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
1
Is it a bad book or is it AI?
An author gets her book pulled after accusations that it was written with AI, but it might not always be so easy to catch AI writing.
23 min
2
Abortion pills at the Supreme Court
There are more abortions now than when the Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But a ruling on whether to keep abortion pills accessible could change that.
23 min
3
Controlling hantavirus
Quarantine, cruise ships, and passenger tracking are reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the hantavirus is different, and public health officials are telling us not to freak out.
22 min
4
Chems in your cosmetics
From lotions to hair extensions, the products that make us look good may also make us feel bad.
27 min
5
"Affordability" is the new progressive
What do buzzwords like “progressive” and “affordability” mean to voters? We went to one of the most Democratic congressional districts to find out.
22 min
6
Is smoking back?
24 min
7
One billion humanoid robots
Tech companies are betting big on robots that look like humans and do human jobs. Why, robot?
24 min
8
Is Venezuela better now?
It’s been over four months since the United States overthrew Nicolás Maduro. One Venezuelan says she is grateful for the intervention and is cautiously optimistic for the future.
23 min
9
RIP Spirit Airlines
Lessons from the life and death of America’s most beloved, most hated, most bootleg airline.
23 min
10
The Supreme Court's gerrymaxxing
States are already making changes to their election maps after the Supreme Court decided to unleash a new era of partisan gerrymandering. And just in time for the midterms!
23 min
11
The cost of “I do”
Love is in the air, but only if you’ve got thousands to throw at it. How couples are navigating the pressures and expenses of planning their perfect wedding.
26 min
12
Grading America's first 250 years
America at 250 years old may need a new founding document. Historian Heather Cox Richardson drafts a new social contract.
24 min
13
The burnout economy
From special coaches to luxury sleep vacations, you can beat burnout — for a price.
23 min
14
The Michael Jackson "biopic"
The movie is breaking records at the box office despite — or maybe because of — moonwalking past the abuse allegations.
25 min
15
China is winning the Iran war
The US and Iran still have not reached a deal to end the war, but one winner is already clear: China.
23 min
16
“Staged”
Conspiracy theories flooded the internet after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. What used to be fringe is now a default reaction.
23 min
17
Who's afraid of teen takeovers?
Teenagers are taking over pockets of American cities and local governments are struggling to deal with them. We set out in search of solutions.
23 min
18
Burnout sandwich
How to manage the squeeze of taking care of your kids and your parents at the same time.
26 min
19
This Senator has an Eric Swalwell problem
We were set to talk to Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego about solving our immigration crisis. Then Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress.
27 min
20
“Having kids was a mistake”
They thought they would learn to love parenthood. They were wrong.
23 min
21
When your college closes
Hampshire College's closure is the latest sign of a death spiral in American higher education.
23 min
22
100 days of Mayor Mamdani
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's success may speak to a major shift among liberals on Israel and populism. If the Democratic Party will listen.
23 min
23
TMZ Goes to Washington
The celebrity tabloid outlet is turning its attention to DC and supercharging a new era of political reporting.
23 min
24
The case for holy war
The Secretary of Defense suggests the Iran war is blessed by God. The head of his church, Pastor Doug Wilson, agrees. Some call Wilson an extremist. He prefers Christian nationalist. Either way, he's no longer a fringe figure.
23 min
25
How to fight burnout
We've been stuck in cycles of burnout for decades. Have Gen Z workers found a way out?
26 min