Explain It to Me

Matt is joined by author Molly Reynolds of the Brookings Institution to talk about the intricacies of the Senate filibuster, budget reconciliation, and the Byrd rule, with a view toward the prospect of getting legislation through a divided Senate. Resources: U.S. Senate rules on filibuster and cloture "The history of the filibuster" by Sarah Binder, Brookings Exceptions to the Rule: The Politics o...

Vox Senior Correspondent German Lopez joins Matt and Dara to discuss some of the motivations, obstacles, and oppositions to the Biden administration's early signals on immigration policy, as well as a white paper on a natural experiment in the effects of a reduction in the number of police staff on crime. Resources: "Biden's sweeping immigration bill, explained" by Nicole Narea, Vox (Jan. 20, 2021...

Matt is joined by author Mike Konczal, Director of Progressive Thought at the Roosevelt Institute, and author of the new book Freedom from the Market. They talk about the past, present, and future of public affordances in America, and discuss the shifts in political imagination that could inaugurate a new era of public programs in the earnest interest of benefitting Americans. Resources: Mike's ne...

Vox business and politics reporter Emily Stewart joins Matt and Dara to unpack what's in Biden's giant stimulus package, and to examine how the new Congress will handle the massive imperatives of economic recovery, on the eve of the commencement of the Biden administration. Resources: "Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 stimulus plan, explained" by Emily Stewart, Vox (Jan. 14, 2021) "Legislative P...

Matt is joined by antitrust and competition policy expert Charlotte Slaiman to discuss the ongoing antitrust cases against Google and Facebook, the basics of antitrust litigation, and their outlook for the future of regulatory efforts to rein in the power of Big Tech through pro-competition policy. Resources: "Only Regulation Can Jumpstart Competition in Big Tech" by Gene Kimmelman and Charlotte S...

Vox Senior Correspondent Zack Beauchamp joins Matt and Dara to discuss some of the potential political ramifications of the insurrection of 1/6/21, as well as what this event might portend for addressing questions of police reform. Resources: "Capitol police officer praised as hero for diverting mob from Senate chamber" by Randi Richardson, NBC News (Jan. 11, 2021) "I experienced the heinous assau...

Matt is joined by Employ America policy advisor Elizabeth Pancotti for a detailed discussion about unemployment insurance. They take on the recent expansion of the benefits, explain some of the difficulties in distributing them, and outline a possible road toward meaningful reform. Resources: "Bennet Unveils Sweeping Proposal to Strengthen Unemployment Insurance Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic" (March...

Umair Irfan joins Dara and Matt to discuss some challenges and obstacles to prioritization and distribution of the Covid vaccine, in the U.S. and elsewhere. Resources: White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica Umair Irfan (@umairfan), Science Reporter, Vox Credits: Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer The Weeds is a Vox Me...

Mary Cunningham, vice president of Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy at the Urban Institute, joins Matt for part two of homelessness week to discuss the causes and potential solutions of homelessness. They dive deep into the data surrounding the issue, and take a look at President Trump's claim that homelessness is on the rise. More to explore: Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show,...

New America’s Kevin Carey explains loan forgiveness and the deeper problems with American higher education. Guest: Kevin Carey (@kevincarey1), Vice President, Education Policy and Knowledge Management, New America Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer Jackson Bierfeldt, Editor The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production Want to su...

Dylan Matthews joins Matt and Dara to discuss Covid’s impact on poverty and the road to recovery. Resources: "Joe Biden is taking office amid a poverty crisis" by Dylan Matthews, Vox Income and poverty in the COVID-19 pandemic by Jeehoon Han, Bruce D. Meyer, and James X. Sullivan Kamala Harris's plan for $2,000 a month transfers to every man, woman, and child  Plan to have the Fed give people mone...

Third Way’s Josh Freed and Jackie Kempfer explain a path forward for low-carbon policy in a time of divided government. Guest: Josh Freed (@ThirdWayEnergy), Senior VP, Climate and Energy Program, Third Way Jackie Kempfer (@JackieKempfer), Senior Policy Advisor, Climate and Energy Program, Third Way Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer Ja...

Alex Ward joins Dara and Matt to analyze the Biden national security team. Resources: "The revenge of the blob" by Alex Ward, Vox Why Nations Fall White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), Staff Writer, International Security and Defense, Vox The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production Wan...

Kaiser’s Jennifer Kates joins Matt to explain the next steps in countering the pandemic. Guest: Jennifer Kates (@jenkatesdc), Senior VP/Director, Global Health & HIV Policy, Kaiser Foundation Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer Jackson Bierfeldt, Editor The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production Want to support The Weeds? Pleas...

Dara and Matt on Biden’s choice to run Homeland Security and the many challenges he’ll face. Resources: "Biden picks Alejandro Mayorkas, a son of Jewish Cuban refugees, to lead the Department of Homeland Security" by Nick Miroff and  Maria Sacchetti, Washington Post "How an Obama appointee helped influential Democrats get visas for rich immigrants" by Dara Lind, Vox White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesia...

Emily Stewart joins Dara and Matt to discuss the prospects for Covid relief and Janet Yellen. Resources: "Janet Yellen's mistake" by Matthew Yglesias, Slowboring.com "Electoral politics on an unfair playing field" by Aaron Strauss, Slowboring.com White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica Emily Stewart (@EmilyStewartM), Bus...

The Atlantic Council’s Emma Ashford joins Matt to explain the president-elect’s approach to national security. Guest: Emma Ashford (@EmmaMAshford), Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer Jackson Bierfeldt, Editor The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production Want to support The Weeds? Please consider m...

Resources: "Why Georgia has runoff elections" by Jerusalem Demsas, Vox "David Perdue and Jon Ossoff advance to Georgia Senate runoff" by Ella Nilsen and Jerusalem Demsas "Detailed Turnout Data Shows How Georgia Turned Blue" by Nate Cohn, New York Times White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica Ella Nilsen (@ella_nilsen), P...

Vox’s new series THE NEXT FOUR YEARS delving into the policy prospects for the Biden Era kicks off with Bloomberg’s Karl Smith explaining a bipartisan approach to healing the labor market. Guest: Karl Smith (@karlbykarlsmith), Bloomberg Columnist Host: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network pro...

Jane, Dara, and Matt on Trump’s refusal to quit and his “surprising” Hispanic support. Resources: "How Democrats Missed Trump’s Appeal to Latino Voters" by Jennifer Medina "Why Democrats Lost So Many South Texas Latinos—the Economy" by Elizabeth Findell, Wall Street Journal White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspo...

Ezra and Matt on the election results and the prospects for majority rule. Resources: Chris Hayes and I process this wild election, Ezra Klein Show Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production Want to support The Weeds? Please consider m...

In this special live episode of the Weeds - Ella Nilsen joins Matt and Jane to highlight the most contested senate races, and what to watch for as results come in. Resources: 2020 Election Coverage Live results for the 2020 Senate races Vox’s live results for the 2020 presidential election 2020 House election live results Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston...

Ezra and Matt look back on what’s surprised them.  Resources: "Can anything change Americans’ minds about Donald Trump?" by Ezra Klein, Vox "Republicans are sowing the seeds of the next financial crisis" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox "Trump Is Losing Ground With White Voters But Gaining Among Black And Hispanic Americans" by Geoffrey Skelley and Anna Wiederkehr, FiveThirtyEight "Nate Silver on why 2020...

Dara, Jane, and Matt on the big immigration questions that will face a new administration. Resources: "Would Biden 'rebuild the old program' to reduce Northern Triangle migration?" by Teresa Welsh, Devex "Inside the Refugee Camp on America's Doorstep" by Caitlin Dickerson, NYT White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics corre...

Ezra and Matt on the final presidential debate. Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts About Vox Vox is a news network that helps you cut...