Explain It to Me

Jane, Dara, and Matt on the evidence for mask wearing, and a totally non-coronavirus white paper. Resources: "Why America ran out of protective masks — and what can be done about it" by German Lopez, Vox "Why Telling People They Don’t Need Masks Backfired" by Zeynep Tufekci, NYTimes "It's Time to Face Facts, America: Masks Work" by Ferris Jabr, Wired "Masks for Coronavirus Will Not Last Long in th...

Ezra and Matt analyze the huge but inadequate stimulus bill Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, 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 network that...

Jane, Dara, and Matt on the Defense Production Act, wartime mobilization, and pandemic-induced autarky. Resources: "Trump’s excuses for not using the Defense Production Act are wrong — and dangerous" by Alex Ward, Vox "“We are desperate”: Trump’s inaction has created a crisis with protective medical gear" by Caroline Hopkins, Vox "The Defense Production Act, the law Trump is using to boost coronav...

Jane talks to Asawin Suebsaeng and Lachlan Markay about their new book "Sinking in the Swamp" on chaos at the White House and how President Trump differs (and doesn't) from prior administrations. As a note - this episode was recorded on February 26, 2020. Resources: "Too Many Trump Books Are Like Eagles Records. These Daily Beast Reporters Wanted Theirs to Feel Like a Mudhoney Album" by Andrew Bea...

Brookings’ Andre Perry explains his research on how racism cripples black entrepreneurs and homeowners Guest: Andre Perry, (@andreperryedu) Fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings 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 a...

Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss President Trump’s new more serious tone and competing economic stimulus proposals. Resources: "Coronavirus’s threat to the global economy — and what to do about it" by Matt Yglesias, Vox "Dear Congress: Send Americans cash. Send it now." by Dylan Matthews, Vox "Mitt Romney’s coronavirus economic plan: $1,000 to each American adult" by Dylan Matthews, Vox "Restaurants A...

Ezra and Matt on dueling pandemic response plans from Sanders and Biden, and Trump's disastrous speech. Resources: President Trump's oval office address Joe Biden's coronavirus address Bernie Sanders' coronavirus address Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox About Vox Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noi...

Conor Dougherty on his new book "Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America" Guest: Conor Dougherty, (@ConorDougherty) Economics reporter, New York Times 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...

Jane, Dara, and Matt on queer politics after marriage equality. Resources: "Before Stonewall" by Jane Coaston, MTV News "My Mayor Pete Problem" by Dale Peck, New Republic "Last Men Standing" by Erin Allday, SF Chronicle "You Wanted Same-Sex Marriage? Now You Have Pete Buttigieg." by Shannon Keating, BuzzFeed "The Struggle for Gay Rights Is Over" by James Kirchick, Atlantic Census & LGBT Demographi...

Conservative thinker Robert George joins Jane to talk about abortion, marriage, the Supreme Court, and wielding the power of the federal government.  Guest: Robert George, (@McCormickProf) Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University Host: Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast,...

The Kaiser Foundation's Josh Michaud explains what the US is — and should be — doing to fight coronavirus.  Guest: Josh Michaud, (@joshmich) Associate Director, Global Health Policy, The Kaiser Foundation 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...

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...