Explain It to Me

In this crossover episode from the Ezra Klein Show - Ezra and Matt discuss the early days of blogging, Twitter, climate change, and Matt's case for having 1 billion Americans. Buy Matt's book! Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network...

Rep. Veronica Escobar joins Jane, Dara, and Matt to talk about Texas politics and the use of the pandemic as a pretext to clamp down on asylum. Guest: Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) US Congresswoman from Texas' 16th Congressional District Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox Meredith Haggerty (@manymanyword...

Ezra joins Matt to workshop his latest article — and save American democracy. Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and 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...

Meredith Haggerty joins Jane and Matt to debate looting and corporate cooptation of social justice. Resources: "One Author's Controversial View: 'In Defense Of Looting'" by Natalie Escobar, NPR "Examining Vicky Osterweil’s Case for Looting" by Isaac Chotiner Baby, I'm an Anarchist by Against Me! Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politic...

Matt and Ezra discuss why crime is rising in certain American cities, and the country's growing housing crisis. Resources: "Trump claims crime is up in US cities. The truth is more complicated." by German Lopez, Vox Policing the Police: The Impact of "Pattern-or-Practice" Investigations on Crime by Roland Fryer Jr. & Tanaya Devi The Effect of Police Oversight on Crime and Allegations of Misconduct...

Dara, Jane, and Matt discuss Jane’s argument that the GOP establishment changed Trump more than he changed the party. Resources: "Trump was supposed to change the GOP. But the GOP changed him." by Jane Coaston, Vox "Trump's approval rating among black voters jumps nine points during GOP convention: Poll" by Carly Ortiz-Lytle, Washington Examiner White paper Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Se...

Ezra and Matt on the GOP convention and the politics of "law and order". Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and 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 i...

Introducing The Cut, a new podcast from our friends at New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network that dives deep into the cultural conversations that matter most in our current moment. Led by host Avery Trufelman, alumna of the podcasts 99% Invisible, Articles of Interest and Nice Try!, the Cut aims to answer questions before listeners know they have them, with a generous wit and an expa...

Jane, Dara, and Matt on convalescent plasma, FDA reform, and the politics of science. Resources: "Trump used a rare disease survivor to take a shot at the FDA" by Julia Belluz, Vox "Making American Great Again–The FDA" by Alex Tabarrok, Marginal Revolution "Reopening schools safely is going to take much more federal leadership" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox "Straight talk on the FDA’s tumultuous weeken...

Ezra and Matt stay up late to review Joe Biden's big speech and the Democrats' big week. Resources: "Obama’s Convention Speech Is the First Time I Have Seen Him Scared" by Jonathan Chait, NY Mag "The tragedy of Hillary Clinton" by Ezra Klein, Vox Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox Credits: Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor...

Jane, Dara, and Matt on the health and history of the postal service, the political games being played, and what it means for November's election.  Resources: "The Post Office Mess Is Meant to Exhaust You. Don’t Let It." by Charlie Warzel, New York Times "On the Post Office 'sabotage'" by Jay Caruso, The Monday Notice "Why We Should Love The Post Office" by Addison Del Mastro, The American Conserv...

Ezra and Matt on Republican policy nihilism and the Kamala Harris pick. Resources: "Kamala Harris Is Biden’s Choice for Vice President" by Alexander Burns and Katie Glueck, NYT "How inequality and white identity politics feed each other" with Paul Pierson and Jacob Hacker, Ezra Klein Show podcast Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-...

Vox's Emily Stewart joins Dara and Jane to discuss the relationship between "the market" and the "real economy." Resources: "The Stock Market Is an Engine of Civic Destruction" by Libby Watson, New Republic "Who gets to be reckless on Wall Street?" by Emily Stewart, Vox Hosts: Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox Emily Ste...

Ezra and Matt on Susan Rice, Kamala Harris, and Trump’s increasingly chaotic authoritarianism. Resources: "What we know about Joe Biden’s possible vice presidential picks" by Ella Nilsen, Vox "Harris allies granted call with Biden campaign after Dodd blowup" by Christopher Cadelago & Natasha Korecki, Politico "Think the world is on fire? Obama’s national security adviser says things are better tha...

Jane, Dara, and Matt on the congressional deadlock over economic aid. Resources: "“The jobs aren’t there”: Why cutting off enhanced unemployment benefits would leave workers in the lurch" by Li Zhou, Vox "Senate GOP Coronavirus Bill Has Some Good Provisions but Needs Serious Work" by Adam Michel, Rachel Greszler, Lindsey M. Burke, & Brian Finch, Heritage Foundation "The Zombie Reaganism Trap" by P...

John McWhorter joins Matt to discuss the changing way we talk about racism in America. Resources: "“Latinx” is growing in popularity. I made a comic to help you understand why." by Terry Blas, Vox "Racist Police Violence Reconsidered" by John McWhorter, Quillette "The Virtue Signalers Won’t Change the World" by John McWhorter, The Atlantic "The Dehumanizing Condescension of White Fragility" by Joh...

Dara, Jane, and Matt on Wayfair, massage parlors, and reality. Resources: "The modeling industry is filled with exploitation—this labor activist is fighting back" by Sara Ziff, Fast Company "American Airlines Reportedly Accused a Black Social Worker of Kidnapping the White Child In Her Care. Now She's Suing." by Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Reason "Sen. Josh Hawley Says He 'Took on an Asian Trafficking...

Texas A&M's Jennifer Doleac joins Matt to explain what we know (and don't know) about criminal justice. Resources: "How to Fix Policing" by Jennifer Doleac, Niskanen Center "How to Make a Police Force More Diverse" by Jennifer Doleac, Bloomberg "Changing Police Recruitment Messages Attracts a Larger and More Diverse Applicant Pool" by Jennifer Doleac, CCJ "Making Fair and Respected Cops: Procedura...

Dara, Jane, and Matt on Nick Cannon, Louis Farrakhan, and antisemitic conspiracy theories. Resources: "The conspiracy theories behind the anti-Semitic violence in New York" by Jane Coaston, Vox "Nick Cannon let go by ViacomCBS over anti-Semitic comments" by Lisa Respers France, CNN "Calling out racism and anti-Semitism is a responsibility" by David Love, CNN "Black Demagogues and Pseudo-Scholars"...

Ezra and Matt on Joe Biden’s unification strategy with the left. Resources: BIDEN-SANDERS UNITY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS "How Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders joined forces to craft a bold, progressive agenda" by Ella Nilsen, Vox "It’s time to move past employer-based health insurance" by Ezra Klein, Vox Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Edit...

Jane, Dara, and Matt on the school reopening debate and the political consequences of HIV/AIDS. Resources: "The debate over reopening America’s K-12 schools, explained" by Anna North, Vox "I’m an epidemiologist and a dad. Here’s why I think schools should reopen." by Benjamin P. Linas, Vox "‘I Don’t Want to Go Back’: Many Teachers Are Fearful and Angry Over Pressure to Return" by Dana Goldstein an...

Ezra and Matt on how America failed while the world made progress on the pandemic, and what on earth is going on with the republican party. Resources: "Reopening schools safely is going to take much more federal leadership" by Matthew Yglesias "Trumpism, not polarization, drives America’s disastrous coronavirus politics" by Ezra Klein Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent,...

Dara, Jane, and Matt on Biden’s excitement gap. Resources: "So … About That Supposed Lack Of Enthusiasm For Biden?" Five Thirty Eight "Social conservatives feel betrayed by the Supreme Court — and the GOP that appointed it" by Jane Coaston, Vox "Trump’s surprising resilience with Hispanic voters, explained" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox Hosts: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox Ja...

Land of the Giants is a podcast from our friends at Recode and the Vox Media Podcast Network that examines the most powerful tech companies of our time.   The second season is called The Netflix Effect, and it’s hosted by Recode editors Rani Molla and Peter Kafka.   The Netflix Effect explores how a company that began as a small DVD-by-mail service ultimately upended Hollywood and completely chang...

Jane, Dara, and Matt on Confederate Memorials, Woodrow Wilson, and the battle for historical memory. Resources: "Woodrow Wilson was extremely racist — even by the standards of his time" by Dylan Matthews, Vox "Inside the growing movement to ditch Columbus Day and celebrate Native Americans instead" by Victoria M. Massie, Vox "The battle over Confederate statues, explained" by German Lopez, Vox Whi...