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.
Ticks are exponentially expanding their territory, using us for their next blood meal. We must fight back.
23 min
2
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
3
Defunding Israel
Democrats in Congress voted in shocking numbers to cut aid to Israel.
23 min
4
Trump's 2020 obsession
President Trump has a midterm message that Republicans hate and Democrats love.
23 min
5
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
6
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
7
Parasite (2026)
Cyclospora can cause explosive diarrhea that can last a month. But you don’t need to swear off vegetables.
23 min
8
Vance vs. Rubio 2028
The Republican front-runners for the 2028 presidential nomination represent two competing visions for post-Trump conservatism.
27 min
9
Anarchy in the UK
The UK is about to have its seventh prime minister in 10 years.
23 min
10
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
11
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
12
Tanning is back
Never mind skin cancer. Summer 2026 is all about tanmaxxing.
26 min
13
Kamala, 2028
The former vice president’s loyal base seems ready for another go, but Democratic donors are wary.
26 min
14
Love Island or Lust Island?
Love Island has some lessons to teach us about modern dating.
22 min
15
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
16
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
17
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
18
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
19
The socialists are coming!
The Democratic Socialists of America is seeing a surge of enthusiasm for its candidates around the country.
23 min
20
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
21
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
22
The World Cup is healing us
The World Cup is showing what Trump can’t destroy about America.
23 min
23
Can we cheat death?
The trick to living a longer, happier life.
26 min
24
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
25
Lonely fans
No friends, no kids, no partner. You might think their lives are sad, but loneliness influencers are attracting huge followings.