Today, Explained

Why people cheat

31 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our fears about infidelity reveal a lot about us. And so do our reasons for cheating. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Hady Mawajdeh,...

You voted. Does it matter?

30 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Democrats talk a lot about protecting democracy, but for most Americans, the system was written to exclude them a long time ago. This show was edite...

The steroid olympics

29 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Enhanced Games are kind of like the Olympics except everyone is on performance enhancing drugs. The organizers want to push back on the shame of d...

The fall of Ben Shapiro

28 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ben Shapiro used to be the leading voice in MAGA media. His downfall tells a bigger story of chaos and shifting allegiances in the conservative media ...

Raw milk is having a mooment

27 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lawmakers around the country are trying to make it easier to access raw milk. Our co-host Sean takes a sip. This episode was produced by Avishay Arts...

Cuba, too

26 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Cuba seems willing to concede more than ever if the Trump administration is willing to take the win. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen...

Dating my AI

25 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Real-life humans are searching for love and seem to be finding it… with their chatbots. We revisit our conversation with them. This episode was pro...

Ew, are we post-literate?

22 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode from last year, we explain how a return to orality is frying our politics and our brains. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-...

Late night’s long goodbye

21 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The end of Colbert is just the beginning. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engine...

Everything is clips now

20 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An army of people posting clips of podcasts, songs, and movies has taken over your algorithm, which means everything you see could be a psyop. This e...

The Great American Road Trip?

19 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Secretary of Transportation took a sponsored road trip across the US with his wife and nine kids. Now if only Boeing could pay for YOUR family's s...

How the right embraced psychedelics

18 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The MAGA right is enthusiastically embracing a potent psychedelic called ibogaine. Its the new counter-counter-culture. This episode was produced by ...

Prepping for doomsday (or Tuesday)

17 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How to prepare for the worst while still living your best life. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by M...

The data center war

16 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a growing disconnect between a local community that says it’s being treated as the "guinea pigs" in a new industrial revolution, and Washi...

The rise of death doulas

15 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Chloé Zhao say they're training in this growing field. What preparing people for death teaches us about life. Thi...

All Quiet on the Climate Front

14 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The fight against climate change has never been more urgent, but no one in US politics wants to talk about it anymore. And maybe they shouldn’t. Th...

Is it a bad book or is it AI?

13 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An author gets her book pulled after accusations that it was written with AI, but it might not always be so easy to catch AI writing. This episode wa...

Abortion pills at the Supreme Court

12 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There are more abortions now than when the Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But a ruling on whether to keep abortion pills accessible could change that. ...

Controlling hantavirus

11 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Quarantine, cruise ships, and passenger tracking are reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the hantavirus is different, and public health official...

Chems in your cosmetics

10 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From lotions to hair extensions, the products that make us look good may also make us feel bad. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt and Pete...

"Affordability" is the new progressive

09 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What do buzzwords like “progressive” and “affordability” mean to voters? We went to one of the most Democratic congressional districts to find...

Is smoking back?

08 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gen Z is making smoking — or at least posing with cigarettes — cool again. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fac...

One billion humanoid robots

07 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tech companies are betting big on robots that look like humans and do human jobs. Why, robot? This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by J...

Is Venezuela better now?

06 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been over four months since the United States overthrew Nicolás Maduro. One Venezuelan says she is grateful for the intervention and is cautio...

RIP Spirit Airlines

05 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lessons from the life and death of America’s most beloved, most hated, most bootleg airline. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by ...

The Supreme Court's gerrymaxxing

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

States are already making changes to their election maps after the Supreme Court decided to unleash a new era of partisan gerrymandering. And just in ...

The cost of “I do”

03 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Love is in the air, but only if you’ve got thousands to throw at it. How couples are navigating the pressures and expenses of planning their perfect...

Grading America's first 250 years

02 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

America at 250 years old may need a new founding document. Historian Heather Cox Richardson drafts a new social contract. This show was edited by Ka...

The burnout economy

01 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From special coaches to luxury sleep vacations, you can beat burnout — for a price. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt and Peter Balonon-...

The Michael Jackson "biopic"

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The movie is breaking records at the box office despite — or maybe because of — moonwalking past the abuse allegations. This episode was produced...

China is winning the Iran war

29 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US and Iran still have not reached a deal to end the war, but one winner is already clear: China. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edite...

“Staged”

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Conspiracy theories flooded the internet after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. What used to be fringe is now a default reaction....

Who's afraid of teen takeovers?

27 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Teenagers are taking over pockets of American cities and local governments are struggling to deal with them. We set out in search of solutions. This ...

Burnout sandwich

26 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How to manage the squeeze of taking care of your kids and your parents at the same time. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt and Peter Balon...

This Senator has an Eric Swalwell problem

25 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We were set to talk to Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego about solving our immigration crisis. Then Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress. This show was edi...

“Having kids was a mistake”

24 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

They thought they would learn to love parenthood. They were wrong. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by G...

When your college closes

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hampshire College's closure is the latest sign of a death spiral in American higher education. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edited by ...

100 days of Mayor Mamdani

22 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's success may speak to a major shift among liberals on Israel and populism. If the Democratic Party will listen. T...

TMZ Goes to Washington

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The celebrity tabloid outlet is turning its attention to DC and supercharging a new era of political reporting. This episode was produced by Kelli We...

The case for holy war

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Secretary of Defense suggests the Iran war is blessed by God. The head of his church, Pastor Doug Wilson, agrees. Some call Wilson an extremist. H...

How to fight burnout

19 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We've been stuck in cycles of burnout for decades. Have Gen Z workers found a way out? This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen and Danielle ...

Why both sides fail on immigration

18 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Immigration might be President Donald Trump’s signature issue, but what do Americans actually think about border security and enforcement? This sh...

The secret soundtrack to your life

17 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's in your TV shows. It's in the ads you watch. It's in your TikToks. Sync music is everywhere, and it's changing the music industry. This episode ...

AI just got scarier

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Anthropic and OpenAI are proving the inherent difficulties in trusting AI companies with our future. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edit...

No ceasefire for Lebanon

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Israel and Lebanon are meeting for the first time in decades — even while Israel is still bombing Lebanon. This episode was produced by Avishay Art...

The Great American Tax Revolt

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Across the country, Americans of all political stripes are asking themselves: Why should I have to pay taxes? This episode was produced by Miles Brya...

No deal

13 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Trump sent his vice president, son-in-law, and an old business buddy to negotiate an end to the war in Iran. The war...is still going. This episode w...

Why you have to be optimistic

12 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When the world is on fire, it’s difficult to stay hopeful. But our future depends on it. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jenn...

America Post-Trump

11 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What does US politics look like when Donald Trump is no longer at the center of it? In 2028, voters will get to decide. But for now, we explore. Th...

Why fan fiction is everywhere

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Publishing houses and entertainment studios have come for fan fiction, but writers and readers want to make sure it stays weird. This episode was pro...

Kanye's comeback

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The rapper, who sold swastika T-shirts and released a song called "Heil Hitler," says he's sorry. Ye or nay? This episode was produced by Hady Mawajd...

Apocalypse Not Now

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump moved from an existential threat to a very tentative ceasefire. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al...

Mission accomplished?

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US war in Iran is reminding people, uncomfortably, of the US war in Iraq — a conflict that raged on for years after leaders declared victory. T...

When nature calls in space

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Artemis II is a historic mission for a number of reasons, including the Orion capsule’s bathroom. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen,...

Can someone explain these prices?

05 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the gas station to the café to the grocery store, we break down why things cost so much these days. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh,...

Tackling Trump’s corruption

04 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump’s blatant, sometimes open corruption is the focus for Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). This conversation was a live taping at the Am...

Quitting OnlyFans

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With the death of its billionaire owner, OnlyFans is having a bit of an existential crisis all while porn-quitting apps have never been more popular. ...

Tucker Carlson explains himself

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has not made a coherent case for the Iran war. On today's show, one of his longtime supporters makes an aggressive case against it…a...

Pushing peptides

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The FDA and RFK Jr. want to make it easier for you to take peptides. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al...

How Iran is winning

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the war. It's working. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fac...

Should we privatize TSA?

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US government shutdown has left TSA workers unpaid, airports a hot mess, and a lot of people wondering if it's time to privatize airport security....

Your accent… explained

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How you talk reveals where you’re from and who you’d like to be. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked...

Trump has lost the Iran war hawks

28 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ambassador John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, pushed for war with Iran for 20 years. But not like this. This e...

Me, my husband, our girlfriend

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Millennial feminist Lindy West's new book is about her path to polyamory. Cue the backlash — to West, her husband, and the idea of polyamory itself....

Trump vs. DC

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump came in like a wrecking ball in his second term, with a transformative vision for the nation's capital. This episode was produced by ...

OpenAI owes us $180 billion

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

OpenAI's founders promised its tech would benefit humanity. Now that it has split into a giant charity and a for-profit company, that mission has gott...

Meme warfare

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Have you seen the video of the US military bombing Iran spliced with clips of SpongeBob Squarepants? It’s an official video released by the US gover...

Attack of the drones

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Iran's cutting-edge drones are changing how wars are fought, and the US is running out of munitions to combat them. This episode was produced by Hady...

The book of Mormon influence

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From TikTok to reality TV, Mormons are having a big moment in pop culture. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto and Avishay Artsy, edited by Am...

Nancy Pelosi explains her optimism

21 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Nancy Pelosi, the longtime speaker of the House, plans to retire later this year at age 86 after trailblazing a path for women in Democratic politics....

The cult of abusive chefs

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most influential chefs in the world has been accused of tormenting his staff physically and psychologically. This episode was produced by ...

Everyone’s vibe coding

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

AI code is here to stay. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Dav...

The rage bait candidate

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

James Fishback is racist, antisemitic, economically populist, and the longshot candidate for Florida governor. He might be where the Republicans are h...

Betting on the Iran war

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are making it possible for just about anyone to profit off war. This episode was produced by Hady Mawaj...

Iran's regime, unchanged

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Iran's top leaders are dead, but regime change isn't in sight, and the US and Israel's attacks are dividing Iranians at home and abroad. This episode...

Sugar crash

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We’re obsessed with sugar. And Big Sugar is obsessed with us. How do we make a break? This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Ariana Aspuru, e...

Bernie vs. the billionaires

14 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Senator Bernie Sanders has a whole new reason to go after the world’s billionaires. We ask him about his proposed annual wealth tax and how he plans...

One nepo baby to rule them all

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

David Ellison’s daddy won him Warner Brothers. The rest of us are probably losing. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Avishay Artsy, ...

Israel has lost Americans

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The war with Iran is deepening divisions in the US-Israel alliance, on both the left and the right. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edite...

The kids in ICE detention

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration's immigration policies are taking a toll on families. No sign that the new pick running the effort will be any more moderate....

The price of the Iran war

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gas prices are spiking in the US. Markets are crashing. The whole world will pay for this war. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Avish...

Is Cuba next?

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you take the president at his word, the answer is yes. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea...

Your clutter is holding you back

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You won’t wear those jeans again. Or use that pasta maker. So why can’t you get rid of them? This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru with Avis...

A pro-Israel case against Israel

07 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s former Chief of Staff, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who's at the center of the Iran conflict, ha...

Can we enjoy anything anymore?

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It felt like everyone came together for a brief moment after the US men and women won gold in hockey, but not for long. This episode was produced by ...

Where is Nancy Guthrie?

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

No one knows. But that isn't stopping the true crime influencers. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked...

AI goes to war

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US military is using AI to wage war while AI companies are fighting about how their tech is used. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and ...

MAHA moms are mad

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An executive order regarding pesticides has infuriated some of the most powerful people in the MAHA movement. This episode was produced by Danielle H...

A man, no plan, Iran

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump got what he wanted in Iran: a change in leadership. But what he wants next isn't clear... and seems to change by the minute. This epi...

You, me, and ADHD

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not just for school kids anymore. Why more adults are getting diagnosed with the disorder. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited ...

The “Epstein class”

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

No one did enough to stop Jeffrey Epstein, including elected Democrats. Rep. Ro Khanna says they should be held accountable. The episode was produced...

The reality TV that made us

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new documentary about America's Next Top Model has people reckoning with its legacy and the industry that birthed it. This episode was produced by ...

Conspiracy theory nation

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Epstein files are giving new life to the Pizzagate conspiracy theory. American political culture has long been built on conspiracy theorizing. Th...

A toymaker who got tariffed

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

And then sued the president, and won. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea...

The authoritarian hangover

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Beating an authoritarian regime at the ballot box is hard, but rolling back its changes is harder. Just look at Poland. This episode was produced by ...

One Battle for Democracy After Another

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For nearly 10 years, Poland's authoritarian government chipped away at the county's freedoms. Here's how Poles mobilized to get their democracy back b...

Make credit cards work for you

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How Epstein fooled America

21 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

A concert? In this economy?

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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. Thi...

Sex, lies, and Kristi Noem

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The DHS secretary and her work husband who have been tormenting America. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Danielle Hewitt, edited by Am...