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.
From lotions to hair extensions, the products that make us look good may also make us feel bad.
27 min
2
"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
3
Is smoking back?
24 min
4
One billion humanoid robots
Tech companies are betting big on robots that look like humans and do human jobs. Why, robot?
24 min
5
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
6
RIP Spirit Airlines
Lessons from the life and death of America’s most beloved, most hated, most bootleg airline.
23 min
7
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
8
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
9
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
10
The burnout economy
From special coaches to luxury sleep vacations, you can beat burnout — for a price.
23 min
11
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
12
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
13
“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
14
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
15
Burnout sandwich
How to manage the squeeze of taking care of your kids and your parents at the same time.
26 min
16
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
17
“Having kids was a mistake”
They thought they would learn to love parenthood. They were wrong.
23 min
18
When your college closes
Hampshire College's closure is the latest sign of a death spiral in American higher education.
23 min
19
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
20
TMZ Goes to Washington
The celebrity tabloid outlet is turning its attention to DC and supercharging a new era of political reporting.
23 min
21
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
22
How to fight burnout
We've been stuck in cycles of burnout for decades. Have Gen Z workers found a way out?
26 min
23
Why both sides fail on immigration
Immigration might be President Donald Trump’s signature issue, but what do Americans actually think about border security and enforcement?
27 min
24
The secret soundtrack to your life
It's in your TV shows. It's in the ads you watch. It's in your TikToks. Sync music is everywhere, and it's changing the music industry.
23 min
25
AI just got scarier
Anthropic and OpenAI are proving the inherent difficulties in trusting AI companies with our future.