Shows / Today, Explained
Today, Explained
Today, Explained is Vox's daily news explainer podcast. Hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King will guide you through the most important stories of the day. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Episodes
- Today, Explained
The fake nation of Kailasa
Newark officials rescinded a sister city agreement with the United States of Kailasa after finding out it wasn’t actually a real place. Reporter Sushmita…
- Today, Explained
How an AI pope pic fooled us
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 explains how…
- Today, Explained
The Israeli-Israeli conflict
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 democracy…
- Today, Explained
New Mexico low-key fixes child care
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…
Today, ExplainedCity Limits: Should public transit be free?
Transit agencies nationwide are facing an existential crisis. Washington, DC’s city council has a paradoxical solution: make subways and buses free. This…
- Today, Explained
Rep. Frost and David Hogg on what Gen Z wants
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…
- Today, Explained
A tents standoff at the VA
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…
- Today, Explained
The US is obsessed with China
There’s rare bipartisan consensus in Washington: China is a threat to be countered. Cornell professor Jessica Chen Weiss says the American approach could lock…
- Today, Explained
7,300 days
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…
Today, ExplainedCity Limits: Beware the Doom Loop
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…
- Today, Explained
The “Lean In” era is over
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…
- Today, Explained
The Republicans breaking up with Tucker Carlson
The Fox News host aired a splashy exclusive this month about the January 6 insurrection. Some Republican senators saw his coverage — and publicly called…
- Today, Explained
The kids defying family court
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…
- Today, Explained
Silicon Valley Bank goes bust
SVB’s collapse is the biggest bank failure since 2008. Insider’s Ben Bergman explains why the bank collapsed, why the Biden administration intervened, and what…
- Today, Explained
Top Fun: Oscars vs. blockbusters
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 week…
- Today, Explained
The war on drag
Melissa Brown, a state politics reporter for The Tennessean, spills the tea on Tennessee’s new drag restrictions. And drag performer Bella DuBalle promises the…
- Today, Explained
Congress is daddy
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 hosted by…
- Today, Explained
Auditing Ukraine
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 episode was…
- Today, Explained
How to save a murderer
Should past trauma prevent a convicted killer from being executed? The Marshall Project’s Maurice Chammah reports on “mitigation specialists” who try to save…
- Today, Explained
The fight for affordable insulin
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 pharmaceutical…
- Today, Explained
The rockstar maestro
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 classical…
- Today, Explained
Why newspapers fired Dilbert
Newspapers across the country pulled the long-running comic “Dilbert” after its creator uploaded a racist tirade about Rasmussen poll results. Journalist Chris…
- Today, Explained
Block the sun, save the earth?
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 on whether…
- Today, Explained
Biden’s border orders
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…
- Today, Explained
The shadow war on Russian yachts
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 Miles…
- Today, Explained
Another phone call from Ukraine
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 Chamberlin…
- Today, Explained
Pharrell Vuitton
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 never get…
- Today, Explained
Just how dangerous is the Ohio train crash?
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…
- Today, Explained
Ban TikTok?
Politicians across the United States are calling for an outright ban on the popular social media platform. Alex Heath, deputy editor at The Verge, explains how…
- Today, Explained
Honey, they stole the bees
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 —…
- Today, Explained
Turkey's man-made catastrophe
Thousands of buildings collapsed after Turkey’s massive earthquakes. Now President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is facing a backlash for an amnesty program that gave…
- Today, Explained
Nikki Haley kicks off a Republican mutiny
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 Republicans to…
- Today, Explained
Democratizing spying
“Zero-click spyware” is making it easier for governments to get their hands on individuals’ personal data. New York Times investigative reporter Mark Mazzetti…
- Today, Explained
Pow pow power grid
Attacks on vulnerable electrical infrastructure are surging. The tactic — embraced by everyone from copper-seeking vandals to chaos-minded white nationalists —…
- Today, Explained
The great American cattle swindle
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…
- Today, Explained
Decisions after Dobbs
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…
- Today, Explained
One earthquake, two recoveries
Turkey is digging itself out from the devastating earthquake that has killed thousands across the country. Recovery efforts have been more difficult in…
- Today, Explained
The fight over AP African American Studies
The College Board piloted an AP course on African American Studies. Then, after conservative pushback, it debuted a revised curriculum. But the group insists…
- Today, Explained
Hullaballoon
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, fact-checked by…
- Today, Explained
Paying ex-gang members to stop shootings
Policymakers across the country are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on “violence interruptor” programs to try to stop shootings before they happen…
- Today, Explained
Sickened chickens
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 Benji Jones…
- Today, Explained
Dry February?
New national health guidelines in Canada say any amount of alcohol consumption could lead to serious health risks. The guidance comes as more and more young…
- Today, Explained
The police killing of Tyre Nichols
Memphis braced for an explosive reaction to footage of the deadly police beating. It never came. Wendi C. Thomas of the nonprofit newsroom MLK50: Justice…
- Today, Explained
“Okay, Google, what’s a monopoly?”
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 suit could…
- Today, Explained
Why are businesses acting like there’s a recession?
Wealthy companies like Google and Microsoft are announcing unprecedented layoffs — all while the economy is trending in the right direction. Vox’s Emily…
- Today, Explained
Peru’s democracy crisis
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…
- Today, Explained
Fine dining isn’t fine
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 establishment…
- Today, Explained
Why Mexico’s top cop is on trial in NYC
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…
- Today, Explained
Thanks but no tanks, Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine desperately needs tanks to fight Russia. The US, which has provided many other weapons, is refusing. This episode…
- Today, Explained
The politics of India’s biggest blockbusteRRR
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 been…
- Today, Explained
It’s debt ceiling season
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 begin with…
- Today, Explained
The half-baked gas stove debate
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 Avishay…
- Today, Explained
Compost yourself
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…
- Today, Explained
What’s up, docs?
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 Peterous…
- Today, Explained
Too much water for California
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…
- Today, Explained
The Taliban vs. women
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 episode…
- Today, Explained
Brazil’s January 6?
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 Collette…
- Today, Explained
Andrew Tate: The king of toxic masculinity
Controversial manfluencer Andrew Tate is in a Romanian prison, accused of rape and human trafficking. Vox’s Rebecca Jennings and sociolinguist Robert Lawson…
- Today, Explained
Will Kevin McCarthy become speaker?
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 decade-long…
- Today, Explained
Why we’re all on antidepressants
Ray Osheroff was a successful doctor in the DC area until his depression became debilitating. The way he was treated — and not treated — changed psychiatry…