Today, Explained

Metabolism is one of the greatest mysteries of the human body. Vox’s Julia Belluz spends a day in a metabolic chamber and emerges with some answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is now almost certain that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered at the hands of the Saudi government. As more and more gruesome details emerge, things get worse and worse for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harvard is on trial. A group of Asian Americans is facing off against the college in court, where it might dismantle the very affirmative action law that was meant to help minorities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including a Senate race that feels more like a presidential one. Texas Monthly’s Eric Benson explains how Beto O’Rourke might break the Democrats’ dry spell in the Lone Star State on the eve of the second O’Rourke-Cruz debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Midterm elections are three weeks and a day away. Vox’s Dylan Scott says if you think the country's polarized, you ain't seen nothing yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Imagine a world where a Band-Aid costs $629. Bad news: you live in that world. Vox’s Sarah Kliff explains how American hospitals tack on “facility fees” to cover their expansive costs, and a new solution that's getting bipartisan support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last week, but he never left. Now, Turkish officials claim he was killed and then dismembered with a bone saw. Saudi dissident Ghanem al-Masarir al-Dosari explains how speaking out against the Saudi government became a matter of life or death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The United Nations now says the planet has 12 years to avoid catastrophic climate change. Vox’s Umair Irfan explores the options humanity has left. ******************************************** Vox crunched 3.1T of data so you can see how much and how fast America is warming. You can see how fast your city is warming here: https://www.vox.com/a/weather-climate-change-us-cities-global-warming Learn...

Surprise! Nikki Haley, President Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, has resigned. Vox’s Alex Ward explains why one of the most popular members of the Trump cabinet would want to leave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brett Kavanaugh starts his new job tomorrow. The Washington Post’s Robert Barnes previews the Supreme Court’s new term and Vox’s Matthew Yglesias says his first day cements a shift 25 years in the making. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why even answer the phone anymore? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FBI has finished its investigation of Brett Kavanaugh. Today, senators entered a highly secured room to review it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One candidate was stabbed. Another is sitting in jail. His replacement was slapped with corruption charges. Just your friendly neighborhood candidates for president in Brazil. *********** Correction: This episode mistakenly notes that a leading presidential candidate died in a helicopter crash in 2014. Eduardo Campos actually died in a plane crash. *********** Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

The United States, Mexico, and Canada have a new trade deal. It’s called USMCA, or “the new NAFTA.” Vox’s Jen Kirby breaks it down before political scientist Ian Bremmer determines who's really going to benefit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

California passed the strongest net neutrality law the country’s ever seen this weekend. The Department of Justice immediately sued. Who’s gonna win this broadband spat? ******************************** Tap here to find out more about Vox Media's new podcasts: https://www.voxmedia.com/about-vox-media/2018/9/24/17882894/vmpn-fall-2018-slate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com...

After tense words and a walkout, the Republicans got their man and the Democrats got their FBI investigation. Vox's Ezra Klein explains how both sides sorta won. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Brett Kavanaugh responded to Christine Blasey Ford's testimony that he tried to rape her in high school. (An episode on Ford's testimony was released earlier today.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Christine Blasey Ford publicly testified about her allegations that Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her in high school. (Expect an additional episode about Kavanaugh's testimony in a few hours.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dozens died, millions of animals drowned, billions of dollars worth in damage done, and Hurricane Florence isn’t even over yet. Before rebuilding begins, the government offers a way out. ******************************** Tap here to find out more about Vox Media's new podcasts: https://www.voxmedia.com/about-vox-media/2018/9/24/17882894/vmpn-fall-2018-slate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p...

The Trump administration wants to make it a whole lot harder to get a green card. Vox's Dara Lind explains the newest proposal to rein in legal immigration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is facing more accusations of sexual misconduct. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke shot Laquan McDonald 16 times. His murder trial began this week, four years after Laquan was killed. WBEZ's Shannon Heffernan explains how this shooting has changed Chicago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elon Musk is having a bit of a week, a month, a year. Now the Department of Justice is investigating him, as is Today, Explained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

China has a secret that’s slowly slipping out: roughly a million Uighurs are being held in “reeducation camps”. Gulchehra Hoja, a Uighur journalist, explains how reporting on China’s human rights abuses against Muslims led to the disappearance of 23 of her relatives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Mueller investigation has revealed how easy it is to get away with white-collar crime in the United States. ProPublica’s Jesse Eisinger explains how we got here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices