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Today, Explained

Today, Explained is Vox's daily news explainer podcast. Hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King will guide you through the most important stories of the day. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
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Episodes

The Senate’s $1.9 trillion all-nighter

The Senate voted on more than 40 pieces of legislation overnight. Vox’s Li Zhou explains what the “vote-a-rama” means for President Biden’s agenda. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 05, 202118 min

The Arab Spring, 10 years later

Ten years ago, a Tunisian fruit vendor set himself on fire and set off a revolution across the Middle East and North Africa. The Independent’s Borzou Daragahi says the Arab Spring never ended. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 04, 202136 min

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s “loony lies”

Vox’s Aaron Rupar explains why Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has likened a fellow Republican’s views to cancer. And New York magazine’s Olivia Nuzzi explores what lawmakers peddling conspiracy theories means for the future of the GOP. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 03, 202126 min

The coup in Myanmar

Some would say the military has always been in control of Myanmar. On Monday morning, they made it official once again. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 02, 202121 min

Introducing Chicano Squad

After the 1977 murder of a young Latino man, the Houston Police Department created a team of five young Latino officers to solve homicides in their community. True crime meets forgotten history in the Vox Media Podcast Network’s Chicano Squad. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 01, 202150 min

Biden’s latest 13 actions (in 13 minutes)

And whether or not any of it will last beyond his presidency. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 30, 202123 min

GameStock

Vox’s Emily Stewart explains how GameStop’s stock jumped by 1,700 percent this month. Bloomberg’s Matt Levine ponders the purpose of the stock market. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 29, 202127 min

The military’s far-right problem

Sen. Tammy Duckworth wants the military to do a better job of rooting out extremism in its ranks. A military investigator explains how to solve a decades-old problem. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 27, 202126 min

Coronavirus, 365 days later

One year after our first episode on the novel coronavirus, Vox’s Julia Belluz explains what we got right, what we got wrong, and what comes next. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 26, 202124 min

Marianne Williamson on healing America’s soul

Marianne Williamson was applauded as well as ridiculed on the presidential debate stage when she warned of the “dark psychic forces of collectivized hatred.” Now, just a few weeks after a lethal insurrection, a historic second impeachment, and the inauguration of President Joe Biden, she talks about the possibility of unity. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Jan 25, 202126 min

Second in command, first in history

Kamala Harris has already broken barriers, but ahead lies the rare task of leading a polarized and evenly divided Senate. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 22, 202127 min

Biden’s first 17 actions (in 17 minutes)

In his first few minutes in office, President Biden hit CTRL+Z on former President Trump’s agenda. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 22, 202123 min

46

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn in today and got straight to work. Vox’s Laura McGann and Dylan Matthews explain what will be done immediately, and what’s possible with the slimmest of majorities in Congress. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 21, 202137 min

Abolish the lame-duck period?

America’s two-month lame-duck period gave supporters of the outgoing president ample time to plan a violent uprising. Vox’s Ian Millhiser argues the long transition needs to end. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 19, 202125 min

The first global vaccination

Was distributed by 22 orphans. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 15, 202122 min

Okay, Google: unionize!

A very big tech company now has a very small union. Recode’s Shirin Ghaffary explains why highly paid workers in an anti-union industry still organized and made history. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 15, 202126 min

The people behind the insurrection

President Trump has been impeached for inciting an insurrection on the Capitol one week ago. CNN’s Elle Reeve was there and explains who was duped into mobbing the government. Plus, Washington Post’s Dan Lamothe reports on how the government plans to prevent another mob from wreaking havoc. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Jan 13, 202124 min

A step past impeachment

Impeachment won’t stop the United States’ slide towards authoritarianism. Voter reform might. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 12, 202125 min

Deplatforming Donald

First he lost his Facebook. Then he lost his Twitter. As of today, President Trump had been limited or booted by more than a dozen platforms. Casey Newton, editor of Platformer, explains the historic shift on social media. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 12, 202129 min

The flamethrowers and the fire extinguishers

Infighting among Republican lawmakers reached a breaking point this week. The Atlantic’s McKay Coppins explains why and the tough road ahead for the GOP. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 08, 202136 min

How security at the Capitol failed

Washington Post national security reporter Dan Lamothe explains how a number of agencies and politicians put together a historically bad security plan for Congress on Wednesday. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 08, 202128 min

The breach, explained by Rep. Maloney (locked in her office)

Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York explains what it was like to live through today’s violent transfer of power. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 07, 202112 min

The virus gets more contagious

Viruses mutate, but this time it’s different. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 05, 202121 min

All eyes on Georgia

Tuesday’s election will decide who controls the Senate, but the president is still hung up on the election he already lost. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 05, 202128 min

The year in revue

It's been a year. It’s been a year And after all the news We’re still not in the clear It’s been a year Can’t even remember what life was like Back before we didn’t need a mask to go outside It’s been a year Can’t even remember how it used to sound Before the streets were quiet and we had to lock it down It’s been a year 2020 The year began on fire Australia was burning And Iran was looking dire And you know you might forget it but Back in the before time We thought we’d have to deal With Third ...

Dec 30, 20207 min

How 2020 changed us

In the final episode of our five-part series, “You, Me, and Covid-19,” people look back on a very long year. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 29, 202028 min

Animals catch Covid-19, too

In the fourth of our five-part series, “You, Me, and Covid-19,” a reminder that we’re not the only animals who got Covid-19 this year. Science writer David Quammen explains why our health and theirs are intertwined. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 28, 202023 min

Dr. Fauci’s nightmare before Christmas

In the third of our five-part series, “You, Me, and Covid-19,” Dr. Anthony Fauci reflects back on his pandemic year, what he’s learned, and what he’d do differently. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 23, 202024 min

The year live music died

In the second of our five-part series, “You, Me, and Covid-19,” musicians explain how they got creative when live shows and tours were canceled. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 22, 202029 min

Moving home

In the first of our five-part series, “You, Me, and Covid-19,” millennials are moving back in with their parents (again), but they are discovering multigenerational living has its perks. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 21, 202021 min
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