Vox

Explain It to Me

Society EN ↓ 814 episodes

Should I buy a house? Why do I say “like” so much? Should Gen Z bother to save for retirement? Explain It to Me is the hotline for the issues that matter to your life. Send us your questions about health, personal finance, relationships, and anything else that matters to you. Host Jonquilyn Hill will take you on a journey to find the answers, whether it's to the halls of Congress or the local bar. You’ll get the answers you were looking for, and sometimes ones you didn't expect — and always with a dose of humor. New episodes every Sunday. Part of Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Author

Vox

Episodes

The Weeds fixes racism 01.03.2019 56:31

Jane, Dara, and Matt excavate the most contentious moment in the Cohen hearing in a hunt for "racist bones." Recommended reading:Dara on the Meadows/Tlaib standoff Jane on Steve King Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amy Klobuchar and the Jill Robinson effect 26.02.2019 53:15

Sarah and Matt discuss the recent spate of stories about the Minnesota senator — and an announcement from Ezra! Relevant articles: Paper on the Jill Robinson Effect Buzzfeed Klobuchar story Huffington Post Klobuchar story Kelsey Piper story on the fake white paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day care for all! 22.02.2019 58:56

Sarah, Dara, and Matt discuss Elizabeth Warren's universal child care plan — and the other options on the table. Relevant articles: Alvin Chang wealth tax explainer Jonathan Cohn day care story Quebec day care study Warren's child care plan The Family Fun Pack Head Start negative evaluation Head Start positive evaluation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Collusion and the Mueller endgame 19.02.2019 1:09:48

Andrew Prokop joins Dara and Matt to explain what we've learned from the latest developments in the Russia investigation. Andrew's article on Jerome Corsi's unreliable book Article on the redacted Manafort transcript Marcy Wheeler article Special counsel regulation text Trump Tower Moscow explainer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emergency Weeds 15.02.2019 1:01:37

Dara, Sarah, and Matt explain the border security deal and Trump’s plan to bypass Congress. Dara's article Matt's article on non-legislative priorities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s the best way to help the poor? 12.02.2019 58:11

Dylan Matthews joins Sarah, Ezra, and Matt to discuss five new plans on poverty from leading Democrats. Dylan's Article Sarah's Article on Childhood Wealth Elizabeth Warren's Housing Bill Cory Booker's HOME Act Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTF, VA? 08.02.2019 45:47

Virginia is embroiled in multiple blackface scandals — and Jane Coaston, Sarah Kliff, and Dylan Scott are here to talk about it. Video about Slavery in the US Medical System Jane's Article Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do we need private insurance? 05.02.2019 50:32

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt break down the latest twist in the Medicare-for-all debate — plus rigorous new research on Facebook. White Paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

House Democrats’ plan to save democracy 01.02.2019 58:30

Jane, Dara, and Matt break down HR 1 — the first bill from the new Democratic majority. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elizabeth Warren and the Two-Income Trap 29.01.2019 58:09

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt analyze the presidential candidate’s first popular book and review new evidence on the dangers of opioid marketing. Ezra's Article Matt's Article White Paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The end of the shutdown 25.01.2019 1:03:35

Jane, Ezra, and Matt have a slightly ill-timed discussion about the Pelosi-Trump showdown and the politics of the wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Investigating ER bills and SNAP fraud 22.01.2019 54:43

Sarah, Dara, and Matt discuss Trump's latest proposal, suspicious ER billing practices, and SNAP investigations Sarah's articles about hospital ER fees White Paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You can't eat your principles for dinner 18.01.2019 56:33

Sarah, Dara, and Matt analyze the prolonged shutdown's impact on the future of the federal workforce Reference Articles: The shutdown threatens the promise of government jobs — and a way of life FBI, federal agents see cases hampered, lives rattled as shutdown continues The American Action Forum explainer on the Anti-Deficiency Act How the Border Patrol union became Trump’s closest shutdown allies...

Taxing the rich 15.01.2019 59:11

Jane, Ezra, and Matt consider the ethics and economics of a 70 percent top marginal rate Americans misperceive racial economic equality Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tucker Carlson vs the free market 11.01.2019 59:40

Jane, Dara, and Matt explain the argument over economic populism that’s roiling the conservative world Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ask Weeds Anything 08.01.2019 58:20

Matt, Sarah, and Dara take questions from our audience Book Recommendations: The Field of Blood by Joanne B. Freeman Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life by Kathleen Dalton Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou Stories: The 17 saddest moments of Jeb Bush’s very sad campaign by Dara Lind Despite congressional pressure, Amtrak can’t get its story straight on train...

New year, no government 04.01.2019 1:04:54

Dara, Jane, and Matt explain why a shutdown is not The Purge and delve into the all-important difference between slats, bollards, and walls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Classic Weeds: The great white panic 01.01.2019 1:09:53

Jane Coaston joins Dara, Ezra, and Matt to talk about the racial panic tearing America apart and also salt. References and further reading: Ezra's piece on the changing demographics in America Identity Crisis book mentioned by Ezra Salt white paper This episode is a rebroadcast from July of 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Weeds Year-End Spectacular 28.12.2018 56:21

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt share what they learned in 2018, predictions for 2019, and their favorite research of the year. Links: Matt's white paper pick Sarah's white paper pick Ezra's white paper pick Sarah’s ER opus Ezra on white threat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Congress actually did something important 21.12.2018 1:01:31

Jane, Dara, and Matt analyze the substance and political context of the big bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. References and further reading: German Lopez explains the First Step Act Jane’s piece on Kanye West’s meeting with President Trump James Forman Jr. examines why many African American leaders supported the war on crime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...

Bernie and Biden and Beto, oh my! 18.12.2018 49:37

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt decide it’s not too soon to start talking about the 2020 election. Plus — Obamacare litigation forever! References and further reading: Matt’s explainer on the Democratic field for 2020 Matt’s piece on Joe Biden’s policy ideas A previous episode of The Weeds on the Obamacare lawsuit Ezra’s piece on the Texas ruling against Obamacare Learn more about your ad choices. Visit po...

A big, beautiful podcast about the border wall 14.12.2018 57:10

Matt, Dara, and Jane discuss what happens when engineering crushes dreams. Links: For an in-depth read on the border wall, here's a great explainer. The GAO report Dara cited can be found here. And here's the Atlantic article that Matt mentioned about the ICE crackdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Weeds farewell to Paul Ryan 11.12.2018 55:53

Jane, Ezra, and Matt consider Paul Ryan’s legacy and new research on crime and the minimum wage. References and further reading: Ezra’s piece on House Speaker Paul Ryan’s legacy Matt’s essay following the announcement of Paul Ryan’s retirement Ted Cruz’s confusing tweet of Beto O’Rourke speaking on the shooting of Botham Jean A white paper examines the effects on criminal recidivism when states in...

Pod Save the US-Saudi alliance? 07.12.2018 46:49

Special guest Tommy Vietor of Crooked Media’s Pod Save the World joins Dara and Matt to break down the anti-Saudi backlash sweeping Washington. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Midwest Republicans lost in 2018 — but they’re not giving up power 04.12.2018 52:01

Jane, Ezra, and Matt talk about state-level GOP power grabs and the curious case of Trump’s disappearing populism. References and further reading: Tara Golshan’s piece on the recent legislation proposed by GOP lawmakers David Frum’s book and Yascha Mounk’s book on populism and the threat to democracy Ezra’s conversation with Nate Silver Matt’s explainer on the Indiana Carrier factory Michael Brend...