Today, Explained

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....

Millennial feminist Lindy West's new book is about her path to polyamory. Cue the backlash — to West, her husband, and the idea of polyamory itself. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Lindy West in Hollywood. Photo by Erik Voake/Getty Images for Hulu. Li...

President Trump came in like a wrecking ball in his second term, with a transformative vision for the nation's capital. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Workers adding President Donald Trump's name on the facade of the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Photo by A...

OpenAI's founders promised its tech would benefit humanity. Now that it has split into a giant charity and a for-profit company, that mission has gotten complicated. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatsciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. This episode was produced in partnership with Vo...

Have you seen the video of the US military bombing Iran spliced with clips of SpongeBob Squarepants? It’s an official video released by the US government and represents a new kind of wartime propaganda. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto and Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noe...

Iran's cutting-edge drones are changing how wars are fought, and the US is running out of munitions to combat them. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Missiles launched from Iran seen over Hebron in West Bank. Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Anadolu via Getty Images. Listen to Today, E...

From TikTok to reality TV, Mormons are having a big moment in pop culture. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto and Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at...

Nancy Pelosi, the longtime speaker of the House, plans to retire later this year at age 86 after trailblazing a path for women in Democratic politics. 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. Rep. Nancy Pelosi marking the five year anniversary of the Jan. 6th attacks at the U...

One of the most influential chefs in the world has been accused of tormenting his staff physically and psychologically. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Chef Rene Redzepi in Copenhagen. Photo by Thibault Savary / AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Tod...

AI code is here to stay. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Code generated by a prompt on Google AI studio. Photo by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now...

James Fishback is racist, antisemitic, economically populist, and the longshot candidate for Florida governor. He might be where the Republicans are heading next. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Image courtesy of Fishback for Flo...

Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are making it possible for just about anyone to profit off war. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi and Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. A betting page on Kalshi about Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz. Photo by Samuel Boivi...

Iran's top leaders are dead, but regime change isn't in sight, and the US and Israel's attacks are dividing Iranians at home and abroad. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. A huge Iranian flag alongside damaged structures in Teh...

We’re obsessed with sugar. And Big Sugar is obsessed with us. How do we make a break? This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Image courtesy of Jenny Lawton. If you have a question, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545 or email askvox@vox.com. Listen to Explain It t...

Senator Bernie Sanders has a whole new reason to go after the world’s billionaires. We ask him about his proposed annual wealth tax and how he plans to rein in AI. 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. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. at a confirmation hearing. Tom Williams/CQ-R...

David Ellison’s daddy won him Warner Brothers. The rest of us are probably losing. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison. Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explai...

The war with Iran is deepening divisions in the US-Israel alliance, on both the left and the right. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. A billboard of President Donald Trump in Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-f...

The Trump administration's immigration policies are taking a toll on families. No sign that the new pick running the effort will be any more moderate. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Image courtesy of Mica Rosenberg/ProPublica. Listen to...

Gas prices are spiking in the US. Markets are crashing. The whole world will pay for this war. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Gas prices on Monday in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by b...

If you take the president at his word, the answer is yes. 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 Noel King. An apple seller walking past a figure holding the Cuban flag with the word "Resilience" after a blackout in Havana. Photo by Yamil LAGE / AFP via Getty Images. L...

You won’t wear those jeans again. Or use that pasta maker. So why can’t you get rid of them? This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru with Avishay Artsy, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.  Photo by Arthur Pollock/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images.  If you have a question, give us a call at 1-800-618-...

Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s former Chief of Staff, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who's at the center of the Iran conflict, has isolated Israel like never before.  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. Rahm Emanuel appearing before Congress. Photo by...