Today, Explained

Is America still capitalist?

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Trump meets with Europe

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for Russia's Vladimir Putin last week. Now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has come to Washington, and...

Hacking our health

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...

Living on Mars

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

A soccer mom takes on ICE

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

"Roving mobs of wild youth"

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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. ...

What Trump really wants from colleges

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Drilling for clean energy

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 e...

What wellness costs us

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Americans are investing billions in their health and wellness. What good do all these green powders and costly club memberships actually do? This epi...

Going to Mars

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ma...

TEXAS HOLD DEMS

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Can China save our climate?

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While the Trump administration rolls back decades of climate regulation, the world’s biggest polluter is taking the lead on clean energy. This epis...

The deal with Trump's deals

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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. Th...

Schooling kids at PragerU

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

PragerU’s AI slop is the Trump administration’s new favorite educational resource for a revisionist history. This episode was produced by Gabriel...

America’s high-speed rail fail

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 wa...

This is your brain off books

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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,...

The Trumpiest judge yet

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

AI is killing the internet

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Gaza's breaking point

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

The mother of all conspiracies

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 produc...

Is tipping fair?

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Balon...

Crashing out

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 dow...

Revoking US citizenship

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump wants to ramp up denaturalization — revoking citizenship from Americans who were born elsewhere. It’s a practice with a long and c...

America’s miraculous murder decline

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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. Th...

Stop the press!

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From Stephen Colbert to Rupert Murdoch, powerful media figures are in President Trump’s crosshairs. And in many cases, Trump is getting his way. Th...

We’re setting fire to food aid

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration is dismantling — or quite literally burning up — both domestic and international food aid programs. The actions will lik...

The summer I turned into a bookworm

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Summer. Time for pools, BBQs, and the beach read. But why do we read "summer books"? This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-S...

Super mad about Superman

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a bunch of pundits acting like Superman was ever anything but an immigrant and a humanitarian. This episode was produ...

How the YIMBYs won

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Yes in My Backyard-ers are celebrating reforms to California's landmark environmental laws, which they say will bring much-needed housing. Nationwide,...

Trump's Epstein problem

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You probably shouldn't expect to see the Epstein Files anytime soon. That's because the Department of Justice belongs to President Trump. This episod...

Trump’s dork philosopher

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Curtis Yarvin began as an anonymous blogger arguing esoteric ideas about how America would be better off as a monarchy. He’s now the Trump administr...

Elon's party in the USA

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk says he wants to launch a new political party. Voters consistently say they want more choices. But history is littered with failed third-par...

Chat BFF

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More and more of us are interacting with chatbots. Can we have real relationships with AI, and can AI teach humans to be better people? This episode ...

Plastic rain

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're revisiting an episode from earlier this year about how we were mostly able to get the acid rain problem under control...only to find ourselves w...

From Alligator Alcatraz to South Sudan

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration is not happy with their deportation numbers. They're turning to more extreme strategies to hit 1 million by year's end. This...

I was told there would be deals

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After pressing pause on the steepest tariffs, the Trump Administration promised 90 tariff deals in 90 days. That deadline is nearly here but the deals...

Trump's Nobel Peace Prize

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Donald Trump he has nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize for his Middle East efforts. We hea...

Texas blame game

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dozens of people were swept away by flash floods in Texas this weekend. The finger-pointing has already begun. This episode was produced by Denise Gu...

Our complicated relationship with the flag

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar openly celebrate the American flag. But a lot of Black Americans feel differently. What does that tell us about identity t...

Disney's America

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s no shortage of fights over American history right now, but let’s see what we can learn from that one time in the '90s when Disney tried to...

Make America Uninsured Again

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If the Senate's massive tax and immigration bill passes the House it will be the biggest cut to Medicaid since the program began and could fracture th...

Unmasking ICE

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

ICE agents are showing up to immigration raids masked. The Trump administration says it's for the protection of the agents, but how does it impact acc...

Porn on the docket

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court has a long history of taking on cases about porn, including one they decided on Friday. Vox's Ian Millhiser explains how that histor...

Can we ever know our dogs?

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

So many of us believe we understand what our pets are feeling. Are we fooling ourselves? This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Miranda ...

Swole Girl Summer

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Weightlifting is the fastest growing sport among women. It's challenging how we think about who is allowed to be strong and what fitness really means....

Wars have rules

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The legal architecture that would define and prosecute what’s happening in Gaza is failing. Reporter Suzy Hansen explains how 80 years of internatio...

Burrito now, pay later

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Americans are turning to "buy now, pay later" apps for purchases as small as a burrito—it’s a symptom of a larger national addiction to debt. Thi...

Elon Musk presents: Taxis

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk and Tesla launched their long-delayed robotaxi service this weekend in Texas. The Verge's Andrew Hawkins explains why so much is riding on i...

America First (unless Iran...)

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Vox's Josh Keating and author Vali Nasr explain what bombing Iran won’t accomplish. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen and Hady Mawaj...

Sleepaway camp's nostalgia economy

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Unpacking the American rite of passage that so many children love — but that isn't right for everyone. This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz,...

Elon’s Boring town

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're revisiting an episode from earlier this year about the world's richest man and the company town he's developing outside of Austin, Texas. Like t...

Five boroughs. One mayor. Mad drama.

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New York Public Radio icon Brian Lehrer breaks down the New York City mayor's race and New York magazine's David Freedlander explains what Democrats n...

Iran, Israel, and Trump

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The conflict between Israel and Iran is revealing a deep divide within the MAGA universe over whether to get more involved or stay on the sidelines. ...

America the extreme

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This weekend saw a shocking act of political violence, a military parade in DC, and political protests across the US. What's going on? This episode w...

Let's fight over bike lanes

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A caller asks why it's so hard to make biking safe in LA. We bike around different US cities to get the answer. This episode was produced by Miles Br...

The big business of small streamers

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dropout is a smaller streaming platform where improv comedy is king. It might be the blueprint for the future of streaming. This episode was produced...

Palantir has your info

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration wants to merge all of our data across government agencies. And it's asked a controversial company to help. This episode was ...

Elon and Trump need space

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Vox’s Joshua Keating explains why the US government can’t have a big, beautiful breakup with Elon Musk. And now that he’s left DOGE, Elaine Kama...

Trump's other big breakup

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump recently blew up his alliance with the conservative legal group that helped him remake the judiciary. But the group’s leader is alre...

Fire and ICE in Los Angeles

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump sent in the National Guard to quell protests caused by ICE raids. LA Times reporter Rachel Uranga covered the chaos, which Mark Krikor...

The recession indicator game

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Press-on nails, new music from Katy Perry, and an uptick in Klarna purchases: signs of an economic downturn or no? This episode was produced by Hady...

AI Video Killed the Video Star

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Google’s new AI video tool Veo 3 looks freakishly real, but it might take Hollywood to fully harness its power. This episode was produced by Gabrie...

Baby’s first gene edit

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time ever, experimental gene editing technology has been used to treat a baby with a fatal condition. Just don’t mess with the embryos...

Black schools, red states

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A supporter of President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis was just appointed to lead the historically Black college Florida A&M University. Students...

Donald Trump's "Golden Dome"

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump wants to build a "Golden Dome" to protect the US from the threat of nuclear weapons. It’s a sign we’re in a new nuclear era. This...

The white gold rush

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The US has enormous deposits of critical minerals like lithium right here at home. So why are we looking at mining the ocean floor and asteroids? Thi...

How Gen Z found religion

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time in decades, American Christianity is not in decline. What are young people looking for–and finding–at church? Further reading:...

What Bill Belichick’s relationship tells us

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The legendary coach is getting more attention for his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson than football these days. It’s a reminder that we ...

All eyes back on Gaza

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From podcaster Theo Von to children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel to the new pope to President Trump, a strange coalition of people is criticizing Israel...

A comedian tries to fix aviation

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Newark’s crisis is coming soon to an airport near you. Thankfully, comedian Nathan Fielder is dead serious about aviation safety. This episode was ...

The minerals that rule our world

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The race to control critical mineral deposits has become a major driver of US foreign policy -- and is redrawing global alliances. This episode was m...

Methamphetamine: The most misunderstood drug?

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Methamphetamine is best known as one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs out there. But it's also an FDA-approved drug that can be used to treat...

All the sad young literary men

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Ross Barkan says young men's voices have vanished from literary fiction. Economist Joel Waldfogel offers a reality check from the world of publ...

Should women be in combat?

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Combat roles have been open to women for a decade, but President Donald Trump's Pentagon still questions whether women can be lethal. Army veteran Eme...

Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill”

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“You are tearing me apart, Congress.” This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz with help from Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-che...

White genocide Grok

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When the Twitter/X chatbot, Grok, started glitching with responses about white genocide to unrelated questions, it pulled back the curtain on the peop...

My colleague, the scammer

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

North Korea has been sending young, tech-savvy operatives to pose as ordinary American job seekers. Tech reporter Bobbie Johnson investigates the scam...

Why are my allergies getting worse?

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It feels like sneezing season lasts longer and takes more victims every year. An allergist and a public health specialist explain how to fight back. ...

How to "fix" your face

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All that time staring at ourselves on Zoom has led to a rise in procedures like “baby botox.” The Atlantic’s Yasmin Tayag explains the lure and ...

All the president’s side hustles

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ethical concerns abound on the president's first big trip to the Middle East since reentering office. But if you really want conflicts of interest, ta...

Trump’s emergency powers grab

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump has declared an unprecedented number of national emergencies. He's used them to wage a trade war, deport people, and speed up o...

Oops!... I voted for Trump

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the run-up to the election, Donald Trump successfully convinced a historic number of younger, Black, and Latino voters that he was the best option....

Is John Fetterman ok?

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New York magazine’s Ben Terris talks through his reporting on Sen. John Fetterman’s health and what it means for the future of the Democratic Part...

The drama and trauma of 23andMe

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the at-home DNA testing company 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, what happens to all the data millions of Americans handed over? And how should you...

Chicago Pope

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The first American pope's pro-immigrant views have put him publicly at odds with Vice President JD Vance. How Pope Leo XIV's ancient Catholic order co...

What did Wikipedia do?

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration is going after the free encyclopedia. Journalist Stephen Harrison explains how the site went from “the last bastion of shar...

Little Marco’s big portfolio

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A former rival of President Donald Trump’s now holds four positions in his administration. How Marco Rubio became important at work. This episode...

The two dolls economy

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Shortages are on the way. President Trump says children must live with fewer dolls and the rest of us have to adapt, too. This episode was produced...

The Harvey Weinstein apologist

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Candace Owens has found a new audience with her breakdown of the Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively saga. Her latest cause? Exonerating Harvey Weinstein....

Why is personal style so hard?

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fashion has made a big swing from a strict set of rules to the idea that we should all just wear what we want. But personal style is still dictated by...

Prepping for doomsday

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Preparing for the end of the world is a multibillion-dollar business. People are stockpiling weapons, buying luxury bunkers, and even building flammab...

No love (on the spectrum) for RFK Jr.

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Love on the Spectrum stars James B. Jones and Dani Bowman say the HHS secretary’s planned autism studies are making things worse for people with aut...

Tariffs hit like a Mack truck

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Workers at a Mack truck plant in Pennsylvania hoped tariffs would help protect their jobs. Now they are facing layoffs — and corporate is citing tar...

100 days of payback

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Vox's Andrew Prokop says retribution was one of the major themes of the first 100 days of Trump's second term. John Bolton, who had his security detai...

How Trump saved Canada’s libs

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Liberal Party was set to lose today’s election. Now, thanks to President Trump, it just might win. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy...

Retire? In this economy?!

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With 401(k)s taking a hit and the fate of Social Security uncertain, we get some advice for how to talk to the elders in your life about work and reti...

The most dangerous award

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a brand-new category coming to the Academy Awards: Best Stunt Design. A writer and two stunt performers explain why it took almost a century...

The startup that cried dire wolf

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Colossal says it's brought the dire wolf back from extinction — but the accuracy of that claim and the ethics of de-extinction are in question. Thi...

How the Abrego Garcia standoff ends

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland recounts his visit with Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Former prosecutor Elie Honig explains the three scenarios that could e...

Conclave (2025)

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We try to divine who will follow Pope Francis and introduce you to one of his many legacies: the first millennial saint. This episode was produced by...