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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

Supreme

The fight over Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court seat has already begun, but let’s not forget to celebrate her legendary life. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 21, 202031 min

Class of Covid-19

Colleges reopened. Outbreaks followed. Robert J. Jones, chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, explains why he still thinks bringing students back was the right decision. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 18, 202026 min

ICE and involuntary hysterectomies

A whistleblower complaint alleges immigrants being detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Georgia have been subjected to involuntary procedures — including hysterectomies. Vox’s Nicole Narea explains. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 17, 202021 min

A firefighter on battling wildfires

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/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 16, 202024 min

This is the future Joe Biden wants

Trillions spent on the environment, caregiving, manufacturing, and the racial wealth gap: Vox’s Dylan Matthews explains how Biden wants to “Build Back Better.” Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Vox Media is conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Find it here: voxmedia.com/podsurvey . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Sep 15, 202024 min

Can the Democrats take the Senate?

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

Sep 14, 202025 min

Cupid-19

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 vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 11, 202024 min

What was Putin the tea?

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 at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 10, 202021 min

The truth about herd immunity

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 choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 09, 202020 min

A Fake News Survival Guide

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 08, 202023 min

The movies are back*

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

Sep 04, 202027 min

Is the stock market bull?

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. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 03, 202021 min

Let’s talk about ventilation

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 safer. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 02, 202025 min

Is Facebook ready for the election?

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the company made an “operational mistake” in its handling of Kenosha militia groups. The Verge’s Casey Newton explains whether that has implications for November’s election. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 01, 202023 min

Wakanda forever

The actor Chadwick Boseman died of cancer on Friday, but because of Black Panther he’ll live forever. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 31, 202020 min

The Island of Explained: A Summer of Protest

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 fight for racial justice in the United States. Go to vox.com/todayexplainedkids for a discussion guide on implicit bias and the role it plays in our communities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Aug 29, 202026 min

Unconventional (Part II)

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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 28, 202026 min

Kenosha

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 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, explains. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 27, 202022 min

Optimism in 2020

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-grounded positivity. She finds it in conversation with Cheer’s La’Darius Marshall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 26, 202031 min

Plasmania

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/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 25, 202022 min

What is QAnon?

As the Republican National Convention gets underway, a bonkers (and dangerous) conspiracy theory is gaining a foothold inside the GOP. President Trump appears to be okay with it. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 24, 202022 min

Unconventional

The Democrats proved a virtual convention doesn't have to be a downer. Especially when Rhode Island brings calamari. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 21, 202024 min

Who polices the police?

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 account. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 20, 202029 min

Class is in quarantine

Schools in the US are reopening even though kids play a key role in community transmission of Covid-19. Georgia Public Broadcasting reporter Ellen Eldridge explains how going back to school in her state became a national controversy. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 19, 202026 min

A woman’s place is at the polls

The 19th Amendment’s centenary is today, but the fight for universal suffrage in the United States continues. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 18, 202025 min

The mail, man

The House of Representatives is cutting its vacation short to block changes at the United States Postal Service that could affect the integrity and outcome of the election. Rep. Gerry Connolly explains why he's going a step further and calling for the postmaster general to resign. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Aug 17, 202023 min

The Island of Explained: Escape from Boredom

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 whale to learn how to have fun in quarantine. Go to vox.com/todayexplainedkids for some laugh out loud activities that will help you say goodbye to boredom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Aug 15, 202023 min

Well, this is awkward

The coronavirus is complicating our relationships with family, friends, and strangers. But it’s also making us better at life?? Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Aug 14, 202022 min

2020 makes no census

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 power are at stake. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Aug 13, 202023 min

Kamala

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 things easy for his opponents. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Aug 12, 202021 min
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