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.
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
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
Why everyone is sick right now
How this season’s flu got supercharged — and why viruses may make you healthier.
26 min
6
AI music is here
Most of us don't even realize it, but we're increasingly hearing AI music in the wild.
23 min
7
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
8
Deported to a country you've never heard of
How the Trump administration is using "third country deportations" to expel asylum seekers.
23 min
9
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
10
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
11
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
12
Are boyfriends embarrassing?
We investigate.
25 min
13
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
14
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
15
The rise of baby Botox
More people are getting facial injections — and they're starting younger too.
23 min
16
How to fix blue cities
This year Abundance went from a bestselling book to a political practice powering Democrats from New York to Seattle.
26 min
17
The Epstein Files are still a "cover-up"
The Trump administration was ordered to release all the Epstein Files. They didn’t. Lawmakers say they are breaking the law.
23 min
18
Is your brain lying to you?
Our brain constructs the world we hear, see, and feel — but tinnitus shows how that superpower can backfire.
26 min
19
Your pop music is influenced by God
Popular music went more Christian this year, but religion has had a long history of influencing secular sounds.
23 min
20
JD Vance is just getting started
From Twitter feuds to memes to providing cover for President Trump, the vice president had a big year. Up next, the midterms. And then — the presidency?
23 min
21
AI: 1 — Humanity: 0
President Trump's new executive order makes it harder for states to regulate AI, giving a powerful industry even more power.
23 min
22
The Price is Rigged
23 min
23
GOP women are over it
Some Republican women in the House are so frustrated with the leadership of speaker Mike Johnson that they're turning on him.
23 min
24
Let AI replace you
If AI handles all our busy work and optimizes our resources, it may also give us the one thing there never seems to be enough of: time.
25 min
25
Pop culture is conservative now
Why books, movies, music, and fashion all took a turn to the right.