Today, Explained

RFK Jr.'s new food pyramid

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Let them eat steak. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boy...

Trump's Greenland obsession

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Europe is taking President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland more seriously after the US’s actions in Venezuela. But will intervention be a...

Can anyone stop ICE?

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration says Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have "immunity" in Minneapolis. That could mean few — or no — consequen...

Your student loan bill is due

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 produce...

China is winning

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 episod...

Why everyone is sick right now

11 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How this season’s flu got supercharged — and why viruses may make you healthier. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jenny Lawt...

AI music is here 

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 Mirand...

An ICE shooting in Minnesota

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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. Th...

Deported to a country you've never heard of

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How the Trump administration is using "third country deportations" to expel asylum seekers. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited ...

Trump’s World Cup

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

What’s next for Venezuela

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Internet bad

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 interne...

Are boyfriends embarrassing?

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We investigate. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and h...

The cocaine comeback

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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. Th...

A sit-down with Zohran Mamdani

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The rise of baby Botox

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More people are getting facial injections — and they're starting younger too. This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi...

How to fix blue cities

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This year Abundance went from a bestselling book to a political practice powering Democrats from New York to Seattle. This episode was produced by Mi...

The Epstein Files are still a "cover-up"

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration was ordered to release all the Epstein Files. They didn’t. Lawmakers say they are breaking the law. This episode was produ...

Is your brain lying to you?

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our brain constructs the world we hear, see, and feel — but tinnitus shows how that superpower can backfire. This episode is made in collaboration ...

Your pop music is influenced by God

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Popular music went more Christian this year, but religion has had a long history of influencing secular sounds. This episode was produced by Hady Maw...

JD Vance is just getting started

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 preside...

AI: 1 — Humanity: 0

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump's new executive order makes it harder for states to regulate AI, giving a powerful industry even more power. This episode was produce...

The Price is Rigged

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Instacart is using customer data to charge different prices for the exact same products. It's called surveillance pricing, and it means you could be p...

GOP women are over it

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some Republican women in the House are so frustrated with the leadership of speaker Mike Johnson that they're turning on him. This episode was produc...

Let AI replace you

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If AI handles all our busy work and optimizes our resources, it may also give us the one thing there never seems to be enough of: time. This episode ...

Pop culture is conservative now

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why books, movies, music, and fashion all took a turn to the right. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-che...

The ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ economy

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trump calls the idea of “affordability” a hoax. Nonetheless, he pressured the Fed to fix it. It's just one example of Trump prizing loyalty over e...

Everyone’s fired now

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on a case that could give President Donald Trump the power to fire…just about anyone. This episode was produ...

The Republicans bucking Trump

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From a redistricting fight in Indiana to a wave of GOP retirements from Congress, there are signs MAGA's chokehold on the Republican Party may be loos...

Fear and uncertainty in Venezuela

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's a waiting game inside the country, where the US is threatening military action. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al-S...

The rise of the introverts

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Turns out those personality tests you’re taking online are all wrong. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-ch...

I fell in love with my AI

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two humans — and their AI lovers — spill it all. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura...

Fishy business

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fish farms promise to grow massive amounts of seafood to feed a hungry planet, and to do it ethically. But what’s good for the humans isn’t always...

Bettor living through Polymarket

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Polymarket is making it easier than ever to bet billions on anything — including politics. But should we be able to? This episode was produced by A...

Can Rubio end the Ukraine war?

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration is trying to sell its latest peace plan to Russia — and it's enlisted the help of former Russia hawk Marco Rubio. This epi...

Data center backlash!

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AI data centers are driving up the cost of energy — and it's starting to get political. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Miles Bryan,...

The DOJ's revenge agenda

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A judge just threw out indictments against some of Trump's sworn enemies. It's part of a long year of chaos and confusion at the Justice Department. ...

MAGA’s other immigration battle

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The debate over high-skill work visas is revealing cracks between President Trump and his base. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen and...

Trump's new billionaire bestie

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nvidia is the most valuable company in the world. Major parts of the economy hinge on its success. CEO Jensen Huang and President Trump have become in...

Talk turkey to me

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How this big, lean bird became the staple of the most American of meals. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-che...

Attention deficit television

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The screens are getting smaller, and so are our attention spans. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by...

How antidepressants got political

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More young people are taking antidepressants. And there's a brewing backlash to the meds on the right. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, ed...

Can Trump help Sudan?

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two military generals are responsible for Sudan's brutal civil war. The American president just pledged to get involved. This episode was produced by...

Trump's Epstein flip

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump told Congress to vote to release the Epstein files. That shows just how eager he is to close the growing gap within his MAGA mo...

Trump can't bring prices down

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The affordability crisis is not entirely the president's fault. But he promised lower prices, and now it is his problem. This episode was produced by...

The case for renting forever

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Housing prices aren't coming down, and that's challenging us to redefine the American dream. Maybe renting isn't so bad? This story was supported by ...

The billionaire backlash

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The number of billionaires is growing. So is the call to abolish them. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checke...

The bet that's ruining sports

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Another week, another sports betting scandal. This time, it's the MLB. It's all happening because of an increasingly popular way to bet on games. Thi...

Republicans have a Nazi problem

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An antisemitic influencer went on Tucker Carlson's show. What happened next is fracturing the American right. This episode was produced by Miles Brya...

The end of dieting

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration is making GLP-1s more affordable. This class of drugs seems to have forever changed the game on diet and exercise for America...

Why Democrats caved

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Enough Democrats joined the GOP to strike a deal that could end the government shutdown. And now they're feeling the heat. This episode was produced ...

Why your health insurance is so expensive

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s open enrollment season, and new health insurance premiums are causing sticker shock around the country. So how do you pick a health care plan t...

The art of the breakup album

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lily Allen's West End Girl is a scorched-earth tell-all about the end of her celebrity marriage. It's the breakup album for our parasocial age. This ...

Your flights will be canceled

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The government shutdown is making flying even worse. And maybe more dangerous. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, f...

The Mamdani moment

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Democrats had a very big night and now need to figure out how to make it last. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Ariana Aspuru, edited by ...

Trump’s ICE shakeup

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The president wants more arrests and faster deportations of unauthorized immigrants. Which means the shock-and-awe enforcement campaigns might get eve...

AI and nuclear doomsday

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AI is in everything these days. But should it be in our nuclear arsenal? This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-ch...

That text is a scam

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You know those annoying scam texts offering an easy remote job? We find out how they work, why they're so ubiquitous, and the dark world behind them. ...

Everyone is on testosterone

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Should they be? Let’s see. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Adriene ...

Food stamp rage bait

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of Americans are about to lose their SNAP benefits. The fight over who deserves them has been juiced by online videos that claim to show reci...

Are we going to invade Venezuela?

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump is sending warships to Venezuela and bombing so-called drug boats off the coast. His aggression toward Venezuela smells a lot like the...

The AI bubble

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

And what happens when it pops. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard...

Extreme Makeover: White House Edition

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump demolished part of the White House to make room for a lavish new ballroom. The gold and glitz is part of a broader rebranding project ...

Paging Dr. ChatBot

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Patients and doctors both are turning to AI for help with diagnosing ailments and managing chronic issues. Should we trust it? This episode was produ...

Capitalism (Taylor’s Version)

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Taylor Swift reaches new heights with her latest album, which is both divisive and record-breaking. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edite...

Can you sue ICE?

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You can. And ICE's aggressive tactics are inviting legal challenges from protesters. But some recent court rulings will make it hard for them to win. ...

A test of Trump's coalition

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We visit New Jersey, where there are cracks emerging in Trump's gains with Latinos. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Peter Balonon-Rosen,...

The "I love Hitler" group chat

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When the private messages of Young Republican leaders leaked, it exposed an antisemitism problem that is dividing the GOP. And the online world that i...

The Americans with their bags packed

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration is making an effort to systematically exclude trans people from public life. For many trans Americans, it feels like an exist...

Why (some) food tastes better abroad

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We tell the stories of three ingredients that can shine outside the US: beef, bread, and tomatoes. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Pet...

Victoria’s Secret wants you back

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The lingerie brand was tarnished by its connection to Jeffrey Epstein, and by fading cultural appeal. With the relaunch of its once-iconic fashion sho...

Marjorie Taylor Greene gone rogue

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over two weeks in, the government shutdown is exposing fault lines on both sides of the aisle. Perhaps the most surprising one: the political left tur...

Is voting doomed?

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The 1965 Voting Rights Act enfranchised millions of Black voters in the Jim Crow era. The Supreme Court may be about to decide it's no longer needed. ...

What the Gaza ceasefire really means

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens next in Gaza now that a ceasefire has been reached and how the last two years might have taught the world the wrong lessons about war. T...

When young adults get cancer

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Getting a cancer diagnosis at any age is life changing. But when you’re in your 20s or 30s, it can feel like hitting the pause button on life. That’...

Should we give toddlers phones?

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What we know about early childhood and screens, including a surprising argument for introducing tech at a tender age. This episode was produced by Mi...

The campus resistance

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special feed drop of On with Kara Swisher, Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber talks about standing up to Donald Trump and what free spe...

Saudi Arabia is no joke

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Riyadh Comedy Festival was billed as “two weeks of laughs in the desert” but has comics asking, “At what cost?” This episode was produced...

Trump deploys the National Guard

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The president is attempting to send the National Guard into two American cities for two (seemingly) different reasons with two (for now) different res...

We're in our AI slop era

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Meta just dropped Vibes and OpenAI just dropped Sora 2. Both social media platforms are filled with AI videos that warp our sense of reality. This ep...

TrumpRx

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump wants to put his stamp on health care. But TrumpRx is no Obamacare. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Mye...

Is empathy toxic?

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Society teaches us empathy is a good thing. But some are now saying the opposite, and science is complicating our assumptions too. This episode was p...

KPop Demon Hunters keeps slaying

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters is a mega cultural phenomenon. And the studio that used to own animation, Disney, is watching its dominan...

Hegseth’s hectic military

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered top military officials to DC for a surprise lecture on the "warrior ethos." Chaos ensued. With Hegseth, it usua...

Shutdown for what?

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We ask Sen Elizabeth Warren why. President Donald Trump is reportedly mostly worried about the midterms. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger...

Rupert Murdoch presents: Succession

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 succe...

How Rupert Murdoch remade the world

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Who is the modern American dad?

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 father...

labubu matcha dubai chocolate

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How TikTok reshaped the trend cycle. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered...

$100,000 for a visa

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 i...

A Palestinian state

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Israel continues pushing into Gaza, a growing number of world leaders are saying they now recognize statehood for Palestine. This episode was prod...

TikTok’s new owners

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 w...

RFK Jr.'s vaccine dream team

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

A nation of jerks

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Americans seem to be getting ruder. Are our attempts at making ourselves better actually making us worse? This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy,...

Silencing Kimmel

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

ABC’s “indefinite” suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show has people worried about the First Amendment under President Trump. This epis...

Kash Patel is posting through it

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...

The Charlie Kirk revenge plot

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...

Debate or rage-bait?

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Mawajd...

Should Democrats shut it down?

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Why horror kills at the box office

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hollywood has always made money from vampires and brain-eating zombies. But this year's a record-breaker thanks to sequels, hilariously unlikely creat...