Today, Explained

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

The days are shorter and colder, and can leave us feeling listless and drained of energy. When do the winter blues tip over into seasonal affective disorder, and how do we make the most of the season? This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Avishay Artsy, it was also edited by Avishay alongside Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Thomas Warnack/picture alliance via Getty Images.  If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rep. Jasmine Crockett wants you to know she comes by her controversies and clap-backs honestly. This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado and Hady Mawajdeh, mixed by Shannon Mahoney and hosted by Astead Herndon. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) at a SiriusXM Town Hall. Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for SiriusXM. You can also watch this episode on video at youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the Grammys to the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny is having an amazing year. We’re revisiting last summer’s historic concert series in his home island of Puerto Rico. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Bad Bunny during the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Press Conference . Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Millions of new documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation have been released, and it doesn't look good for the world's rich and powerful. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado and Ariana Aspuru, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Jeffrey Epstein posing with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 1997. Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TikTok has new owners in the US. With claims of censorship, widespread outages, and possible algorithm changes on the way, the reboot has been rocky so far. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a first lady, Melania Trump has kept a low profile. Until now. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Astead Herndon. First Lady Melania Trump at the world premiere of Melania at The Trump Kennedy Center. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump will be 80 this year. He says worries about his age and health are unfounded. But the evidence is mixed, and Americans are suspicious after President Joe Biden said the same thing. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Nicki Minaj and President Trump hold hands on stage, making visible the bruise on Trump's hand. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images. Further reading: 'The Superhuman President'. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The internet is forever. So how do we handle posts from our past selves? This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Sarah Schweppe, engineered by Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Image credit Hady Mawajdeh.   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 polls all point to the new reality: Trump voters are disappointed in the president they helped elect, especially when it comes to ICE, affordability, and the Epstein files. We hear from them. This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, and hosted by Astead Herndon. President Trump after a rally in North Carolina. Photo by Cornell Watson/Bloomberg via Getty Images. Thanks to The Bulwark’s Focus Group podcast for their swing voter footage. You can also watch this episode on video at youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's 2016 on the internet again. The nostalgia is a reminder that many Millennials are starting to his their first "aging cliff." This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Drake poses with his awards during the 2017 Billboard Music Awards. Photo by David Becker/Getty Images. Further Reading: Falling off the aging cliff at 44 Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The president's Board of Peace is kind of like the UN Security Council. But it costs a billion dollars to join for life. Israel, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina have already signed on. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Noel King. President Trump at the "Board of Peace" meeting during the World Economic Forum in Davos. Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Young conservatives are struggling with where to turn after Kirk's assassination. Some of the options are frightening. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Noel King. A woman holding an American flag at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk. Photo by Olivier Touron / AFP via Getty Images. Further Reading: Inside the Conservative Campus Revolution Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Federal agents killed a second civilian observer in Minneapolis this weekend. Now, the Trump administration is feeling the political pressure. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto and Miles Bryan with help from Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Noel King. A makeshift memorial for Alex Pretti after he was shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bland colors, AI summaries, and declining literacy rates have lots of us worried that we’re losing our intelligence to the modern world. Can we get it back? This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo By BSIP/UIG 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

Thousands of federal immigration officers have descended onto Minneapolis. The state is in a full-blown conflict with the Trump administration. What can Democratic leaders do, and what it would mean if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act there? This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado and Danielle Hewitt, engineered by Shannon Mahoney, and hosted by Astead Herndon. A demonstrator holds a photo of Renee Nicole Good, the anti-ICE protester fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images.  You can also watch this episode on video at ⁠⁠youtube.com/vox⁠⁠. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More young people are insisting on prenups. They’re not just for millionaires and celebrities anymore. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers and Jenny Lawton, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Photo by Chantal CASANOVA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump has given up trying to buy Greenland — at least for now. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Dustin DeSoto, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. President Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump wants to hire a slew of new ICE agents. He's targeting fans of NASCAR, UFC, video games and guns. This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt and Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Chicago. Photo by Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump has delivered conservatives much of the Project 2025 wishlist already. The Heritage Foundation wants him to keep going. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Donald Trump being sworn into office a year ago. Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson - Pool/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices