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.
101
Is empathy toxic?
Society teaches us empathy is a good thing. But some are now saying the opposite, and science is complicating our assumptions too.
26 min
102
KPop Demon Hunters keeps slaying
The Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters is a mega cultural phenomenon. And the studio that used to own animation, Disney, is watching its dominance be tested...and maybe even fade.
23 min
103
Hegseth’s hectic military
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered top military officials to DC for a surprise lecture on the "warrior ethos." Chaos ensued. With Hegseth, it usually does.
23 min
104
Shutdown for what?
We ask Sen Elizabeth Warren why. President Donald Trump is reportedly mostly worried about the midterms.
23 min
105
Rupert Murdoch presents: Succession
Murdoch has built a media empire that leads all the way to the White House. But nothing lasts forever. And at age 94, he finally has an official successor.
23 min
106
How Rupert Murdoch remade the world
Murdoch started his media empire in Australia, sharpened his playbook in the UK, and became one of the most powerful people in the world once he came to the United States.
24 min
107
Who is the modern American dad?
Young men are more interested in becoming parents than young women are, and there's a growing number of single dads by choice. A look at modern fatherhood.
25 min
108
labubu matcha dubai chocolate
How TikTok reshaped the trend cycle.
24 min
109
$100,000 for a visa
With its announcement that an H-1B visa will now cost $100,000, the Trump administration is proving it's willing to wreak havoc on American industry in exchange for a flashy headline.
23 min
110
A Palestinian state
As Israel continues pushing into Gaza, a growing number of world leaders are saying they now recognize statehood for Palestine.
23 min
111
TikTok’s new owners
The US and China have a plan for American TikTok. It involves a Trump-aligned billionaire whose family is building a new media empire.
24 min
112
RFK Jr.'s vaccine dream team
Noted vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. replaced a key board of vaccine advisers at the CDC. After a chaotic meeting, they just handed down their first set of new recommendations.
23 min
113
A nation of jerks
Americans seem to be getting ruder. Are our attempts at making ourselves better actually making us worse?
26 min
114
Silencing Kimmel
ABC’s “indefinite” suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show has people worried about the First Amendment under President Trump.
23 min
115
Kash Patel is posting through it
23 min
116
The Charlie Kirk revenge plot
23 min
117
Debate or rage-bait?
23 min
118
Should Democrats shut it down?
23 min
119
Why horror kills at the box office
Hollywood has always made money from vampires and brain-eating zombies. But this year's a record-breaker thanks to sequels, hilariously unlikely creators, and pure thrills.
26 min
120
What the right gets wrong about Tolkien
23 min
121
Charlie Kirk's America
24 min
122
Trump's chief culture warrior
23 min
123
The report RFK Jr. buried
23 min
124
Trump’s new war on drugs
President Donald Trump promised to crack down on illicit drugs. Then, he blew up a Venezuelan vessel in international waters.
23 min
125
The United States is Southern now
From #rushtok to country music, American culture is getting more and more southern.
26 min