Today, Explained

Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for Russia's Vladimir Putin last week. Now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has come to Washington, and he's brought a few friends. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Rebeca Ibarra, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard and Avishay Artsy, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We track our steps and our sleep, guzzle supplements and protein shakes, and even inject hormones – all in the name of wellness. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Naureen Khan and Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images. If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The most powerful people in the world want to send humans to Mars. Getting there will be extremely difficult. Staying there will be even harder. This episode was made in collaboration with Vox’s Future Perfect. It was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. During the Mars Society in the Southern Utah desert participants pretend they are on Mars to study the environment and collect data. Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Angie Vargas witnessed an ICE raid near her hometown. Now, she's the one chasing ICE agents around Southern California. This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Photo courtesy of Angie Vargas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump says he is taking over DC’s police to save the city from crime — it's really just another way to demonstrate power, and generate headlines. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro at a press conference about crime in DC. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s not just about the money. This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berbey, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Noel King. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Harvard students rally in favor of affirmative action. Photo by Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An unlimited source of energy lurks below the earth. On this special episode of the Unexplainable podcast, why it’s so hard to tap into geothermal energy. This episode was produced and hosted by Noam Hassenfeld, edited by Jorge Just, with mixing and sound design from Cristian Ayala, production support from Thomas Lu, and fact checking from Melissa Hirsch. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa and retreat hotel, next to a hardened lava stream and the Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant, in Grindavik, Iceland. Photo by HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Americans are investing billions in their health and wellness. What good do all these green powders and costly club memberships actually do? This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Matthew Billy, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Image of a guest floating in a saline sensory deprivation pool at the Chiva Som Health Resort by Peter Charlesworth/LightRocket via Getty Images. If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The president and Elon Musk still agree on Mars. Our close neighbor has captured the imagination of Americans for over a century. This episode was made in collaboration with Vox’s Future Perfect. It was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Pete Davidson during the Saturday Night Live "Chad on Mars" sketch. Photo by Rosalind O'Connor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Texas Republicans want to remake voting maps to their advantage. Democrats say they’re ready to play that game too. Who wins? You have to listen to find out. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Texas state lawmakers boarding a bus after leaving the state earlier today so a quorum could not be reached on a redistricting vote. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the Trump administration rolls back decades of climate regulation, the world’s biggest polluter is taking the lead on clean energy. This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berbey and Devan Schwartz, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Wind turbines at a wind farm on East Lvhua Island in Zhejiang Province of China. Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump's been cutting trade deals left and right, saying they're the key to unlocking an era of economic prosperity. New data does not back him up. This episode was produced by Rebeca Ibarra, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. President Donald Trump shouting answers to questions from reporters from the roof of the White House. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PragerU’s AI slop is the Trump administration’s new favorite educational resource for a revisionist history. This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berbey, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Denise Guerra and Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who spoke at the White House launch of the PragerU "Road to Liberty" videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US is well behind much of the world in building passenger rail, especially high-speed trains. But we do have one major advantage. This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz, edited by Naureen Khan, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd with help from Andrea Kristinsdottir and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images. If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note ⁠here⁠. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: ⁠vox.com/members⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A return to orality is frying our politics and our brains. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers and Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Denise Guerra, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. A caveman using tools in his cave. Photo via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emil Bove, the president's former lawyer, was just confirmed to the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The only place to go from there is the Supreme Court — not that the president needs any help there. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Avishay Artsy and Gabrielle Berbey, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Emil Bove has been confirmed to serve as a federal appellate judge. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a first-of-its-kind decision, an AI company wins a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by authors. It's part of a larger fight that is remaking the internet. This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berbey, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Rebeca Ibarra, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Noted fan of the internet Al Gore with his boss at the time, President Bill Clinton. (Photo by Sharon Farmer/White House/Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel says it will allow more food aid to reach starving Palestinians, but it’s going to be tough if the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation remains in the mix. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Rebeca Ibarra and Amina Al-Sadi, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. A charity distributes meals to Palestinians facing food shortages in Gaza. (Photo by Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Epstein scandal won't go away, but that won't stop President Donald Trump from trying to pivot to "Russia Russia Russia." This episode was produced by Rebeca Ibarra, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Hady Mawajdeh and Denise Guerra, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. A protest truck in Scotland. Photo by LESLEY MARTIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From raising the tipped minimum wage to "no tax on tips," we look at the challenges of remaking tipped work. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images. If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices