Today, Explained

The celebrity tabloid outlet is turning its attention to DC and supercharging a new era of political reporting. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi with help from Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. TMZ Founder and Executive Producer Harvey Levin displayed at a TMZ launch party. Photo by Gabe Ginsb...

The Secretary of Defense suggests the Iran war is blessed by God. The head of his church, Pastor Doug Wilson, agrees. Some call Wilson an extremist. He prefers Christian nationalist. Either way, he's no longer a fringe figure. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Defense Secretar...

We've been stuck in cycles of burnout for decades. Have Gen Z workers found a way out? This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen and Danielle Hewitt, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Empty battery. Photo Illustration by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images. You can take a version of the burnout test here...

Immigration might be President Donald Trump’s signature issue, but what do Americans actually think about border security and enforcement? This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. A migrant climbs over the border fence into the US after fetching groceries for other migrants wai...

It's in your TV shows. It's in the ads you watch. It's in your TikToks. Sync music is everywhere, and it's changing the music industry. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Zara Larsson performing during the Grammy Awards this year. Photo by Matt Winkelme...

Anthropic and OpenAI are proving the inherent difficulties in trusting AI companies with our future. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI Inc. Photo by Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free...

Israel and Lebanon are meeting for the first time in decades — even while Israel is still bombing Lebanon. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Smoke rising after Israeli airstrikes over Beirut. Photo by anwar amro / AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today,...

Across the country, Americans of all political stripes are asking themselves: Why should I have to pay taxes? This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. A protester outside the Internal Revenue Service offices in Manhattan. Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Im...

Trump sent his vice president, son-in-law, and an old business buddy to negotiate an end to the war in Iran. The war...is still going. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Vice President JD Vance after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran. Photo...

When the world is on fire, it’s difficult to stay hopeful. But our future depends on it. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Hasan Tacan/Anadolu via Getty Images. If you have a question, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545 or email askvox@vox.com. Listen to Explain It...

What does US politics look like when Donald Trump is no longer at the center of it? In 2028, voters will get to decide. But for now, we explore. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact-checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney and hosted by Astead Herndon. Christopher Snyder is our video editor, and Koon Nguy is our senior art director. Our executive producer is Christina Vallice. Ad...

Publishing houses and entertainment studios have come for fan fiction, but writers and readers want to make sure it stays weird. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Photo by Michael Reichel/picture alliance via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-fre...

The rapper, who sold swastika T-shirts and released a song called "Heil Hitler," says he's sorry. Ye or nay? This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Dustin DeSoto, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. UK newspaper front pages and articles about Kanye West after he was blocked by the government from entering the UK...

President Donald Trump moved from an existential threat to a very tentative ceasefire. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. President Donald Trump mimics a Iranian protester being shot during a news conference about the war in Iran. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll C...

The US war in Iran is reminding people, uncomfortably, of the US war in Iraq — a conflict that raged on for years after leaders declared victory. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. President George W. Bush addressing troops at MacDill Air Force Base in 2003. Phot...

Artemis II is a historic mission for a number of reasons, including the Orion capsule’s bathroom. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado and Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of one of the O...

From the gas station to the café to the grocery store, we break down why things cost so much these days. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Avishay Artsy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. A customer fills up a truck at a gas station. AP Photo/Jenny Kane. If you have a question, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545 or email...

President Donald Trump’s blatant, sometimes open corruption is the focus for Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). This conversation was a live taping at the American Economic Liberties Project event. This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Shannon Mahoney and hosted by Astead Herndon. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) at the U.S. Capito...

With the death of its billionaire owner, OnlyFans is having a bit of an existential crisis all while porn-quitting apps have never been more popular. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. A screenshot from the website Quittr, which helps men strugglin...

President Trump has not made a coherent case for the Iran war. On today's show, one of his longtime supporters makes an aggressive case against it…and talks about conservatives' Nazi problem. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado and Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Tucker Carlson, host of The Tu...

The FDA and RFK Jr. want to make it easier for you to take peptides. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. A peptide user's supply. Photo by Michael Friberg for New York Magazine. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox...

Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the war. It's working. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Locals visiting Muscat Anchorage near the Strait of Hormuz. Photo by Elke Scholiers/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becomi...

The US government shutdown has left TSA workers unpaid, airports a hot mess, and a lot of people wondering if it's time to privatize airport security. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. A TSA agent looks on passengers at New York's LaGuardia airp...

How you talk reveals where you’re from and who you’d like to be. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. A still from the movie "Clueless". Photo by CBS via Getty Images. If you have a question, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545 or email askvox@vox.com. Listen to Explain It to Me ad...

Ambassador John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, pushed for war with Iran for 20 years. But not like this. This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Shannon Mahoney and hosted by Astead Herndon. Former US national security adviserJohn Bolton. Photo by Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images....