Explain It to Me

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Episodes

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Explain It to Me

Is my dentist scamming me? Why do political campaigns cost so much? Should Gen Z bother to save for retirement? Explain It To Me is the hotline for all your unanswered questions. Sometimes explanations are hard to find, misinformation is rampant, and those internet searches and AI asks can come up empty. Call 1-800-618-8545 with what’s on your mind, and host Jonquilyn Hill will be your friendly guide to the answers you're looking for — and maybe even the ones you don’t expect. New episodes every Wednesday starting September 18. Part of Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Episodes

The reparations primary

Dara, Jane, and Matt on the unexpected issue of the moment, plus Swedish administrative data on what makes a CEO. Suggested reading: White Paper Original Ta-Nehisi Coates essay on reparations We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 19, 2019•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Live Weeds with Julián Castro

Dara, Jane, and Matt sit down with the former US secretary of housing and urban development and 2020 presidential candidate, live from South by Southwest. We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 15, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Introducing Switched on Pop

Vox takes culture seriously. Our coverage seeks to understand how our cultural touchstones work — and what they reveal about who we are. That's why we’re excited to introduce you to Switched on Pop. It's a podcast that digs into the cultural context and musical theory of pop music, and it's now part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. In this episode, you'll meet hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding. You'll hear some of their favorite interviews, as they pull back the curtain on how pop hits work ...

Mar 13, 2019•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Live Weeds with Pete Buttigieg

Dara, Jane, and Matt sit down with the South Bend, Indiana, mayor and presidential candidate, live from South by Southwest. We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 12, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast

The long con

Jane and Matt discuss Jacob Wohl and the intermingling of grift and conservative politics. Jane's article on Jacob Wohl Iraqi dinar on YouTube Casey Newton's newsletter - The Interface We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 08, 2019•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast

But seriously, how are you going to pay for it?

Sarah, Dylan, and Matt discuss Pramila Jayapal’s Medicare-for-all bill, its lack of pay-fors, and an interesting white paper on income transparency. Sarah on private insurance in other countries Dylan's interview with Matt Bruenig Sarah's interview with Rep. Jayapal on her bill White paper We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF Learn more ab...

Mar 05, 2019•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast

The Weeds fixes racism

Jane, Dara, and Matt excavate the most contentious moment in the Cohen hearing in a hunt for "racist bones." Recommended reading:Dara on the Meadows/Tlaib standoff Jane on Steve King Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 01, 2019•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Amy Klobuchar and the Jill Robinson effect

Sarah and Matt discuss the recent spate of stories about the Minnesota senator — and an announcement from Ezra! Relevant articles: Paper on the Jill Robinson Effect Buzzfeed Klobuchar story Huffington Post Klobuchar story Kelsey Piper story on the fake white paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 26, 2019•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Day care for all!

Sarah, Dara, and Matt discuss Elizabeth Warren's universal child care plan — and the other options on the table. Relevant articles: Alvin Chang wealth tax explainer Jonathan Cohn day care story Quebec day care study Warren's child care plan The Family Fun Pack Head Start negative evaluation Head Start positive evaluation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 22, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Collusion and the Mueller endgame

Andrew Prokop joins Dara and Matt to explain what we've learned from the latest developments in the Russia investigation. Andrew's article on Jerome Corsi's unreliable book Article on the redacted Manafort transcript Marcy Wheeler article Special counsel regulation text Trump Tower Moscow explainer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 19, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Emergency Weeds

Dara, Sarah, and Matt explain the border security deal and Trump’s plan to bypass Congress. Dara's article Matt's article on non-legislative priorities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 15, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast

What’s the best way to help the poor?

Dylan Matthews joins Sarah, Ezra, and Matt to discuss five new plans on poverty from leading Democrats. Dylan's Article Sarah's Article on Childhood Wealth Elizabeth Warren's Housing Bill Cory Booker's HOME Act Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 12, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast

WTF, VA?

Virginia is embroiled in multiple blackface scandals — and Jane Coaston, Sarah Kliff, and Dylan Scott are here to talk about it. Video about Slavery in the US Medical System Jane's Article Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 08, 2019•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Do we need private insurance?

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt break down the latest twist in the Medicare-for-all debate — plus rigorous new research on Facebook. White Paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 05, 2019•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast

House Democrats’ plan to save democracy

Jane, Dara, and Matt break down HR 1 — the first bill from the new Democratic majority. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 01, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Elizabeth Warren and the Two-Income Trap

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt analyze the presidential candidate’s first popular book and review new evidence on the dangers of opioid marketing. Ezra's Article Matt's Article White Paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 29, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast

The end of the shutdown

Jane, Ezra, and Matt have a slightly ill-timed discussion about the Pelosi-Trump showdown and the politics of the wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 25, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Investigating ER bills and SNAP fraud

Sarah, Dara, and Matt discuss Trump's latest proposal, suspicious ER billing practices, and SNAP investigations Sarah's articles about hospital ER fees White Paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 22, 2019•57 min•Ep 278•Transcript available on Metacast

You can't eat your principles for dinner

Sarah, Dara, and Matt analyze the prolonged shutdown's impact on the future of the federal workforce Reference Articles: The shutdown threatens the promise of government jobs — and a way of life FBI, federal agents see cases hampered, lives rattled as shutdown continues The American Action Forum explainer on the Anti-Deficiency Act How the Border Patrol union became Trump’s closest shutdown alliesby Dara Lind Why Don’t Unpaid Federal Workers Walk Off the Job? Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Jan 18, 2019•1 hr•Ep 277•Transcript available on Metacast

Taxing the rich

Jane, Ezra, and Matt consider the ethics and economics of a 70 percent top marginal rate Americans misperceive racial economic equality Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 15, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Ep 276•Transcript available on Metacast

Tucker Carlson vs the free market

Jane, Dara, and Matt explain the argument over economic populism that’s roiling the conservative world Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 11, 2019•1 hr•Ep 275•Transcript available on Metacast

Ask Weeds Anything

Matt, Sarah, and Dara take questions from our audience Book Recommendations: The Field of Blood by Joanne B. Freeman Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life by Kathleen Dalton Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou Stories: The 17 saddest moments of Jeb Bush’s very sad campaign by Dara Lind Despite congressional pressure, Amtrak can’t get its story straight on train-boarding rules by Matthew Yglesias Do No Harm by Sarah Kliff Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

Jan 08, 2019•58 min•Ep 274•Transcript available on Metacast

New year, no government

Dara, Jane, and Matt explain why a shutdown is not The Purge and delve into the all-important difference between slats, bollards, and walls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 04, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep 273•Transcript available on Metacast

Classic Weeds: The great white panic

Jane Coaston joins Dara, Ezra, and Matt to talk about the racial panic tearing America apart and also salt. References and further reading: Ezra's piece on the changing demographics in America Identity Crisis book mentioned by Ezra Salt white paper This episode is a rebroadcast from July of 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 01, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep 270•Transcript available on Metacast

The Weeds Year-End Spectacular

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt share what they learned in 2018, predictions for 2019, and their favorite research of the year. Links: Matt's white paper pick Sarah's white paper pick Ezra's white paper pick Sarah’s ER opus Ezra on white threat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 28, 2018•56 min•Ep 271•Transcript available on Metacast

Congress actually did something important

Jane, Dara, and Matt analyze the substance and political context of the big bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. References and further reading: German Lopez explains the First Step Act Jane’s piece on Kanye West’s meeting with President Trump James Forman Jr. examines why many African American leaders supported the war on crime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 21, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep 272•Transcript available on Metacast

Bernie and Biden and Beto, oh my!

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt decide it’s not too soon to start talking about the 2020 election. Plus — Obamacare litigation forever! References and further reading: Matt’s explainer on the Democratic field for 2020 Matt’s piece on Joe Biden’s policy ideas A previous episode of The Weeds on the Obamacare lawsuit Ezra’s piece on the Texas ruling against Obamacare Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 18, 2018•51 min•Ep 269•Transcript available on Metacast

A big, beautiful podcast about the border wall

Matt, Dara, and Jane discuss what happens when engineering crushes dreams. Links: For an in-depth read on the border wall, here's a great explainer. The GAO report Dara cited can be found here. And here's the Atlantic article that Matt mentioned about the ICE crackdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 14, 2018•59 min•Ep 268•Transcript available on Metacast

A Weeds farewell to Paul Ryan

Jane, Ezra, and Matt consider Paul Ryan’s legacy and new research on crime and the minimum wage. References and further reading: Ezra’s piece on House Speaker Paul Ryan’s legacy Matt’s essay following the announcement of Paul Ryan’s retirement Ted Cruz’s confusing tweet of Beto O’Rourke speaking on the shooting of Botham Jean A white paper examines the effects on criminal recidivism when states increase minimum wages Annie Lowrey’s piece in the Atlantic on a jobs guarantee Learn more about your ...

Dec 11, 2018•58 min•Ep 267•Transcript available on Metacast

Pod Save the US-Saudi alliance?

Special guest Tommy Vietor of Crooked Media’s Pod Save the World joins Dara and Matt to break down the anti-Saudi backlash sweeping Washington. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 07, 2018•49 min•Ep 266•Transcript available on Metacast