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

Trump's peddling a fake Covid-19 cure

Jane, Dara, and Matt on convalescent plasma, FDA reform, and the politics of science. Resources: "Trump used a rare disease survivor to take a shot at the FDA" by Julia Belluz, Vox "Making American Great Again–The FDA" by Alex Tabarrok, Marginal Revolution "Reopening schools safely is going to take much more federal leadership" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox "Straight talk on the FDA’s tumultuous weekend — and new questions about its independence" by Adam Feuerstein & Matthew Herper, Stat News One Bil...

Aug 25, 202050 minEp. 450

Democratic convention special

Ezra and Matt stay up late to review Joe Biden's big speech and the Democrats' big week. Resources: "Obama’s Convention Speech Is the First Time I Have Seen Him Scared" by Jonathan Chait, NY Mag "The tragedy of Hillary Clinton" by Ezra Klein, Vox Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production Want to support The Weeds? Please ...

Aug 21, 20201 hr 4 minEp. 449

WTF is happening with USPS

Jane, Dara, and Matt on the health and history of the postal service, the political games being played, and what it means for November's election. Resources: "The Post Office Mess Is Meant to Exhaust You. Don’t Let It." by Charlie Warzel, New York Times "On the Post Office 'sabotage'" by Jay Caruso, The Monday Notice "Why We Should Love The Post Office" by Addison Del Mastro, The American Conservative "USPS badly needs an overhaul, but not smack in the middle of the Trump-Biden campaign" by Paul...

Aug 18, 202055 minEp. 448

What the hell is the Republican party doing?

Ezra and Matt on Republican policy nihilism and the Kamala Harris pick. Resources: "Kamala Harris Is Biden’s Choice for Vice President" by Alexander Burns and Katie Glueck, NYT "How inequality and white identity politics feed each other" with Paul Pierson and Jacob Hacker, Ezra Klein Show podcast Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Ne...

Aug 14, 202058 minEp. 447

What is the economy, stupid?

Vox's Emily Stewart joins Dara and Jane to discuss the relationship between "the market" and the "real economy." Resources: "The Stock Market Is an Engine of Civic Destruction" by Libby Watson, New Republic "Who gets to be reckless on Wall Street?" by Emily Stewart, Vox Hosts: Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox Emily Stewart (@EmilyStewartM), Reporter, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer The Weeds...

Aug 11, 202045 minEp. 446

Veepstakes

Ezra and Matt on Susan Rice, Kamala Harris, and Trump’s increasingly chaotic authoritarianism. Resources: "What we know about Joe Biden’s possible vice presidential picks" by Ella Nilsen, Vox "Harris allies granted call with Biden campaign after Dodd blowup" by Christopher Cadelago & Natasha Korecki, Politico "Think the world is on fire? Obama’s national security adviser says things are better than ever." by Zack Beauchamp, Vox "How inequality is changing the Republican Party — and breaking Amer...

Aug 07, 202053 minEp. 445

The stimulus standoff

Jane, Dara, and Matt on the congressional deadlock over economic aid. Resources: "“The jobs aren’t there”: Why cutting off enhanced unemployment benefits would leave workers in the lurch" by Li Zhou, Vox "Senate GOP Coronavirus Bill Has Some Good Provisions but Needs Serious Work" by Adam Michel, Rachel Greszler, Lindsey M. Burke, & Brian Finch, Heritage Foundation "The Zombie Reaganism Trap" by Peter Spiliakos, National Review White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Corresponde...

Aug 04, 202059 minEp. 444

The Great Awokening

John McWhorter joins Matt to discuss the changing way we talk about racism in America. Resources: "“Latinx” is growing in popularity. I made a comic to help you understand why." by Terry Blas, Vox "Racist Police Violence Reconsidered" by John McWhorter, Quillette "The Virtue Signalers Won’t Change the World" by John McWhorter, The Atlantic "The Dehumanizing Condescension of White Fragility" by John McWhorter, The Atlantic "‘This Is How We Lost to the White Man’" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic...

Jul 31, 20201 hr 11 minEp. 443

Trafficking, and trafficking panics

Dara, Jane, and Matt on Wayfair, massage parlors, and reality. Resources: "The modeling industry is filled with exploitation—this labor activist is fighting back" by Sara Ziff, Fast Company "American Airlines Reportedly Accused a Black Social Worker of Kidnapping the White Child In Her Care. Now She's Suing." by Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Reason "Sen. Josh Hawley Says He 'Took on an Asian Trafficking Ring' and 'Freed a Dozen Women in Sex Slavery.' That's Not True." by Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Reason "...

Jul 28, 202053 minEp. 442

The evidence on crime and policing

Texas A&M's Jennifer Doleac joins Matt to explain what we know (and don't know) about criminal justice. Resources: "How to Fix Policing" by Jennifer Doleac, Niskanen Center "How to Make a Police Force More Diverse" by Jennifer Doleac, Bloomberg "Changing Police Recruitment Messages Attracts a Larger and More Diverse Applicant Pool" by Jennifer Doleac, CCJ "Making Fair and Respected Cops: Procedural Justice Training in Chicago Proves Successful" by Jennifer Doleac, CCJ "Encouraging desistance fro...

Jul 24, 202059 minEp. 441

Bad for the Jews?

Dara, Jane, and Matt on Nick Cannon, Louis Farrakhan, and antisemitic conspiracy theories. Resources: "The conspiracy theories behind the anti-Semitic violence in New York" by Jane Coaston, Vox "Nick Cannon let go by ViacomCBS over anti-Semitic comments" by Lisa Respers France, CNN "Calling out racism and anti-Semitism is a responsibility" by David Love, CNN "Black Demagogues and Pseudo-Scholars" by Henry Louis Gates Jr., NYT "July 20, 1992: Bias Is Poison" by Henry Louis Gates Jr., NYT "Why Tam...

Jul 21, 20201 hr 2 minEp. 440

Biden reloaded

Ezra and Matt on Joe Biden’s unification strategy with the left. Resources: BIDEN-SANDERS UNITY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS "How Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders joined forces to craft a bold, progressive agenda" by Ella Nilsen, Vox "It’s time to move past employer-based health insurance" by Ezra Klein, Vox Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer The Weeds is a Vox Media Podc...

Jul 17, 20201 hr 8 minEp. 439

School’s out for Covid

Jane, Dara, and Matt on the school reopening debate and the political consequences of HIV/AIDS. Resources: "The debate over reopening America’s K-12 schools, explained" by Anna North, Vox "I’m an epidemiologist and a dad. Here’s why I think schools should reopen." by Benjamin P. Linas, Vox "‘I Don’t Want to Go Back’: Many Teachers Are Fearful and Angry Over Pressure to Return" by Dana Goldstein and Eliza Shapiro, NYT "In D.C. wards hit hardest by covid-19, sending kids to school is a risk some p...

Jul 14, 20201 hr 1 minEp. 438

The Covid resurgence

Ezra and Matt on how America failed while the world made progress on the pandemic, and what on earth is going on with the republican party. Resources: "Reopening schools safely is going to take much more federal leadership" by Matthew Yglesias "Trumpism, not polarization, drives America’s disastrous coronavirus politics" by Ezra Klein Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Produ...

Jul 10, 202054 minEp. 437

Contagious enthusiasm

Dara, Jane, and Matt on Biden’s excitement gap. Resources: "So … About That Supposed Lack Of Enthusiasm For Biden?" Five Thirty Eight "Social conservatives feel betrayed by the Supreme Court — and the GOP that appointed it" by Jane Coaston, Vox "Trump’s surprising resilience with Hispanic voters, explained" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ...

Jul 07, 20201 hr 4 minEp. 436

Land of the Giants: The Netflix Effect

Land of the Giants is a podcast from our friends at Recode and the Vox Media Podcast Network that examines the most powerful tech companies of our time. The second season is called The Netflix Effect, and it’s hosted by Recode editors Rani Molla and Peter Kafka. The Netflix Effect explores how a company that began as a small DVD-by-mail service ultimately upended Hollywood and completely changed the way we watch TV. It’s a fascinating look at what really goes on behind the scenes at Netflix, one...

Jul 03, 202023 minEp. 435

The war on bad statues

Jane, Dara, and Matt on Confederate Memorials, Woodrow Wilson, and the battle for historical memory. Resources: "Woodrow Wilson was extremely racist — even by the standards of his time" by Dylan Matthews, Vox "Inside the growing movement to ditch Columbus Day and celebrate Native Americans instead" by Victoria M. Massie, Vox "The battle over Confederate statues, explained" by German Lopez, Vox White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Se...

Jun 30, 20201 hr 2 minEp. 434

The Veepstakes

Ezra and Matt on Warren, Abrams, Harris, and the Tammies and the links between racial and economic justice. Resources: "The Second Defeat of Bernie Sanders" by Ross Douthat, NYT "The Black-White Wage Gap Is as Big as It Was in 1950" by David Leonhardt, NYT "What is Owed" by Nikole Hannah-Jones, NYT "The Triumph of Black Lives Matter and Neoliberal Redemption" by Cedric Johnson, Nonsite.org Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large...

Jun 26, 202056 minEp. 433

Talking about talking

Jane, Dara, and Matt explain “intersectional,” “structural” and the new language of identity discourse. Resources: "The intersectionality wars" by Jane Coaston, Vox "The Origins of “Privilege”" by Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker "Toward Black Liberation " National Humanities Center White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_ge...

Jun 23, 202044 minEp. 432

The legal doctrine that protects brutal policing

Cato's Clark Neily joins Jane to discuss Qualified Immunity - where is came from, why it exists, and what's being done to eliminate it. Clark details how the Supreme Court invented the civil doctrine to protect public workers from personal liability, and details hows it's being used to cloak police officers from being held accountable for unlawful practices. *This interview was recorded on Monday, June 15th 2020 Relevant cases: Amy Corbitt, Petitioner v. Michael Vickers, United States Court of A...

Jun 19, 202044 minEp. 431

Fixing the police

Jane, Dara, and Matt on what we know about police reform and its limits Resources: "Unbundle the Police" by Derek Thompson, The Atlantic "Why Are the Police in Charge of Road Safety?" by Alex Tabarrok, Marginal Revolution Collective Bargaining Rights and Police Misconduct: Evidence from Florida, by Dhammika Dharmapala, Richard H. McAdams, & John Rappaport, University of Chicago Reducing Racial Disparities in Crime Victimization, by Anna Harvey & Taylor Mattia, NYU The Impact of Racial and Ethnic...

Jun 16, 20201 hr 13 minEp. 430

America gives up on Covid-19

Ezra and Matt on the return of a virus that never went away. Resources: "America Is Giving Up on the Pandemic" by Alexis C. Madrigal & Robinson Meyer, WaPo "14 states and Puerto Rico hit highest seven-day average of new coronavirus infections" by Kim Bellware & Jacqueline Dupree, WaPo "How Trump uses a crisis: Repeal rules while nobody is looking" by Rachel Augustine Potter, WaPo Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Cred...

Jun 12, 202053 minEp. 429

After George Floyd

Jane, Dara, and Matt on America's dual reckonings with racism and police impunity Resources: "It's Time To Bust Police Unions" by Peter Suderman, Reason "Libertarianism For Me, Authoritarianism For Thee" by Chris Arnade, American Compass A Colony in a Nation by Chris Hayes "10 Events that Shaped Cincinnati: Timothy Thomas is Shot and Killed" by Cedric Rose, Cincinnati Magazine "The data proves that school segregation is getting worse" by Alvin Chang, Vox "NYC delays controversial rezoning of 7 B...

Jun 09, 20201 hr 5 minEp. 428

Defund the police?

Ezra and Matt on reformism vs radicalism and reimagining law enforcement Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer Jackson Bierfeldt, Editor Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts About Vox Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Follow Us: Vox.co...

Jun 05, 202055 minEp. 427

The global class war

Barron's economics commentary Matt Klein explains what's really behind international trade conflicts Guest: Matthew C. Klein (@M_C_Klein) Senior Writer, Barrons and author of Trade Wars Are Class Wars Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week. About Vox Vox is a news network that helps ...

Jun 02, 20201 hr 15 minEp. 426

Tweeting through it

Ezra and Matt on Trump's war on social media, plus Joe Biden's policy agenda. *This episode was recorded on Thursday, May 28th, 2020. Resources: "Twitter Must Cleanse the Trump Stain" by Kara Swisher, NYT "Joe Biden has a plan for that" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production Want to support The...

May 29, 20201 hrEp. 425

Joe Biden ain't black

Jane, Dara, and Matt on gaffes and the racial politics of 2020 Resources: "Do Joe Biden’s “you ain’t black” comments ultimately matter?" by Fabiola Cineas, Vox White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production Want to support The Weeds? Please consider ma...

May 26, 20201 hr 1 minEp. 424

The stimulus failure

Ezra and Matt on Trump's pseudo-federalism and Pelosi's strange aversion to automatic stabilizers. Resources: "Nancy Pelosi says Democrats opted against putting federal aid on autopilot in their $3 trillion coronavirus spending package to avoid amplifying sticker shock" by Joseph Zeballos-Roig, Business Insider "Trump Rewrites the Book on Emergencies" by Christopher DeMuth, WSJ "Federalism Is an Asset" by Danielle Allen, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Josh Simons, & Carmel Shachar, Harvard References: Re...

May 22, 202054 minEp. 423

Actual enumeration

Dara, Jane, and Matt take a look at America's first pandemic Census. Resources: "The pandemic may leave communities of color undercounted in the census — and cost them billions" by Donna M. Owens, Vox "Trump is still trying to collect citizenship data for redistricting" by Nicole Narea, Vox "A once-in-a-century pandemic collides with a once-in-a-decade census" by Andrew Whitby, Brookings "Over a million Hispanics turned white between the 2000 and 2010 Census" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox White paper...

May 19, 202054 minEp. 422

The psychology of opening up

Ezra and Matt on the deep roots (or not) of the lockdown debate. Resources: "Experts’ 7 best ideas on how to beat Covid-19 and save the economy" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox "This drawing explains a surprising amount about your political views" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox "America’s coronavirus testing numbers are really improving — finally" by German Lopez "The Density Divide" by Will Wilkinson, Niskanen Center "Trump Rewrites the Book on Emergencies" by Christopher DeMuth, WSJ "Without More Tests, Am...

May 15, 202058 minEp. 421