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, ExplainedOne Battle for Democracy After Another
For nearly 10 years, Poland's authoritarian government chipped away at the country's freedoms. Here's how Poles mobilized to get their democracy back before it…
Today, ExplainedMake credit cards work for you
America runs on credit. Those plastic cards we carry around can get us into big trouble — or score us free vacations. This episode was produced by Peter…
Today, ExplainedHow Epstein fooled America
Jeffrey Epstein remained a thriving member of the elite for decades, even when everyone seemed to know what he was doing. This episode was produced by Jesse…
Today, ExplainedA concert? In this economy?
A thousand bucks to see Harry Styles. Who’s to blame for high concert ticket prices, and why some artists are ditching the tour bus altogether. This episode…
Today, ExplainedSex, lies, and Kristi Noem
The DHS secretary and her work husband who have been tormenting America. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina…
Today, ExplainedThe darkness behind looksmaxxing
When streamer Clavicular bashes his face with a hammer or does meth to stay skinny, it's not just himself he's hurting. This episode was produced by Dustin…
Today, ExplainedHow Trump-style authoritarians lose
Lessons from the defeat of the "Trump of the Tropics." This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado…
Today, ExplainedPacking in protein
Protein in your soda. Protein in your cereal. Protein in your bread. In this rerun from last year, we explain how protein got added into so much of what we eat…
Today, ExplainedNo one will save us but ourselves
When crises hit, neighbors turn to mutual aid. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Avishay Artsy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch…
Today, ExplainedThe billionaire governor taking on Trump
JB Pritzker of Illinois has a playbook for fighting back against the Trump administration — and he says it's working. This episode was produced by Jesse Ash…
Today, ExplainedSkinny and sad on GLP-1s
GLP-1 drugs are easier than ever to get. But losing weight might also mean losing your personality. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by…
Today, ExplainedHow deportation broke the courts
The number of immigration cases has risen sharply since President Donald Trump took office, and DOJ lawyers are crashing out. This episode was produced by Hady…
Today, ExplainedWhen Border Patrol comes to town
Donald Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportations helped him win. But the reality of enforcement is hitting people hard. Even in red states. This episode…
Today, ExplainedAI is gossiping about you
On Moltbook, AI agents yap about their creators, trade coding tips, and wonder about the meaning of life and memory. Should we be concerned? This episode was…
Today, ExplainedThe Art of the Steal
President Trump has a track record of election interference. And now he's threatening to nationalize or even cancel the midterm elections. This episode was…
Today, ExplainedLiving in a winter bummerland
The days are shorter and colder, and can leave us feeling listless and drained of energy. When do the winter blues tip over into seasonal affective disorder…
Today, ExplainedJasmine Crockett isn’t backing down
Rep. Jasmine Crockett wants you to know she comes by her controversies and clap-backs honestly. This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda…
Today, ExplainedBad Bunny keeps winning
From the Grammys to the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny is having an amazing year. We’re revisiting last summer’s historic concert series in his home island of Puerto…
Today, ExplainedThe Epstein fallout
Millions of new documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation have been released, and it doesn't look good for the world's rich and powerful. This…
Today, ExplainedTrouble at TikTok
TikTok has new owners in the US. With claims of censorship, widespread outages, and possible algorithm changes on the way, the reboot has been rocky so far…
Today, ExplainedWhat Melania reveals
As a first lady, Melania Trump has kept a low profile. Until now. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea…
Today, ExplainedThe healthiest president of all time
President Donald Trump will be 80 this year. He says worries about his age and health are unfounded. But the evidence is mixed, and Americans are suspicious…
Today, ExplainedSurviving online cringe
The internet is forever. So how do we handle posts from our past selves? This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jenny Lawton…
Today, ExplainedEven Trump voters are mad
The polls all point to the new reality: Trump voters are disappointed in the president they helped elect, especially when it comes to ICE, affordability, and…
Today, ExplainedMillennials are getting old
It's 2016 on the internet again. The nostalgia is a reminder that many Millennials are starting to hit their first "aging cliff." This episode was produced by…
Today, ExplainedPardoner-in-chief
President Donald Trump has issued a flurry of pardons and commutations in his second term — but it's not entirely different from how his predecessors used that…
Today, ExplainedTrump's model UN
The president's Board of Peace is kind of like the UN Security Council. But it costs a billion dollars to join for life. Israel, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, and…
Today, ExplainedThey are Charlie Kirk
Young conservatives are struggling with where to turn after Kirk's assassination. Some of the options are frightening. This episode was produced by Kelli…
Today, Explained"Abolish ICE"
Federal agents killed a second civilian observer in Minneapolis this weekend. Now, the Trump administration is feeling the political pressure. This episode was…
Today, ExplainedBattling brain rot
Bland colors, AI summaries, and declining literacy rates have lots of us worried that we’re losing our intelligence to the modern world. Can we get it back?…
Today, ExplainedMinneapolis vs. ICE
Thousands of federal immigration officers have descended onto Minneapolis. The state is in a full-blown conflict with the Trump administration. What can…
Today, ExplainedYou need a prenup
More young people are insisting on prenups. They’re not just for millionaires and celebrities anymore. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by…
Today, ExplainedIs Greenland free?
President Trump has given up trying to buy Greenland — at least for now. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Dustin DeSoto, edited by Amina Al-Sadi…
Today, ExplainedThe new ICE army
Trump wants to hire a slew of new ICE agents. He's targeting fans of NASCAR, UFC, video games and guns. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt and Peter…
Today, ExplainedProject 2026
Trump has delivered conservatives much of the Project 2025 wishlist already. The Heritage Foundation wants him to keep going. This episode was produced by…
Today, ExplainedThe making of the Fox News empire
How a nepo baby from Australia changed political discourse and remade the world. We revisit the rise of Rupert Murdoch and his media empire. This episode was…
Today, ExplainedSexy TV is back
Why we’re obsessed with Heated Rivalry and hooking up on the small screen. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jenny Lawton and Avishay…
Today, ExplainedRFK Jr.'s new food pyramid
Let them eat steak. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David…
Today, ExplainedTrump's Greenland obsession
Europe is taking President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland more seriously after the US’s actions in Venezuela. But will intervention be a red line for…
Today, ExplainedCan anyone stop ICE?
The Trump administration says Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have "immunity" in Minneapolis. That could mean few — or no — consequences for the…
Today, ExplainedYour student loan bill is due
The Trump administration has a warning for student loan borrowers in default: Pay up, or we'll take it out of your paycheck. This episode was produced by Hady…
Today, ExplainedChina is winning
When President Donald Trump took office, he promised to be tough on China. One year later, China's global position is stronger than ever. This episode was…
Today, ExplainedWhy everyone is sick right now
How this season’s flu got supercharged — and why viruses may make you healthier. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jenny Lawton…
Today, ExplainedAI music is here
Most of us don't even realize it, but we're increasingly hearing AI music in the wild. This episode was producer by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Miranda Kennedy…
Today, ExplainedAn ICE shooting in Minnesota
First there was a fraud scandal involving the Somali community in Minnesota. Then, Trump sent in ICE. Now a woman is dead and people want answers. This episode…
Today, ExplainedDeported to a country you've never heard of
How the Trump administration is using "third country deportations" to expel asylum seekers. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie…
Today, ExplainedTrump’s World Cup
The biggest sporting event is coming to North America this year. Here’s what it means that President Trump will get to host the world. This episode was…
Today, ExplainedWhat’s next for Venezuela
President Trump says the US will "run Venezuela." Here’s what that looks like from Caracas, given the US's history in the region. This episode was produced by…
Today, ExplainedInternet bad
Once a place of serendipity and discovery, the internet now thrives on feeding us toxic rage bait designed to piss us off. Can we get the good internet back?…
Today, ExplainedAre boyfriends embarrassing?
We investigate. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by…
Today, ExplainedThe cocaine comeback
Demand for cocaine around the world has exploded. Production is at record highs. Law enforcement can barely keep up. Cocaine is back in a big way. This episode…
Today, ExplainedA sit-down with Zohran Mamdani
New York City's Democratic socialist mayor takes office on January 1. Can he follow through on all those campaign promises? We ask him. This episode was…
Today, ExplainedThe rise of baby Botox
More people are getting facial injections — and they're starting younger too. This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi…
Today, ExplainedHow to fix blue cities
This year Abundance went from a bestselling book to a political practice powering Democrats from New York to Seattle. This story was supported by a grant from…
Today, ExplainedThe Epstein Files are still a "cover-up"
The Trump administration was ordered to release all the Epstein Files. They didn’t. Lawmakers say they are breaking the law. This episode was produced by…
Today, ExplainedIs your brain lying to you?
Our brain constructs the world we hear, see, and feel — but tinnitus shows how that superpower can backfire. This episode is made in collaboration with Vox's…
Today, ExplainedYour pop music is influenced by God
Popular music went more Christian this year, but religion has had a long history of influencing secular sounds. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh…
Today, ExplainedJD Vance is just getting started
From Twitter feuds to memes to providing cover for President Trump, the vice president had a big year. Up next, the midterms. And then — the presidency? This…
Today, ExplainedAI: 1 — Humanity: 0
President Trump's new executive order makes it harder for states to regulate AI, giving a powerful industry even more power. This episode was produced by…
Today, ExplainedThe Price is Rigged
On Instacart, food brands can use buyer behavior to charge people different prices for the exact same products. It's called surveillance pricing. This episode…