Making sense of it all.
From Vox. Are we in a period of reinvention, or is the 250-year-old "American experiment" now hitting a wall? This week on America, Actually, historian Heather Cox Richardson explains our current political climate and how the US is facing its biggest stress test since the Civil War. The substack author helps us write a new…
From Vox. Heather Cox Richardson, author of the newsletter Letters from an American, reflects on the country as an ongoing project: a story shaped by people who’ve fought to expand its promises to those once excluded. Listen to the full episode here on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our channel and…
From Vox. The Supreme Court just gutted the Voting Rights Act, and analysts say as many as a dozen Black Democratic members of Congress could lose their seats because of it. Vox’s Ian Millhiser breaks down what the Court’s decision in Callais means for Southern politics, congressional power, and who ultimately controls Congress. Read the…
From Vox. Did problems in America’s political system pave the way for Donald Trump? Heather Cox Richardson, author of the newsletter Letters from an American, tells Vox’s Astead Herndon that the system isn’t inherently broken, but missed opportunities after the 1960s, creating fertile ground for the conservative right to reshape the national narrative. Listen to…
From Vox. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has a longstanding fascination with the Crusades. That’s right, the Crusades: the series of late 11th to 13th century medieval wars in which Europeans fought to control the Holy Land. He has tattoos that reference the Crusades, something that actually came up in his confirmation hearing in 2025.…
From Vox. Everyone says having kids changes your life. That’s true. But it’s not the whole story. Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Sean talks with author Derek Thompson about fatherhood, how raising kids can shock you, and why parenting feels not so much “hard” as “nonstop.” They explore the weird psychology of loving something more…
From Vox. The first ticket drop for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics resulted in a “crashout” for many fans and locals hoping to get a seat at the summer Games. Why? Because the process was confusing and the tickets were way more expensive than the $28 seats they were promised. Read more: https://www.vox.com/culture/486760/2028-los-angeles-olympics-ticket-prices-fail Subscribe to…
From Vox. Nicole Kidman is becoming a death doula, and she’s not the first celebrity to do so. She’s part of a larger cultural shift toward embracing death and a growing openness to talking about death in ways we never used to. Vox’s Anna North spoke with death professionals like thanatologist and author Cole Imperi,…
From Vox. If billionaire Tom Steyer becomes the governor of California, he wants criminal liability for ICE agents and their leadership. Vox’s Zack Beauchamp talked to Steyer about why holding leadership accountable is important. Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications (🔔) so you don’t miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Vox.com is a news website…
From Vox. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a very big deal. It transformed America, marking the end of the Jim Crow era and effectively banning racial discrimination in elections. Finally fulfilling the promise of a multiracial democracy, Black voter registration increased, and political representation across the nation better reflected America’s diverse population. 60…
From Vox. Billionaire and California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer tells Vox’s Zack Beauchamp that to protect democracy, political leaders have to stand up for Americans and their freedoms. “You think you’re getting out of an authoritarian crisis without standing up for something?” Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications (🔔) so you don’t miss…
From Vox. As animal shelters in the US become overcrowded, it’s not just the pets that suffer. Animal control and animal shelter workers bear an enormous amount of stress, collectively euthanizing about 600,000 animals each year. Vox’s Kenny Torrella explains how you can help. Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications (🔔) so you…
From Vox. Have you ever asked yourself: Am I someone I’d want to be friends with? It’s an important question that may reveal if you aren’t showing up for your friends in the way you want them to show up for you. Aka, it’ll help you find out if you’re a bad friend. But don’t…
From Vox. We drop fish out of planes. Well, sometimes. It’s a process called “fish stocking,” where US states breed fish with the purpose of releasing them into rivers and lakes to then be caught by fishers. And when those lakes are up in the mountains, it can take a plane or a helicopter to…
From Vox. Sean talks with psychologist Alison Gopnik about how children think, learn, experience the world, and why their minds may be more powerful than ours in some crucial ways. They explore the idea that kids are the “research and development” wing of the human species, built for exploration, curiosity, and discovery, while adults are…
From Vox. Sean talks with psychologist Alison Gopnik about how children think, learn, experience the world, and why their minds may be more powerful than ours in some crucial ways. They explore the idea that kids are the “research and development” wing of the human species, built for exploration, curiosity, and discovery, while adults are…
From Vox. Worried about your child’s intelligence and future? Developmental psychologist Alison Gopnik has the simplest, most essential advice for parents: “chill out.” In her conversation with the host of The Gray Area, Sean Illing (@seanilling), she argues that focusing on the “marvelous features” of the relationship and appreciating the “biggest human miracle”—watching your child…
From Vox. Matcha is a) everywhere and b) not cheap. So why are matcha prices rising? And how do you guarantee that you’re getting what you pay for? Vox’s Sydney Bergan breaks it down. 🍵 Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications (🔔) so you don’t miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Vox.com is a news…
From Vox. Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego is considering running for president in 2028. In a lot of ways, it makes sense: He’s an army veteran who represents a critical swing state with a sizable Latino electorate. But could his previously close relationship with former Congress member Eric Swalwell complicate his political future? This week on…
From Vox. "Good people in, bad people out. That’s where we start." Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) lays out the three-part Democratic case for immigration reform: border enforcement, targeting bad actors, and a flexible system that responds to reality, to Vox’s Astead Herndon. Listen to the full interview wherever you get your podcasts or watch it…
From Vox. On April 15, a federal jury found Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster operated as an illegal monopoly, overcharging fans and shutting out competition. After years of complaints, lawsuits, and the fallout from the 2022 Taylor Swift Eras Tour ticket sale controversy, the states took the case to trial, and won. So now the…
From Vox. Yesteryear, the buzzy new novel by Caro Claire Burke, has an incredible premise. A modern-day tradwife travels back in time to 1855, forcing her to reckon with the realities of the lifestyle she touts on social media. While a great read, Vox’s book critic Constance Grady explains why the ending leaves more to…
From Vox. “Social media enabled Republicans to figure out the actual preferences of corporate America and they didn’t like them.” Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains to The Gray Area Host Sean Illing why the First Amendment has become a free-for-all. Listen to the whole episode wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our channel and turn…
From Vox. The Supreme Court is aggressive on almost everything. Except the internet. Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Sean talks with Vox’s Ian Millhiser about a surprising pattern at the Court. While it’s been eager to reshape schools, healthcare, and civil rights law, it has consistently taken a cautious, almost hands-off approach to regulating the…
From Vox. It’s been over 100 days since New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office. What’s he doing differently from other mayors? Brigid Bergin, a senior politics reporter at WNYC and Gothamist, explains to Today, Explained host Sean Rameswaram that Mamdani is practicing “pothole politics” — aka publicizing every small accomplishment. Subscribe to our…
From Vox. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is expanding to Orange County, and a lot of the new cast members have one thing in common: they aren’t actually Mormon. Jonquilyn Hill, host of Explain It to Me, breaks down who’s joining the show and asks the bigger question about our fascination with Mormon culture…
From Vox. "If you ask somebody, do we still need a deportation force? Almost 80% say yes." Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) breaks down why calling to abolish ICE is the wrong political argument and what real immigration reform actually looks like, to Vox’s Astead Herndon. Listen to the full interview early on Patreon by becoming…
From Vox. Every year, federal and state wildlife agencies in the US breed millions of fish and release them into the wild, all for fishers to catch. To see some fish stocking in action and learn more about the process, Vox producer Nate Krieger went on a fish stocking run with employees of the Connecticut…
From Vox. Meat and dairy production is wreaking havoc on our environment as a leading cause of global deforestation and habitat loss. Want to help this Earth Day? Start by eating a more plant-based diet. Vox’s Kenny Torrella explains why it makes a difference. Read more: https://www.vox.com/climate/486311/earth-day-meat-dairy-environmental-impact-climate Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications…
From Vox. Every year, federal and state wildlife agencies in the US breed millions of fish and release them into the wild, all for fishers to catch. They do this because many ecosystems no longer support the thriving fish populations they once did, due to dams, pollution, and rising water temperatures. But there’s a catch.…
From Vox. "I don’t often recognize the Arizona that’s spoken about nationally." Yana Kunichoff, a reporter for Arizona Luminaria, breaks down the gap between how the national media portrays her state and what it actually feels like to live and work there to Vox’s Astead Herndon. Listen to the full interview wherever you get your…
From Vox. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly invoked God in official Pentagon press conferences. From likening the rescue of a missing American airman, to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to declaring that “God deserves all the glory” for American battlefield successes, the language of the Pentagon is shifting. But where is this theology coming…
From Vox. There are ways to stave off burnout in the workplace. On this week’s Explain It to Me, Danielle Roberts breaks down what to think about before you even step foot in the door. Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications (🔔) so you don’t miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Vox.com is a news…
From Vox. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) regrets defending Eric Swalwell, who resigned from Congress following sexual assault allegations. ”This is the kind of thing that makes all of us relook at what we have been accepting, versus not accepting," Gallego told Vox’s Astead Herndon. Get early access to the full interview with Gallego on Vox’s…
From Vox. Immigration might be President Donald Trump’s signature issue, but what do Americans actually think about border security and enforcement? And how should elected officials go about reforming the system? Host and editorial director Astead Herndon sits down with The Atlantic’s Caitlin Dickerson to discuss the ways in which 9/11 shaped immigration enforcement in…
From Vox. With AI in the mix, will the military always have “humans in the loop” to help make crucial tactical decisions? Katrina Manson, author of Project Maven, says while military commanders say yes, it’s not technically the policy of the Department of Defense. Listen to the full episode of The Gray Area wherever you…
From Vox. “There is a tension at its heart.” Caitlin Dickerson, a staff writer at The Atlantic, breaks down ICE’s confusing and often contradictory mission to Vox’s Astead Herndon. Listen to the full interview wherever you get your podcasts, or watch it here on YouTube on Saturday, April 18. Subscribe to our channel and turn…
From Vox. China is quietly redefining its relationship with Taiwan as the US is embroiled in global conflicts. First: a historic meeting with Taiwan’s opposition leader, Cheng Li-wun, ahead of May’s planned meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications (🔔) so you don’t miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO…
From Vox. Back in 2015, before President Donald Trump, before January 6, before all the craziness of the last decade, Matt Yglesias made a blunt prediction: American democracy is doomed. Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Guest host Zack Beauchamp talks with Matt about what that argument got right, what it missed, and why the real…
From Vox. “Blasphemy is no good, no matter who does it,” says Pastor Doug Wilson. The controversial evangelical theologian with ties to the White House spoke to Today, Explained co-host Noel King about his hopes for a Christian regime in the US that would repeal women’s right to vote and make being gay a crime.…