Explain It to Me

Jane, Dara and Brian Resnick talk about COVID-19 -- how it started, its potential impact, and where we go from here. Resources: "11 questions about the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, answered" by Julia Belluz, Vox "If the coronavirus hits America, who’s responsible for protecting you?" by Brian Resnick, Vox "“This is not the bat’s fault”: A disease expert explains where the coronavirus likely come...

Welcome to Weeds 2020! Every other Saturday Ezra and Matt will be exploring a wide range of topics related to the 2020 race.  Since the Nevada caucuses, Bernie Sanders has become the clear frontrunner in the 2020 Democratic primary, spurring lots of debate over whether he could win in the general election. We discuss where the electability conversation often goes off-the-rails, why discussing elec...

Jessica Lovering joins Matt to discuss nuclear power's role in combatting climate change. Guest: Jessica Lovering, (@J_Lovering) Fellow, Energy for Growth Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story e...

The New Republic's Osita Nwanevu joins Jane and Matt to discuss black voting patterns and the South Carolina primary. Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Osita Nwanevu (@OsitaNwanevu), Staff writer, New Republic Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overca...

Mercatus' Emily Hamilton on what's working and what isn't to increase housing abundance. Guest: Emily Hamilton, (@ebwhamilton) Research Fellow, Mercatus Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story eve...

Jane, Dara, and Matt on Michael Bloomberg’s record as mayor of New York City. Related material: "National education ratings show NYC student test scores stagnant since 2013, ranks them about average for big cities" by Michael Elsen-Rooney, New York Daily News "Boost for Congestion Pricing in Manhattan as de Blasio Supports Cuomo Plan" by Emma G. Fitzsimmons and Jesse McKinley, NYT "The quiet, mass...

Vox business and politics reporter Emily Stewart on the mysteries of one of America's most powerful industries. Guest: Emily Stewart, (@EmilyStewartM) Reporter, Vox Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on th...

Jane and Matt join as Dara explains her reporting on the new reality at the border. Related material: "“Women to One Side, Men to the Other”: How the Border Patrol’s New Powers and Old Carelessness Separated a Family" by Dara Lind, ProPublica "Two Gay Immigrants Left Everything For Safety In The US. Instead, They Were Sent To Guatemala." by Hamed Aleaziz, Buzzfeed "The demise of America’s asylum s...

University of Maryland political scientist David Karol joins Matt to explain the consequences of presidential nomination reform. Guest: David Karol, (@DKarol) Government & Politics professor, University of Maryland Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or y...

Vox politics reporter Andrew Prokop joins Dara and Matt to explain Monday night's disaster. Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica Andrew Prokop (@awprokop), Senior politics correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your fav...

Claudia Sahm from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth joins Matt to explain a surprisingly simple strategy to stabilize the economy. Guest: Claudia Sahm, (@Claudia_Sahm) Director of Macroeconomic Policy, Washington Center for Equitable Growth Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Sti...

Matt, Dara and Jane talk about the rise in anti-Semitic violence aimed at Hassidic communities, and what the political implications may be.  Related reading: "The conspiracy theories behind the anti-Semitic violence in New York" Jane Coaston, Vox Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior p...

Ezra Klein joins Matt to discuss his forthcoming book; Why We're Polarized. Guest: Ezra Klein, (@ezraklein) Co-founder and Editor-at-Large, Vox Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week....

Introducing season 3 of The Impact! The 2020 candidates have some bold ideas to tackle some of our country's biggest problems, like climate change, the opioid crisis, and unaffordable health care. A lot of their proposals have been tried before, so, in a sense, the results are in.  This season, The Impact has those stories: how the big ideas from 2020 candidates succeeded — or failed — in other pl...

Dylan Scott and special guest Sarah Kliff join Matt for a close look at health care in Taiwan, Australia, and the Netherlands. Recommended reading: "Everybody Covered" by Dylan Scott, Ezra Klein, and Tara Golshan, Vox "Taiwan’s single-payer success story — and its lessons for America" by Dylan Scott, Vox "Two sisters. Two different journeys through Australia’s health care system." by Dylan Scott,...

New America's Vicki Shabo joins Matt to discuss universal paid leave and how to finance it. Guest: Vicki Shabo, (@VShabo) Senior Fellow, Paid Leave Policy and Strategy, New America Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get st...

Ezra and Matt break down the last debate before the Iowa caucuses, and explore the current state of the Democratic field. Related reading: "Joe Biden will never give up on the system" by Ezra Klein, Vox "4 winners and 3 losers from the January Democratic debate" Vox Staff "The case for Elizabeth Warren" by Ezra Klein, Vox "Bernie Sanders can unify Democrats and beat Trump in 2020" by Matthew Ygles...

Vox national security correspondent Alex Ward joins Jane and Matt to break down Trump's Iran policy. Recommended reading: "Trump’s team insists Soleimani was an “imminent” threat. Just don’t ask for details." by Alex Ward, Vox "9 questions about the US-Iran crisis you were too embarrassed to ask" by Zack Beauchamp, Vox "The US killed Soleimani. What will Iran do next?" by Alex Ward, Vox "The Solei...

Cato’s Emma Ashford joins Matt to explain America’s larger (lack of) strategy in the Persian Gulf region. Guest: Emma Ashford, (@EmmaMAshford) Research Fellow in Defense and Foreign Policy, Cato Institute Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favori...

Dara, Jane, and Matt kick the new year off by answering listeners' questions on everything under the sun. Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or y...

Boston University's Katherine Levine Einstein explains the dysfunctional politics behind America's housing crisis. Guest: Katherine Levine Einstein, Boston University Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on...

Dara, Jane, and Matt talk about what surprised them in 2019, remember the last decade, and predict what 2020 might have in store.  Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Ove...

UC Berkley's Abigail Burman on the growing battles over self-managed abortion. Guest: Abigail Burman, UC Berkeley Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week. About Vox Vox is a news networ...

Dara, Jane, and Matt on the global crackdown on refugees. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the historic 6th and I synagogue in Washington, D.C. Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on A...

Vox politics reporter Ella Nilsen joins Matt to break down this week's Democratic debate. Guest: Ella Nilsen (@ella_nilsen), Politics & Policy Reporter, Vox Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story...