Today, Explained

Hosted by Noel King

Sean Rameswaram

Today, Explained is Vox’s award-winning daily news explainer show. Every weekday, hosts Noel King and Sean Rameswaram take on one essential news story that defines our moment, and bring listeners the context they need to understand it. Through on the ground reporting, discussions with journalists, academics, policymakers, and more, the Today, Explained team helps us understand every story and why it matters.

Today, Explained looks beyond its own newsroom to find the best sources and guests to tell each story. Sometimes that’s a Vox journalist with expertise on the topic, but often it’s a journalist from another news organization, or a local public radio reporter, or a person on the ground living the story themselves.

Today, Explained is the winner of the 2021 Webby Award for Best News & Politics Podcast and the Podcast Academy’s Ambies Award for Best News Podcast. The show has been featured in The Atlantic, Vulture, Reader’s Digest and more.

No one will save us but ourselves

When crises hit, neighbors turn to mutual aid. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Avishay Artsy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP via Getty Images. If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The billionaire governor taking on Trump

JB Pritzker of Illinois has a playbook for fighting back against the Trump administration — and he says it's working. This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker joins demonstrators during a "No Kings" protest in Chicago. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on video at youtube.com/vox. 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 ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Skinny and sad on GLP-1s

GLP-1 drugs are easier than ever to get. But losing weight might also mean losing your personality. 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 Jonquilyn Hill. Ads for GLP-1 drugs are everywhere. A Super Bowl commercial for GLP-1 drugs. Photo by Jill Connelly/Bloomberg via Getty Images. 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 ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How deportation broke the courts

The number of immigration cases has risen sharply since President Donald Trump took office, and DOJ lawyers are crashing out. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Dustin DeSoto and Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Federal agents arresting a man in Minneapolis. Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images. 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 ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
When Border Patrol comes to town

Donald Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportations helped him win. But the reality of enforcement is hitting people hard. Even in red states. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Dustin DeSoto and Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Photo by Lauren Miller, Montana Free Press, CatchLight Local/Report for America. Further reading: You can follow Montana Free Press coverage at this link: https://montanafreepress.org/froid. 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 ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
AI is gossiping about you

On Moltbook, AI agents yap about their creators, trade coding tips, and wonder about the meaning of life and memory. Should we be concerned? This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images. 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 ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Art of the Steal

President Trump has a track record of election interference. And now he's threatening to nationalize or even cancel the midterm elections. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Astead Herndon. A protester holding a "Stop the steal" placard during a pro-Trump demonstration. Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Living in a winter bummerland

The days are shorter and colder, and can leave us feeling listless and drained of energy. When do the winter blues tip over into seasonal affective disorder, and how do we make the most of the season? This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Avishay Artsy, it was also edited by Avishay alongside Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Thomas Warnack/picture alliance via Getty Images. If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jasmine Crockett isn’t backing down

Rep. Jasmine Crockett wants you to know she comes by her controversies and clap-backs honestly. This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado and Hady Mawajdeh, mixed by Shannon Mahoney and hosted by Astead Herndon. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) at a SiriusXM Town Hall. Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for SiriusXM. You can also watch this episode on video at youtube.com/vox. 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 ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bad Bunny keeps winning

From the Grammys to the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny is having an amazing year. We’re revisiting last summer’s historic concert series in his home island of Puerto Rico. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Bad Bunny during the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Press Conference . Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images. 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 ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices