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.
126
Beijing, boycotts, and the enduring politics of...
What does a diplomatic boycott actually do?
34 min
127
Affirmative action could be doomed (again). Wha...
A conservative-leaning Supreme Court could mean the end of affirmative action.
36 min
128
It’s not about Ukraine. It’s about Putin.
It’s not about Russia, either.
48 min
129
Think of the children
What two studies about early childhood poverty interventions can tell us about pediatric brain development
41 min
130
Unions!
Why unions are stronger yet smaller than ever
52 min
131
What happens to voting rights now?
The plan to make it easier to vote has been fili-busted.
40 min
132
Are corporations winning at inflation?
If they are profiting from inflation, can we do anything about it?
40 min
133
What BBB means for climate policy
Can the White House and Congress see eye-to-eye on climate?
65 min
134
How the 1918 flu pandemic ended
What the deadliest pandemic in history can tell us about Covid-19
33 min
135
The case for more babies
We need to talk about the slowing population growth.
49 min
136
The building blocks of radicalization
What happens when political extremism goes mainstream
52 min
137
Why hasn’t student debt been canceled?
A look at the policy merits and political implications of canceling student loan debt.
50 min
138
Best Of: The coming climate exodus
A look back at The Weeds from earlier this year.
55 min
139
America’s Public Health Experiment: Federal fai...
Did the government fail in its public health response for the American people?
52 min
140
America's Public Health Experiment: More checks...
How automatic stabilizers could help prevent future economic disaster.
49 min
141
Can school be normal again?
55 min
142
America’s Public Health Experiment: The agencie...
When the government fails its customers.
64 min
143
Learning to love rent control
Does rent control actually control rent?
53 min
144
America’s Public Health Experiment: The testing...
How the US got it wrong from the very beginning.
39 min
145
Defund the police?
German, Jerusalem, and Dylan walk through the pros and cons of defunding the police as a policy proposal.
58 min
146
Biden’s $3.40 a gallon problem
How do you make gas cheaper while fighting global warming?
45 min
147
Taxing Back Better
The wonkiest Biden tax episode you can imagine.
43 min
148
How does the pandemic end?
Dylan, German and Jerusalem discuss possible exit strategies for the Covid-19 pandemic.
54 min
149
Reshaping America’s cities
Surprise! The future of work is actually about housing.
53 min
150
Pass the SALT?
Dylan, Jerusalem, and Dara discuss congressional Democrats’ efforts to uncap the state and local tax (SALT) deduction.
59 min