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Today, Explained podcast

Today, Explained is Vox’s daily news explainer podcast. Hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King will guide you through the most important stories of the day. You can listen to it, and more Vox podcasts, here. Today, Explained is now available on public radio stations across the US. For more daily news offerings, check out Vox’s weekday newsletter.

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The Today, Explained team includes Miranda Kennedy, Amina Al-Sadi, Matt Collette, Haleema Shah, Victoria Chamberlin, Miles Bryan, Hady Mawajdeh, Patrick Boyd, Avishay Artsy, Amanda Lewellyn, Laura Bullard, Andrea Kristinsdottir, Peter Balonon-Rosen, and Rob Byers. The show is a production of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Transcripts of the show are available here.

Download learning exercises to go along with our Today, Explained to Kids episodes.

The voters who could decide the 2024 election in MichiganThe voters who could decide the 2024 election in Michigan
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Arab American support for third parties could decide Michigan — and the presidency.

By Miles Bryan and Noel King
How Americans came to hate each otherHow Americans came to hate each other
Audio
Politics

And how we can make it stop.

By Victoria Chamberlin
Why Trump and Republicans think they have a chance in NevadaWhy Trump and Republicans think they have a chance in Nevada
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Nevada has voted blue since 2008. Will that change this year?

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
The 7 states that will decide the 2024 election
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

What matters most to voters in the battleground states.

By Vox Staff
How Hurricane Helene scrambled the election in North CarolinaHow Hurricane Helene scrambled the election in North Carolina
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Will storm damage depress turnout in a key battleground state?

By Amanda Lewellyn
Why Wisconsin Democrats are campaigning in places they can’t winWhy Wisconsin Democrats are campaigning in places they can’t win
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

To win statewide, the party wants to “lose by less” in rural areas.

By Avishay Artsy and Sean Rameswaram
Will abortion rights help turn out voters in Arizona?Will abortion rights help turn out voters in Arizona?
Audio
Today, Explained podcastMember Exclusive

Arizona’s dueling ballot measures on abortion and immigration, explained.

By Victoria Chamberlin
Puberty is changing. We should talk about it.Puberty is changing. We should talk about it.
Audio
Today, Explained podcastMember Exclusive

For many children, puberty is starting earlier and lasting longer.

By Haleema Shah and Noel King
Toxic lies are surging in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and MiltonToxic lies are surging in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are two of the biggest misinformation superspreaders.

By Miles Bryan and Sean Rameswaram
Vox podcasts tackle the Israel-Hamas warVox podcasts tackle the Israel-Hamas war
Audio
Podcasts

Looking to understand the Israel-Hamas war? Start with these Vox podcast episodes.

By Vox Staff
What the death of Hezbollah’s leader means for the Middle EastWhat the death of Hezbollah’s leader means for the Middle East
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed in an airstrike. What now?

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
In the new Miami, the old office culture reignsIn the new Miami, the old office culture reigns
Audio
Future of Work

How a tech and finance boom brought workers back to the office. It might just be the future of work for all of us.

By Jolie Myers
Can Georgia’s MAGA election board actually rig the vote for Trump?Can Georgia’s MAGA election board actually rig the vote for Trump?
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

The Georgia state election board’s 11th-hour rule changes, explained.

By Hady Mawajdeh and Noel King
New York’s governor wants to “liberate” kids — by taking their phonesNew York’s governor wants to “liberate” kids — by taking their phones
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke to Today, Explained co-host Sean Rameswaram about her plan.

By Miles Bryan
The anatomy of a smear: How a lie about Haitian immigrants went viralThe anatomy of a smear: How a lie about Haitian immigrants went viral
Audio
Podcasts

The right-wing conspiracy theory jumped from Facebook to X to a presidential debate stage.

By Haleema Shah and Noel King
Two astronauts are stranded in space. This one is jealous.Two astronauts are stranded in space. This one is jealous.
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

February?! Until February?!?! Boeing slip leaves astronauts in limbo.

By Sean Rameswaram and Avishay Artsy
Black women on Kamala Harris and their party’s futureBlack women on Kamala Harris and their party’s future
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Black women delegates opened up about the thorniest challenges ahead.

By Miranda Kennedy and Noel King
The Chicago DNC everyone wants to forgetThe Chicago DNC everyone wants to forget
Audio
Politics

The 1968 Democratic National Convention was chaos. What can that tell us about 2024?

By Noel King and Miranda Kennedy
MDMA’s 40-year fight for medical approval continuesMDMA’s 40-year fight for medical approval continues
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

The FDA rejected MDMA-assisted therapy, lengthening an already decades-long journey to medicalize the psychedelic.

By Haleema Shah
How the UK’s far right used a local tragedy to spur chaosHow the UK’s far right used a local tragedy to spur chaos
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Rumors and disinformation have fueled violence across the country.

By Amanda Lewellyn and Victoria Chamberlin
Can men’s gymnastics be saved?Can men’s gymnastics be saved?
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Just as the US team enters its influencer era, the sport is in trouble.

By Denise Guerra
How the UFC explains the USAHow the UFC explains the USA
Audio
Sports

Ultimate fighting and the 2024 election’s connections, explained

By Hady Mawajdeh
Why Israel can't destroy HamasWhy Israel can't destroy Hamas
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Amid ever-increasing global outrage, the objectives in Israel’s war are out of reach.

By Sean Rameswaram and Miranda Kennedy
Red Lobster’s mistakes go beyond endless shrimpRed Lobster’s mistakes go beyond endless shrimp
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Does the restaurant’s bankruptcy signal rough seas ahead for casual dining chains?

By Denise Guerra and David Pierce
How to listen to Today, Explained on the radioHow to listen to Today, Explained on the radio
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Vox’s daily news explainer podcast is available on public radio stations across the US as well as on podcast platforms.

By Vox Staff
Student protests are testing US colleges’ commitment to free speechStudent protests are testing US colleges’ commitment to free speech
Audio
Education

The crackdown on protesters at Columbia and elsewhere lays bare the challenge of balancing academic freedom with student safety.

By Miranda Kennedy and Sean Rameswaram
Is Israel a “settler-colonial” state? The debate, explained.Is Israel a “settler-colonial” state? The debate, explained.
Audio
World Politics

The historical discussion at the heart of Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

By Haleema Shah
One state’s big plan to fix the high cost of collegeOne state’s big plan to fix the high cost of college
Audio
Education

Minnesota found a way to make college a good deal.

By Miles Bryan
Why buying a house feels impossible right nowWhy buying a house feels impossible right now
Audio
Podcasts

Can’t buy, won’t sell: Today’s housing market, explained.

By Amanda Lewellyn and Noel King
Beyoncé’s country rootsBeyoncé’s country roots
Audio
Today, Explained newsletter

A century of history of Black country music, explained by Alice Randall.

By Avishay Artsy
The looming ground assault on the last “safe” zone in GazaThe looming ground assault on the last “safe” zone in Gaza
Audio
Today, Explained newsletter

Voices from a besieged Rafah.

By Avishay Artsy
Who’ll blink first: The world’s largest music company or TikTok?Who’ll blink first: The world’s largest music company or TikTok?
Audio
Social Media

Why Taylor Swift, Drake, and Bad Bunny have been muted on TikTok dance videos.

By Sean Rameswaram and Hady Mawajdeh
Did El Salvador just vote to end democracy?Did El Salvador just vote to end democracy?
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

The world’s “coolest dictator,” Nayib Bukele, wins reelection.

By Sean Rameswaram and Jesse Alejandro Cottrell
What the business community thinks of a Trump economy rebootWhat the business community thinks of a Trump economy reboot
Audio
Policy

The economy did well under Trump the first time around. Here’s why some CEOs are worried about the sequel.

By Noel King
Why men are secretive about prostate cancerWhy men are secretive about prostate cancer
Audio
Health

Today, Explained digs into the stigma associated with a prostate cancer diagnosis like Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s, and the fear many men have of the exam itself.

By Victoria Chamberlin
Police are solving fewer crimes. Why?Police are solving fewer crimes. Why?
Audio
Criminal Justice

Three years after demands for police reform, police are solving fewer crimes. What happened?

By Hady Mawajdeh
Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, briefly explainedIsraeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, briefly explained
Audio
Politics

With the world focused on Gaza, Israeli settlers and soldiers are increasing attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.

By Avishay Artsy
How Israel fractured the left and united the rightHow Israel fractured the left and united the right
Audio
Politics

What’s behind the politics shift in the United States around Israel and Palestine — and how it might affect the 2024 presidential race.

By Avishay Artsy
Dog breed bans are about human prejudice — not the dogsDog breed bans are about human prejudice — not the dogs
Audio
Future Perfect

Why the UK is banning the American XL bully.

By Hady Mawajdeh
What Salt Lake City gets right about downtownWhat Salt Lake City gets right about downtown
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Salt Lake City could be a model for downtown development — if it figures out how to address its environmental problems.

By Miles Bryan