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, ExplainedHegseth’s hectic military
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered top military officials to DC for a surprise lecture on the "warrior ethos." Chaos ensued. With Hegseth, it usually does…
Today, ExplainedShutdown for what?
We ask Sen Elizabeth Warren why. President Donald Trump is reportedly mostly worried about the midterms. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger with help…
Today, ExplainedRupert Murdoch presents: Succession
Murdoch has built a media empire that leads all the way to the White House. But nothing lasts forever. And at age 94, he finally has an official successor…
Today, ExplainedHow Rupert Murdoch remade the world
Murdoch started his media empire in Australia, sharpened his playbook in the UK, and became one of the most powerful people in the world once he came to the…
Today, ExplainedWho is the modern American dad?
Young men are more interested in becoming parents than young women are, and there's a growing number of single dads by choice. A look at modern fatherhood…
Today, Explainedlabubu matcha dubai chocolate
How TikTok reshaped the trend cycle. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by…
Today, Explained$100,000 for a visa
With its announcement that an H-1B visa will now cost $100,000, the Trump administration is proving it's willing to wreak havoc on American industry in…
Today, ExplainedA Palestinian state
As Israel continues pushing into Gaza, a growing number of world leaders are saying they now recognize statehood for Palestine. This episode was produced by…
Today, ExplainedTikTok’s new owners
The US and China have a plan for American TikTok. It involves a Trump-aligned billionaire whose family is building a new media empire. This episode was…
Today, ExplainedRFK Jr.'s vaccine dream team
Noted vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. replaced a key board of vaccine advisers at the CDC. After a chaotic meeting, they just handed down their first set…
Today, ExplainedA nation of jerks
Americans seem to be getting ruder. Are our attempts at making ourselves better actually making us worse? This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by…
Today, ExplainedSilencing Kimmel
ABC’s “indefinite” suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show has people worried about the First Amendment under President Trump. This episode was produced…
Today, ExplainedKash Patel is posting through it
The FBI director's handling of the Kirk assassination proves knowing the ropes isn't as important as being the president's bestie. This episode was produced by…
Today, ExplainedThe Charlie Kirk revenge plot
The motives behind Charlie Kirk’s killing are still unclear, but the Trump administration is mounting a crackdown on people and groups he says are part of the…
Today, ExplainedDebate or rage-bait?
Jubilee Media has figured out a way to make the issues that divide Americans go viral - for better or worse. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and…
Today, ExplainedShould Democrats shut it down?
Democrats are debating whether a government shutdown is a way to push back on Trump’s authoritarian impulses or a bad idea made worse by the killing of Charlie…
Today, ExplainedWhy horror kills at the box office
Hollywood has always made money from vampires and brain-eating zombies. But this year's a record-breaker thanks to sequels, hilariously unlikely creators, and…
Today, ExplainedWhat the right gets wrong about Tolkien
Many far-right conservatives think The Lord of the Rings is about them. They may love Tolkien, but it's very possible Tolkien would not have loved them back…
Today, ExplainedCharlie Kirk's America
The fatal shooting of conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk has reignited a debate about political violence, even as authorities search for his killer. This…
Today, ExplainedTrump's chief culture warrior
Christopher Rufo is leading a ruthless — and successful — counterrevolution against American elite culture. What does the country look like if he wins? This…
Today, ExplainedThe report RFK Jr. buried
A new report that links increased alcohol consumption to cancer was supposed to help inform the government's new dietary recommendations. Instead, it hasn't…
Today, ExplainedTrump’s new war on drugs
President Donald Trump promised to crack down on illicit drugs. Then, he blew up a Venezuelan vessel in international waters. This episode was produced by Hady…
Today, ExplainedThe United States is Southern now
From #rushtok to country music, American culture is getting more and more southern. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra, edited by Miranda Kennedy…
Today, ExplainedHamilton and Obamacore cringe
The smash hit musical Hamilton is now in a movie theater near you. But in the decade since it came out, Hamilton — and much of Obama-era culture — is feeling a…
Today, ExplainedTrump and Modi’s broken bromance
India’s prime minister was so tight with Donald Trump that they held hands during public appearances. But the two strongmen are on the outs, and Narendra Modi…
Today, ExplainedDeporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia (to Uganda)
The US government is trying to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia again. It's part of a larger war on immigrants that could lead to a smaller, poorer America. This…
Today, ExplainedTrump's "tough on crime" spree
President Donald Trump thinks he solved crime in the nation's capital. Let’s take a look at the data (which he says is dubious). This episode was produced by…
Today, ExplainedThe Made in the USA myth
This special feed drop of NPR's Planet Money examines the United States' dwindling domestic garment industry and whether it is ever likely to come back. This…
Today, Explained$250 million to work for Meta
Meta Mark is going all-out to put his superintelligence lab on superdrive. What is superintelligence, you ask? This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berbey…
Today, ExplainedFed up
President Donald Trump wants to control interest rates. To do that, he needs to control the Federal Reserve. So he's turned to a toady to dig up dirt on Fed…
Today, ExplainedThe future of vaccines
Trump 1.0 got us safe COVID vaccines in record time. Trump 2.0 is trying to take the vaccines away. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Denise…
Today, ExplainedAI took your job
Hundreds of job applications, but not one call. Young workers are frustrated, scared, and wondering where all the entry-level jobs went. This episode was…
Today, ExplainedThe golden age of exercise
Americans are flocking to gyms and fitness classes. It wasn't always that way. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy with help…
Today, ExplainedGood Bunny
Bad Bunny is having a very good summer making Puerto Rico feel like the center of the universe. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina…
Today, ExplainedTrump evicts homeless people
One of his strategies is throwing people into treatment programs without their consent. Blue states are into it, too?! This episode was produced by Rebeca…
Today, ExplainedSouth Park is not your friend
The latest season of South Park has been vicious in its critique of Trump 2.0. But the creators aren't just anti-Trump. They're anti-everyone. This episode was…
Today, ExplainedIs America still capitalist?
President Trump is threatening CEOs, nationalizing the steel industry, and demanding a cut of Nvidia's profits. There's a term for all that — and it's not…
Today, ExplainedTrump meets with Europe
Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for Russia's Vladimir Putin last week. Now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has come to Washington, and he's…
Today, ExplainedHacking our health
We track our steps and our sleep, guzzle supplements and protein shakes, and even inject hormones – all in the name of wellness. This episode was produced by…
Today, ExplainedLiving on Mars
The most powerful people in the world want to send humans to Mars. Getting there will be extremely difficult. Staying there will be even harder. This episode…
Today, ExplainedA soccer mom takes on ICE
Angie Vargas witnessed an ICE raid near her hometown. Now, she's the one chasing ICE agents around Southern California. This episode was produced by Devan…
Today, Explained"Roving mobs of wild youth"
Trump says he is taking over DC’s police to save the city from crime — it's really just another way to demonstrate power, and generate headlines. This episode…
Today, ExplainedWhat Trump really wants from colleges
It’s not just about the money. This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berbey, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick…
Today, ExplainedDrilling for clean energy
An unlimited source of energy lurks below the earth. On this special episode of the Unexplainable podcast, why it’s so hard to tap into geothermal energy. This…
Today, ExplainedWhat wellness costs us
Americans are investing billions in their health and wellness. What good do all these green powders and costly club memberships actually do? This episode was…
Today, ExplainedGoing to Mars
The president and Elon Musk still agree on Mars. Our close neighbor has captured the imagination of Americans for over a century. This episode was made in…
Today, ExplainedTEXAS HOLD DEMS
Texas Republicans want to remake voting maps to their advantage. Democrats say they’re ready to play that game too. Who wins? You have to listen to find out…
Today, ExplainedCan China save our climate?
While the Trump administration rolls back decades of climate regulation, the world’s biggest polluter is taking the lead on clean energy. This episode was…
Today, ExplainedThe deal with Trump's deals
Trump's been cutting trade deals left and right, saying they're the key to unlocking an era of economic prosperity. New data does not back him up. This episode…
Today, ExplainedSchooling kids at PragerU
PragerU’s AI slop is the Trump administration’s new favorite educational resource for a revisionist history. This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berbey…
Today, ExplainedAmerica’s high-speed rail fail
The US is well behind much of the world in building passenger rail, especially high-speed trains. But we do have one major advantage. This episode was produced…
Today, ExplainedThis is your brain off books
A return to orality is frying our politics and our brains. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers and Amina Al-Sadi…
Today, ExplainedThe Trumpiest judge yet
Emil Bove, the president's former lawyer, was just confirmed to the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The only place to go from there is the Supreme…
Today, ExplainedAI is killing the internet
In a first-of-its-kind decision, an AI company wins a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by authors. It's part of a larger fight that is remaking the…
Today, ExplainedGaza's breaking point
Israel says it will allow more food aid to reach starving Palestinians, but it’s going to be tough if the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation remains in the mix. This…
Today, ExplainedThe mother of all conspiracies
The Epstein scandal won't go away, but that won't stop President Donald Trump from trying to pivot to "Russia Russia Russia." This episode was produced by…
Today, ExplainedIs tipping fair?
From raising the tipped minimum wage to "no tax on tips," we look at the challenges of remaking tipped work. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen…
Today, ExplainedCrashing out
Everyone from Love Island’s Huda to Hunter Biden is screaming, crying, or throwing up for the cameras. The big emotions are real, but so are the downsides of…
Today, ExplainedRevoking US citizenship
President Trump wants to ramp up denaturalization — revoking citizenship from Americans who were born elsewhere. It’s a practice with a long and controversial…
Today, ExplainedAmerica’s miraculous murder decline
Over the last two years, crime rates have been plunging in cities across America. In Baltimore, gun crime is at the lowest it’s been in decades. This episode…