The Weeds
In politics, you’re often told not to get lost in the weeds. But we love the weeds! That’s where politics becomes policy – the stuff that shapes our lives. Every Tuesday and Friday, Dylan Matthews, Jerusalem Demsas, German Lopez, Dara Lind, and other voices dig into the weeds on important national issues, including healthcare immigration, and housing.
Produced by Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
101
Go For Broke: Inside the Dot-Com Bubble
38 min
102
Email scandals are back!
Ezra and Matt discuss Hunter Biden’s laptop, social media regulation, and the ongoing stimulus standoff
52 min
103
What is critical race theory, anyway?
Ian Haney Lopez joins Jane to discuss critical race theory: what it is and what it isn't.
49 min
104
By the People: The Supreme Court's war on democ...
What the Supreme Court will do to our voting rights
58 min
105
The stimulus standoff
Ezra and Matt on the deadlock in congress and the VP debate.
53 min
106
On biracial identity (with Thomas Chatterton Wi...
Jane and Thomas Chatterton Williams talk about mixed-race identity, race and racism, and what being biracial means now.
57 min
107
By the People: Blame the Constitution
How America’s constitution is rigged against democracy
62 min
108
Fighting back against factory farming
The human costs of the meat we eat
56 min
109
A dark, dangerous debate
Ezra and Matt on the disturbing presidential showdown.
67 min
110
By the People: How to make sure your vote is co...
The pandemic election
56 min
111
Dianne Feinstein, please listen to this episode!
Ezra and Matt discuss the past and future of the US Senate.
60 min
112
After RBG
Vox’s judiciary expert Ian Milhiser joins the panel to explain Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy and the future of American jurisprudence
54 min
113
By the People: How to rig an election
America’s voter suppression problem
63 min
114
One Billion Americans
Ezra and Matt discuss the early days of blogging, Twitter, climate change, and Matt's case for having 1 billion Americans.
88 min
115
How Trump closed the border
Rep. Veronica Escobar joins Jane, Dara, and Matt to talk about Texas politics and the use of the pandemic as a pretext to clamp down on asylum.
56 min
116
The definitive case against the filibuster
Ezra joins Matt to workshop his latest article — and save American democracy.
49 min
117
Steal this podcast
Meredith Haggerty joins Jane and Matt to debate looting and corporate cooptation of social justice.
52 min
118
LAW AND ORDER
Matt and Ezra discuss why crime is rising in certain American cities, and the country's growing housing crisis.
59 min
119
Trump sells out
Dara, Jane, and Matt discuss Jane’s argument that the GOP establishment changed Trump more than he changed the party
61 min
120
The Trump Show
Ezra and Matt on the GOP convention and the politics of "law and order".
53 min
121
The Cut: Optimism
Avery explores what optimism means in 2020, and why some people are better at conjuring it, and how those who aren’t can change their own mindset.
29 min
122
Trump's peddling a fake Covid-19 cure
Jane, Dara, and Matt on convalescent plasma, FDA reform, and the politics of science
47 min
123
Democratic convention special
Ezra and Matt stay up late to review Joe Biden's big speech and the Democrats' big week
62 min
124
WTF is happening with USPS
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the health and history of the postal service, the political games being played, and what it means for November's election.
49 min
125
What the hell is the Republican party doing?
Ezra and Matt on Republican policy nihilism and the Kamala Harris pick.
55 min
126
What is the economy, stupid?
Vox's Emily Stewart joins Dara and Jane to discuss the relationship between "the market" and the "real economy."
39 min
127
Veepstakes
Ezra and Matt on Susan Rice, Kamala Harris, and Trump’s increasingly chaotic authoritarianism.
47 min
128
The stimulus standoff
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the congressional deadlock over economic aid.
53 min
129
The Great Awokening
John McWhorter joins Matt to discuss the changing way we talk about racism in America.
67 min
130
Trafficking, and trafficking panics
Dara, Jane, and Matt on Wayfair, massage parlors, and reality.
47 min
131
The evidence on crime and policing
Texas A&M's Jennifer Doleac joins Matt to explain what we know (and don't know) about criminal justice.
53 min
132
Bad for the Jews?
Dara, Jane, and Matt on Nick Cannon, Louis Farrakhan, and antisemitic conspiracy theories.
56 min
133
Biden reloaded
Ezra and Matt on Joe Biden’s unification strategy with the left.
62 min
134
School’s out for Covid
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the school reopening debate and the political consequences of HIV/AIDS.
55 min
135
The Covid resurgence
Ezra and Matt on how America failed while the world made progress on the pandemic
48 min
136
Contagious enthusiasm
Dara, Jane, and Matt on Biden’s excitement gap.
58 min
137
Land of the Giants: The Netflix Effect
Land of the Giants is a podcast from our friends at Recode and the Vox Media Podcast Network that examines the most powerful tech companies of our time.
21 min
138
The war on bad statues
Jane, Dara, and Matt on Confederate Memorials, Woodrow Wilson, and the battle for historical memory.
60 min
139
The Veepstakes
Ezra and Matt on Warren, Abrams, Harris, and the Tammies, and the links between racial and economic justice.
50 min
140
Talking about talking
Jane, Dara, and Matt explain “intersectional,” “structural” and the new language of identity discourse.
42 min
141
The legal doctrine that protects brutal policing
Cato's Clark Neily joins Jane to discuss Qualified Immunity - where is came from, why it exists, and what's being done to eliminate it.
42 min
142
Fixing the police
Jane, Dara, and Matt on what we know about police reform and its limits.
67 min
143
America gives up on Covid-19
Ezra and Matt on the return of a virus that never went away.
50 min
144
After George Floyd
Jane, Dara, and Matt on America's dual reckonings with racism and police impunity
62 min
145
Defund the police?
Ezra and Matt on reformism vs radicalism and reimagining law enforcement
49 min
146
The global class war
Barron's economics commentary Matt Klein explains what's really behind international trade conflicts
69 min
147
Tweeting through it
Ezra and Matt on Trump's war on social media, plus Joe Biden's policy agenda.
54 min
148
Joe Biden ain't black
Jane, Dara, and Matt on gaffes and the racial politics of 2020
55 min
149
The stimulus failure
Ezra and Matt on Trump's pseudo-federalism and Pelosi's strange aversion to automatic stabilizers.
48 min
150
Actual enumeration
Dara, Jane, and Matt take a look at America's first pandemic Census.
48 min
151
The psychology of opening up
Ezra and Matt on the deep roots (or not) of the lockdown debate.
52 min
152
Will the economy bounce back?
Dara, Jane, and Matt on the road ahead for the worst labor market since the Great Depression.
61 min
153
Reopening without a plan
Ezra and Matt on America's lost month and what happens next.
48 min
154
How to win elections
Dara, Jane, and Matt break down the great mobilization vs persuasion debate.
63 min
155
Are Democrats getting rolled?
Ezra and Matt on congressional bargaining strategy and the China blame game
49 min
156
A faster Covid-19 vaccine
Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss the possibility of "human challenge trials" to speed vaccine development.
48 min
157
Who models the modelers?
Ezra and Matt on the failures of some popular epidemiological forecasts and a viral Silicon Valley essay urging America to build again
59 min
158
Opening up
Dara, Jane, and Matt on conservatives’ desire for a rapid reopening of American businesses.
53 min
159
Help is on the way (sort of)
Ezra and Matt break down the implementation problems that have bedeviled the CARES Act.
42 min
160
The corporate bailout watchdog
Congressional oversight committee member Bharat Ramamurti joins Matt to explain his new job and what's wrong with shareholder capitalism.
52 min
161
How does this end?
Ezra and Matt review four major plans for after social distancing; plus the Democratic primary finally ends.
61 min
162
Covid-19 and the border
Dara, Jane, and Matt on the intersection between the pandemic and Trump's border crackdown.
56 min
163
Coronavirus meets health reform
Ezra and Matt discuss Covid-19's impact on insurance premiums, the case for single-payer, and more.
56 min
164
The mask fiasco
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the evidence for mask wearing, and a totally non-coronavirus white paper
55 min
165
When $2 trillion isn’t enough
Ezra and Matt analyze the huge but inadequate stimulus bill
52 min
166
Fighting coronavirus with corporate conscription
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the Defense Production Act, wartime mobilization, and pandemic-induced autarky
51 min
167
The story of Trump's swamp
Jane talks to Asawin Suebsaeng and Lachlan Markay about their new book on chaos at the White House and how President Trump differs (and doesn't) from prior administrations
55 min
168
Devaluing black assets
Brookings’ Andre Perry explains his research on how racism cripples black entrepreneurs and homeowners
45 min
169
Rescuing the economy from coronavirus
Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss President Trump’s new more serious tone and competing economic stimulus proposals.
48 min
170
Weeds 2020: The coronavirus election
Ezra and Matt on dueling pandemic response plans from Sanders and Biden, and Trump's disastrous speech
51 min
171
Meet the YIMBYs
Conor Dougherty on his new book "Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America"
61 min
172
Mayor Pete and the state of LGBTQ politics
Jane, Dara, and Matt on queer politics after marriage equality.
46 min
173
A "titan" of social conservatism on the courts ...
Conservative thinker Robert George joins Jane to talk about abortion, marriage, the Supreme Court, and wielding the power of the federal government.
56 min
174
Behind the Covid-19 curve
The Kaiser Foundation's Josh Michaud explains what the US is — and should be — doing to fight coronavirus.
59 min
175
Coronavirus 101
Jane, Dara and Brian Resnick talk about COVID-19 -- how it started, its potential impact, and where we go from here.
40 min
176
Weeds 2020: The Bernie electability debate
Welcome to Weeds 2020! Every other Saturday Ezra and Matt will be exploring a wide range of topics related to the 2020 race.
55 min
177
Going nuclear
Jessica Lovering joins Matt to discuss nuclear power's role in combatting climate change.
58 min
178
Black voters take the stage
The New Republic's Osita Nwanevu joins Jane and Matt to discuss black voting patterns and the South Carolina primary.
51 min
179
The year of housing reform
Mercatus' Emily Hamilton on what's working and what isn't to increase housing abundance
54 min
180
Mike can get what done?
Jane, Dara, and Matt on Michael Bloomberg’s record as mayor of New York City.
59 min
181
Private equity, explained
Vox business and politics reporter Emily Stewart on the mysteries of one of America's most powerful industries.
47 min
182
After asylum
Jane and Matt join as Dara explains her reporting on the new reality at the border.
43 min
183
How we pick a president
University of Maryland political scientist David Karol joins Matt to explain the consequences of presidential nomination reform.
84 min
184
Iowapocalypse Now
Vox politics reporter Andrew Prokop joins Dara and Matt to explain Monday night's disaster.
64 min
185
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
186
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
187
The road to polarization
Ezra joins Matt to discuss his upcoming book; Why We're Polarized.
78 min
188
Green New Germany
A preview of season 3 of Vox's The Impact
29 min
189
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
190
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
191
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
192
Mission Accomplished?
Vox national security correspondent Alex Ward joins Jane and Matt to break down Trump's Iran policy.
51 min
193
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
194
Midichlorian chili
Dara, Jane, and Matt kick the new year off by answering listeners' questions on everything under the sun.
74 min
195
Neighborhood Defenders
Boston University's Katherine Levine Einstein explains the dysfunctional politics behind America's housing crisis.
57 min
196
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
197
The next abortion debate
UC Berkley's Abigail Burman on the growing battles over self-managed abortion
43 min
198
No room at the inn (live!)
Dara, Jane, and Matt on the global crackdown on refugees.
84 min
199
Wine cave cage match
Politics reporter Ella Nilsen joins Matt to break down this week's Democratic debate
50 min
200
Primary mooples
Dara, Jane, and Matt on America's odd system of choosing presidential nominees
42 min