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

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, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Ep 325•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•52 min•Ep 324•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•56 min•Ep 323•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep 322•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•1 hr•Ep 321•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•53 min•Ep 320•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep 319•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•58 min•Ep 318•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep 317•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Ep 316•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•59 min•Ep 315•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•1 hr•Ep 314•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Ep 313•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•1 hr•Ep 312•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•1 hr 26 min•Ep 311•Transcript available on Metacast

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, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep 310•Transcript available on Metacast

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

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, 2019•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Was The Weeds on the wrong side of history?

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt celebrate Vox's fifth anniversary with a look at the changing nature of the policy dialogue in Washington. This special episode of The Weeds was taped in front of a live audience at The LINE DC to celebrate Vox’s fifth anniversary. If you enjoyed it, we think you’ll also enjoy this live taping of Recode Decode with Kara Swisher featuring Julia Angwin, and this special episode of The Ezra Klein Show with Vox’s co-founders Ezra Klein, Matt Yglesias, and Vox Media’s Publisher ...

Apr 26, 2019•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast

What to obstruct when you’re obstructing

Matt, Jane, and Andrew Prokop talk about the Mueller report — which one of them has actually read to the end. Related reading: Quinta Jurecic’s color-coded analysis of Mueller’s obstruction language Rick Hasen’s article on Mueller not prosecuting Donald Trump Jr. Full Mueller report White paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 23, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Maybe collusion, probably obstruction [Special Crossover Edition]

Ezra Klein joins Zack, Jenn, and Alex in a crossover episode with Worldly on Robert Mueller’s just-released report. They explain the special counsel's main findings on collusion with Russian election interference and on obstruction of justice and why they aren’t good for Trump. Then they zoom out and talk about what this whole episode reveals about the health of American democracy and how this gives a green light for Russia and other authoritarian powers to intervene in future US elections. Give...

Apr 18, 2019•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Trump Family (Tax) Values

Dara, Sarah, and Matt talk about the suspiciously timed retirement of Trump's sister, IRS enforcement, and new research on how police stops can actually cause crime. Related reading: ProPublica study on the EITC audits White paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 16, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast

How Canada got Medicare-for-all done

Ezra returns to discuss filibuster reform and the legacy of Tommy Douglas with Sarah and Matt. Recommended reading: Tommy Douglas named greatest Canadian Filibuster reform explainer Sanders and reconciliation explainer Doctor strike explainer White paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 12, 2019•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast

The Purge: DHS

Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss Trump's personnel shake-up at the Department of Homeland Security and what's next for immigration policy. Recommended reading: Jake Tapper on Trump telling border patrol agents to ignore the law The White House’s wish list for DHS actions Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s resignation, explained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 09, 2019•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Attack of the clone bills

Matt, Sarah, and Dara copied this discussion of model legislation from an asbestos lobbyist. Recommended reading: USA Today article Article on 'ALEC' Research on model legislation 1 Research on model legislation 2 Research on model legislation 3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 05, 2019•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Learning from Norway's lesbian mothers

Dara, Jane, and Matt on President Donald Trump’s latest border moves and a new wrinkle in the story of the gender pay gap. Recommended reading: Explainer on Trump cutting off aid Explainer on border closure CNN report on Trump’s border briefings The US policy of returning Central American asylum seekers to wait in Mexico An optimistic take on aid and El Salvador A pessimistic take on aid and El Salvador White paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 02, 2019•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Infrastructure Week (and Farm Week and Teacher Week)

Dara, Jane, and Matt analyze three new policy proposals from Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris. Recommended reading: Amy Klobuchar's infrastructure plan Elizabeth Warren's agriculture plan Kamala Harris's teacher-pay plan HuffPost feature on Harris's truancy policy 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...

Mar 29, 2019•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Mueller's investigation is over. Obamacare repeal isn't.

Sarah, Dara, and Jane discuss the Hill's response to Mueller, the DOJ's siege of Obamacare, and the benefits of IUDs. National Review article Zack Beauchamp's article on the reaction to William Barr's Mueller letter New York Times article on Mueller report 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 about your ad choices. V...

Mar 26, 2019•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast

Should presidential candidates get into the weeds?

Sarah, Jane, and Matt debate the value of policy details in the primary. 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 22, 2019•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast