Vox Quick Hits

A quick goodbye (and thank you!)

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 14:00:00 -0000

We’re going to make this goodbye short and sweet: Vox Quick Hits is ending.

All of us from the Vox Culture Desk and the team at The Goods want to thank you for following our work and tuning in to Tell Me More, Ask a Book Critic, The Best Money I Ever Spent and What to Watch. You can still keep up with us on vox.com.

Vox Quick Hits was made by...

Hosts:

Constance Grady
Meredith Haggerty
Rebecca Jennings
Alanna Okun
Emily Stewart
Emily VanDerWerff
Alissa Wilkinson

Producers: Sofi Lalonde and Schuyler Swenson

Senior Producer: Taylor Maycan

Engineers: Paul Robert Mounsey

Editors: Julia Rubin and Jen Trolio

Executive Producer: Liz Kelly Nelson

Thanks so much for listening.

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What you should have watched this summer | What to Watch

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Everything you should have watched this summer as recommended — for the final time — by Vox's film critic Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and critic at large Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw). Thanks for listening to What to Watch. If you enjoyed the show, please rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)

Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)

Engineer: Melissa Pons (Hemlock Creek Productions)

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Cocktails and caviar before my C-section | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Writer Gray Chapman tells us why a dinner of oysters, caviar, and champagne the night before she gave birth was the best $298 she ever spent.

Link to essay: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22456529/best-money-birth-c-section-oysters-cocktail

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Quick Hits by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.

This episode was made by:

- Editor: Alanna Okun (@alanna)
- Producer: Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)
- Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey

Support Vox Quick Hits by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

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How to find yourself in a book | Ask a Book Critic

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 08:00:00 -0000

For our very last episode, a listener asked for books with disabled protagonists. Specifically, characters whose disability is not their defining trait. Ask a Book Critic will continue in text form, so don’t stop sending your requests! Check out vox.com/ask-a-book-critic. Thank you for listening!

Constance recommends:

The Cormoran Strike books by Robert Galbraith
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
The Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel
Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, you can email constance.grady@vox.com — and be sure to use the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.”

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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$20,000 on Starbucks | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Writer Mae Rice goes to Starbucks every day. She tells us why she has no plans to stop.

Link to essay: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/4/9/18296792/starbucks-habit-millennials-money

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

Editor: Alanna Okun (@alanna)
Producers: Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)
Engineer: Cristian Ayala

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Welcome to The White Lotus | What to Watch

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 20:00:00 -0000

HBO’s hit series The White Lotus takes the darkly comedic mind of creator Mike White and turns it loose on an elite resort in Hawaii. It’s a very funny, very engrossing look at the global mega-rich, with phenomenal performances up and down the cast list. And you can watch all six episodes right now.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Quick Hits by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.

What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Episode by:

- Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
- Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
- Engineer: Melissa Pons (Hemlock Creek Productions)

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Help me love reading again | Ask a Book Critic

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

A listener asks for help with getting out of a reading rut. A voracious reader as a child, they now need some help falling in love with reading again. Vox Book Critic Constance Grady recommends big, grab-you-by-the-throat books to help us all rediscover our love of reading. Plus, hear some of Constance’s conversation with Tamsyn Muir from their Vox Book Club Zoom event.

Constance recommends:

The Carry On series by Rainbow Rowell
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
The Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo
Sorcery and Cecilia: Or, The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Caroline Stevermer and Patricia Wrede
Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth of the Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, you can email constance.grady@vox.com – Be sure to use the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.”

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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Back to school | What to Watch

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Three movies and a TV show perfect for back-to-school season.

Alissa’s picks:

‘Legally Blonde’
‘Approaching the Elephant’

Emily’s picks:

‘Community’
‘To Have and To Be’

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Episode by:

- Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
- Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)

- Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey

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$3,000 on dog training | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Writer Doree Shafrir explains why she and her husband spent $3,000 on dog training for their unruly yet deeply loved dog, Beau.

Link to essay: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/7/9/20677946/doree-shafrir-dog-training-best-money

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Quick Hits by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.

This episode was made by:

- Editor: Alanna Okun (@alanna)
- Producers: Sofi LaLonde and Schuyler Swenson
- Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey

Support Vox Quick Hits by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

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CODA | What to Watch

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

CODA is a heartwarming coming-of-age story about a teen, her dreams, and her deaf family. In theaters now and streaming on Apple TV+.

What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by rating Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or by making a financial contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

Episode by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)

Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)

Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey

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The sex, drugs, and murder reading list | Ask a Book Critic

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

A listener asked for books that are mysterious, intriguing, and may or may not involve a murder. More specifically, books like The Secret History. Vox book critic Constance Grady gives four recommendations this week, including an entire genre. Plus, hear part of last year’s Vox Book Club Zoom event about The Secret History with writer Nicole Cliffe.

Constance recommends:

If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
The Likeness by Tana French
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, you can email constance.grady@vox.com — and be sure to use the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.”

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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Vacation mode on | What to Watch

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Summer vacation is top of mind here at What to Watch. Grab your flip flops, some popcorn (or perhaps a piña colada?) and pretend you're on holiday with one of these four fantastic films.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Episode by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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A ticket for a concert I never went to | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Writer Deepa Lakshmin explains how spending $29 on a concert ticket – for a show she didn’t even attend – taught her to love doing things alone.

Link to essay: https://www.vox.com/2019/12/3/20991951/best-money-concert-ticket-solo-activities

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

- Editor: Alanna Okun (@alanna)
- Producers: Sofi LaLonde and Schuyler Swenson
- Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey

Support Vox Quick Hits by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

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The Green Knight is brilliant — and baffling | What to Watch

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

A swashbuckling tale of adventure that feels dragged out of the mists of time, the new A24 film stars Dev Patel and is based on one of the most famous and important works of English literature: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a 14th-century Arthurian tale penned in Middle English that has inspired centuries of study, contemplation, and scholarly bickering.

Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson explains why you should spend time in Gawain’s world this weekend. The Green Knight is in select theaters starting July 30.

The Wonder Years, but make it books | Ask A Book Critic

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

A caller asks for books that feel like The Wonder Years. Vox book critic Constance Grady recommends three books that are perfect for summer nostalgia. Plus, Constance discusses the “free narrative” of The Princess Bride in a clip from the Vox Book Club Zoom event.

Constance recommends:

All Adults Here by Emma Straub
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
The Princess Bride by William Goldman

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, you can email constance.grady@vox.com — and be sure to use the subject line “Ask A Book Critic.”

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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Gold medal-worthy movies and TV | What to Watch

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

This week: Sports! You had to know we were going to talk about sports, right? Yes, the long-overdue 2020 Tokyo Olympics are here. Get in the competitive spirit with these movies, TV shows, and episodes.

Fake It So Real
The Rookie
Nimrod Nation
Brockmire
The Office - season 4, episodes 1 and 2
Battlestar Galactica - season 3, episode 9

Did you love something we recommended? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and tell us about it in a review on Apple Podcasts.

Looking for a new show or movie? We can help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Contact taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Quick Hits by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.

What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Episode by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey

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Expired food is a myth | Tell Me More

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

It seems reasonable to assume that food packaging saying the contents are expired indicates inedible food. You can trust the labels on what you buy in the grocery store, can't you? Except America’s food label system isn’t standardized, and it has very little to do with food safety. In other words, you could be tossing eggs and milk and other goods that are perfectly fine to eat. Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson explains.

Learn More:

Read Alissa’s story here.

This episode of Tell Me More was made by

Host: Emily Stewart (@emilystewartm)
Producer: Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)
Engineer: Melissa Pons (Hemlock Creek Productions)

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Or, even better, tell a friend!

What do you want to learn on Tell Me More? Send your requests and questions to tellmemore@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

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K-pop is everywhere but on the radio | Tell Me More

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

K-pop is hugely popular worldwide, and boy band BTS’s “Dynamite” was virtually inescapable in 2020. And yet, the genre is hard to find on American radio. Despite K-pop’s takeoff online in the US and all over the globe, radio DJs still find most of it too risky to play for a Top 40 audience. Aja Romano, a culture writer at Vox, explains why.

Learn more:

Read Aja’s story about K-pop and American radio here.

While you’re at it, check out Aja’s BTS explainer.

And they made a K-pop playlist! Check it out on Spotify.

Also, Explained has a Netflix episode on K-Pop!

This episode of Tell Me More was made by

Host: Emily Stewart (@emilystewartm)
Producer: Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)
Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Or, even better, tell a friend!

What do you want to learn on Tell Me More? Send your requests and questions to tellmemore@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

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TikTok made me buy it | Tell Me More

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Just like teen getting famous on TikTok over night, products are now going viral on the platform. Vox’s in-house TikTok expert Rebecca Jennings explain how this phenomenon works, the relationship between influencers and brands, plus the inevitable pitfalls that come with a rapid rise to recognition.

Learn More:

Read Rebecca’s story here.

This episode of Tell Me More was made by:

Hosts: Rebecca Jennings(@rebexxxxa) Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords)
Producer: Schuyler Swenson
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Or, even better, tell a friend!

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A Keurig that brought me closer to my mom | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Katherine Oung’s mother says “I love you” with plates of cut fruit. Katherine say it with cups of coffee.

The Best Money I Ever Spent is a personal essay series from The Goods about the purchases that changed our lives in ways big and small. This episode was produced by Schuyler Swenson, edited by Alanna Okun and mixed by Paul Mounsey.

You can read Katherine's essay here.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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Comedies you can watch in a weekend | What to Watch

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Sometimes all you want to do on a sticky summer weekend is huddle up next to the air conditioner with a great, bingeable comedy. Emily VanDerWerff, Vox's critic at large, recommends three short-run TV comedies you can finish by Monday: We Are Lady Parts on NBC’s Peacock, Mythic Quest on Apple TV+, and Feel Good on Netflix.

We’re conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes about five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: vox.com/survey

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Looking for a new show or movie? We can help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Contact taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts And be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Quick Hits by following us in your favorite podcast app.

Episode by:

- Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
- Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
- Engineer: Melissa Pons, Hemlock Creek Productions

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The pros and cons of eating bugs | Tell Me More

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

In many parts of the world, insects are a regular part of people’s diets. That’s not the case in the United States, but perhaps it should be. Vox senior correspondent Dylan Matthews explains why eating bugs may be a more environmentally friendly alternative to eating meat, as well as what insect farming might look like. He also lays out why some people still have reservations about insect diets (beyond the ick factor), since we don’t know whether insects feel significant pain.

Learn More:

Read Dylan’s story here.

And you can read more about sustainability and farming from the team at Future Perfect.

This episode of Tell Me More was made by:

Host: Emily Stewart (@emilystewartm)
Producer: Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Or, even better, tell a friend!

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The myth of pandemic productivity | Tell Me More

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

There’s been a lot of pressure to become a better person during the pandemic — to pick up a new hobby, read more books, or learn a new language. And as life gets back to something like normal for many Americans, that pressure is coming around again. Some employers are reportedly asking job applicants about the "passion project" they pursued over the past 18 months. Even in social circles, there’s a sense that you were supposed to have undertaken some form of self-improvement during the Covid-19 outbreak, instead of just surviving. Vox’s Anna North dives into why some people still feel they were expected to treat the pandemic as an opportunity for growth.

Learn more:

Read Anna North’s pandemic productivity story here.

Vox senior reporter Constance Grady also wrote about pandemic productivity back in April 2020.

This episode of Tell Me More was made by:

Host: Emily Stewart (@emilystewartm)
Producer: Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)
Engineer: Sofi LaLonde

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Or, even better, tell a friend!

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How big business exploits small business | Tell Me More

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Nothing makes a corporation seem less evil than a shout-out to small business. Big companies love to talk about how much they support the little guys. But are they actually helping or harming and what can be done about their fraught relationship? Vox’s Emily Stewart explains how companies like Uber and Facebook and Amazon use the reputation of small business for their own benefit and what we as consumers can do to actually save their smaller competitors.

Read the full story:

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22550608/how-big-business-exploits-small-business

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Quick Hits by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.

This episode was made by:

- Hosts: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa) Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords)
- Producer: Schuyler Swenson
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Our brains never log off the internet | Ask a Book Critic

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

This week, Constance recommends novels about how being Extremely Online™ messes with our brains. Plus, hear Constance in conversation with Rumaan Alam about his book Leave the World Behind from Vox’s Book Club Zoom event in June.

Constance recommends:

Self Care by Leigh Stein
Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler
No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, you can email constance.grady@vox.com – Be sure to use the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.”

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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Let's all go to the drive-in | What to Watch

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Drive-in movie theaters have made a comeback — and today, we pretend we’re at one. From horror to weird cult classics, we pick our dream drive-in flicks. Grab some popcorn and a giant soda and join us!

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Looking for a new show or movie? We can help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Email our producer taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Quick Hits by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.

What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Episode by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MAGA, but for coffee | Tell Me More

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Right-wing coffee shops are popping up across the country, proving yet again that America can make pretty much anything political. One sells blends such as “The Don” and “Sleepy Joe Decaf.” Another offers concealed-carry permit classes. Many have Donald Trump-themed decor and products. Reporter Luke Winkie discusses the MAGA coffee trend and why Republicans are looking for a conservative-leaning version of Starbucks.

Learn More:

Read Luke’s story on right-wing coffee here.

–

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple

What do you want to learn about on Tell Me More? Send your requests and questions to tellmemore@voxmedia.com. We read every email! Podcasts.

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A kayak that made me appreciate where I come from | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 13:11:18 -0000

When Max Ufberg and his girlfriend left New York for Pennsylvania at the beginning of the pandemic, they assumed it would be a quick trip. But as weeks became months, they splurged on a kayak and began to spend their downtime ambling through the very landscapes Max had once been so eager to leave behind. And he started to realize just how wrong he was about the place.

Read his essay here; https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/11/10/21556650/best-money-covid-19-moving-home-kayak

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
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This episode was made by:

Producers: Sofi LaLonde and Schuyler Swenson
Editors: Alanna Okun and Taylor Maycan
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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The 51st state | Tell Me More

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

The House of Representatives recently voted to make Washington, DC, the 51st state in the union, something many residents have wanted for a long time. Even though momentum is building, the bill probably isn’t going anywhere in the Senate unless Democrats get rid of or change the filibuster rules. Vox policy reporter Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas) discusses what DC not being a state means for the people who live there as well as politics and polling around the issue.

Learn more:

Read Jerusalem’s story on DC statehood here.

––

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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Questlove made the music documentary of the summer | What to Watch

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Summer of Soul revives the forgotten, groovy history of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a pivotal moment in Black culture sometimes dubbed “Black Woodstock.”

This massive concert series spanned multiple weekends and featured everyone from Sly and the Family Stone to Nina Simone to Stevie Wonder to Mahalia Jackson. But the footage of the festival sat in a basement for 50 years. Now it’s been compiled into a documentary by director Ahmir Thompson — better known as Questlove, the drummer and frontman for the Roots — and the result is absolutely infectious.

How to watch it: Summer of Soul is in theaters and streaming on Hulu.

Read Alissa's review here:

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Episode by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
Engineer: Melissa Pons (@melissapons1 — Hemlock Creek Productions: https://www.hemlockcreekprod.com/)

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No, Biden isn’t coming for your burger | Tell Me More

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0000

A rumor has taken hold among some Republicans that President Joe Biden wants to curtail America’s meat consumption — a rumor that, to be clear, isn’t true. The White House has no plans to limit people to eating certain amounts of beef as part of its climate proposal. However, that doesn’t mean meat has a positive impact on the environment. Food-related emissions, including those resulting from meat production, are a major contributor to climate change. Vox senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp debunks claims of Biden’s burger crackdown — and discusses why we should be having a discussion about meat if we really want to save the planet.

Learn more:

Read Zack’s story about Biden’s fake burger ban here.

Season 3 of Future Perfect is about the meat industry. Listen to the trailer here.

––

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

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Apocalypse books, now! | Ask A Book Critic

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

This week, a caller from Chicago requests books that take a deep dive into world building and world destroying. Think apocalyptic fiction! Plus, hear Naomi Alderman talk about her book, The Power, as we revisit the Vox Book Club zoom event from April. For books about the end of the world, Constance recommends:

The Terra Incognita Trilogy by Ada Palmer
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Find Constance and Naomi’s book club conversation here: https://www.vox.com/culture/22364080/naomi-alderman-interview-the-power-vox-book-club

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, you can email Constance.Grady@Vox.com. Be sure to use the subject line “Ask A Book Critic.”

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Air travel sucks now | Tell Me More

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Flying wasn’t a particularly enjoyable experience prior to the pandemic, and it certainly wasn’t during it. But now, the experience is even worse as the air travel industry struggles to adjust to the influx of passengers eager to get back to the friendly skies. Terry Nguyen, a reporter at The Goods by Vox, explains.

Learn more: Read Terry’s story about air travel here.

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple

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Don’t fear the wrinkle | What's the Story?

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Wrinkles have been the bane of aging women's skin since forever. A fear of growing older and physical signs of aging is at the core of a $200 billion dollar anti-aging skin care industry, but there’s hope that this may start to change. Vox senior correspondent, Anna North, explains what’s behind a growing movement to love the skin we’re in, no matter what age.

Read the full story: https://www.vox.com/22526590/wrinkles-skin-botox-aging-pandemic-filler

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

- Hosts: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa) Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords)
- Producer: Schuyler Swenson
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Fast, Furious, and a helluva good time | What to Watch

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 13:19:00 -0000

Fast cars! Explosions! Family! Outer space! The Fast & Furious franchise has a glorious new addition. In fact, F9 might be the most perfect Hollywood summer blockbuster ever made.

Read Alissa’s review here.

Read Emily’s explainer of The Fast & Furious franchise here.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Looking for a new show or movie? We can help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Contact taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

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Episode by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
Engineer: Melissa Pons, Hemlock Creek Productions

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Did mask mandates and school closures make a difference? | Tell Me More

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 08:00:00 -0000

The United States employed a suite of tools in the fight against Covid-19, albeit unevenly. Many states and cities put in place strict guidelines, including mask mandates, business shutdowns, and school closures. Others were more relaxed; some set restrictions, but only for a while. Vox’s Dylan Scott discusses what did and didn’t work in America’s pandemic response, and why it’s hard to even begin to figure it out.

Learn more:

Read Dylan’s story here.

Check out Vox’s pandemic playbook, a look at how six countries handled the fight against Covid-19.

–

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple

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The simple joys of the NYC ferry | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Commuting by ferry — remember when we all used to commute? — gave Meredith Haggerty, co-deputy editor of The Goods, cheap and easy access to a feeling mostly reserved for movie trailers.

Read her essay here.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

Host / Editor: Alanna Okun (@alanna)
Producers: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan), Schuyler Swenson and Sofi LaLonde
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Why the internet is a luxury | Tell Me More

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Think about everything you did yesterday. Now imagine how the day would have gone if you didn’t have the internet. Access to the internet isn’t as universal as you might think. Millions of Americans don’t have access to broadband, because of either where they live or what they can afford. But there’s another big, more insidious factor: politics. Vox senior reporter Emily Stewart (@emilystewartm) is here to discuss.

References:

Rani wrote about low-income Americans’ access to broadband.

And Emily wrote about what it would take to get widespread internet access across the country.

––

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

Host: Rani Molla (@ranimolla)
Producer: Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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The death of ‘girlboss’ | What's the Story?

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 15:53:00 -0000

It’s been almost a decade since the idea of the “girlboss” emerged in the corporate world. And while the concept had feminist intentions, the conflation of feminism and capitalism has lead to its downfall. Senior culture writer, Alex Abad-Santos (@alex_abads) explains why we weren’t wrong to hope that girlboss culture would change the workplace for the better, and why it ultimately failed.

Read the full story: https://www.vox.com/22466574/gaslight-gatekeep-girlboss-meaning

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

Hosts: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa) Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords)
Producer: Schuyler Swenson
Engineer: Melissa Pons (@melissapons1), Hemlock Creek Productions

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Cops, kink, and Pride | Tell Me More

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

June is Pride Month, a moment to celebrate the queer community and advocate for LGBTQ rights. But the politics of Pride are always thorny: who should participate, how, and what that means for the moment. This year, debates have centered around how much kink should be allowed at pride and, in places like New York, whether the police should be welcome. And there’s a perpetual question of the corporatization of Pride — when Target and MasterCard are sponsoring parade floats, how radical is it? Alex Abad-Santos, a senior correspondent at Vox, lays out the conversation.

Learn More:

Read Alex’s story about the politics of pride here

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple

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The adventures of cool old ladies | Ask a Book Critic

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

A 68-year-old, retired grandmother wants to know: "Are there any reads about senior women having creative, life-altering adventures that don’t heavily involve matriarchal family stuff? "

It's a tough request considering the publishing industry hasn't demonstrated much interest in these types of stories. But Constance did some research, phoned a friend for help (her mom) and has three books to recommend.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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If you’re looking for a book to read, email constance.grady@vox.com for a recommendation. Be sure to use the subject line “Ask A Book Critic.” And remember, the more specific you can be about the kind of book you’re looking for, the better.

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A housing bubble? | Tell Me More

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

There’s no denying the housing market has been a little wild lately — home prices are soaring in many parts of the country, and the competition among buyers has people going to some pretty extreme lengths. The last time we saw such a frenzy in the housing market, about 15 years ago, it ended in a crash. Now, it’s hard not to wonder whether the US economy is headed in the same direction, and whether skyrocketing prices will soon come back down to earth. Vox policy reporter Jerusalem Demsas explains whether America is seeing yet another housing bubble, and how to solve the problem.

Learn More:

Read Jerusalem’s story on housing here.

And Emily wrote about the crazy prices of lumber. We made an episode about it, too!

––

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple

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The enduring legacy of Dawsoncrying.gif | Tell Me More

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Whether or not you grew up watching the hit TV teen drama, Dawson’s Creek, you are probably familiar with a gif of the titular Dawson, played by James Van Der Beek, sobbing all over the internet. Why did this become a thing and what was the backstory behind it’s existence in the first place? Vox’s Constance Grady interviewed showrunners, editors, and TV critics to find the answers.

Read the full story: https://www.vox.com/culture/22364676/dawson-crying-gif-secret-history-dawsons-creek-legend

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Quick Hits by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.This episode was made by:

- Hosts: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa) Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords)
- Producer: Taylor Maycan, Schuyler Swenson
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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“In the Heights” rocks! | What to Watch

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

In the Heights, the new movie musical based on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway debut, seems poised to be the movie of the summer. It’s an electric, joyful celebration of the Latino community in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood — and it will make you want to dance. If you haven’t been back to the theaters yet, this is the movie to go see.

Read Alissa’s review of In the Heights here.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Looking for a new show or movie? We can help! Let us know the occasion or what you’re in the mood for and we’ll pair you with something perfect. Email taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every message!
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Episode by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Where on the internet is Donald Trump? | Tell Me More

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

The former president was kicked off social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube in the wake of the Capitol riots, and it’s not clear when — or if — they’re going to let him back on. There’s been buzz about Trump starting his own platform, but he’s had a hard time getting it off the ground thus far: The blog he launched in May folded in less than a month. In a way, Trump canceled himself. Shirin Ghaffary, a senior reporter at Recode, discusses life on the internet without the man who used to be one of its most ferocious voices

Learn More:

Recode’s Sara Morrison wrote about Trump shutting down his blog

And Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil wrote about Facebook’s recent decision on Trump

––

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple

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Learning to skateboard in my 30s | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Starting to skateboard in your 30s and beyond, the trend stories tell us, signals some sort of desperation. You’re either going through a midlife crisis or trying to hide one if you think that awkwardly rolling around on a wooden toy, risking a hospital visit the entire time, is a good idea. Steve Rousseau considered all of this, and then decided not to worry about it. He bought a skateboard at the very start of the pandemic, and it’s the best money he’s ever spent.

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Corporate America is over the pandemic | Tell Me More

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

After a pandemic year of brands telling us “we’re all in this together” and corporations calling their workers “heroes,” companies are ready to move on. Many businesses cut hazard pay long ago, even though the risks of Covid-19 remain, and firms are pushing their workers to get back to the office. Vox senior correspondent Anna North explores the way the pandemic changed the way we work, and whether we can — and should — go back.

Learn more:

Read Anna’s story on bosses moving past the pandemic here: https://www.vox.com/22455058/jobs-restaurants-office-employers-covid-pandemic-work

Find Emily’s story on states cutting off unemployment insurance early here: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2021/6/3/22465160/states-ending-unemployment-labor-shortage-texasv

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

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Why everyone’s favorite TikTok stars are boring | What's the Story?

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Despite TikTok’s promise of being the world’s biggest algorithmically-driven talent show, you may have noticed that the app rewards...the same kinds of people. Rebecca Jennings explains why the TikToc to Hollywood pipelines doesn’t always produce the most interesting or unique stars.

Read the full story:

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2021/5/18/22440937/tiktok-addison-rae-bella-poarch-build-a-bitch-charli-damelio-mediocrity

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

- Hosts: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa) Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords)
- Producer: Schuyler Swenson
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Let's all go to the drive-in | What to Watch

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Looking for a new show or movie? Let us help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Email our producer taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

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What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Episode by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)

Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)

Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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The problem with work is work | Tell Me More

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

A lot of people felt overworked before the pandemic. Now, well, you can imagine. American work culture has become increasingly untenable for many people. It's basically impossible to keep up with the demands of work and the rest of life, which is especially true for parents, even when we’re not living through a pandemic. The past year has exposed America’s problem with work culture, and pushed working parents to their limits. Is there a way we can fix this? Vox’s Anna North is here to explain.

Learn More:

Read Anna’s story about work culture and pandemic parenting here.

––

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple

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Books that explore cities (feat. N.K. Jemisin) | Ask A Book Critic

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Books can feel like a plane ticket to a new part of the world you’ve never seen, a glimpse into a lifestyle or new way of being in the world. A caller from Chicago requests sprawling nonfiction books about a city and the characters in them.

Constance recommends:

Erik Larson’s Devil in the White City
Thomas Dyja’s New York, New York, New York
Conor Dougherty’s Golden Gates

Watch all of Constace’s conversation with author N.K. Jemisin and The Great Cities trilogy at the vox book club here: https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/5/1/21242844/nk-jemisin-interview-the-city-we-became-vox-book-club

If you’re looking for a book recommendation, you can email Constance Dot Grady at Vox dot com. Be sure to use the subject line “Ask A Book Critic.”

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It’s about to be a Thigh Guy Summer | What's the Story?

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 17:43:47 -0000

You may have noticed that shorts are getting shorter, legs are the new abs, and it’s now socially acceptable to thirst over men with huge thighs on the internet. Vox senior culture reporter, Alex Abad-Santos (@alex_abads) explains why this summer is all about men’s thighs and why we should care.

Read Alex’s story here.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

Host: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa)
Producer: Schuyler Swenson
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Our go-to comfort shows | What to Watch

Fri, 28 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

We’ve all got one: a go-to comfort watch — that show or movie you can always turn to for a pick-me-up. This week on What to Watch, we share ours.

Vox’s film critic Alissa Wilkinson is hooked on HBO’s Selena + Chef, critic at large Emily VanDerWerff can always count on Star Trek (especially Deep Space Nine), and senior producer Taylor Maycan explains her longtime love of CBS’s Survivor.

What to Watch is a Vox Quick Hits exclusive series. New episodes every Friday.

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Can’t find a good movie or show to watch? Let us help! No request is too broad or too specific. We read every email: taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com.
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A billionaire, a cryptocurrency, and a disaster in India | Tell Me More

Thu, 27 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Crypto philanthropy is a burgeoning field, and one with lots of unique complications. Take the case of Vitalik Buterin, the programmer who co-founded the cryptocurrency ethereum, and his recent donation to a charity in India to help respond to the Covid-19 crisis there. He gave $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency, including $1 billion in a memecoin called Shiba Inu coin. And, well, that gift didn’t work out as planned. Former Recode senior reporter Teddy Schleifer discusses what happened with Buterin’s donation and what it might mean for other crypto donations like it.

Learn more:

Read Teddy’s story here.

Emily has a story on the current crypto craze here.

–

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

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Spanish lessons during the Trump presidency | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Wed, 26 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Language and identity are tightly intertwined. Which is why for Latina writer Maria Theresa Hart, conquering the Spanish language was something she’s tried to achieve since childhood. When Trump was elected in 2016, she decided to double down on her commitment.

Read Maria’s essay here: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/8/4/21348704/spanish-classes-latina-trump-america-english

This episode was made by:

Writer: Maria Theresa Hart
Editor: Alanna Okun
Producers: Schuyler Swenson, Sofi LaLonde
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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So are the Olympics happening or what? | Tell Me More

Tue, 25 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo are getting a second chance in 2021 after being postponed due to the pandemic. But whether they should is an open question. Japan is in the midst of a Covid-19 surge, and polls show a majority of its citizens don’t want the games to happen. If there is an outbreak at the Olympics, it’s not just that athletes and coaches could be sickened; they also risk taking the virus home. Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has a lot riding on the event, and Japan and the International Olympic Committee are forging ahead. They insist the Olympics can still be safe. Vox reporter Jen Kirby explains the Olympic Games in flux.

Learn More:

Read Jen’s story here.

–

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

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Book publishing’s existential crisis | What's the Story?

Mon, 24 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

There’s an ongoing reckoning happening in the book publishing industry. Younger staff at publishing houses like Simon & Schuster and Hachette are starting to organize a protest their company’s decisions to publish books by controversial figures, from Mike Pence to Woody Allen. And it’s forcing the industry to ask itself some really tough questions about it’s role as a huge platform and financial resource for authors. Vox book critic Constance Grady joins the show to shed some light on book deals and discuss her take on the industry’s existential woes.

Read the full story:

https://www.vox.com/culture/22423485/publishing-book-deal-simon-schuster-mike-pence-kellyanne-conway-dutton-linda-fairstein

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This episode was made by:

- Hosts: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa) Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords)
- Producer: Taylor Maycan, Schuyler Swenson
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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“Hacks” will have you laughing out loud | What to Watch

Fri, 21 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Jean Smart (the living legend and multiple Emmy winner) plays Deborah Vance, a famous comedian whose glory days are behind her. Deborah’s agent has a suggestion for her: Hire a younger comedy writer named Ava (Hannah Einbinder) to help spice up her material.

Smart and Einbinder’s chemistry and performances take “Hacks” from a showbiz comedy to something with broader appeal. It’s a show that’s interested in the ways women in male-dominated industries are constantly one mistake away from having their careers seriously undermined, the ways that women across different generations view the world differently, and the ways those different points of view can make for varied types of comedy.

“Hacks” will release two new episodes on HBO Max every Thursday until June 10. The first four are streaming now.

Read Emily’s review of Hacks here.

Looking for a new show or movie? Let us help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Contact taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

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Cancel culture, canceled | Tell Me More

Thu, 20 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

You probably think you know what cancel culture is, but do you really? The term “cancel culture” has become a trope on Twitter and Fox News, with people constantly decrying someone or something is unfairly being canceled — Dr. Suess, Ellen DeGeneres, July Fourth. But a lot of people misunderstand what cancel culture is, or at least what it was supposed to be: a way to hold powerful people accountable. Vox internet culture reporter Aja Romano joins to discuss what cancel culture means in theory and in practice, whether it’s as much of a problem as the right claims, and whether we need to have a broader conversation about having empathy for one’s past mistakes.

Learn more:

Read Aja’s excellent piece here: https://bit.ly/3yoCIsW

–

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

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Books with twist endings (feat. Susan Choi) | Ask a Book Critic

Wed, 19 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

A caller writes “I love a good plot twist. Bonus if the plot isn’t a murder or cfrime.” Vox book critic, Constance Grady gives some recs and shares an excerpt of her conversation with Susan Choi, author of Trust Exercise, from the Vox Book Club.

Constance recommends:

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
The Nickle Boys by Colson Whitehead
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi

Watch Susan Choi’s full conversation with Constance here:

https://www.vox.com/culture/22163906/susan-choi-trust-exercise-interview-vox-book-club

If you are looking for a book recommendation, you can email Constance Dot Grady at Vox dot com. Be sure to use the subject line “Ask A Book Critic.”

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MAGA, but for coffee | Tell Me More

Tue, 18 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Learn More:

Read Luke’s story on right-wing coffee here.

–

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

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Buy now, pay later...but read the fine print | What's the Story?

Mon, 17 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Thanks to Afterpay and Klarna, it’s easier than ever to buy in installments. Now, the model is coming for necessities. The buy now pay later concept isn’t new, but as startups make it more popular, what might be the unforeseen consequences, and why might Americans be particularly susceptible to going into more and more debt? Terry Nguyen wrote about this for The Goods.

Read the full story:

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2021/5/11/22429014/buy-now-pay-later-pandemic-expansion

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This episode was made by:

- Hosts: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa) Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords)
- Producer: Taylor Maycan, Schuyler Swenson
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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One of 2021’s best shows | What to Watch

Fri, 14 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

This weekend, Vox critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff and film critic Alissa Wilkinson recommend you dive into the first few episodes of Amazon Prime Video’s 10-episode miniseries The Underground Railroad.

Directed by Moonlight director Barry Jenkins, the series adapts Colson Whitehead’s award-winning novel about a young woman escaping slavery by traveling on a literal underground railroad, with a train and everything. The series is a mesmerizing adaptation of a wonderful novel, and it’s one of the best TV shows of the year so far.

All 10 episodes are available on Amazon Prime Video. Episodes range in length from 20 minutes to 77 minutes. (Yes, really. But trust us — it works)

Read Emily’s review of The Underground Railroad.

Looking for a new show or movie? Let us help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Contact taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

- Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
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- What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Episode by:

- Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
- Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

^^^^^^ copy to review - thanks so much! ^^^^^^^

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The great lumber shortage of 2021 | Tell Me More

Thu, 13 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Lumber mania is sweeping North America. Prices are skyrocketing, and lumber supplies are scarce. It’s making building or renovating a home more expensive and has turned a stick of wood into a hot commodity at places like Home Depot and Lowe’s. The internet has taken notice of America’s lumber frenzy and has turned it into a bit of a meme on places like TikTok and Twitter. Paul Jannke, principal at Forest Economic Advisors, explains the current supply-demand crunch going on in lumber and whether there’s any end in sight.

Learn More:

Read Emily’s story here.

Read more from Vox about lumber and sustainable building here.

–

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

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Aubrey Gordon’s travel talisman | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Wed, 12 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

If you haven’t been fat, you might not know what it’s like to fly as a fat person. To walk past rows of passengers who meet your face with dread, disgust, or fear. To hear your body loudly derided in your presence. To be removed from a flight and required to rebook, sometimes without a refund, and nearly always without legal recourse.

This week on The Best Money I Ever Spent, Aubrey Gordon, the writer behind ‘Your Fat Friend’ and the co-host of the Maintenance Phase, explains how a simple device she purchased for $19.98 — her travel talisman — helped her reclaim control and dignity over some of the worst aspects of flying.

Read Aubrey’s essay here.

This episode was made by:

- Writer: Aubrey Gordon (@yrfatfriend)
- Editor: Alanna Okun (@alanna)
- Producers: Schuyler Swenson, Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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“Asian American” | Tell Me More

Tue, 11 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

The term “Asian American” applies to more than 50 ethnic groups and people who speak upwards of 100 languages. While it’s served Asian Americans to build political power, it’s also left many people feeling marginalized and erased. Lumping such a diverse group together masks the different ways people experience the economy, culture, and society. The Indian American experience is quite different from, say, the Burmese American experience. Vox reporter Li Zhou discusses the inadequacy of the term “Asian American."

Learn More:

Read Li’s story on the inadequacy of the term “Asian American” here.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

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The enduring legacy of Dawsoncrying.gif | What's the Story?

Mon, 10 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Read the full story.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

Host: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa)
Producer: Schuyler Swenson
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Live. Watch. Pose | What to Watch

Fri, 07 May 2021 15:57:01 -0000

Vox critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff and film critic Alissa Wilkinson recommend FX’s groundbreaking series Pose, which recently started its third and final season. The show dramatizes the lives of members of New York City’s drag ball community in the late 1980s and early ’90s. It’s a fundamentally warm and optimistic celebration of found family, but it’s also not afraid to look at the terrible things that can happen to queer people in our culture, particularly during that time period.

Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix. 18 episodes total. New episodes Sunday on FX and available Monday on Hulu.

Looking for a new show or movie? Let us help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Contact taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

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Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and please leave a review!

Episode by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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The housing boom, but for renters | Tell Me More

Thu, 06 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Tell Me More is Vox Quick Hits exclusive series, hosted by Vox reporter Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

America’s high-flying housing market might mean you’ll be renting forever — or, at least, for quite some time. Housing prices have soared during the pandemic as people have rushed to buy homes to escape cities and secure space for themselves and their families. Big companies have scooped up houses as well, sometimes outcompeting would-be homebuyers. As a result, more people may be pushed toward rentals because they can’t find or afford houses to buy. Recode’s Rani Molla explains whether the housing boom is turning America into a nation of renters.

Learn more:

Read Rani’s story on how soaring home prices are pushing people into the rental market here.
Find Vox’s explainer about North America’s lumber mania here.

Tell Me More is Vox Quick Hits exclusive series, hosted by Vox reporter Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

What are you curious to know more about? Send your questions to tellmemore@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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Under-the-radar library books | Ask a Book Critic

Wed, 05 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

A caller from Austin, TX wants to check out some books from her local library, but is finding that many titles are on hold. Vox book critic, Constance Grady recommends some under the radar hits that will likely be available a local public library.

Constance recommends:

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
Cakes and Ale by William Somerset Maugham
The Mere Wife by Maria Dahvana Headley
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

If you are looking for a book recommendation, you can email Constance Dot Grady at Vox dot com. Be sure to use the subject line “Ask A Book Critic.”

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No, Biden isn’t coming for your burger | Tell Me More

Tue, 04 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Learn more:

Read Zack’s story about Biden’s fake burger ban here.
Season 3 of Future Perfect is about the meat industry. Listen to the trailer here.

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

––

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple

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Moderna Mafia vs. Pfizer Pham vs. J&JHive | What's the Story?

Mon, 03 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Let’s be clear: All the available vaccines are worth taking and public health officials have avoided comparing them, because the best coronavirus vaccine is whichever one you can get. But that hasn’t stopped people from inventing their own perceptions about what it means to be part of the Moderna Mafia or the Pfizer Pham. Vox contributor Luke Winkie (@luke_winkie) explains why we do this.

Read the story.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

Host: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa)
Producer: Schuyler Swenson
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Too old for Disney, too young for The CW | What to Watch

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0000

We’ve been hunkered down at home for more than a year and, for many families, that’s meant finding common ground in viewing habits.

This week on What to Watch, Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson and critic at large Emily VanDerWerff help Stasi, a California mom with two tweens (ages 10 and 12). Stasi says it has been tough to find things to watch as a family — the options are either too juvenile or too mature, and very few hit that sweet spot right in middle. So she wants to know: What should they try?

Emily recommends:

Wolfwalkers (Apple TV+): Animated storytelling at its finest.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix): One of the greatest shows ever made.
Lost (Hulu): Perhaps the most significant show of the 21st century.

Alissa recommends:

Nailed It! (Netflix): A playful reality baking show that celebrates the joy of sugar, friendship, and messing up.
I Am Greta (Hulu): An intimate, vulnerable documentary about the teen behind the headlines.
The Water Man (in theaters May 7): It feels like a family film from a bygone era — and that’s what makes it great.

Looking for a new show or movie? Let us help you find it! No request is too broad or too specific, and we’ll pair you with something perfect. Email taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
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This episode was made by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Fashion's environmental impact isn't 100% known. That's dangerous. | One Good Answer

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Questionable facts and numbers plague the conversation around sustainability and fashion, and that makes the industry harder to regulate. Sustainable fashion expert and journalist Alden Wicker found out why and how the average person can help.

Read Alden’s full story here.

- Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
- Looking for a new show or movie? Let us help you find it! No request is too vague or specific. Email taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email.
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- What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

This episode was made by:

- Host: Meredith Haggarty (@manymanywords)
- Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan), Schuyler Swenson
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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The 51st state | Tell Me More

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

Learn more:

Read Jerusalem’s story on DC statehood here.

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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It’s about to be a Thigh Guy Summer | What's the Story?

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 13:30:00 -0000

Read Alex’s story here.

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Producer: Schuyler Swenson
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Should hot spots get more vaccines? | Tell Me More

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

For months, the primary tools we had to combat Covid-19 outbreaks were testing, distancing, and masks. Now there’s a new and highly effective tool: vaccines. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has asked the White House for more vaccines and resources to address the state’s Covid spike. Thus far, the Biden administration is sticking to its plan of distributing vaccines according to population, whatever case rates in certain areas may be. Vox senior correspondent German Lopez (@germanrlopez) discusses whether the US needs to tweak its vaccine plan so that more shots get directed to places where the virus is surging.

Learn More:

Read German’s story here

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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8 Oscar Best Picture nominees. 7 films worth watching. | What to Watch

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 18:29:00 -0000

Film critic Alissa Wilkinson and critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff do an epic speed run through the eight films nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars (Sunday, April 25, on ABC).

In this Best Picture Battle Royale, Alissa and Emily go head to head and each make a case for four films — why these films deserve to win Best Picture and why you should watch them before the big night. (Spoiler alert: Not all of them are worth your time!)

A plan to protect the planet | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 18:00:00 -0000

Or at least 30 percent of it.

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Bonus: The Super League | Worldly

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Twelve of Europe’s richest soccer teams tried, and failed, to create their own elite tournament in a naked money grab. Worldly’s Alex Ward, arguably Vox’s top soccer fan, explains why the move angered basically everyone and the scheme failed — for now.

References:

Alex wrote an explainer on the Super League and how the fans killed it.

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How Nigeria explains the climate crisis | Worldly

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

In a very special Earth Month episode, Zack, Jenn, and Alex use Nigeria as a case study to uncover the deep reasons why it’s so hard for the world to quit fossil fuels. Nigeria is a country deeply threatened by climate change, but it’s also one with a major oil industry that hopes to lift millions out of poverty — a feat that has never been done without some degree of reliance on dirty energy. The team explains how these barriers affect the prospects for mitigating climate change in both Nigeria and globally, and talk about what solutions might help overcome these barriers.

References:

Check out all of Vox’s Earth Month podcasts.

This is Nigeria’s national climate action plan.

Reuters reports on how Nigeria’s minister of environment said the country must be ready for oil’s decline.

Science magazine explains how fighting poverty makes it harder to fight climate change.

Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò wrote about the African case for carbon capture for Africa Is A Country.

Zack read from this smart paper on home energy needs in Nigeria.

Learn about the problem with “degrowth.”

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Is nuclear energy good or bad? | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 23:22:04 -0000

Listen to the Atlantic’s Robinson Meyer explain the arguments and then decide for yourself.

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The complicated history of wildlife conservation | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 18:00:00 -0000

Vox environmental reporter Benji Jones talks with journalist and author Michelle Nijhuis about her book Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction. They talk about the history of the conservation movement and its many characters, the standout successes and ugly truths, and why, even with millions of species under threat, there's still reason to hope.

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A HEPA filter for my parents | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Highlighting Earth Week with an essay by London-based writer Grace Linden about the $219 air filter she bought her parents after the historic fires in California and the pandemic.

Read Grace's essay here.

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This episode was made by:

Editor: Alanna Okun (@alanna)
Producer: Schuyler Swenson
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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It’s electric! | Today, Explained in 10

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 23:44:25 -0000

Norway has lapped the world in adopting electric vehicles. Christina Bu explains how they did it.

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Books for a gardening novice | Ask a Book Critic

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 16:00:00 -0000

In the spirit of Earth Week, Vox book critic, Constance Grady shares some favorite books that inspired her to start her own garden: reads about what makes gardens look good and what emotional needs they can provide for us.

Constance recommends:

Down to Earth by Monty Don
Essential Earthman by Henry Mitchell
“The Rosary” an essay from How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee

If you are looking for a book recommendation, you can email Constance Dot Grady at Vox dot com. Be sure to use the subject line “Ask A Book Critic.”

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What can we learn from South Korea's pandemic response? | The Weeds

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 13:00:00 -0000

Vox's Dylan Scott joins Matt and Dara to talk about South Korea's response to Covid-19.

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The case for climate optimism | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 23:19:41 -0000

In 2019, David Wallace-Wells wrote a book called The Uninhabitable Earth. Just two years later, he’s feeling hopeful — thanks to the world’s biggest polluters.

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The blunt truth about weed farms | Tell Me More

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

The environmental cost of growing marijuana is quite a bit higher than you might think, especially when growing indoors. America’s legal marijuana production industry consumes enough electricity to power nearly 100,000 homes every year. According to one estimate, if Colorado would shift all of its marijuana production to outdoors, it would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 1.3 percent annually. Dharna Noor (@dharnanoor), a staff writer at Earther, discusses the surprising environmental impact of marijuana production.

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Learn More: Read Dharna’s story about indoor marijuana farms here

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

What do you want to learn about on Tell Me More? Send your requests and questions to tellmemore@voxmedia.com. We read every email!

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Peanut butter and jellyfish | Today, Explained in 10

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 23:52:00 -0000

And other items from the lunch menu of 2050.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Welcome to the age of Big Shroom | What's the Story?

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 16:00:00 -0000

It feels like mushrooms are everywhere these days, but why? Vox culture reporter Terry Nguyen explains why mushrooms are super versatile, and how the fungi took over food, wellness, and (of course) drugs.

Read Terry’s story here.

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This episode was made by:

Host: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxa)
Producer: Schuyler Swenson
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Will the superpowers unite on climate? | Tell Me More

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 13:20:00 -0000

The United States and China play leading roles in the global response to climate change: Together, they account for 43 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. And it’s not just actions within their borders that matter; they are highly influential in the world, too. Many industrialized countries look to the US for cues on climate action, and many developing countries look to China. Jariel Arvin (@jarielarvin), a fellow at Vox, discusses what the US and China are doing on climate, including President Biden’s attempt to reset America on the environment post-Trump; what’s going on with China’s Belt and Road Initiative; and what’s next for the two superpowers.

**Update** Over the weekend, the US and China signed a rare statement of cooperation on climate, which includes an agreement to enhance their respective climate actions in the 2020s. You can read more about the update here.

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Learn More: Read Jariel’s story about how the US and China can work together on climate here.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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America awaits a verdict | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 23:49:31 -0000

Arguments in the trial of Derek Chauvin have wrapped after a brutal week for policing in America. Minnesota Public Radio’s Jon Collins shares his reporting from Minneapolis.

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The strangest environmental film you’ll ever see | What to Watch

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 16:00:00 -0000

Perhaps the oddest film about the environment that you’ll ever see is Darren Aronofsky’s Mother!, a movie that layers metaphors and symbols into one very weird tale. Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson and critic at large Emily VanDerWerff dig into what the film means and why you should watch it.

Read Alissa’s review of Mother! here.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Looking for a new show or movie? Let us help you find it! No request is too vague or specific. Email taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email.
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This episode was made by:

Hosts: Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw) and Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie)
Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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America is finally leaving Afghanistan | Worldly

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

Zack, Jenn, and Alex talk about President Joe Biden’s announcement that all remaining US troops will withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021 — the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that launched the war. They discuss what the US withdrawal means for the near-term future of Afghanistan, why Biden finally made the tough call that his predecessors couldn’t (or wouldn’t), and what that decision tells us about how Biden sees the future of US military engagement abroad.

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The Echo Park eviction | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 23:58:00 -0000

The recent police crackdown on a tent camp in Los Angeles has left the city divided. One thing everyone agrees on is the dire need for lasting solutions to the growing homelessness crisis in the United States.

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How to replace everything in the industrialized world | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Climate writer and Vox contributor David Roberts talks with Jessika Trancik, Associate Professor at the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society at M.I.T. They discuss many aspects of the vast undertaking to remake our world in response to the realities of climate change. They survey the technologies and innovations that are being deployed in this effort, and talk about what sorts of policy initiatives would be best-suited for the road ahead. While we might feel like our future will be full of sacrifices we're asked to make, Trancik explains that now is the time to shape a world in which we could live more equitably, efficiently, and comfortably.

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The viral ghosts of long Covid | Unexplainable

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 14:16:24 -0000

Scientists don’t understand why so many people suffer from Covid-19 symptoms for months, well after they stop testing positive. But that’s just the start of the mystery. There are other diseases that cast these long shadows, and they point to a major blind spot in medicine.

For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable

It’s a great place to sign up for our newsletter, view show transcripts, and read more about the topics on our show.

Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com

We read every email.

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Gaetzgate | Today, Explained in 10

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 22:43:23 -0000

Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz’s sex scandal.

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Why are Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya both nominated for Best Supporting Actor? | One Good Answer

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 21:00:00 -0000

One of the top Oscar contenders is Judas and the Black Messiah, a film based on the true story of Fred Hampton and the Black Panther Party. It features two break-out performances, but neither are nominated for Best Actor. Vox film critic Emily VanDerWerff unpacks why this likely happened and peels the curtain back on the nomination process.

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Does air quality affect chess performance? | The Weeds

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Matt, Dara, and Vox's Umair Irfan take on a white paper about indoor pollution and its effects on cognition. A bonus clip from the "White paper-palooza" episode of The Weeds (4/13/21).

Resource: "The Impact of Indoor Climate on Human Cognition: Evidence from Chess Tournaments" by Steffen Künn, Juan Palacios, and Nico Pestel (Apr. 29, 2019)

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Johnson & Johnson & Problems | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 20:42:04 -0000

The US government is calling for an immediate pause in Johnson & Johnson vaccinations after six recipients (out of millions) developed blood clots. ProPublica’s Caroline Chen explains.

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Twitter doesn't want Trump's tweets, but the National Archives does | Recode Daily

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 09:05:00 -0000

When a presidency ends, the National Archives and Records Administration's work begins. They play a key role in transferring millions of records and artifacts from the White House. And they even archive the Twitter accounts belonging to members of the previous administration. We first saw this happen with the Obama administration, and those archived accounts are still around. But President Trump has created a kind of thorny problem for the National Archives: how do you preserve the tweets of a president who's been banned from Twitter? Politico’s Quint Forgey (@QuintForgey) explains.

Read Quint’s story here.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode was made by:

- Host: Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer)
- Producer: Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Can Chuck Schumer's flip phone save America? | Tell Me More

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

Democrats have the slimmest of majorities in the United States Senate, and it’s up to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to keep his caucus together. He has to manage moderates, such as Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, while at the same time dealing with progressives to his left. And, he’s up for reelection in 2022 and would rather not face a primary challenge from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Vox reporter Li Zhou (@liszhou) recently interviewed Schumer. She and host Emily Stewart discuss the New York Democrat’s political style — which includes lots of personal calls to lawmakers on his flip phone — and how he hopes to accomplish “big, bold change” in the coming months.

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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Vaccine passport, please | Today, Explained in 10

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 22:56:51 -0000

Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil explains how proving you got the shot became controversial.

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Pop culture trends for a post-vaccine summer | What's the Story?

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 16:08:00 -0000

There are signs everywhere that this summer could be...the best ever? A post-pandemic world has some of us speculating this new season could look like the Roaring 20s meets the Summer of Love. Vox culture writers Terry Nguyen and Melinda Fakuade join host Rebecca Jennings to talk about the trends making us excited to re-emerge into society.

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The trauma of the Derek Chauvin trial | Tell Me More

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis in 2020 was a deeply traumatic moment for America, and Black Americans, in particular, were affected. Now, many people are living that pain as the trial for former police officer Derek Chauvin, who faces criminal charges in Floyd’s death, is underway. Vox race reporter Fabiola Cineas (@fabiolacineas) discusses what’s happening in the trial, the prosecution’s plan for using video and witness testimony to advance their case, and the impact those elements can have on people participating in the trial and those watching at home.

Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde.

Learn More: Read Fabiola’s story on the trauma of the trial here.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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CICADAPOCALYPSE 2021 | Today, Explained in 10

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 02:17:00 -0000

Or maybe, after listening to this episode, it’ll be more like CICADAPALOOZA!

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Monsters smashing stuff! | What to Watch

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 16:00:00 -0000

Alissa loved Godzilla vs. Kong. She wishes she could have seen it on an IMAX screen. She breaks down the plot (spoiler-free!) and the most spectacular moments, shares her one major quibble with the film, and explains why, ultimately, Godzilla vs. Kong is the welcome, bombastic relief we all need right now.

Read her review here. Godzilla vs. Kong (113 minutes) is available in theaters and on HBO Max.

- Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
- Looking for a new show or movie? Let us help you find it! No request is too vague or specific. Email taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com. We read every email.
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- What to Watch has new episodes every Friday. Support the show by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

This episode was made by:

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Producer: Taylor Maycan (@taylormaycan)
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Jordan’s royal family feud | Worldly

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

Zack, Jenn, and Alex break down the royal drama that has roiled the normally quiet kingdom of Jordan this week: The king has accused his half-brother, the former crown prince, of a vague conspiracy against the crown and has put him under house arrest.

References:

Alex wrote Vox’s explainer on the royal family feud.

This is the audio of Prince Hamzah and the Jordanian general talking that Jenn mentioned.

The New York Times has a good piece on the roots of the King Abdullah and Prince Hamzah split.

You can watch Hamzah’s self-filmed video sent to the BBC, well, on the BBC.

Hosts:

Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox

Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox

Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), White House reporter, Vox

Consider contributing to Vox:

If you value Worldly’s work, please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

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Taylor Swift rewrites her story | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 01:27:04 -0000

One of the biggest pop stars in the world is rerecording her first six albums at the artistic peak of her career. The Atlantic’s Shirley Li explains Swift’s gambit to reclaim her catalog.

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A kayak that made me appreciate where I come from | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 16:00:00 -0000

This is The Best Money I Ever Spent, a series of personal essays about the purchases we make – big and small — that make an impact on our lives.

Read his essay here.

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This episode was made by:

Producers: Sofi LaLonde and Schuyler Swenson
Editors: Alanna Okun and Taylor Maycan
Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Patricia Lockwood's big, beautiful internet brain | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:54:00 -0000

Writer and Vox contributor Anne Helen Petersen talks with poet and novelist Patricia Lockwood about the experience of being extremely online. They discuss Lockwood's book No One Is Talking About This, writing and religious upbringing, the parts of life perfectly suited to the internet, and the human experiences that glitch the system.

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KKK High | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 00:14:00 -0000

A group of students in Topeka, Kansas, discovered their high school was named after an exalted cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan. Then they tried to change it.

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Why Satanic Panic never really ended | What's the Story?

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 16:00:00 -0000

One of the most famous moral panics in history, the Satanic Panic, may have been at its peak in the 80s, but did it ever really go away? Vox culture writer Aja Romano walks up through the history of this fear of the occult from the Mason family to Lil Nas X.

Read Aja Romano’s full story at Vox.com

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How does the infrastructure bill address the caring economy? | The Weeds

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:26:00 -0000

Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's Dylan Scott to examine the portion of Biden's infrastructure plan designated for the "caretaking economy."

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Hot Senate procedural news | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 23:24:00 -0000

On Monday night, the Senate parliamentarian gave Democrats an unprecedented blessing. Vox’s Ella Nilsen and Li Zhou explain what they might do with it.

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Vaccine passports, explained | Recode Daily

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 13:59:48 -0000

One way that America can get “back to normal” is through what's called a digital vaccine passport. America is well underway with its covid vaccination rollout and while we still have a long way to go, more and more people are getting vaccinated. But while carrying a digital vaccine record sounds like a useful idea, experts warn of privacy issues and serious ethical concerns. Vox’s Rebecca Heilweil explains.

References:

Read Rebecca’s story here

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This episode was made by:

- Host: Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer)
- Producer: Sofi LaLonde (@sofilalonde)
- Engineer: Paul Mounsey

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Biden’s Afghanistan dilemma | Tell Me More

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

President Joe Biden has a decision to make by May 1: whether to pull troops from Afghanistan or have them stay. There is no easy answer; both options could have serious consequences. But a decision has to be made. President Donald Trump made a deal with the Taliban that troops would leave by May 1, but in the end, Biden has to make the call. What would happen if the troops stay, and what would happen if they leave? Vox’s Alex Ward is here to discuss. He’s a White House reporter and a co-host of the Worldly podcast.

Learn more:

Alex recently talked to two experts who argued both sides of the decision. You can read those arguments here: staying in Afghanistan or leaving Afghanistan.

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Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart. Let us know what you want to learn more about! Send us an email at emily.stewart@vox.com

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MLB to Georgia: You’re out! | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 01:35:21 -0000

Major League Baseball, Delta, and Coke are calling out Georgia for its new voting reforms, but some of these corporations were involved in crafting the legislation. WABE’s Emma Hurt explains.

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Books about complicated mother-daughter relationships | Ask a Book Critic

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 16:00:00 -0000

Not all mother-daughter relationships are sunny and cheerful. Vox book Critic Constance Grady recommended a few novels that unpack complicated dynamics in clever, original ways.

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Hot Milk by Deborah Levy

Ask a Book Critic is an exclusive series from Vox Quick Hits. New episodes every other Wednesday and you can read the column here.

If you’d like Constance to recommend a book for you, email constance.grady@vox.com with the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.” The more specific your mood, the better!

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The problem with work is work | Tell Me More

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

References:

Read Anna’s story about work culture and pandemic parenting here.

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Minari on streaming platforms | What to Watch

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0000

From the Vox Quick Hits archive (Feb. 19, 2021): Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson and critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff recommend Minari.

Minari is the story of Korean immigrants Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Yeri Han) who move their two small children (Noel Kate Cho and Alan S. Kim) from California to Arkansas in pursuit of Jacob’s dream of farming. But Jacob and Monica’s marriage is on the rocks, a circumstance that doesn’t improve the way they hoped it would when Monica’s mother (Yuh Jung Youn) comes to stay with them.

Written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung (Munyurangabo, Lucky Life) and set in the 1980s Ozarks, Minari feels deeply personal. It’s both a family drama seen through the eyes of a Korean American boy and a moving tale of love and loss in the American heartland, exquisitely told.

Read Alissa's review of Minari here.

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
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“My friend” has a question about the vaccine | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 22:01:00 -0000

We asked if you still had vaccine questions, and you did. We found answers.

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Is Myanmar heading for civil war? | Worldly

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 09:01:00 -0000

Zack, Alex, and returning guest Jen Kirby talk about the potential for a “bloodbath” in Myanmar. Since the military deposed the democratic government in a February 1 coup, pro-democracy protesters and armed ethnic groups have risen up against the junta. They’ve been met with extreme violence, leading to more than 500 dead and concerns from experts that a broader civil war is coming. The Worldly crew explains how this horrible situation came to be, what may come next, and what — if anything — the international community can do to stop a Syria-like crisis.

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High crimes | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 23:21:02 -0000

New York is the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana, but President Joe Biden won’t budge. This means that it’s possible to become a billionaire or a convicted felon for selling weed in the US.

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What it means to be a "good" rich person | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 16:00:00 -0000

From the Vox Quick Hits archives (Jan. 21, 2021): A preview of Vox columnist Anne Helen Petersen's conversation with sociologist Rachel Sherman about Sherman's research into the anxieties of wealthy people and their desire to be seen as "middle class." Her work exposes the flawed stories we tell ourselves about who qualifies as middle class and who qualifies as "good" in the US.

Want to hear the rest of the conversation? Listen here.
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Who is the real George Soros? | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Vox's Worldly host Zack Beauchamp talks with author and New Statesman editor Emily Tamkin about the life and legacy of George Soros. How did a Hungarian billionaire philanthropist become the No. 1 boogeyman of right-wing nationalist movements on both sides of the Atlantic? They unpack the meaning of the smear campaign against him, and the inherent contradictions of a wealthy man trying to use his influence to make societies more democratic.

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Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 00:12:45 -0000

It’s infrastructure week in America. President Joe Biden unveiled a plan to spend trillions on bridges, roads, housing, and clean energy to prove it.

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What is "manifesting"? | One Good Answer

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 18:00:00 -0000

From the Vox Quick Hits archives (Jan. 27, 2021): “Manifesting,” or the practice of thinking aspirational thoughts with the purpose of making them real, has never been more popular: From late March to mid-July in 2020, Google searches for the term skyrocketed 669 percent; “shut up I’m manifesting” was among the defining memes of 2020. Vox's Rebecca Jennings joins host Meredith Haggerty to explain what manifesting is, who's doing it, how it works, and how it doesn't.

Read Rebecca's story here.

Host: Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords), co-deputy editor of The Goods
Enjoyed this episode? Rate us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
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What should we expect from Biden's judicial nominees? | The Weeds

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 09:30:00 -0000

Matt and Dara talk with Vox judicial reporter Ian Millhiser, author of The Agenda: How a Republican Supreme Court is Reshaping America, about Biden's court appointments, and look ahead to the future of the judiciary.

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Making tennis a misdemeanor | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 22:40:19 -0000

More than half of US states are working to ban, or even criminalize, trans athletes playing sports. Vox contributor Katelyn Burns explains how conservative politicians came to care so much about women’s sports.

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Skeleton Lake | Unexplainable

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 16:00:00 -0000

When scientists examined the DNA of ancient bones found near a Himalayan lake, they were forced to confront a seemingly impossible conclusion.

For further reading, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable

It’s a great place to sign up for our newsletter, view show transcripts, and read more about the topics on our show.

Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com

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The new wave of anti-trans legislation, explained | Tell Me More

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 09:01:00 -0000

America has never been particularly concerned with women's sports, and yet a slew of bills trying to block transgender girls and women from participating in them are popping up across the country. Transgender student athletes are just the latest target in conservatives’ attempts to pass anti-LGBTQ legislation; before they were talking about sports, they were fretting over bathrooms and puberty blockers. This move against trans athletes stems from the argument that men are biologically stronger than women. But is the science there? Katelyn Burns, a contributing writer at Vox, explains.

References:

Read Katelyn’s story here

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Ship happens | Today, Explained in 10

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 23:48:36 -0000

The Evergiven, a Japanese cargo ship chartered by a Taiwanese shipping company flying the Panamanian flag and bound for the Netherlands, finally floated down the Suez Canal today after being stuck for six days.

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A millennial and a Gen Zer explain the latest generational wars | What's the Story?

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:00:00 -0000

From the Vox Quick Hits archives (March 8, 2021): Earlier in the pandemic, a feud between Gen Z and millennials started, largely on TikTok. And recently there’s been a resurgence of Gen Z dragging their elders to filth online. Vox reporter Terry Nguyen (a Gen Zer) explains to Rebecca Jennings (a millennial) why there’s a war and why we should care.

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Why so many houseless people didn’t get their stimulus checks | Tell Me More

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 09:01:00 -0000

Like many Americans, you may have an extra $1,400 dollars in your bank account, or you're expecting it to arrive soon. After President Biden signed the Covid-19 relief bill on March 11, stimulus checks went out to millions of people, but not everyone who's eligible got one. In fact, many of the most vulnerable Americans, including people experiencing homelessness, did not receive payments. Vox's Kelsey Piper explains what happened and how we may be able to fix it.

References:

Read Kelsey’s story here

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Comfort shows | What to Watch

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 23:00:00 -0000

We’ve all got one: a go-to comfort watch — that show or movie you can always turn to for a pick-me-up. This week on What to Watch, we share ours. Vox’s film critic Alissa Wilkinson is hooked on HBO’s Selena + Chef, critic at large Emily VanDerWerff can always count on Star Trek (especially Deep Space Nine), and senior producer Taylor Maycan explains her longtime love of CBS’s Survivor.

What to Watch is a Vox Quick Hits exclusive series. New episodes every Friday.

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Can’t find a good movie or show to watch? Let us help! No request is too broad or too specific. We read every email: taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com.
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Why the gun control debate is stuck | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:25:15 -0000

Recent mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado have recharged the movement to regulate gun ownership. But federal gun control legislation has little chance of passing. Patrick Blanchfield from the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research argues that the best way to mitigate gun violence may be not talking about gun control at all.

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Your questions about the world, answered | Worldly in 10

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 09:01:00 -0000

In a very special Worldly episode, Zack, Jenn, and Alex answer YOUR questions! From the many great listener questions sent in over the last several weeks, the gang picked four to answer in this week’s episode: What is “the Quad” and how does it fit into geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific; what’s driving migration to the US from Central America; why Imperial Japan’s use of Korean forced labor and “comfort women” in the 1930s and ’40s continues to complicate relations between Japan and South Korea today; and how to go about explaining world affairs topics to folks who don’t have a deep background in these subjects.

Hosts:

Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox

Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox

Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), White House reporter, Vox

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The end of minty cigarettes? | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 00:01:00 -0000

With Democrats in charge, there is a lot of talk about big ideas for the country, including … banning menthol cigarettes? Politico’s Sarah Owermohle explains why Black lawmakers are split over whether a ban would help or hurt Black communities.

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The border, explained by someone who knows it intimately | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:00:00 -0000

Aarti Shahani, NPR journalist and host of WBEZ podcast Art of Power, talks with investigative journalist and author Alfredo Corchado about the US-Mexico border. Trump's actions created a new urgency for the political establishment to better understand the border, and Biden's challenges there continue to grow. Corchado, a former child farmworker and a Mexican-American with identities on both sides of the border wall, discusses the reality, politics, history, and future of the border.

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Why the Senate won’t pass gun control reform | Today, Explained in 10

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 22:28:34 -0000

The Trace’s Jennifer Mascia explains why two gun reform bills the House recently passed are likely to fail in the Senate.

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Books for a quarterlife crisis | Ask a Book Critic

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 16:00:00 -0000

Your 20s can feel like the best of times and also the worst. Book Critic Constance Grady offers a few reads to help navigate through the murky existential waters of starting a career or finding a new purpose.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Losing It Emma Rathbone
Florence in Ecstasy by Jessie Chaffee.

Ask a Book Critic is an exclusive series from Vox Quick Hits. New episodes every other Wednesday and you can read the column here.

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What problems can gun control solve? | The Weeds

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 09:30:00 -0000

Matt, Dara, and Vox's Jerusalem Demsas discuss the politics of progressive control proposals that rise to the fore in the wake of mass shootings, and whether or not they can be effective at curing the real ills of gun violence in America.

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WTF is an NFT? | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 22:25:10 -0000

On Monday, a tweet sold for $2.9 million. That followed a JPEG that went for $69 million. The Verge’s Liz Lopatto explains how internet ephemera turned to gold.

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What lies beneath our feet? | Unexplainable

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:30:00 -0000

Sixty years ago, geologists tried to drill down through the Earth’s crust to pull up a piece of the Earth’s mantle. Their mission didn’t go exactly as planned. But it sowed the seeds for a new field of science that’s helped us rewrite not only the history of the planet, but, potentially, our definitions of life itself.

The documentaries featured in this episode are "The First Deep Ocean Drilling: Mohole, Phase 1" and "Project Mohole: Report No. 1."

For further reading, sign up for our newsletter here:

http://vox.com/unexplainable-newsletter

Show transcript and articles at:

http://vox.com/unexplainable

Email us! unexplainable@vox.com

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Student debt, part 2: The case against forgiveness | Tell Me More

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 09:01:00 -0000

As the argument for student debt forgiveness has been fleshed out in recent years, so has the case that it’s not the right way to go. Some experts, economists, and ordinary Americans are skeptical of forgiving student debt. They argue that while debt is certainly a problem for the people who have it, forgiveness isn’t a really effective way to stimulate the economy or to tackle equity goals. Beth Akers, an economist at the American Enterprise Institute, lays out the case against broad-based student debt forgiveness in Tell Me More’s two-part series on student debt.

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AnchoRage | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 00:02:36 -0000

The United States and China met in Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday to air grievances, and the cameras were rolling. Vox’s Alex Ward explains how the meeting set the stage for one of the world’s biggest rivalries.

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Why we need to talk about inherited wealth | What's the Story?

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 16:00:00 -0000

There’s about to be a huge transfer of wealth from the pockets of Boomers to younger generations. Will “the great wealth transfer” magnify existing inequalities or expand the middle class? Deputy editor Meredith Haggerty discusses her story on this hard-to-talk-about topic and unpacks why inheritance is more complicated than it seems.

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Student debt, part 1: The case for forgiveness | Tell Me More

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 09:01:00 -0000

Student debt in America now totals some $1.7 trillion, and the debate about what to do that debt is part of the mainstream political conversation. Pressure is growing on President Joe Biden and Democrats to try to do something about it — including canceling some or even all student loan debt altogether. Fenaba Addo, an associate professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, talks about the burden student debt represents for borrowers and what it would mean for that debt to be forgiven. This is the first of a two-part series from Tell Me More on student debt cancellation.

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The (very good) dogs of Stray | What to Watch

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 21:35:00 -0000

This one goes out to all the dog lovers out there.

This weekend, Alissa and Emily recommend Stray, a documentary that follows a trio of (very good) dogs who live on the streets of Istanbul as they explore the city and interact with humans. Even if you're not a dog person, it's still a fascinating look at the city's culture and people. Up for a double-feature? Check out Kedi, which follows the stray cats of Istanbul.

Stray is available to rent on digital platforms including Amazon Prime, YouTube and Google Play.

Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie) and Emily VanDerWerff (@emilyvdw)
Enjoyed this episode? Rate us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Want to get in touch? Email our producer: taylor.maycan@voxmedia.com
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Why America needs a national pandemic memorial | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 21:33:30 -0000

People want to move on from Covid-19, but that doesn’t mean forgetting its victims. Vox reporter Alissa Wilkinson explain why a memorial could help us all heal and find accountability.

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Europe’s vaccine disaster | Worldly

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 09:01:00 -0000

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the raft of problems stymying Europe’s vaccine rollout, which has been slower and messier than expected, given some of the earlier successes the continent had controlling infection rates. They talk about why some countries decided to pause administering the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and how the EU’s decision to negotiate for vaccines as a bloc, rather than as individual countries, slowed down the rollout and exacerbated tensions between some of the wealthier and less-wealthy countries in the bloc. They also discuss what all of this turmoil might mean for the future of the EU as a political institution.

References:

Politico Europe has a great piece on how the EU fell behind on vaccines.

Here’s the survey showing Europe is the most vaccine-skeptical region of the world.

The New York Times reported politics may have played a bigger role in the AstraZeneca vaccine freeze than science.

The Washington Post reported that Europe may be headed into a third coronavirus wave.

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Racism, misogyny, and the shootings in Georgia | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 23:33:29 -0000

Eight people were killed in shootings at three Atlanta-area spas. Most of the victims were women. Six were Asian American. Georgia state Sen. Michelle Au explains how her community is coping

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Want a vaccine? Walgreens wants your data first | Recode Daily

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 18:00:00 -0000

As the Covid-19 vaccine rollout continues, finding an appointment is competitive. Very competitive. So the federal government is working with national pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS to help distribute more vaccines. But to make an appointment, you may need to share some of your personal data. Recode's Sara Morrison explains.

References: Read Sara's story here

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"Wintering," wisdom, and weathering life's darkest times | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Vox's Sigal Samuel talks with the author of Wintering, Katherine May, about the lessons we can learn during life's darkest seasons. They talk about our long collective pandemic winter, about how times of retreat can allow for personal and political transformation, and about how we might carry new wisdom with us as we emerge into spring.

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Why are more children crossing the border? | Today, Explained in 10

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 23:42:11 -0000

A growing number of unaccompanied minors at the US-Mexico border is highlighting President Biden’s struggle to fulfill his campaign promises on immigration.

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Social satires that skewer the rich | Ask a Book Critic

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:00:00 -0000

A caller from Florida asks for help finding books that explore social class with humor and are not set in New York City. Vox’s book critic Constance Grady recommends:

Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

Ask a Book Critic is an exclusive series from Vox Quick Hits. New episodes every other Wednesday and you can read the column here.

If you’d like Constance to recommend a book for you, email constance.grady@vox.com with the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.” The more specific your mood, the better!

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Has Biden changed border policy? | The Weeds

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 09:01:00 -0000

Vox's Ian Millhiser joins Matt Yglesias and Dara Lind to discuss whether or not the Biden administration has followed through on a campaign promise to reverse Trump's immigration policies.

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Who gets to vote? | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 22:13:00 -0000

It’s a question the US has struggled with since its founding.

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How smell works | Unexplainable

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 16:00:00 -0000

Believe it or not, scientists still don’t know exactly how the sense of smell works. But they’re looking at how powerful it is — dogs can actually sniff out cancer and many other diseases — and they’re trying to figure out how to reverse engineer it. In fact, one MIT scientist may have built a robot nose without completely understanding how his invention works.

Show transcript and articles: vox.com/unexplainable

Email us! unexplainable@vox.com

Article on the quantum nose theory: https://bit.ly/3clurfs

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Is everyone getting vaccinated without me? | Tell Me More

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 09:01:00 -0000

Now that the Covid-19 vaccine is here, a lot of people want it as soon as possible. The problem is, there aren’t enough shots to go around. A lot of emotions stem from that, including a new trend — vaccine shaming — where people pile on those who got vaccines, wondering how they qualified and feeling like the system is unfair. Vox senior correspondent Alex Abad-Santos explains why people feel compelled to shame others in the pandemic, whether it’s an effective tactic, and who’s really to blame.

References:

Read Alex’s piece on vaccine shaming here

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Vaccines4Kids | Today, Explained in 10

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 22:46:24 -0000

President Biden says all adults will be eligible for a vaccine by May 1. But for the world to truly return to normal, young people will need shots, too. ProPublica’s Caroline Chen explains how, and when, that might happen.

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A Marvel expert explains WandaVision | What's the Story?

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 16:00:00 -0000

The hit series on Disney+ may be over, but new possibilities for superhero movies are just getting started.Vox culture writer Alex Abad-Santos nerds out with Rebecca Jennings and explain why WandaVision changed the action hero genre and why the show resonated with so many of us.

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Should Democrats scrap the filibuster? | Tell Me More

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 09:01:00 -0000

The filibuster, a Senate rule that was put in place by accident in the 19th century, is standing in the way of much of President Joe Biden’s agenda. A growing chorus of Democrats are calling for the Senate to scrap the filibuster, arguing that it’s the only way the party can act on issues such as voting rights, gun control, and climate. Not everyone is in agreement — including, importantly, Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains what’s going on.

References: Read Andrew’s filibuster explainer here

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The movement to recall Gavin Newsom | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 23:28:00 -0000

Early in the pandemic, California Governor Gavin Newsom got credit for keeping Covid-19 cases low in his state. Now, over a million Californians want him recalled. The Los Angeles Times’ Melanie Mason explains.

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For All Mankind on Apple TV+ | What to Watch

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 17:00:00 -0000

This week on What to Watch critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff recommends the Apple TV+ space series For All Mankind. `

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The Trump of the Tropics vs. the Bernie of Brazil | Worldly in 10

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the huge news out of Brazil this week, where a judge annulled the corruption conviction of the country’s former leftist president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, opening the door for him to possibly run for president in 2022.

References:

Here’s Lula’s recent interview with The Ink where he discusses his, uh, vigor.

Voice of America offered a good rundown of the case against Lula.

Reuters covered Lula’s “stump speech” that has many speculating about his 2022 plans.

Bolsonaro’s messaging on Covid-19 has been disastrous, BBC News reported.

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Biden's war on poverty | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 23:05:00 -0000

President Biden’s American Rescue Plan has been signed into law. Vox's Dylan Matthews explains why it’s a revolution in American welfare disguised as stimulus.

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A Keurig to show my mom I love her | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Katherine Oung’s mother says “I love you” with plates of cut fruit. She say it with cups of coffee.

The Best Money I Ever Spent is a personal essay series from The Goods about the purchases that changed our lives in ways big and small, and it's a Vox Quick Hits exclusive audio series. This episode was produced by Schuyler Swenson, edited by Alanna Okun and mixed by Paul Mounsey.

You can read Katherine's essay here.

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Reframing America's race problem | Vox Conversations

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:30:00 -0000

A preview of Vox's Sean Illing's discussion with the author of The Sum of Us, Heather McGhee, about the costs of racism in America — for everyone.

They discuss what we all lose by buying into the zero-sum paradigm that progress for some has to come at the expense of others, and why the left needs to reframe the country's race problem and persuade the other side with a more compelling story.

Hear the entire conversation at: www.vox.com/vox-conversations-podcast.

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Biden’s Big F***ing Deal | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 00:01:00 -0000

President Biden’s American Rescue Plan has been approved by Congress. It’s a revolution in American welfare disguised as stimulus.

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How the sneaker resale game ruined online shopping | One Good Answer

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 16:24:00 -0000

It’s been harder to buy things online this past year. Some of that has to do with the pandemic causing supply chain holdups but there’s another reason why so many hard-to-find items are ever harder to find lately. Casey Taylor is a contributor for Vox who tracked down the origin story from sneakers to The Nugget Couch in the online reselling market.

One Good Answer is a Vox Quick Hits exclusive series hosted by co-deputy editor of The Goods, Meredith Haggerty, produced by Schuyler Swenson and mixed by Paul Mounsey. New episodes every other Wednesday.

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Most of the universe is missing | Unexplainable

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 13:30:00 -0000

Scientists all over the world are searching for dark matter: an invisible, untouchable substance that holds our universe together. But they haven’t found it. Are they chasing a ghost? Sign up for our newsletter: http://vox.com/unexplainable-newsletter

Show transcript and articles (including one about why we made this show now): vox.com/unexplainable

Email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.

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How can we protect voting rights? | The Weeds

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 10:30:00 -0000

Vox's Ian Millhiser joins Matt and Dara to talk about the most effective way for Congress to safeguard the right to vote.

Bonus episodes of The Weeds are available only on Vox Quick Hits. New episodes every Wednesday.

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You’re vaccinated. Now what? | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 23:48:00 -0000

New guidelines from the CDC for fully vaccinated people suggest it’s finally time to hug your grandparents. Dr. Kavita Patel explains the do’s and don’ts as we inch back towards “normal” life.

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Amazon’s race problem | Recode Daily

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 18:28:43 -0000

Current and former employees told Recode's Jason Del Ray the e-commerce giant has a culture of bias, disrespect, and demotions. Black Amazon employees are promoted less frequently and are rated more harshly than non-Black peers.

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Gen Z’s transit meme dream | Tell Me More

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 10:01:00 -0000

President Joe Biden is known for his love of Amtrak — and now, many young Americans are hoping that might translate to a push for public transit, maybe even high-speed rail, from the federal government. A meme has taken off among Gen Z and millennials of an imagined high-speed rail system that would connect many of the biggest cities in the country. Vox policy and politics intern Gabby Birenbaum discusses how a meme about trains took off among young people, and how their aspirations go beyond the internet. They want a better, more equitable transit system, and they hope Biden can deliver.

Read Gabby's story here.

Tell Me More is a Vox Quick Hits exclusive series hosted by politics and business reporter Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde. New episodes on Mondays and Tuesdays.

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Alabama shakes up Amazon | Today, Explained in 10

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 22:55:25 -0000

Darryl Richardson, a worker at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, explains why he helped initiate a unionization effort that now has President Biden’s support.

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A millennial and a Gen Zer explain the latest generational wars | What's the Story?

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Earlier in the pandemic, a feud between Gen Z and millennials started, largely on TikTok. And recently there’s been a resurgence of Gen Z dragging their elders to filth online. Vox reporter Terry Nguyen (a Gen Zer) explains to Rebecca Jennings (a millennial) why there’s a war and why we should care.

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The best Covid-19 vaccine is the one you can get | Tell Me More

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Americans now have three Covid-19 vaccines available to them — Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer/BioNTech. People shouldn’t worry about which vaccine they get, what matters is they get one. All of the Covid-19 vaccines available in the US right now are more effective than the flu shot. Vox senior correspondent Dylan Scott lays out what’s going on with the Covid-19 vaccines and answers questions about efficacy rates, vaccine hesitancy, and whether there’s finally some room for optimism about the end of the US outbreak.

References:

Read Dylan’s Covid-19 vaccine breakdown here.

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The Bachelor meets reality | Today, Explained in 10

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 00:02:00 -0000

Beset by controversy, The Bachelor’s latest season is winding down with an identity crisis. It’s a rare case of reality TV reflecting our cultural reality.

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Psychological thrillers with a twist | What to Watch

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 19:00:00 -0000

What to Watch is now taking your requests! What kind of movie or show are you in the mood for?

This week, Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson and critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff help Stephen (aka "Cheese") find a psychological thriller that will leave him guessing and on the edge of his seat. Alissa recommends Sunshine from 2007, written by Alex Garland and directed by Danny Boyle. Emily recommends Bates Motel from A&E and Servant on Apple TV Plus.

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Sen. Chris Murphy wants a new US-Saudi relationship | Worldly in 10

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Jenn interviews Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) about his proposed strategy for a new US approach to the Persian Gulf.

References:

Read Sen. Murphy’s Foreign Affairs piece on a new Middle East strategy

Read Alex’s profile about Sen. Murphy’s foreign policy views.

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The surge of anti-Asian violence | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 23:56:38 -0000

Vox's Li Zhou explains how Asian-American communities in the US are responding to a rise in violent attacks.

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Who owns the Western? | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:30:00 -0000

Vox book critic Constance Grady talks with Vox gender identities reporter and novelist Anna North about Anna's new book Outlawed. They discuss creating an alternative history, reimagining the Western, and having fun with the usually fraught topics of gender and identity.

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Manchin in the middle | Today, Explained in 10

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 23:36:00 -0000

Joe Biden won the presidency, but it’s Joe Manchin from West Virginia who seems to be the decider. The Charleston Gazette-Mail’s Joe Severino shadowed Senator Joe in the spotlight.

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Books for breakups | Ask a Book Critic

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 17:00:00 -0000

A caller in her early 20s is in the middle of a messy breakup and seeking books to help her move forward. Vox’s book critic Constance Grady recommends:

Normal People by Sally Rooney
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
The Idiot by Elif Batuman

Ask a Book Critic is an exclusive series from Vox Quick Hits. New episodes every other Wednesday and you can read the column here.

If you’d like Constance to recommend a book for you, email constance.grady@vox.com with the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.” The more specific your mood, the better

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How can Dems fight exclusionary zoning? | The Weeds in 10

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Vox's Jerusalem Demsas joins Matt and Dara to share policy ideas for achieving more housing equity.

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The $15 dream | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 23:42:00 -0000

Washington’s hottest policy fight is over raising the minimum wage to $15. Emily Stewart explains the Democrats’ effort to get it through Congress.

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How we got to QAnon | Tell Me More

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Conspiracy theories have always existed, but the internet has made it easier for them to spread faster and mutate more. Before, someone could float a strange theory to a neighbor. Now, it’s to all their friends on Facebook. Vox culture reporter Aja Romano discusses the history of conspiracy theories, how the internet has accelerated the anti-vaccination movement and QAnon, and what can be done to help get people out of the rabbit holes they’ve fallen into.

References:

Read Aja’s explainer on conspiracy theories

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How acid trips led to better policing | Today, Explained in 10

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 23:38:11 -0000

Thirty years ago, Eugene, Oregon, figured out an alternative to the police. They called it CAHOOTS. Seriously.

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What happens after Gorilla Glue fame? | What's the Story?

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Earlier this month, the internet was in a frenzy over a hair crisis, involving Gorilla Glue. But the situation is a little more complicated than just an extremely bad hair day. What happens to everyday people who become famous overnight?

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Biden goes big on the economy | Tell Me More

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Joe Biden is the type of guy who can tell which way the political winds are blowing — and right now, that means taking a big, bold swing at boosting the economy. Democrats are pushing a nearly $2 trillion stimulus package through Congress, arguing that the real risk is doing too little, not too much, to help steer the country through the Covid-19 crisis. It’s quite a shift from deficit concerns of the past. Vox’s Ella Nilsen discusses the Democratic Party’s more progressive turn on the economy and whether it will last.

References:

Emily and Ella wrote about Biden’s big economic plans

And Emily also wrote about what’s in the stimulus plan

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Vaccine hesitancy and the road to herd immunity | Today, Explained in 10

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 00:35:57 -0000

Vaccinations have been accelerating in the US, and cases are down. But we’re still a long way away from herd immunity. Vox’s German Lopez explains the reasons why as many as 30% of Americans may not want to get the vaccine.

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The best of the Golden Globes | What to Watch

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson and critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff recommend two movies and two TV shows that are up for a Golden Globe this weekend: The Great on Hulu, Sound of Metal on Amazon, Perry Mason on HBO, and Another Round on digital rental platforms.

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Why Biden hasn’t reentered the Iran deal — yet | Worldly in 10

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Zack, Jenn, and Alex break down why the Biden administration hasn’t yet reentered the Iran nuclear deal. They explain that the process of rejoining is more complicated than it might seem, but that it’s still likely the deal will come back eventually. They then debate the pros and cons of rejoining the accord and how well the Obama foreign policy team — many of whom have joined the Biden administration — handled the pact. One point of agreement: The Trump administration’s Iran policy failed.

References:

Alex wrote about the impending US-Iran talks over the nuclear deal.

Vox has a great visual explainer on the Iran deal.

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The case for Covid-19 optimism | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:40:00 -0000

Vox’s German Lopez explains why he feels optimistic about the end of the pandemic even though 500,000 Americans have died, the virus is mutating, and it’s going to take a long time to vaccinate the world.

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A lawyer for my band | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Nabil Ayers wasn’t looking for trouble; he just wanted to drive around the country with his bandmates making music. They had other ideas, though, which came to a head when they were busted by cops for carrying an entire tour’s worth of weed.

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A Watchmen writer on race, TV, and tech giants | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 10:30:00 -0000

The Undefeated's culture critic Soraya Nadia McDonald talks with Emmy Award-winning television writer and producer Cord Jefferson. They discuss the transition from journalism to TV, delving into Jefferson's move from Gawker to writing for hit shows like Succession, The Good Place, and Watchmen. They also touch on what needs to change about TV writer's rooms, and what our current era of streaming giants and tech barons means for news and pop culture.

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Andrew Cuomo's fall from grace | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:04:23 -0000

Andrew Cuomo was hailed for his leadership early on in the pandemic. Now, he's mired in scandal. Journalist Ross Barkan explains.

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What is the #FreeBritney movement? | One Good Answer

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 17:00:00 -0000

A new documentary has brought Britney Spears back into the spotlight, making us questions if we’ve changed our ways as a celebrity-obsessed culture.

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What won't be in the stimulus? | The Weeds in 10

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

In this Vox Quick Hits exclusive, Vox's Emily Stewart joins Matt and Dara to issue dreary prognostications on the fate of the $15 minimum wage

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Stimu-less | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:31:27 -0000

What’s taking so long? What’s happening with those $1,400 checks? Are the Democrats betraying the people who voted for them? Vox’s Li Zhou explains.

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Vaccine equity | Tell Me More

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Black and brown communities have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, on both the health and economic fronts. Across the country, it appears that vaccination strategies aren’t designed in light of that reality. White people are being vaccinated at higher rates than people of color, and many places aren’t tracking who’s getting vaccinated, race-wise, at all. Vox reporter Fabiola Cineas discusses vaccinations in the context of race and what an equitable policy should look like.

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Googliath | Today, Explained in 10

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 23:33:06 -0000

Australia just reined in Google. Dozens of other countries want in on the action. The latest season of Land of the Giants explains how two grad students, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, turned a search engine into what might be the most powerful company in history.

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Should we watch the Golden Globes? | What's the Story?

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Hollywood award shows are rigged by the industry, so why should we watch them? In the age of endless streamable content, are award shows becoming obsolete?

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What would it take to fix America’s police? | Tell Me More

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

May 25 will be the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s killing at the hands of police, which sparked protests across the country. There’s more conversation about police violence in America right now than ever before, but what would it actually take, policy-wise, to address the problem? Vox editor Sean Collins discusses two proposals that activists say could make an important difference and what progress after the protests could look like.

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A tough week for Texas | Today, Explained in 10

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 00:56:19 -0000

First it was brutal winter weather, power outages followed. Texas Public Radio’s Joey Palacios explains what comes next.

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Minari on streaming platforms | What to Watch

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Vox film critic Alissa Wilkinson and critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff recommend Minari, starring Steven Yeun. It’s a beautiful drama about an immigrant family trying to start a vegetable farm in the Ozarks, based on the childhood recollections of writer and director Lee Isaac Chung.

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The world’s great powers | Worldly

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Zack, Jenn, and Alex break down one of the DC foreign policy world’s hottest new catchphrases: “great power competition.” It’s the idea that international politics in the 21st century will be dominated by a struggle for influence between the US, China, and (to a lesser extent) Russia. The gang talks about what the concept actually means and whether it’s a useful framework for understanding international politics today and in the future.

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Rush Limbaugh’s legacy | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 01:15:16 -0000

Author Nicole Hemmer explains how Limbaugh transformed conservative politics.

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Uncovering the history of psychedelics in Christianity | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 10:30:00 -0000

Vox's Sean Illing talks about the the little-known history of psychedelics and spirituality in the Western world with Brian Muraresku, author of The Immortality Key. What role did psychedelic drugs play in the rise and spread of Christianity — and could they save the church today?

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Biden at the border | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:02:00 -0000

President Biden says he wants to undo his predecessor’s immigration policies? The El Paso Times’s Lauren Villagran explain.

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Books that read like an Edward Hopper painting | Ask a Book Critic

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Constance Grady suggests some reads that make you feel like you’re trapped in one of Hopper’s classic scenes: In Sunlight or in Shadow, Raymond Chandler books, and Play It as It Lays.

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What's next for Donald Trump? | The Weeds in 10

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Matt, Dara, and Vox's Emily Stewart ponder what will come next for the twice-impeached former president.

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57-43 | Today, Explained in 10

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 00:39:02 -0000

Democrats made a strong impeachment case against Donald Trump. Republicans are being punished for supporting it. Vox’s Zack Beauchamp explains.

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Imagine a life without Google | Recode Daily

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Imagine waking up one day to find Google and all of its services gone. Gmail, search, Google Drive, YouTube, Google Home, Google Maps — all gone. In Australia, a world without Google might not be far off.

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The problem with more Harry Potter | What's the Story?

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

When news broke of a possible Harry Potter TV series, not everyone seemed excited. Why J.K. Rowling’s transphobic statements are tarnishing the series’ legacy and making fans question the characters’ meaning and influence.

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The politics of stimulus checks | Tell Me More

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

In 2020, the conversation around giving people money changed — namely, the federal government got much more on board with the idea. At the outset of the pandemic, the government sent out $1,200 checks, and then in December, Congress passed another round of $600 checks. Now, $1,400 checks are on the horizon. Vox senior correspondent Dylan Matthews explains the evolving politics around the government sending people money, how we got here, and whether these policies are likely to stick around.

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Cupid-19 | Today, Explained in 10

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

The pandemic hasn’t stopped Americans from dating, hooking up, or tying the knot. In fact, lockdown has been helping people get down.

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#FreeBritney | Today, Explained in 10

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 02:23:29 -0000

The movement to liberate Britney Spears from her conservatorship may not succeed, but it’s revealing a lot about how we treat young women. Vox’s Constance Grady explains.

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Protesting farmers, India's democracy, and Rihanna | Worldly

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the huge farmers’ protests in India. They explain the very real policy debate over new agricultural reform laws that sparked the protests, and how that debate has now been obscured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist politics, international celebrity activism, and online trolls. Oh, and they talk about Rihanna. Yes, that Rihanna.

References:

Vox’s Jariel Arvin explains the Indian farmers’ protest.

And he also writes about why India’s government is mad at Rihanna.

The New Yorker in 2019 had an excellent feature on Modi’s Hindu nationalism.

The Times of India looks into the rise of internet trolls.

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Our favorite TV | What to Watch

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

A few weeks ago, Vox critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff and film critic Alissa Wilkinson shared their favorite movies. This week they're back with their favorite shows:

The Simpsons on Disney Plus (Emily)

This classic has been on the air since 1989. Not all the jokes will fly today, but looking back on the comedy of the 1990s, The Simpsons seems to have aged the best. Since it's animated and the characters never age, it can continually comment on American life. And it will only take 258 days to watch all 695 episodes!

The Comeback on HBO Max (Alissa)

There are so many good reasons to watch this meta-comedy co-created by Lisa Kudrow (who also stars in it) and Michael Patrick King, the executive producer of Sex and the City. It's funny and binge-able. It cleverly skewers the kind of sexism that was present on the set of sitcoms in the 1990s. And although it's not necessarily cheerful, it has a lot of heart. You'll see new jokes and funny bits with each re-watch. There are 21 episodes in all, each lasting between 25 and 55 minutes.

Deadwood on HBO Max (Emily)

Set in the town of Deadwood, South Dakota, this series follows the town's new sheriff Seth Bullock, played by Timothy Olyphant. He's not trying to be law enforcement. He just wants to have a quiet life opening a hardware store. Deadwood is a Western, yes, but it explores the ways in which we construct civilization and societies are born — the ways America was born. There's tension between the need for individuality and the need for community. And this is one of best shows at believably tracing a really terrible person's movement toward getting involved with his community. There are three seasons and a wrap-up movie. You can watch all in around 35 hours.

High Maintenance on HBO Max (Alissa)

At face value, this is a show about buying weed. But it's really about all the different characters that the weed dealer — the connecting thread of each episode — comes into contact with. We meet people from all walks of life who have weird jobs, weird problems, weird fetishes, weird predicaments. You won't get long, drawn-out character arcs with this show, just little snippets of people's lives. Every episode is delightful. There are 34 in all, and there's even one that's entirely from the perspective of a (very good) dog.

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The Republican(!) plan to give parents money | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 23:26:00 -0000

Sen. Mitt Romney wants to throw money at parents, Andrew Yang-style. President Biden is into it, too. Vox’s Dylan Matthews explains.

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Biden's immigration architect on racism, reform, and the Obama legacy | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 10:30:00 -0000

NPR journalist, memoirist, and host of the upcoming WBEZ podcast The Art of Power Aarti Shahani talks with Cecilia Muñoz, a former aide to Obama and part of Biden's transition team. It's a conversation about immigration policy reform and the challenges ahead for President Biden — and for a country wrestling with changing demographics, racism, and its history.

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A skateboard in my 30s | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Picking up skating in your 30s and beyond, the trend stories tell us, signals some sort of desperation. You’re either going through a midlife crisis or trying to hide one if you think that awkwardly rolling around on a wooden toy, risking a hospital visit the entire time, is a good idea.

Steve Rousseau considered all of this, and then decided not to worry about it. He bought a skateboard at the very start of the pandemic, and it’s the best money he’s ever spent.

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Vaccine hoarding | Today, Explained in 10

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 23:07:22 -0000

Poorer countries have received less than 1 percent of the Covid-19 vaccines distributed around the world. Vox’s Julia Belluz explains what the WHO is calling a “catastrophic moral failure.”

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How cops became Hollywood's heroes | One Good Answer

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Vox culture writer Constance Grady explains why TV shows like Dragnet, Law & Order, Hawaii Five-0, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine always seem to feature police as heroes. She explains how police consultants became the go-to for procedurals, the police archetypes that saturate pop culture, and how cop shows are pivoting for 2021.

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What we're missing about the Covid relief bill | The Weeds

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Vox's Ella Nilsen joins Matt and Dara to discuss the overlooked implications of Biden's rescue bill, and the debate surrounding it.

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How Section 230 came to be | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 23:16:04 -0000

Law professor Jeff Kosseff explains the long history of Section 230, the law that made the modern internet possible.

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Jeff Bezos’s second act | Recode Daily

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 14:28:00 -0000

Now that Jeff Bezos is leaving his role as Amazon’s CEO, everyone’s wondering what the future holds for one of the wealthiest people in the world. Will he finally step up in the philanthropy world?

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Why the U.S. can’t figure out reopening schools | Tell Me More

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Nearly a year into the pandemic, the country still hasn’t quite figured out how to keep students and teachers safe at school. It’s largely been up to states, school districts, and teachers to figure out whether to keep schools open or switch to distance learning. Experts say measures like masks, ventilation, and testing can make schools safer — but those measures often require resources that schools don’t have. Vox’s Anna North explains what’s happening with schools during the pandemic, and whether the Biden administration can turn things around.

References:

Anna’s story about reopening schools.

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Capitol punishment | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 00:32:00 -0000

Vox’s Andrew Prokop previews the historic second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

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Books about everyday delight | Ask a Book Critic

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Welcome to the latest installment of Vox’s Ask a Book Critic, in which Vox book critic Constance Grady, provide book recommendations to suit your very specific mood: either how you’re feeling right now or how you’d like to be feeling instead.

In today's episode, a caller from Colorado is searching for books that find joy in the daily minutiae. Constance recommends:

Wintering by Catherine May
Autumn by Karl Ove Knausgaard
Home Comforts by Cheryl Mendelsohn

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Robinhood, meet the Dotcom bubble | Tell Me More

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

The Redditors of WallStreetBets should maybe take a look at the 1990s before piling into their next trade. The GameStop saga has shed a light on the growing individual investing trend, brought about by commission-free trading, gamified apps, and a lot of down time during the pandemic. But like so many trends, this isn’t new: Day trading was super popular in the 1990s, when people were also looking on chat boards for stock tips and making speculative bets. Recode’s Peter Kafka puts the current day trading craze into context.

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All Creatures Great and Small on PBS | What to Watch

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

All Creatures Great and Small is PBS’s new adaptation of the book series about a young veterinarian in late 1930s rural England. It is comfort food TV right down to its bones, and it is comfort food TV that works. The seven-episode first season is full of heartwarming moments, camaraderie among townspeople, and adorable animals.

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Myanmar’s coup has no heroes | Worldly in 10

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the recent coup in Myanmar, in which the Myanmarese military deposed the country’s quasi-democratic government and detained its civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, along with hundreds of members of her political party.

References:

Alex wrote an explainer on the Myanmar coup.

Jen Kirby wrote about the laughable charges the military leveled against Aung Sang Suu Kyi.

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The Arab Spring, 10 years later | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Ten years ago, a Tunisian fruit vendor set himself on fire and set off a revolution across the Middle East. The Independent’s Borzou Daragahi says the Arab Spring never ended.

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Work as identity, burnout as lifestyle | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0000

An excerpt from Ezra Klein's conversation with Anne Helen Petersen and Derek Thompson in April 2019. They discuss what happens when work becomes an identity, capitalism becomes a religion, and productivity becomes the way we measure human value. Hear the whole conversation here.

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The Capitol Siege and American Revolution | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 10:30:00 -0000

Vox's Dylan Matthews talks with author and Revolutions podcaster Mike Duncan about what history can tell us about the insurrection at the US Capitol. Is America experiencing a true moment of revolution? So many republics throughout history have crumbled - could this one be next?

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Marjorie Taylor Greene’s “loony lies” | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Vox’s Aaron Rupar explains why Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has likened a fellow Republican’s views to cancer.

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Books for a long winter | Ask a Book Critic

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

A caller from Canada seeks cerebral mysteries to help him get through the brutal winter, Vox's book critic Constance Grady recommends:

Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

If you’d like Constance to recommend a book for you, email her at constance.grady@vox.com with the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.” The more specific your mood, the better!

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What can be done to speed up vaccinations? | The Weeds in 10

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

German Lopez joins Matt Yglesias and Dara Lind to discuss some of the obstacles to vaccine distribution — and some possible solutions.

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The coup in Myanmar | Today, Explained in 10

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Some would say the military has always been in control of Myanmar. On Monday morning, they made it official once again.

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Biden’s climate policy reset | Tell Me More

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

President Biden is hitting the ground running on climate and trying to make up for lost ground under the Trump administration. He signed an executive order for the United States to rejoin the Paris climate agreement on his first day in office and has ordered a slate of actions across the executive branch to try to combat climate change. He’s also set ambitious goals, such as getting to 100% clean electricity by 2035. Climate reporter Lili Pike discusses Biden’s approach to the climate crisis and how much further the country still has to go.

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Investigating military extremism | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Carter Smith served in the armed forces for twenty years. Then he became a military investigator.

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The wild world of Victorian thrillers | Ask a Book Critic

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Vox's book critic Constance Grady recommends books for Wilkie Collins fans. Spontaneous combustion included.

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Brexit is done ... ish | Tell Me More

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 10:01:00 -0000

After years of haggling, two prime ministers, and countless fits and starts, the United Kingdom has finally left the European Union — mostly. Britain left the EU at the start of the year, and now both sides are learning to navigate life after the divorce. Vox foreign reporter Jen Kirby explains life after the Brexit breakup, including why some people in the UK won’t feel the weight of the change until the Covid-19 pandemic is over and why Scotland’s political future is still uncertain.

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Biden’s latest executive actions | Today, Explained in 10

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Reporters from the Vox newsroom recount Joe Biden's latest round of presidential actions.

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Lupin on Netflix | What to Watch

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Vox critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff and film critic Alissa Wilkinson recommend Lupin, starring Omar Sy. It’s a five-episode French TV show based on a classic literary character who is a master of disguise and who delights in tricking criminals to bring justice.

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Why Putin wants Alexei Navalny dead | Worldly in 10

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the nationwide demonstrations in Russia in support of dissident opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who returned to the country this week from Germany, where he was recuperating from a poisoning believed to be an assassination attempt directed by the Kremlin. Navalny was immediately arrested upon his arrival, sparking protests across the country.

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GameStock | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Vox’s Emily Stewart explains how GameStop’s stock jumped by 1,700 percent this month.

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A sketchy palm reading in a new city | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:02:00 -0000

When Jo Livingstone got lost in a new city, they found a fortune teller and a path forward.

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Fascism in Post-Trump America isn't going away | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Vox's Sean Illing talks to Yale professor and author Jason Stanley about why American democracy provides such fertile soil for fascism, how Donald Trump demonstrated how easy it was for our country to flirt with a fascist future and what we can do about it.

8:44

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The military’s far-right problem | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Sen. Tammy Duckworth wants the military to do a better job of rooting out extremism in its ranks.

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What is "manifesting"? | One Good Answer

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Manifesting is the latest iteration of The Law of Attraction, the belief that you can make things happen through desire and attention. Vox's Rebecca Jennings explains how it works, and how it doesn’t.

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Does more police mean less crime? | The Weeds in 10

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Matt Yglesias, Dara Lind, and German Lopez discuss the research and the evidence for the effects of the number of police officers on crime.

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Coronavirus, 365 days later | Today, Explained in 10

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

One year after our first episode on the novel coronavirus, Vox’s Julia Belluz explains what we got right, what we got wrong, and what comes next.

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Can you convict an ex-president? | Tell Me More

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial is on the horizon, even though he’s out of the White House. Trump was impeached for the second time in January, this time on incitement of insurrection over the riots at the US Capitol, and now, the matter is headed to the Senate. Some Democrats worry conducting an impeachment trial now will collide with Joe Biden’s early agenda, but lawmakers insist they can balance legislation, appointee confirmations, and Trump. Vox’s Li Zhou explains the lay of the land.

References:

Li’s story with Ella Nilsen about the impeachment vote.

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Marianne Williamson on healing America’s soul | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Marianne Williamson was applauded as well as ridiculed on the presidential debate stage when she warned of the “dark psychic forces of collectivized hatred.” Now, just a few weeks after a lethal insurrection, a historic second impeachment, and the inauguration of President Joe Biden, she talks about the possibility of unity.

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The dark truth behind SoulCycle | What's the Story?

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 10:02:00 -0000

How a highly exclusive, luxury spin class business rose to power and its dramatic downfall. Vox’s Alex Abad-santos breaks down his investigative report on SoulCycle and reveals the toxic culture behind the once star-studded fitness studio.

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An actual federal Covid-19 response | Tell Me More

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 10:01:00 -0000

With Joe Biden in office, the United States has a chance to reset its response to the Covid-19 pandemic and address the crisis at hand. President Biden has set a goal of administering 100 million Covid-19 vaccines in 100 days. Central to his plan to get there: an increased federal role in the process and billions of dollars in investment. Vox’s German Lopez discusses America’s current vaccination landscape, Biden’s coronavirus strategy, and how the new administration’s approach differs from Donald Trump’s.

References:

German’s explainer on Biden’s vaccine rollout plan

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Second in command, first in history | Today, Explained in 10

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Kamala Harris has already broken barriers, but ahead lies the rare task of leading a polarized and evenly divided Senate.

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Our favorite films | What to Watch

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Vox critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff and film critic Alissa Wilkinson picked their favorite movies: Spirited Away, Blue, Margaret, and The Death of Stalin. Alissa and Emily chat about why they love the movies and how to find them on Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

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Biden’s world | Worldly in 10

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Zack, Jenn, and Alex host the first Worldly episode of the Biden administration, the show’s first-ever episode when Donald Trump is not president. They discuss how US foreign policy will differ under Biden — and surprising ways it might stay the same — on topics ranging from China to Middle Eastern alliances to climate change.

References:

Alex has a thorough explainer on Biden’s foreign policy.

Vox wrote up how the confirmation hearings for Biden’s key national security Cabinet picks went this week.

Hosts:

Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox

Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox

Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), White House reporter, Vox

Consider contributing to Vox:

If you value Worldly’s work, please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

More to explore:

Subscribe for free to Today, Explained, Vox’s daily podcast to help you understand the news, hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

About Vox:

Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.

Follow Us:

Vox.com

Newsletter: Vox Sentences

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Biden’s first executive actions | Today, Explained in 10

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

In his first few minutes in office, President Biden hit CTRL+Z on former President Trump’s agenda.

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What it means to be a "good" rich person | Vox Conversations in 10

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:02:00 -0000

Vox columnist Anne Helen Petersen talks with sociologist Rachel Sherman about her research into the anxieties of wealthy people and their desire to be seen as "middle class." Sherman's work exposes the flawed stories we tell ourselves about who qualifies as middle class and who qualifies as "good" in the US.

Enjoyed this episode? Rate us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of One Good Answer by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.

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Why is everyone talking about Section 230? | Tell Me More

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:01:00 -0000

Lawmakers in Washington are fighting over an internet law you’ve never heard of called Section 230. It’s a sword and shield that basically means internet companies like Twitter and Facebook can police their platforms however they want, and they’re not liable for what people post there. But now, the law is increasingly under fire on both sides of the aisle. Recode reporter Sara Morrison explains the growing criticism of Section 230 and whether scrapping or reforming it is really the best way to make the internet better.

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Biden's Inauguration | Today, Explained in 10

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

In his inaugural speech, President Joe Biden spoke about the pandemic while also calling out the rise of far-right extremism and misinformation.

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Understanding Kamala Harris's multiracial identity | What's the Story?

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 10:03:00 -0000

In her new role, Kamala Harris will break many barriers: she is the first woman, first Black person, and first person of South Asian descent to become the vice president of the United States.

For some people, that last part is news: Wait, Harris is Asian American? When she was nominated, there was much discussion about Harris’s identity. While some South Asian voters were upset that this part of her identity has long been downplayed, others were excited about the historic nature of her nomination and what it represents for South Asian American women and women of color. Meanwhile, some Black voters debated whether she is truly “Black enough,” and far-right critics pushed birther-style arguments, questioning whether Harris is a US citizen and her eligibility for vice president.

Vox’s Nisha Chittal walks us through Kamala Harris’s background and explains why Americans still struggle to talk about multiracial people.

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Books to help you find yourself | Ask a Book Critic

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 10:02:00 -0000

This is Ask a Book Critic, hosted by Vox's book critic Constance Grady. She recommends reads to suit your very specific mood: either how you’re feeling right now, or how you’d like to be feeling instead.

This week, Constance has books that will help you figure out who you are. Maybe you're trying to find your identity or build a new one. Or maybe you're thinking about the kind of person you want to be in this new year, which is an issue books tackle uniquely well.

Recommendations:

Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel Lavery
Amateur by Thomas Page McBee
Perfect Circle by Sean Stewart
Possession by A.S. Byatt
Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

If you're looking for a book recommendation, email: constance[dot]grady@vox[dot]com Be sure to use the subject line “Ask a Book Critic.” Remember, the more specific you can be about the kind of book you want to read, the better. No request will go unanswered, and that's our guarantee.

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Biden's $1.9 trillion recovery plan | The Weeds in 10

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 10:01:00 -0000

What's most important in the Covid rescue plan outlined by the Biden team? The Weeds hosts Matt Yglesias and Dara Lind are joined by Vox's Emily Stewart to explain.

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Abolish the lame-duck period? | Today, Explained in 10

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

America’s two-month lame-duck period gave supporters of the outgoing president ample time to plan a violent uprising. Vox’s Ian Millhiser argues the long transition needs to end.

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$80 on TSA PreCheck | The Best Money I Ever Spent

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 10:04:00 -0000

While an absolutely incredible value, TSA PreCheck status shouldn't exist, comedian and writer Josh Gondelman argues. Still, it's the best $80 he has ever spent.

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Looking for literary glamour | Ask a Book Critic

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 10:03:00 -0000

Vox's book critic, Constance Grady, recommends books by Bill Cunningham, Tina Brown and Cookie Mueller.

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What Bridgerton gets right about race | What's the Story?

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 10:02:00 -0000

The new hit Regency romance series on Netflix from Shonda Rhimes is drawing attention from critics for its handling of race. Vox’s Aja Romano talks about what the series gets right about the time period and its playful approach to the genre.

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Trump is who we are | Tell Me More

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 10:01:00 -0000

President Donald Trump is not an anomaly, he’s an American consistency, one that many people — namely white people — often overlook. Vox race reporter Fabiola Cineas talks about how Trump elevated white supremacy in the United States and how his divisive rhetoric culminated in the Capitol riots on January 6. We also get into how America’s history on race landed Trump in the White House in the first place.

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The first global vaccination | Today, Explained in 10

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Vaccine rollouts have always been fraught. Sam Kean tells the story of the Balmis expedition, which brought the smallpox vaccine to the Americas.

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Introducing Vox Quick Hits

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 20:39:00 -0000

A daily playlist of bite-sized audio from Vox to start your day a little more informed. Tune in every weekday morning starting Tuesday, January 19th for episodes spanning politics, policy, and culture – all in 10 minutes or less.

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