Explain It to Me

Heather Boushey of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth makes the case that a rise in equality would stimulate the economy. Guest: Heather Boushey (@HBoushey), Executive Director and Chief Economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigra...

Jane, Dara, and Matt on the California representative’s resignation, power imbalances, and the problem of “revenge porn.” Relevant links: "Revenge porn, biphobia, and alleged relationships with staffers: The complicated story around Rep. Katie Hill, explained" by Anna North, Vox "The Trauma of Revenge Porn" by Rebekah Wells, NYT White paper Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspon...

Gretchen Goldman of the Union of Concerned Scientists on the science and politics of clean air. Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favori...

Jane, Dara, and Matt debate the idea of pundits trying to guess what the public thinks — plus research on what happens when doctors are patients. Relevant links: American Voter Bot (@american__voter) White paper Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica More to explo...

This was the week of confessions. Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney admitted to a Trump administration quid quo pro with Ukraine, with cameras rolling. EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland confirmed that President Trump made Rudy Giuliani the hinge of America’s Ukraine policy. And then the administration announced that the location for the upcoming G7 summit: Trump’s own resort in Doral, Fl...

Ezra and Matt break down some of the nerdier aspects of the fourth Democratic primary debate. Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica More to explore: Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite...

The Aspen Institute's Katherine Lucas McKay joins Matt to discuss the origins and consequences of America's ballooning student debt loan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vox's judiciary reporter Ian Millhiser joins Matt to analyze the Supreme Court's new term and what the left gets wrong about the courts. Guest: Ian Millhiser, (@imillhiser) Senior Correspondent, 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 pod...

Pete Buttigieg joins Matt to discuss his latest prescription drug plan policy rollout and his broader thinking on health care. Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87),  Senior politics reporter, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica More to explore: Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you f...

Dara, Jane, and Matt answer your questions on the impeachment inquiry. Related pieces: "What’s wrong with a President Pence?" by Jane Coaston, Vox "9 scenarios for how the Trump-Ukraine impeachment process could end" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox White paper Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87),  Senior politics reporter, Vox Dara Lind (@DLind), Imm...

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,...

We’re live from the Texas Tribune Festival! Jane, Dara, and Matt take the stage to discuss the strange revival of interest in punitive approaches to the housing crisis and answer questions from the audience. References: "The New American Homeless" by Brian Goldstone, The New Rupublic "The most cost-effective way to help the homeless is to give them homes" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox White paper: "Ide...

Lyman Stone of the Institute for Family Studies joins Matt to discuss why Americans have fewer kids than they say they want. More to explore: Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research. About Vox:Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise a...

Jane, Dara, and Matt break down the scandal that seems to have set Trump on the road to impeachment. Links to resources discussed: “To beat Trump, try running an outsider” by Matthew Yglesias, Vox “The timeline of Trump’s decision to withhold aid to Ukraine is increasingly suspicious” by Sean Collins, Vox “A wave of moderate House Democrats are suddenly eager for an impeachment investigation” by E...

The New York Times' Binyamin Appelbaum joins Matt to explain his new book, The Economists' Hour. More to explore: Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research. About Vox:Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really...

Dara, Jane, and Matt explore how Trump “fixed” the asylum crisis. Links to resources discussed: “Trump's Asylum Policies Sent Him Back to Mexico. He Was Kidnapped Five Hours Later By a Cartel.” by Emily Green, Vice “Letter to the Orlando Sentinel” by Zora Neale Hurston “Student-Teacher Racial Match and Its Association With Black Student Achievement: An Exploration Using Multilevel Structural Equat...

After Vox's Tara Golshan reviews the third Democratic debate, Matthew Yglesias explains how Joe Biden wins even when he loses. News comes at you fast. Join us at the end of your day to understand it. Subscribe to Today, Explained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vox climate reporter David Roberts joins Jane and Matt live in Seattle to break down the 2020 candidates' climate change plans. Hosts: Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87),  Senior politics reporter, Vox David Roberts (@drvox), Writer, Vox More to explore: Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conv...

SEIU President Mary Kay Henry joins Matt to explain her push for sectoral bargaining. Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Mary Kay Henry (@MaryKayHenry) , International President, Service Employees International Union (@SEIU) More to explore: Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big id...

Data for Progress co-founder Sean McElwee explains his strategy for a left-wing takeover of American politics, and the data-driven path to winning elections. Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox Sean McElwee (@SeanMcElwee) , Co-founder, Data for Progress More to explore: Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations...

Jane, Dara, and Matt talk about Donald Trump’s potential 2020 presidential primary challengers — Joe Walsh, Bill Weld, Justin Amash, and others, and what their bids mean for the post-Trump future. We also ruminate on a white paper exploring potentially racist hiring practices. Links to resources discussed: “Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld explains why he’s primarying Donald Trump” by Jane Coas...

Emma Ashford, a research fellow in defense and foreign policy at the Cato Institute, joins Matt for a wide-ranging discussion on China and the Middle East, the United States’ relationship with Russia since the Cold War, and the defense budget. They also explore the difference between restraint and realism, and whether or not President Donald Trump is an isolationist. More to explore: Subscribe for...

Ezra, Jane, and Matt talk about Trump's approach to China and what his critics get right and wrong. Links to resources discussed: “Making China Great Again” by Evan Osnos, The New Yorker “The past 3 wild days in Trump’s trade war with China, explained” by Matthew Yglesias, Vox “Trump’s puzzling trade war with China, sort of explained” by Matthew Yglesias, Vox “Why Elizabeth Warren is declaring war...

Yale's Hilary Matfess joins Matt to debate Elizabeth Warren's trade proposals, and the role of trade policy in progressive politics. Recommended reading: “The progressive case for free trade” by Hilary Matfess ------------------------------------------------------- Join the Weeds Facebook group! News comes at you fast. Join us at the end of your day to understand it. Subscribe to Today, Explained...

Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss the 1619 project and its critics Related reading: “The 1619 Project” New York Times Magazine “Henry Clay, Edward Baptist, and the Whipping Machine” by Bradley A. Hansen “Cotton, Slavery, and the New History of Capitalism” by Alan L. Olmstead and Paul W. Rhode “Capitalism and Slavery” by John J. Clegg, New York University “Slavery and Anglo-American capitalism revisited...