Explain It to Me
Is my dentist scamming me? Why do political campaigns cost so much? Should Gen Z bother to save for retirement?
Explain It To Me is the hotline for all your unanswered questions. Sometimes explanations are hard to find, misinformation is rampant, and those internet searches and AI asks can come up empty. Call 1-800-618-8545 with what’s on your mind, and host Jonquilyn Hill will be your friendly guide to the answers you're looking for — and maybe even the ones you don’t expect. New episodes every Wednesday starting September 18.
Part of Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
351
Fix recessions by giving people money
Claudia Sahm from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth joins Matt to explain a surprisingly simple strategy to stabilize the economy.
71 min
352
A conversation about anti-Semitism
Matt, Dara and Jane talk about the rise in anti-Semitic violence aimed at Hassidic communities, and what the political implications may be.
47 min
353
The road to polarization
Ezra joins Matt to discuss his upcoming book; Why We're Polarized.
78 min
354
Green New Germany
A preview of season 3 of Vox's The Impact
29 min
355
Three roads to universal coverage
Dylan Scott and special guest Sarah Kliff join Matt for a close look at health care in Taiwan, Australia, and the Netherlands.
66 min
356
The way forward on family leave
New America's Vicki Shabo joins Matt to discuss universal paid leave and how to finance it.
53 min
357
Ezra and Matt debate the debaters
Ezra and Matt break down the last debate before the Iowa caucuses, and explore the current state of the Democratic field.
54 min
358
Mission Accomplished?
Vox national security correspondent Alex Ward joins Jane and Matt to break down Trump's Iran policy.
51 min
359
Why are we fighting Iran?
Cato’s Emma Ashford joins Matt to explain America’s larger (lack of) strategy in the Persian Gulf region.
57 min
360
Midichlorian chili
Dara, Jane, and Matt kick the new year off by answering listeners' questions on everything under the sun.
74 min
361
Neighborhood Defenders
Boston University's Katherine Levine Einstein explains the dysfunctional politics behind America's housing crisis.
57 min
362
2019 in review
Dara, Jane, and Matt talk about what surprised them in 2019, remember the last decade, and predict what 2020 might have in store.
49 min
363
The next abortion debate
UC Berkley's Abigail Burman on the growing battles over self-managed abortion
43 min
364
No room at the inn (live!)
Dara, Jane, and Matt on the global crackdown on refugees.
84 min
365
Wine cave cage match
Politics reporter Ella Nilsen joins Matt to break down this week's Democratic debate
50 min
366
Primary mooples
Dara, Jane, and Matt on America's odd system of choosing presidential nominees
42 min
367
Policy by other means
Georgetown’s Don Moynihan and Pamela Herd explain administrative burdens and why they matter
64 min
368
The free college debate
Jane, Dara, and Matt on tuition, debt relief, and the role of major choice in the gender wage gap.
49 min
369
Movement building in the Trump era
Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg joins Matt to talk about her new book and the path forward for democratic reform
50 min
370
You say "usmca," I say "U-S-M-C-A"
Dara and Matt on the congressional debate over Trump's trade deal.
53 min
371
Build housing near transit
San Diego-area congressman Scott Peters joins Matt to talk about his plan to boost transit-oriented development.
35 min
372
Impeachment's policy roots
Andrew Prokop joins Dara and Matt to discuss the long shadow of Viktor Yanukovitch's downfall.
70 min
373
Single-payer federalism
Rep. Ro Khanna joins Matt to make the case for his legislation encouraging state-based Medicare for All programs.
44 min
374
Groypers vs. Conservatism Inc.
Jane, Dara, and Matt on white nationalists' campus battles, plus a major scandal in Swedish administrative data.
55 min
375
The case for subsidized jobs
Indi Dutta-Gupta of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality's big idea for turning Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) into an effective recession-fighting tool.
57 min