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, ExplainedBiofuel duel
An EPA decision has left Iowan corn growers feeling betrayed by President Trump. Democrats are watching. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
Today, ExplainedAlaska's missing police force
A third of Alaskan communities don’t have cops. Kyle Hopkins, investigative reporter at the Anchorage Daily News, explains Alaska’s public safety emergency…
Today, ExplainedWhen killing is "necessary"
This week California passed what some call the toughest law on police use of deadly force in the country. It hinges on one word: necessary. Learn more about…
Today, ExplainedHope for Hong Kong
Hong Kong ramped up its protests and China ramped up its propaganda machine. But the conflict may have finally reached a turning point. Learn more about your…
Today, ExplainedCoal's last stand
There’s a train full of coal sitting on the tracks in eastern Kentucky. It’s being blocked by a group of laid-off miners who want what they're owed. Learn more…
Today, ExplainedEnding the endless war
This weekend in Afghanistan was one of the deadliest this year. Vox’s Jenn Williams explains whether America can end its longest war. Learn more about your ad…
Today, ExplainedDo sanctions work?
The Trump administration is ramping up sanctions on Venezuela, but it may end up hurting the people they're meant to help. Learn more about your ad choices…
Today, ExplainedThe warehouse of forgotten evidence
Reporter Barbara Bradley Hagerty set out to investigate why police across the country often fail to catch serial rapists. Learn more about your ad choices…
Today, ExplainedWhat's up with the yield curve?
Vox’s Matthew Yglesias explains why everyone's whispering about a recession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today, Explained(Don't) give me your poor
The Trump administration is about to make it a lot harder for poor people to get a green card. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
Today, ExplainedDeath behind bars
Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide is unexpectedly shining a light on the conditions in America’s jails. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
Today, ExplainedDeep fried podcast
Vox's Tara Golshan spent the weekend at the Iowa State Fair trying to figure out what eating deep fried Oreos has to do with running the country. Learn more…
Today, ExplainedLatinos after El Paso
In the wake of Saturday’s shooting, Latinos across the United States are questioning their safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
Today, ExplainedSix rivers, three countries, one Kashmir
India is escalating its 70-year fight for Kashmir. The winner gets the water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today, ExplainedAmazon Crime
What started as a push to increase mining in the rainforest led to a murder. Ernesto Londoño, Brazil bureau chief for The New York Times, explains how…
Today, ExplainedDisown your kid to pay for college
This summer’s hottest college admissions scam is parents disowning their children. The Wall Street Journal’s Doug Belkin explains. Learn more about your ad…
Today, ExplainedA Green New Deal, but for guns
Vox’s German Lopez explains why Democrats need a bold new plan for gun control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today, ExplainedReviving death
After 16 years, the Trump administration is bringing back the federal death penalty. Reverend Sharon Risher, who lost her mother, two cousins, and a childhood…
Today, ExplainedDem Debates 2: Election Boogaloo
Bernie yelled at Ryan. Biden defended Obama. Warren destroyed Delaney. Vox's Tara Golshan explains the "fight for the heart of the party" and Ezra Klein says…
Today, ExplainedLife's a breach
Capital One got hacked. Equifax is trying to make up for its hack. And The Verge’s Russell Brandom explains why you should definitely prepare yourself for more…
Today, ExplainedCoats checks out
Dan Coats is resigning, leaving a vacancy at the top of US intelligence. The Washington Post’s Shane Harris explains how his replacement may be a Trump…
Today, ExplainedWhere we’re going, we still need roads
Four of the world’s biggest carmakers have secretly negotiated an emissions deal with California, circumventing the Trump administration. Learn more about your…
Today, ExplainedNo such thing as free lunch
A school district in Pennsylvania apologized this week for saying students with unpaid lunch debt might end up in foster care. The scandal is part of a…
Today, ExplainedBoJo
Boris Johnson wanted a Brexit and now he’ll have to figure out how to make it happen. The Atlantic’s Tom McTague explains how a self-proclaimed “blithering…
Today, ExplainedMueller reports
At long last, former special counsel Robert Mueller testified before Congress today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today, Explained#RickyRenuncia
Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans are demanding Governor Ricardo Roselló resign. David Begnaud from CBS News reports from San Juan. Learn more about your…
Today, ExplainedFive years after Eric Garner
After five years, a decision on the death of Eric Garner, who was put in a chokehold by an NYPD officer, creates further questions. The Washington Post's…
Today, ExplainedHoly shit
On the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, Vox’s Brian Resnick says astronauts left something up there that could unlock the origins of life itself. Learn…
Today, Explained"Send her back"
An ugly, racist week in America came to a head last night with a chant at a Trump rally. The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer says this is a defining moment for American…
Today, ExplainedHow to solve the asylum crisis
On Tuesday, the Trump administration dramatically changed the rules governing asylum. A scholar who has helped shape US immigration policy since the 1980s…
Today, ExplainedThe Prince of Blackwater
Betsy DeVos’s baby brother made a name for himself running one of America's top mercenary companies. The Intercept's Matthew Cole explains how Blackwater…
Today, ExplainedWhat raids?
Immigrant communities across the United States spent the weekend on edge awaiting so-called "ICE raids." Reporter Tal Kopan explains what happened and…
Today, ExplainedDon't stop, make it pop
Your favorite young person’s favorite app is TikTok. Vox’s Rebecca Jennings has been spending too much time trying to understand it. Learn more about your ad…
Today, ExplainedThe government will sleep in your bed
This week, 22 UN ambassadors condemned China for detaining at least a million ethnic Uighurs in “reeducation camps.” After Gulchehra Hoja, a Uighur journalist…
Today, ExplainedA preexisting debate
Obamacare is back in court. Vox’s Li Zhou explains how the healthcare bill might finally meet its maker and Ezra Klein explains why that might be great news…
Today, ExplainedThe renegade general
Libya’s ongoing civil war has escalated into one of its bloodiest moments yet—the bombing of a migrant detention center in Tripoli. Analyst Anas El Gomati…
Today, ExplainedSwitch to Mitch
In the first Democratic debates, candidates seemed to be running against a powerful Republican who arrived long before Trump and will likely outlast him. NPR's…
Today, ExplainedKnow your enemy (Part II)
When people see Deeyah Khan's documentary about white supremacists they tell her, "The real problem is jihad. You should spend time with jihadists." She says…
Today, ExplainedKnow your enemy (Part I)
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. Learn…
Today, ExplainedEqual pay is the goooooaaaaaallllllllll!
Team USA is having quite the World Cup, but the women made headlines even before the tournament started by suing the United States Soccer Federation. Learn…
Today, Explained40 acres and a bill
Slavery reparations were once an untouchable idea in American politics, but now presidential candidates openly support it. And for the first time ever, Rep…
Today, ExplainedTwo days, Explained
Twenty Democratic candidates. Two debates. Some awkward Spanish. Vox’s Ella Nilsen hits the highlights and Ezra Klein explains why Democrats should be worried…
Today, ExplainedSupreme Count
The Supreme Court dropped two doozies today. NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang details a ruling on the 2020 census before Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains how the Court finally…
Today, Explained"Safe and sanitary"
The Senate passed $4.6 billion in emergency aid for the crisis at the southwestern border today. Last night, the House passed its own version. Aid will help…
Today, ExplainedRepublicans on the run
A landmark cap-and-trade bill in Oregon is on life support after Republicans fled the state to avoid voting on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
Today, ExplainedThe rise and fall of R. Kelly
R. Kelly is facing new criminal charges, as well as investigations that involve the IRS, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security. Jim DeRogatis went…
Today, ExplainedNever forget
The 9/11 first responders and Jon Stewart are fighting Congress for what they hope is the last time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
Today, ExplainedDrone down
Iran kicked off the day by blowing up a very expensive US surveillance drone. Vox's Alex Ward explains why tensions keep getting more tense. Learn more about…
Today, ExplainedI see fake people
Doctored videos of Nancy Pelosi and Mark Zuckerberg have Congress worried about the nation’s grasp on reality. Drew Harwell from the Washington Post explains…
Today, ExplainedChange for a 20?
As Washington gears up for the 2020 elections, it's fighting over who should be on the $20 bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
Today, ExplainedAfter the ouster
Sudanese protesters pulled off the impossible: ousting dictator Omar al-Bashir. Now, the protestors face a new adversary: al-Bashir's military. Reem Abbas…
Today, ExplainedLittle pink houses for nobody
California is the most populous state in the country, but people increasingly can’t afford to live there. Single family zoning is partly to blame, but state…
Today, ExplainedHong Kong in the streets
Hundreds of thousands of people are protesting in Hong Kong. CNN’s Matt Rivers is on the scene and the BBC's Helier Cheung explains how British colonialism…
Today, ExplainedGuatemala’s corruption conundrum
There are nearly twenty candidates vying to be president of Guatemala. Some are being investigated for corruption by the country’s watchdog court, the CICIG…
Today, ExplainedPlanting dreams
Erica Alfaro just got her master’s degree. But underneath the cap and gown is the story of migrant farm workers, a teen pregnancy, and domestic abuse. Wil Del…
Today, ExplainedMushroom magic
Denver and Oakland have become the first US cities to effectively decriminalize magic mushrooms. Michael Pollan, author of “How to Change Your Mind,” explains…
Today, ExplainedMy Brexit brings all the boys to the yard
Right-wing politicians in the UK are under attack. Delicious, sticky attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today, ExplainedCrisis of faith
Iraq’s Christian population has been fleeing the country en masse. The United States wants to help, so long as they don’t come here. (Transcript here.) Learn…
Today, ExplainedThe new secession
Wealthy white residents are trying to secede from East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The Atlantic’s Adam Harris says they’re part of a growing trend of school…
Today, ExplainedIt’s hard to ratify U-S-M-C-A
President Trump wants his NAFTA replacement deal ratified. But President Trump appears to be standing in the way. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad…