th, 2020

23:19

After months of downplaying the risks, the White House has come down with Covid-19. Vox’s Aaron Rupar gives the updates, and Future Perfect’s Sigal …

Who are the Proud Boys?

October 6th, 2020

20:59

President Trump told a fringe group of misogynistic racists to “stand back and stand by” at the first presidential debate. Vox’s Jane Coaston …

It’s time to talk about Mike Pence

October 5th, 2020

31:20

President Trump is battling Covid-19 and the vice-presidential debate is days away. McKay Coppins from the Atlantic explains the man waiting in the wings. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad …

Contact tracing President Trump

October 2nd, 2020

20:33

The president had a very busy week, then tested positive for the coronavirus. Vox’s Aaron Rupar traces his steps and Ella Nilsen explores the possible scenarios.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about …

Missing Chapter

October 1st, 2020

36:31

A forgotten protest movement in a seaside Florida town helped end legal segregation in the United States. Vox’s Ranjani Chakraborty explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Joe Versus the Volcano

September 30th, 2020

27:38

While it might feel as though nothing could be worse than last night’s presidential debate, Vox’s Ezra Klein explains what could happen if President …

Amy Coney Barrett

September 29th, 2020

24:12

President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee first garnered attention after being questioned about her Catholic faith. Vox’s Ian Millhiser says that …

$750

September 28th, 2020

22:19

That's how much "billionaire" President Trump paid in federal income taxes his first year in office, according to reporting from the New York Times.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. …

Justice For Breonna Taylor (Part II)

September 25th, 2020

23:24

One of the three officers who shot at Breonna Taylor’s apartment was indicted ... for endangering her neighbors. Tessa Duvall from the Louisville …

Dr. Fauci on pandemic politics

September 24th, 2020

26:15

With mounting concerns over the politicization of federal health agencies, Dr. Anthony Fauci explains why Americans should still trust the vaccine …

Working from work

September 23rd, 2020

24:44

What do a bus driver, a teacher, a McDonald’s employee, and a project manager with a conference on her calendar all have in common?

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

RBG’s seat

September 22nd, 2020

23:10

Republicans appear ready to fill the seat left vacant by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the end of the year. Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains Democrats’ last defense.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about …

Supreme

September 21st, 2020

31:36

The fight over Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court seat has already begun, but let’s not forget to celebrate her legendary life.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Class of Covid-19

September 18th, 2020

26:03

Colleges reopened. Outbreaks followed. Robert J. Jones, chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, explains why he still thinks …

ICE and involuntary hysterectomies

September 17th, 2020

22:24

A whistleblower complaint alleges immigrants being detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Georgia have been subjected to involuntary …

A firefighter on battling wildfires

September 16th, 2020

25:14

After 16 seasons of wildfires, Glen Haydon has figured out how to cope. For everyone else, there’s an app for that.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the future Joe Biden wants

September 15th, 2020

24:15

Trillions spent on the environment, caregiving, manufacturing, and the racial wealth gap: Vox’s Dylan Matthews explains how Biden wants to “Build Back Better.”

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained


Vox Media is conducting …

Can the Democrats take the Senate?

September 14th, 2020

25:30

Vox’s Ella Nilsen says the implausible is now looking possible.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cupid-19

September 11th, 2020

23:44

The pandemic hasn’t stopped Americans from dating, hooking up, or tying the knot. In fact, lockdown has been helping people get down.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

What was Putin the tea?

September 10th, 2020

21:47

A chief political rival of Vladimir Putin has been poisoned in what Foreign Policy’s Amy MacKinnon says is a watershed moment for Russia.

Transcript …

The truth about herd immunity

September 9th, 2020

21:11

Some people think it’s the only way out of the pandemic. Those people are very wrong.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Fake News Survival Guide

September 8th, 2020

24:21

As the election draws near, of fake news you must steer clear. For you (and your uncle), this episode is here.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The movies are back*

September 4th, 2020

26:59

*But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should go see one.


Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Is the stock market bull?

September 3rd, 2020

22:26

Vox’s Emily Stewart clears up the mystery of the market, and Ella Nilsen offers an update on the stimulus that has collapsed into stalemate.


Let’s talk about ventilation

September 2nd, 2020

26:15

Ventilation is key to reopening office buildings safely. But The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson says many workers aren’t going back, even when it’s safer.


Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. …

Is Facebook ready for the election?

September 1st, 2020

23:10

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the company made an “operational mistake” in its handling of Kenosha militia groups. The Verge’s Casey Newton explains whether that has implications for November’s election.


Transcript …

Wakanda forever

August 31st, 2020

21:14

The actor Chadwick Boseman died of cancer on Friday, but because of Black Panther he’ll live forever.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Island of Explained: A Summer of Protest

August 29th, 2020

26:10

All summer long, we have been explaining complex news stories to kids. In our final summer camp journey to the Island of Explained, we tackle the fight for racial justice in the United States.

Go to

Unconventional (Part II)

August 28th, 2020

25:59

The GOP proved that laws were made to be broken at its 2020 convention.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kenosha

August 27th, 2020

23:04

Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times by police and the protests escalated all the way to the NBA. Gina Barton, investigative reporter at …

Optimism in 2020

August 26th, 2020

31:28

Being an optimist can seem ridiculous right now, but in the inaugural episode of The Cut podcast, host Avery Trufelman is searching for some …

Plasmania

August 25th, 2020

23:27

Covid’s hottest new treatment is plasma. Vox’s Umair Irfan explains why, and where the world stands on a vaccine.


Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is QAnon?

August 24th, 2020

22:53

As the Republican National Convention gets underway, a bonkers (and dangerous) conspiracy theory is gaining a foothold inside the GOP. President …

Unconventional

August 21st, 2020

24:39

The Democrats proved a virtual convention doesn't have to be a downer. Especially when Rhode Island brings calamari.


Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Who polices the police?

August 20th, 2020

28:38

ProPublica's Eric Umansky explains how the New York Police Department's Civilian Complaint Review Board has struggled for decades to hold the NYPD to …

Class is in quarantine

August 19th, 2020

27:26

Schools in the US are reopening even though kids play a key role in community transmission of Covid-19. Georgia Public Broadcasting reporter Ellen …

A woman’s place is at the polls

August 18th, 2020

26:00

The 19th Amendment’s centenary is today, but the fight for universal suffrage in the United States continues.


Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The mail, man

August 17th, 2020

23:37

The House of Representatives is cutting its vacation short to block changes at the United States Postal Service that could affect the integrity and …

The Island of Explained: Escape from Boredom

August 15th, 2020

23:57

After hearing from kids around the world who are grappling with serious boredom, Noam Hassenfeld and Byrd Pinkerton venture deep into the belly of a whale to learn how to have fun in quarantine.

Go to

Well, this is awkward

August 14th, 2020

21:56

The coronavirus is complicating our relationships with family, friends, and strangers. But it’s also making us better at life??

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

2020 makes no census

August 13th, 2020

23:21

The 2020 census is fighting a losing battle against the coronavirus and President Trump. NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang explains how a decade of money and power are at stake.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about …

Kamala

August 12th, 2020

21:46

Biden picked Harris. Vox’s Fabiola Cineas explains the role race is already playing in the election, and Ezra Klein argues Donald Trump is making …

The dictator vs. the homemaker

August 11th, 2020

21:24

The longtime leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is facing nationwide protests and accusations that he stole Sunday’s election. His opponent, a …

How Trump’s relief plan helps and hurts

August 10th, 2020

22:13

President Trump wants to resolve the congressional deadlock over stimulus relief by himself. Vox’s Li Zhou rummages through the mixed bag.

Transcript …

TikTok, on the clock, Donald says your time is up

August 7th, 2020

26:06

President Trump is threatening to ban TikTok, but Microsoft might be able to stop the clock. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad …

Florida’s Covid-19 tragedy

August 6th, 2020

22:51

The state saw Covid-19 coming. It still became an outbreak epicenter. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s going on in Lebanon

August 5th, 2020

22:26

A chemical blast has made a very bad situation worse for Lebanon. Journalist Habib Battah explains from Beirut. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everything that could go wrong with the November election

August 4th, 2020

21:05

A worsening pandemic. A poll worker shortage. A hobbled postal service. Russian hacking. Donald Trump. Vox’s Ella Nilsen explains the many obstacles …

Who’s “Karen?” And what’s BIPOC?

August 3rd, 2020

22:32

A Washington Post columnist named Karen explains her feelings about “Karen.” A University of Arizona linguist named Sonja explains BIPOC and the …

The Island of Explained: Election Day

July 31st, 2020

26:50

It’s Election Day on the Island of Explained! Will the candidate with the most votes win, or will the island’s Electoral College determine a …

Tim, Mark, Jeff, and Sundar

July 30th, 2020

27:47

The leaders of Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Google testified before Congress on Wednesday in what The Verge’s Casey Newton says might have been the most important Webex in human history.

Transcript at

Life after Covid-19, explained by Carl (who had it)

July 29th, 2020

23:18

Some people walk away from Covid-19 feeling fine. Others are dealing with a long list of lingering health issues.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stimulating America

July 28th, 2020

25:07

Democrats and Republicans have a $2 trillion disagreement on how to relieve Americans from the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Rural America meets Black Lives Matter

July 27th, 2020

24:26

In Bethel, Ohio, a Black Lives Matter rally became a standoff between armed bikers and peaceful protesters. BuzzFeed’s Anne Helen Petersen explains. …

Houston, we have a problem

July 24th, 2020

24:08

Baseball’s back, but fans won’t get the chance to boo the cheating Astros. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Anti-maskers

July 23rd, 2020

22:43

The United States has now confirmed 4 million cases of Covid-19. Some Americans still don’t want to wear a mask. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Biden’s $2 trillion climate plan

July 22nd, 2020

21:56

Joe Biden is tacking to the left and embracing a historic climate plan. Vox’s David Roberts explains whether it stands a chance. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Tucker Carlson’s America

July 21st, 2020

27:18

The most popular host in the history of cable news returned from a week-long vacation after his head writer was exposed as a raging bigot. The …

When the feds came to Portland

July 20th, 2020

21:59

They came in military camouflage and unmarked vans. Now the state of Oregon is suing the federal government over its policing tactics. Oregon Public …

The Island of Explained: Vaccines

July 17th, 2020

25:14

We return to the magical Island of Explained with a microbiologist and a talking moth to find out what it will take to produce a coronavirus vaccine. …

#CancelRent

July 16th, 2020

21:16

Eviction bans and expanded unemployment benefits are expiring, leaving millions of Americans at risk of losing their homes by the end of the summer.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. …

What happened to California?

July 15th, 2020

23:21

California once looked like an example of how to handle the pandemic. Now it’s a warning for other states looking to reopen.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

The Washington Football Team

July 14th, 2020

20:17

The District of Columbia's football team is abandoning the name it adopted almost a century ago. Paul Chaat Smith, a curator at the National Museum …

Stone free

July 13th, 2020

27:03

President Trump commuted Roger Stone’s sentence in what Vox’s Andrew Prokop says is a particularly troubling variety of political corruption. …

A million international students in limbo

July 10th, 2020

24:08

The Trump administration announced it would send a million international students home this week. But Vox’s Nicole Narea says the students are …

Supreme Tax Court

July 9th, 2020

21:50

The Supreme Court issued its remaining decisions today for the 2020 term, including the biggie: Trump’s tax returns.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

“SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!”

July 8th, 2020

21:38

President Trump says students and teachers must return to the classroom. Reality says this is going to be the toughest reopening yet.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Surfaces vs. droplets vs. aerosols

July 7th, 2020

25:19

239 scientists have signed a letter urging the World Health Organization to warn people about airborne transmission of the coronavirus. Professor Jose-Luis Jimenez, who helped write the letter, explains.

Transcript at

Netflix has no chill

July 6th, 2020

42:25

Netflix grew so popular during lockdown, it almost broke the internet. Land of the Giants: The Netflix Effect explains how the company has upended …

How AI makes policing more racist

July 2nd, 2020

20:55

Turns out it’s just as biased as people are. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A bounty on American troops

July 1st, 2020

22:52

Russia allegedly paid the Taliban to attack US soldiers in Afghanistan. But President Trump’s response may be the real scandal. Transcript at

Helicopter policing

June 30th, 2020

22:51

Police across the country have responded to recent protests with military tactics and equipment. The Washington Post’s Alex Horton investigated how …