Explain It to Me

Latest Episodes:

Was The Weeds on the wrong side of history? Apr 26, 2019

Show notes

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt celebrate Vox's fifth anniversary with a look at the changing nature of the policy dialogue in Washington.

This special episode of The Weeds was taped in front of a live audience at The LINE DC to celebrate Vox’s fifth anniversary. If you enjoyed it, we think you’ll also enjoy this live taping of Recode Decode with Kara Swisher featuring Julia Angwin, and this special episode of The Ezra Klein Show with Vox’s co-founders Ezra Klein, Matt Yglesias, and Vox Media’s Publisher Melissa Bell.

The Weeds is a Vox Media Inc. Production

Produced by: Jeff Geld

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What to obstruct when you’re obstructing Apr 23, 2019

Show notes

Matt, Jane, and Andrew Prokop talk about the Mueller report — which one of them has actually read to the end.

Rick Hasen’s article on Mueller not prosecuting Donald Trump Jr.

Full Mueller report

White paper

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Maybe collusion, probably obstruction [Special Crossover Edition] Apr 18, 2019

Show notes

Ezra Klein joins Zack, Jenn, and Alex in a crossover episode with Worldly on Robert Mueller’s just-released report. They explain the special counsel's main findings on collusion with Russian election interference and on obstruction of justice and why they aren’t good for Trump. Then they zoom out and talk about what this whole episode reveals about the health of American democracy and how this gives a green light for Russia and other authoritarian powers to intervene in future US elections. Given how important this report is, and how early they got up to cover it, your intrepid hosts were too tired for jokes this week — sorry.

The full text of the report, compiled by Alex for your reading pleasure

A refresher on who's who in the Trump-Russia universe

Here's a look at the collusion section of the report from Zack

Here's another take from Zack on Attorney General William Barr's worrying role in all of this

Ten examples of potential obstruction in Mueller's report

How 11 legal experts evaluate the claims of obstruction

Zack and Future Perfect's Dylan Matthews break down the big winners and losers from the report

The Big Vox Explainer on the Mueller report

If you liked this episode, we think you’ll like Worldly and The Ezra Klein Show. Tap to learn more and subscribe for free to get new episodes.

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Trump Family (Tax) Values Apr 16, 2019

Show notes

Dara, Sarah, and Matt talk about the suspiciously timed retirement of Trump's sister, IRS enforcement, and new research on how police stops can actually cause crime.

Recommended reading:

Jake Tapper on Trump telling border patrol agents to ignore the law

The White House’s wish list for DHS actions

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s resignation, explained

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Attack of the clone bills Apr 05, 2019

Show notes

Matt, Sarah, and Dara copied this discussion of model legislation from an asbestos lobbyist.

Recommended reading:

USA Today article

Article on 'ALEC'

Research on model legislation 1

Research on model legislation 2

Research on model legislation 3

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Learning from Norway's lesbian mothers Apr 02, 2019

Show notes

Dara, Jane, and Matt on President Donald Trump’s latest border moves and a new wrinkle in the story of the gender pay gap.

Recommended reading:

Explainer on Trump cutting off aid

Explainer on border closure

CNN report on Trump’s border briefings

The US policy of returning Central American asylum seekers to wait in Mexico

An optimistic take on aid and El Salvador

A pessimistic take on aid and El Salvador

White paper

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Infrastructure Week (and Farm Week and Teacher Week) Mar 29, 2019

Show notes

Dara, Jane, and Matt analyze three new policy proposals from Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris.

Recommended reading:

Amy Klobuchar's infrastructure plan

Elizabeth Warren's agriculture plan

Kamala Harris's teacher-pay plan

HuffPost feature on Harris's truancy policy

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Mueller's investigation is over. Obamacare repeal isn't. Mar 26, 2019

Show notes

Sarah, Dara, and Jane discuss the Hill's response to Mueller, the DOJ's siege of Obamacare, and the benefits of IUDs.

National Review article

Zack Beauchamp's article on the reaction to William Barr's Mueller letter

New York Times article on Mueller report

White paper

We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF

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