Explain It to Me - podcast cover

Explain It to Me

Should I buy a house? Why do I say “like” so much? Should Gen Z bother to save for retirement? Explain It to Me is the hotline for the issues that matter to your life. Send us your questions about health, personal finance, relationships, and anything else that matters to you. Host Jonquilyn Hill will take you on a journey to find the answers, whether it's to the halls of Congress or the local bar. You’ll get the answers you were looking for, and sometimes ones you didn't expect — and always with a dose of humor. New episodes every Sunday. Part of Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Episodes

Domestic terrorism after El Paso

ProPublica’s Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to talk about the mass shooting in El Paso and what it means to take white nationalist violence seriously. Recommended reading: “The top House Republican is blaming video games for the weekend’s mass shootings” by Jane Coaston, Vox “A question for conservatives: what if the left was right on race?” by Jane Coaston, Vox “Crush This Evil” by The Editors, National Review “Who are the Trenchcoat Mafia?” BBC News “Columbine: Whose Fault Is It?” by Marilyn Ma...

Aug 06, 201953 minEp. 336

The second Democratic debate

Ezra and Matt dissect the six-hour, two-night July debate marathon. Vox’s guide to where 2020 Democrats stand on policy Join the Weeds Facebook group! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 02, 20191 hr 7 minEp. 335

The many mysteries of Jeffrey Epstein

ProPublica’s Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to discuss the sexual assault case that’s also a political scandal and a financial puzzle. **White paper starts at 45:20** Recommended reading: “Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who is friends with Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, explained” by Jane Coaston, Vox “Who Was Jeffrey Epstein Calling?” by the editors of The Intelligence “Jeffrey Epstein Burrowed Into the Lives of the Rich and Made a Fortune” by Khadeeja Safdar, Rebecca Davis O’Brien,...

Jul 30, 201957 minEp. 334

Dysfunctional federalism

Yale law professor David Schleicher joins Matt to talk about why state and local politics don’t work anymore. Join the Weeds Facebook group! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 26, 20191 hr 10 minEp. 333

Go back to Cincinnati

ProPublica reporter Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to discuss President Trump’s rhetoric around the small group of congresswomen known as “the Squad”: Reps. Ayanna Presley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib. They also dive into Trump's crackdown on refugee resettlement and a white paper about the connection between student debt and job satisfaction. Recommended reading: “The Trump racism spin cycle” by Jane Coaston “Asylum Seekers That Followed Trump Rule Now Don’t Qualify B...

Jul 23, 201951 minEp. 332

Why everyone hates Big Tech, with The Verge's Nilay Patel

Verge editor-in-chief and Vergecast host Nilay Patel joins Matt in this special crossover episode to explain what Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which allows platforms to circumnavigate liability for user content, really means. They also discuss Elizabeth Warren’s proposal to break up big tech platforms, and how it may or may not fix anything. Recommended reading: Why the internet's most important law exists and how people are still getting it wrong by Alex Castro Facebook’s $5 b...

Jul 19, 20191 hr 1 minEp. 331

Space Force all the way!

Worldly's Alex Ward joins Jane and Matt to explain Trump's more-tedious-than-it-sounds plan for military domination of the final frontier. Recommended reading: “Trump really, really wants troops in space” by Alex Ward “Trump wants a ‘Space Force.’ We have many questions.” by Alex Ward “Trump’s call for a Space Force, explained” by Alex Ward Join the Weeds Facebook group! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 16, 201948 minEp. 330

School’s out for summer

Cristina Novoa from the Center for American Progress joins Matt to talk about child care disruptions and possible solutions. “When Parents Can’t Find Summer Child Care, Their Work Suffers” by Cristina Novoa Join the Weeds Facebook group! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 12, 201944 minEp. 329

Ask Weeds Anything

ProPublica reporter Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to answer your questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 09, 20192 hr 34 minEp. 328

A progressive case for globalism

Reed College economist Kimberly Clausing joins Matt to talk about trade and the middle class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 05, 20191 hr 2 minEp. 327

Democracy's week in court

Jane, Dara, and Matt on two big Supreme Court cases on gerrymandering and the census. White paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 02, 201951 minEp. 326

Debate Weeds: Ezra and Matt on the long-awaited Democratic presidential debate

Matt and Ezra weigh in on the first Democratic presidential debate of the 2020 cycle. Read more of Vox's coverage of the debate here: Winners and losers from night one of the debate Winners and losers from night two of the debate Matt on Warren's performance Ezra on Harris' performance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 28, 20191 hr 6 minEp. 325

What’s really going on with child detention?

Dara, Jane, and Matt on the breakdown of trust that’s driving the latest crisis at the border. Related reading: The horrifying conditions facing kids in border detention, explained White paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 25, 201952 minEp. 324

What’s really happening in Central America

Adriana Beltrán of the Washington Office on Latin America joins Matt to explain the deep roots of the migration crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 21, 201956 minEp. 323

Jamestown: Utopia for Whom

Nice Try! is a new podcast from Curbed and the Vox Media Podcast Network that explores stories of people who have tried to design a better world, and what happens when those designs don't go according to plan. Season one, Utopian, follows Avery Trufelman on her quest to understand the perpetual search for the perfect place. Enjoy this special preview of the first episode, Jamestown: Utopian for Whom, and subscribe to Nice Try! for free in your favorite podcast app. Learn more about your ad choic...

Jun 19, 201912 min

The “illiberal” right

Jane and Ezra discuss the ongoing conservative crackup and the case of Parkland teen Kyle Kashuv. Related reading: A New Consensus Kyle Kashuv Becomes a Symbol to Conservatives Who Say the Left Can’t Forgive Against David French-ism Jane’s article about David French vs. Sohrab Ahmari Against the Dead Consensus Kyle Kashuv on his Harvard crisis The Illiberal Right Throws a Tantrum Is the Religious Right Privileged? by Ross Douthat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic...

Jun 18, 20191 hr 10 minEp. 322

5 big ideas to use tax credits to fight poverty

Meg Wiehe from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy explains the leading progressive tax plans in Congress and how they differ from Trump’s tax cuts. Related reading: Understanding Five Major Federal Tax Credit Proposals American Family Act Working Families Tax Relief Act LIFT Act LIFT+ Act Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 14, 20191 hrEp. 321

Into the weeds with Elizabeth Warren

The Massachusetts senator joins Ezra Klein to explain her plans, and her plan to make the plans happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 11, 201953 minEp. 320

A user's guide to antitrust

Matt sits down with Public Knowledge policy counsel Charlotte Slaiman to explain how US antitrust enforcement works and how it might better wrestle with Big Tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 07, 20191 hr 9 minEp. 319

Trump’s tariff triple option

Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss Trump's efforts to halt unauthorized immigration through Mexico by threatening tariffs, and a white paper on private prisons. Related reading: Dara’s “remain in Mexico” explainer Trump’s plan, explained Mexican president’s response to Trump White paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 04, 201958 minEp. 318

Monetary mysteries revealed

Bloomberg’s Karl Smith joins Matt to explain how the Federal Reserve’s errors discredited capitalism and how full employment can fix almost everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 31, 20191 hr 12 minEp. 317

Building the Trump state

Jane, Dara, and Matt break down Trump's multi-front resistance to congressional oversight and increasing pressure on the civil service. Related reading: Trump vs. IRS lawyers The shift at USCIS White Paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 28, 20191 hr 2 minEp. 316

Rethinking education reform

Libby Nelson and Dylan Scott join Matt to talk about 2020 Democrats' K-12 policy Bernie's charter school plan - link Harris' teacher pay plan - link Elizabeth Warren's case against the neighborhood school - link Online charter schools are bad - link Join The Weeds' Facebook community here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 24, 201959 minEp. 315

The loneliness of Justin Amash

Jane, Dara, and Matt analyze the Michigan Republican's call to consider impeaching Trump. White paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 21, 20191 hrEp. 314

America's two housing crises

Brookings's Jenny Schuetz joins Matt to discuss subsidies, zoning reform, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 17, 20191 hr 6 minEp. 313

Make America 2015 Again

Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss Joe Biden's claim that Trump is an aberration, plus some fresh research on the macroeconomics of bankruptcy. Related reading: Biden/aberration explainer Biden/bankruptcy explainer MOVE bombing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 14, 20191 hrEp. 312

Green New Weeds

David Roberts joins Ezra and Jane to explain the policy and politics of the Green New Deal. Plus: Which candidate has the better climate plan, Beto O’Rourke or Jay Inslee? Related reading: The Green New Deal, explained David Roberts on what’s in the Green New Deal The Green New Deal critics The case against incremental climate policy Gov. Jay Inslee’s climate policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 10, 20191 hr 26 minEp. 311

Sarah's Last Stand

Dylan Scott joins Sarah and Matt to talk about single-payer's big day on Capitol Hill and some hot administrative data from Rhode Island. Related reading: CBO report Dylan’s article on a Medicare-for-all hearing Dylan’s other article on the Medicare-for-all hearing Sarah and Dylan on the different Democratic health care plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 07, 20191 hr 4 minEp. 310

Mexico: America's waiting room

Dara, Jane, and Matt discuss Dara's fresh reporting on asylum officers' complaints about Trump's "wait in Mexico" policy initiative. Related reading: Dara’s piece on asylum officers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 03, 20191 hr 1 min

Incels and bullshitters

Senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp joins Jane and Matt to share his reporting on the origins and evolution of a troubling new internet community. Related reading: “Our incel problem” by Zack Beauchamp Research paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 30, 201956 min