Today, Explained

The political polarization of America didn’t start with Donald Trump and it won’t end in 2020 either. Ezra Klein explains "Why We're Polarized." (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did Mohammed Bin Salman hack Jeff Bezos? Recode’s Peter Kafka returns with an update and Kara Swisher explains Saudi Arabia's impunity in the tech world. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A SARS-like virus has killed at least 17 people, quarantined millions in China, and made its way to the United States. Vox’s Julia Belluz explains what's known and what's next. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court is trying to settle the fight over the biggest traffic jam in the history of American politics once and for all. WNYC's Matt Katz, author of "American Governor: Chris Christie's Bridge to Redemption," explains. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vox's Andrew Prokop explains everything you need to know as President Trump's Senate impeachment trial gets underway. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment this week. Now, Congress is the only thing standing between the 28th amendment and the Constitution of the United States. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Canada now has the unfortunate job of dealing with the collateral damage from the conflict between Iran and the United States. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Senator Cory Booker tells Sean Rameswaram why he never stood a chance and Vox's Ella Nilsen explains why Senators Warren and Sanders are fighting. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elizabeth Warren’s best bet to fight the opioid epidemic might be stealing a page from the battle against AIDS. Vox’s Jillian Weinberger explains how for The Impact. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Australia is suffering unprecedented damage from months of bush fires, but the country remains divided on the politics of climate change. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meghan Markle and her husband have announced their own personal Brexit. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Irin Carmon from New York magazine explains how #MeToo is on trial alongside Harvey Weinstein. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iran fired back. The United States issued a statement. Iraq wishes its allies would fight somewhere else. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iran analyst Dina Esfandiary explains why the killing of Qassem Soleimani was “the greatest gift the Trump administration could have given the Iranian government.” And an Iranian-American family disagrees on the meaning of Soleimani’s death. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The United States killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq last week. Vox's Alex Ward explains what might happen next. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The vast majority of our plastic isn’t being recycled. It might be time to consider lighting it on fire. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before stumbling into the biggest American political scandal in a generation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was best known for playing the president on TV. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the cusp of a big election year, Vox’s Matthew Yglesias reviews President Trump’s accomplishments thus far. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Old Town Road” is unlike anything that’s ever happened in American popular music. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Time named Greta Thunberg its ‘Person of the Year.’ David Wallace-Wells from New York Magazine explains why. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A quarter-century after its release, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has claimed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Call it a "Christmas Mariahcle." (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The sixth and final Democratic debate of the year was less diverse, more substantive, and also featured a fight about a wine cave. Vox's Emily Stewart explains. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By 2035, there will be more elderly people than children in America. The country isn’t ready. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump today. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains what comes next. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court will decide whether President Trump has to turn over his tax returns, but WNYC's Andrea Bernstein says the Court is really deciding whether Trump can literally get away with murder. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices