Today, Explained

Amy Coney Barrett’s originalism

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The judge isn’t saying much in her confirmation hearing, but Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains how her legal theory will guide her on the Supreme Court...

The case for ending the filibuster

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Even if Democrats win the White House, take the Senate, and hold the House, most of their legislation could be doomed because of the filibuster. Vox’...

The Trump Years: Deregulator in chief

09 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of our five-part series, Vox’s Matthew Yglesias explains why President Donald Trump seldom boasts about his biggest accomplishment. Tra...

Did anyone defund the police?

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In June, nine members of the Minneapolis City Council stood onstage at a community rally and pledged to dismantle the police. Council member Alondra C...

1600 Coronavirus Avenue

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After months of downplaying the risks, the White House has come down with Covid-19. Vox’s Aaron Rupar gives the updates, and Future Perfect’s Siga...

Who are the Proud Boys?

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump told a fringe group of misogynistic racists to “stand back and stand by” at the first presidential debate. Vox’s Jane Coaston ex...

It’s time to talk about Mike Pence

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump is battling Covid-19 and the vice-presidential debate is days away. McKay Coppins from the Atlantic explains the man waiting in the wi...

Contact tracing President Trump

02 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The president had a very busy week, then tested positive for the coronavirus. Vox’s Aaron Rupar traces his steps and Ella Nilsen explores the possib...

Missing Chapter

01 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A forgotten protest movement in a seaside Florida town helped end legal segregation in the United States. Vox’s Ranjani Chakraborty explains. Transc...

Joe Versus the Volcano

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

While it might feel as though nothing could be worse than last night’s presidential debate, Vox’s Ezra Klein explains what could happen if Preside...

Amy Coney Barrett

29 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee first garnered attention after being questioned about her Catholic faith. Vox’s Ian Millhiser says that at...

$750

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

That's how much "billionaire" President Trump paid in federal income taxes his first year in office, according to reporting from the New York Times. T...

Justice For Breonna Taylor (Part II)

25 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One of the three officers who shot at Breonna Taylor’s apartment was indicted ... for endangering her neighbors. Tessa Duvall from the Louisville Co...

Dr. Fauci on pandemic politics

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With mounting concerns over the politicization of federal health agencies, Dr. Anthony Fauci explains why Americans should still trust the vaccine app...

Working from work

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What do a bus driver, a teacher, a McDonald’s employee, and a project manager with a conference on her calendar all have in common? Transcript at vo...

RBG’s seat

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans appear ready to fill the seat left vacant by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the end of the year. Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains Democr...

Supreme

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The fight over Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court seat has already begun, but let’s not forget to celebrate her legendary life. Transcrip...

Class of Covid-19

18 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Colleges reopened. Outbreaks followed. Robert J. Jones, chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, explains why he still thinks bri...

ICE and involuntary hysterectomies

17 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A whistleblower complaint alleges immigrants being detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Georgia have been subjected to involuntary proc...

A firefighter on battling wildfires

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After 16 seasons of wildfires, Glen Haydon has figured out how to cope. For everyone else, there’s an app for that. Transcript at vox.com/todayexpla...

This is the future Joe Biden wants

15 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Trillions spent on the environment, caregiving, manufacturing, and the racial wealth gap: Vox’s Dylan Matthews explains how Biden wants to “Build ...

Can the Democrats take the Senate?

14 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Vox’s Ella Nilsen says the implausible is now looking possible. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...

Cupid-19

11 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic hasn’t stopped Americans from dating, hooking up, or tying the knot. In fact, lockdown has been helping people get down. Transcript at ...

What was Putin the tea?

10 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A chief political rival of Vladimir Putin has been poisoned in what Foreign Policy’s Amy MacKinnon says is a watershed moment for Russia. Transcript...

The truth about herd immunity

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Some people think it’s the only way out of the pandemic. Those people are very wrong. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad ...

A Fake News Survival Guide

08 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the election draws near, of fake news you must steer clear. For you (and your uncle), this episode is here. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Le...

The movies are back*

04 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

*But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should go see one. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...

Is the stock market bull?

03 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Vox’s Emily Stewart clears up the mystery of the market, and Ella Nilsen offers an update on the stimulus that has collapsed into stalemate. Transc...

Let’s talk about ventilation

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ventilation is key to reopening office buildings safely. But The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson says many workers aren’t going back, even when it’s s...

Is Facebook ready for the election?

01 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the company made an “operational mistake” in its handling of Kenosha militia groups. The Verge’s Casey Newton ...

Wakanda forever

31 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The actor Chadwick Boseman died of cancer on Friday, but because of Black Panther he’ll live forever. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn mor...

The Island of Explained: A Summer of Protest

29 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

All summer long, we have been explaining complex news stories to kids. In our final summer camp journey to the Island of Explained, we tackle the figh...

Unconventional (Part II)

28 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The GOP proved that laws were made to be broken at its 2020 convention. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...

Kenosha

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times by police and the protests escalated all the way to the NBA. Gina Barton, investigative reporter at th...

Optimism in 2020

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Being an optimist can seem ridiculous right now, but in the inaugural episode of The Cut podcast, host Avery Trufelman is searching for some well-grou...

Plasmania

25 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Covid’s hottest new treatment is plasma. Vox’s Umair Irfan explains why, and where the world stands on a vaccine. Transcript at vox.com/todayexpl...

What is QAnon?

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the Republican National Convention gets underway, a bonkers (and dangerous) conspiracy theory is gaining a foothold inside the GOP. President Trump...

Unconventional

21 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Democrats proved a virtual convention doesn't have to be a downer. Especially when Rhode Island brings calamari. Transcript at vox.com/todayexpla...

Who polices the police?

20 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

ProPublica's Eric Umansky explains how the New York Police Department's Civilian Complaint Review Board has struggled for decades to hold the NYPD to ...

Class is in quarantine

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Schools in the US are reopening even though kids play a key role in community transmission of Covid-19. Georgia Public Broadcasting reporter Ellen Eld...

A woman’s place is at the polls

18 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The 19th Amendment’s centenary is today, but the fight for universal suffrage in the United States continues. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained....

The mail, man

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The House of Representatives is cutting its vacation short to block changes at the United States Postal Service that could affect the integrity and ou...

The Island of Explained: Escape from Boredom

15 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After hearing from kids around the world who are grappling with serious boredom, Noam Hassenfeld and Byrd Pinkerton venture deep into the belly of a w...

Well, this is awkward

14 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The coronavirus is complicating our relationships with family, friends, and strangers. But it’s also making us better at life?? Transcript at vox.co...

2020 makes no census

13 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The 2020 census is fighting a losing battle against the coronavirus and President Trump. NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang explains how a decade of money and powe...

Kamala

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Biden picked Harris. Vox’s Fabiola Cineas explains the role race is already playing in the election, and Ezra Klein argues Donald Trump is making th...

The dictator vs. the homemaker

11 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The longtime leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is facing nationwide protests and accusations that he stole Sunday’s election. His opponent, a...

How Trump’s relief plan helps and hurts

10 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump wants to resolve the congressional deadlock over stimulus relief by himself. Vox’s Li Zhou rummages through the mixed bag. Transcrip...

TikTok, on the clock, Donald says your time is up

07 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump is threatening to ban TikTok, but Microsoft might be able to stop the clock. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about yo...

Florida’s Covid-19 tragedy

06 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The state saw Covid-19 coming. It still became an outbreak epicenter. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit po...

What’s going on in Lebanon

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A chemical blast has made a very bad situation worse for Lebanon. Journalist Habib Battah explains from Beirut. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. ...

Everything that could go wrong with the November election

04 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A worsening pandemic. A poll worker shortage. A hobbled postal service. Russian hacking. Donald Trump. Vox’s Ella Nilsen explains the many obstacles...

Who’s “Karen?” And what’s BIPOC?

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A Washington Post columnist named Karen explains her feelings about “Karen.” A University of Arizona linguist named Sonja explains BIPOC and the c...

The Island of Explained: Election Day

31 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Election Day on the Island of Explained! Will the candidate with the most votes win, or will the island’s Electoral College determine a diffe...

Tim, Mark, Jeff, and Sundar

30 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The leaders of Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Google testified before Congress on Wednesday in what The Verge’s Casey Newton says might have been the ...

Life after Covid-19, explained by Carl (who had it)

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Some people walk away from Covid-19 feeling fine. Others are dealing with a long list of lingering health issues. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained...

Stimulating America

28 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Democrats and Republicans have a $2 trillion disagreement on how to relieve Americans from the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus. Transcript a...

Rural America meets Black Lives Matter

27 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In Bethel, Ohio, a Black Lives Matter rally became a standoff between armed bikers and peaceful protesters. BuzzFeed’s Anne Helen Petersen explains....

Houston, we have a problem

24 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Baseball’s back, but fans won’t get the chance to boo the cheating Astros. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about your ad choices....

The Anti-maskers

23 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The United States has now confirmed 4 million cases of Covid-19. Some Americans still don’t want to wear a mask. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplaine...

Biden’s $2 trillion climate plan

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Joe Biden is tacking to the left and embracing a historic climate plan. Vox’s David Roberts explains whether it stands a chance. Transcript at vox.c...

Tucker Carlson’s America

21 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The most popular host in the history of cable news returned from a week-long vacation after his head writer was exposed as a raging bigot. The Washing...

When the feds came to Portland

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

They came in military camouflage and unmarked vans. Now the state of Oregon is suing the federal government over its policing tactics. Oregon Public B...

The Island of Explained: Vaccines

17 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We return to the magical Island of Explained with a microbiologist and a talking moth to find out what it will take to produce a coronavirus vaccine. ...

#CancelRent

16 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Eviction bans and expanded unemployment benefits are expiring, leaving millions of Americans at risk of losing their homes by the end of the summer. T...

What happened to California?

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

California once looked like an example of how to handle the pandemic. Now it’s a warning for other states looking to reopen. Transcript at vox.com/t...

The Washington Football Team

14 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The District of Columbia's football team is abandoning the name it adopted almost a century ago. Paul Chaat Smith, a curator at the National Museum of...

Stone free

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump commuted Roger Stone’s sentence in what Vox’s Andrew Prokop says is a particularly troubling variety of political corruption. Tran...

A million international students in limbo

10 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration announced it would send a million international students home this week. But Vox’s Nicole Narea says the students are colla...

Supreme Tax Court

09 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court issued its remaining decisions today for the 2020 term, including the biggie: Trump’s tax returns. Transcript at vox.com/todayexpl...

“SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!”

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump says students and teachers must return to the classroom. Reality says this is going to be the toughest reopening yet. Transcript at vo...

Surfaces vs. droplets vs. aerosols

07 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

239 scientists have signed a letter urging the World Health Organization to warn people about airborne transmission of the coronavirus. Professor Jose...

Netflix has no chill

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Netflix grew so popular during lockdown, it almost broke the internet. Land of the Giants: The Netflix Effect explains how the company has upended tec...

How AI makes policing more racist

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Turns out it’s just as biased as people are. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...

A bounty on American troops

01 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Russia allegedly paid the Taliban to attack US soldiers in Afghanistan. But President Trump’s response may be the real scandal. Transcript at vox.co...

Helicopter policing

30 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Police across the country have responded to recent protests with military tactics and equipment. The Washington Post’s Alex Horton investigated how ...

Lockdown, reopen, repeat

29 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hospitals are stretched to their breaking point in Texas, Arizona, and other states where Covid-19 cases are rising sharply. Vox’s Dylan Scott says ...

Justice for Breonna Taylor

26 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There hasn’t been an arrest in the case in the three months since police shot and killed Taylor in her home in Louisville, Kentucky. But now the “...

Black Lives Matter is working

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

America is undergoing a new racial reckoning. The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer explains why this time is different. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. ...

Brazil’s coronavirus disaster

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

President Jair Bolsonaro called it the "sniffles" and recommended hydroxychloroquine. Now the country has over a million confirmed cases. Reporter Gus...

A world without bail?

23 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With the wave of protests came waves of arrests and record-breaking donations to bail funds across the US, but reformers hope for a reckoning of one o...

How not to fire someone

22 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Attorney General William Barr tried to quietly push out the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan on Friday night. Then everybody noticed. Transcript a...

Celebrate Juneteenth!

19 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The celebration of emancipation is as vital today as ever. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...

A good day for DREAMers

18 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a major decision from the Supreme Court, DACA lives to fight another day. But it's not in the clear yet. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.  Le...

The return of sports

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are two ways to do it: safely or not so safely. Guess which one we’re heading toward in the United States? Transcript at vox.com/todayexplaine...

Welcome to CHAZ

16 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Some are calling six blocks of a Seattle neighborhood the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. KUOW’s Casey Martin spent a week within its loosely guarded ...

A landmark LGBTQ ruling

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court of the United States has decided the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender ident...

Copaganda

13 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After 33 seasons, the reality TV show Cops was canceled this week. Should scripted police dramas follow? Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn m...

Is this the second wave?

11 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Vox’s Dylan Scott says it’s hard to tell because the United States is riding 50 different Covid-19 waves. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Le...

Can Congress reform the police?

10 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The United States has a policing problem and Congress wants to fix it. Vox’s Li Zhou explains whether the Democrats’ new bill will go anywhere. Tr...

Minneapolis commits to “dismantling” the police

09 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Minneapolis City Council member Alondra Cano explains what the city wants to do and what might get in the way. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. L...

Biden his time

08 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Pandemic, protests, and the best poll numbers yet for Joe Biden. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...

The Talk

05 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Two mothers talk to their teenage sons about race and police brutality in the United States. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about yo...

What “abolish the police” means

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not what you think. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The problem with police unions

03 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Even after Derek Chauvin was captured on video killing George Floyd, he could still get his job back. BuzzFeed’s Melissa Segura explains how. Transc...

Antifa?

02 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump wants to blame the unrest on antifa. Vox’s Zack Beauchamp explains why he can’t. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more ...

American Nightmare

01 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Ibram X. Kendi explains how the protests and unrest are a result of black America’s living nightmare and what it will take to wake up. Tra...

“I can’t breathe.” Again.

29 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The former police officer who killed George Floyd has been charged with murder. But Floyd’s case is just one of many recent incidents of police brut...

100,000 is an undercount

28 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It could take years for all the Covid-19 deaths to be counted properly. Vox’s Matthew Yglesias explains why the Trump administration is pushing for ...

"First Hong Kong, then the world"

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

While most of the world was distracted by the pandemic, China unveiled a law to strip Hong Kong of its autonomy, setting off a new wave of protests in...