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.
Federal agents killed a second civilian observer in Minneapolis this weekend. Now, the Trump administration is feeling the political pressure.
23 min
152
Battling brain rot
Bland colors, AI summaries, and declining literacy rates have lots of us worried that we’re losing our intelligence to the modern world. Can we get it back?
27 min
153
Minneapolis vs. ICE
Thousands of federal immigration officers have descended onto Minneapolis. The state is in a full-blown conflict with the Trump administration. What can Democratic leaders do, and what it would mean if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act there?
27 min
154
You need a prenup
More young people are insisting on prenups. They’re not just for millionaires and celebrities anymore.
23 min
155
Is Greenland free?
President Trump has given up trying to buy Greenland — at least for now.
24 min
156
The new ICE army
Trump wants to hire a slew of new ICE agents. He's targeting fans of NASCAR, UFC, video games and guns.
23 min
157
Project 2026
Trump has delivered conservatives much of the Project 2025 wishlist already. The Heritage Foundation wants him to keep going.
23 min
158
The making of the Fox News empire
How a nepo baby from Australia changed political discourse and remade the world. We revisit the rise of Rupert Murdoch and his media empire.
23 min
159
Sexy TV is back
Why we’re obsessed with Heated Rivalry and hooking up on the small screen.
27 min
160
RFK Jr.'s new food pyramid
Let them eat steak.
23 min
161
Trump's Greenland obsession
Europe is taking President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland more seriously after the US’s actions in Venezuela. But will intervention be a red line for Republicans in Congress?
23 min
162
Can anyone stop ICE?
The Trump administration says Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have "immunity" in Minneapolis. That could mean few — or no — consequences for the agent who shot Renee Good.
23 min
163
Your student loan bill is due
The Trump administration has a warning for student loan borrowers in default: Pay up, or we'll take it out of your paycheck.
23 min
164
China is winning
When President Donald Trump took office, he promised to be tough on China. One year later, China's global position is stronger than ever.
23 min
165
Why everyone is sick right now
How this season’s flu got supercharged — and why viruses may make you healthier.
26 min
166
AI music is here
Most of us don't even realize it, but we're increasingly hearing AI music in the wild.
23 min
167
An ICE shooting in Minnesota
First there was a fraud scandal involving the Somali community in Minnesota. Then, Trump sent in ICE. Now a woman is dead and people want answers.
23 min
168
Deported to a country you've never heard of
How the Trump administration is using "third country deportations" to expel asylum seekers.
23 min
169
Trump’s World Cup
The biggest sporting event is coming to North America this year. Here’s what it means that President Trump will get to host the world.
23 min
170
What’s next for Venezuela
President Trump says the US will "run Venezuela." Here’s what that looks like from Caracas, given the US's history in the region.
23 min
171
Internet bad
Once a place of serendipity and discovery, the internet now thrives on feeding us toxic rage bait designed to piss us off. Can we get the good internet back?
26 min
172
Are boyfriends embarrassing?
We investigate.
25 min
173
The cocaine comeback
Demand for cocaine around the world has exploded. Production is at record highs. Law enforcement can barely keep up. Cocaine is back in a big way.
23 min
174
A sit-down with Zohran Mamdani
New York City's Democratic socialist mayor takes office on January 1. Can he follow through on all those campaign promises? We ask him.
23 min
175
The rise of baby Botox
More people are getting facial injections — and they're starting younger too.