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.

News
Daily News
Politics
76
America’s best hot dog
Chef José Andrés explains what makes the winning wiener. A DC hot dog vendor respectfully disagrees.
23 min
77
Our tick nightmare
Ticks are exponentially expanding their territory, using us for their next blood meal. We must fight back.
23 min
78
The truth about Iran
The on-again, off-again war is on again. But we still don't know the point of it all or how it will end.
23 min
79
Defunding Israel
Democrats in Congress voted in shocking numbers to cut aid to Israel.
23 min
80
Trump's 2020 obsession
President Trump has a midterm message that Republicans hate and Democrats love.
23 min
81
What's in a name?
Jalen and Olivia and Liam and Ailany. We look at what makes a name top the popularity charts.
26 min
82
Progressives take on the Rust Belt
First there was New York, then Colorado. But can a progressive candidate win in the Rust Belt?
29 min
83
Parasite (2026)
Cyclospora can cause explosive diarrhea that can last a month. But you don’t need to swear off vegetables.
23 min
84
Vance vs. Rubio 2028
The Republican front-runners for the 2028 presidential nomination represent two competing visions for post-Trump conservatism.
27 min
85
Anarchy in the UK
The UK is about to have its seventh prime minister in 10 years.
23 min
86
The Mitch McConnell mystery
You'd probably get fired for not showing up to work for a month — unless you're a member of Congress.
23 min
87
ICE kills again
The new guy overseeing ICE was supposed to dial back the shock and awe. But in Houston, another person was just shot and killed by an ICE agent.
23 min
88
Tanning is back
Never mind skin cancer. Summer 2026 is all about tanmaxxing.
26 min
89
Kamala, 2028
The former vice president’s loyal base seems ready for another go, but Democratic donors are wary. 
26 min
90
Love Island or Lust Island?
Love Island has some lessons to teach us about modern dating.
22 min
91
Pope Leo excommunicates
The recent excommunication of a conservative Catholic group and a sharp stance on AI means that Pope Leo XIV is dealing with the same problems as the rest of us.
23 min
92
Smart glasses are officially here
There's a race to get smart glasses on your face. But privacy and security concerns are freaking people out.
23 min
93
A white, male military
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has been blocking military promotions — especially if you're a woman, Black, or perceived as disloyal.
23 min
94
Trump’s secret war
America's longest ongoing conflict isn't with Iran. It's in Somalia. But almost no one is talking about it.
23 min
95
The socialists are coming!
The Democratic Socialists of America is seeing a surge of enthusiasm for its candidates around the country.
23 min
96
Jared and Ivanka’s accidental revolution
Jared and Ivanka Kushner thought they were investing in luxury resorts in Albania. Instead, they sparked the biggest protests the country has seen since the fall of communism.
23 min
97
Everything is dupes
Fender declared war on guitar makers. Lululemon declared war on Costco. Ugg declared war on Quince. Welcome to the era of the dupe product wars.
23 min
98
The World Cup is healing us
The World Cup is showing what Trump can’t destroy about America.
23 min
99
Can we cheat death?
The trick to living a longer, happier life.
26 min
100
How Trump lost the bro vote
The group of men that famously helped propel Trump to the White House in 2024 is having second thoughts. Here’s what that means for Republicans in the future.
27 min