Explain It to Me

Latest Episodes:

How a 1996 US immigration policy changed everything Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Almost 30 years ago, President Bill Clinton signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act into law. This policy would have far-reaching implications and ripple effects that are still present today. Here to explain are two beloved Weeds alumni: Dara Lind and Dylan Matthews.

References:

(2016) The disastrous, forgotten 1996 law that created today's immigration problem

(2016) "If the goal was to get rid of poverty, we failed": the legacy of the 1996 welfare reform

(2021) Time Machine: Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

One Mighty and Irresistible Tide: The Epic Struggle Over American Immigration, 1924-1965 by Jia Lynn Yang

Credits:

Jonquilyn Hill, host

Sofi LaLonde, producer

Cristian Ayala, engineer

A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

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Will the Supreme Court ruin the internet? Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

On Tuesday, February 21, the Supreme Court will hear two cases that could dramatically change the way we use the internet. The cases are against two tech giants, Google and Twitter. More specifically, it hits their algorithms. The big question is: can these companies be held responsible for crimes like terrorism because of how their algorithms prioritize content? Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser explains.

References:

The Supreme Court hears two cases that could ruin the internet

Host:

Jonquilyn Hill

Credits:

Sofi LaLonde, producer

Cristian Ayala, engineer

A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

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The Ukraine war: past, present, and future Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

It’s been almost one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Since the invasion, thousands have died, millions have been displaced, and the world has felt the ripple effects of the war. After a year of fighting, is anyone winning? What’s next for Ukraine, Russia, and the nations’ respective allies? Jonquilyn Hill sits down with Vox’s Jen Kirby and Jonathan Guyer to find out.

References:

One year in, both Ukraine and Russia still think they can win - Vox

What to know about the $60 price cap, the plan to limit Russia's oil revenues - Vox

Martial law and missile strikes are Putin’s latest moves in Russia’s war against Ukraine. What’s next? - Vox

3 reasons why House Republicans won’t cut the military budget - Vox

This DC party invite shows all the money to be made off the Ukraine war - Vox

How the Other Side Leaves - This American Life

Host:

Jonquilyn Hill

Credits:

Sofi LaLonde, producer

Patrick Boyd, engineer

A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

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$14 trillion and no mules Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Paying the price. One of the typical questions asked during conversations about reparations is how to pay for them. Fabiola talks with economist William “Sandy” Darity and folklorist Kirsten Mullen about how reparations could be executed. The husband-and-wife team lays out a comprehensive framework in their book, From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century, for who would qualify and how the federal government would afford the $14 trillion price tag. This is part of 40 Acres, a four-part series examining reparations in the United States.

This series was made possible by a grant from the Canopy Collective and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. To provide feedback, please take our survey here: https://forms.gle/w9vYsfFGvdJLJ3LY9

Host: Fabiola Cineas, race and policy reporter, Vox

Guests: William “Sandy” Darity and Kirsten Mullen, authors of From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century

References:

From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century by William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen (The University of North Carolina Press; 2020)
Homestead Act (1862)
Disparities in Wealth by Race and Ethnicity in the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances (Federal Reserve; 2020)
Evanston is the first U.S. city to issue slavery reparations. Experts say it's a noble start. (NBC News; 2021)
The Root of Haiti’s Misery: Reparations to Enslavers (New York Times; 2020)
‘We’re Self-Interested’: The Growing Identity Debate in Black America (New York Times; 2019)

This episode was made by:

Producer: Jonquilyn Hill
Engineer: Patrick Boyd

Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

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The Biden policy that could change your neighborhood Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

One of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in American history is the Fair Housing Act of 1968. It is also a piece of legislation that has rarely been properly enforced. So, in early January, the Biden administration released a proposal that would give the FHA a new set of teeth. Vox senior policy reporter Rachel Cohen (@rmc031) explains.

PLUS: The Biden administration wants to hear from you. Click here to find out how to submit your feedback about the new proposal.

References:

Your segregated town might finally be in trouble

The Gray Area: The roots of homelessness

The homeownership society was a mistake

Public commenting rules

Host:

Jonquilyn Hill

Credits:

Sofi LaLonde, producer

Cristian Ayala, engineer

A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Insulin is for the world Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

When insulin was discovered in 1923, the scientists sold the patent for only a dollar, hoping to make it accessible to those who need it. At the time, one of the discoverers said, “Insulin is for the world.” Fast-forward over 100 years, and some diabetics are rationing the lifesaving drug because the price is so high. Why does insulin cost so much, and what does that cost tell us about the American health care system? Host Jonquilyn Hill talks with Vox Senior Correspondent Dylan Scott about the price of insulin and the steps some states are taking to bring it down.

References:

Insulin is way too expensive. California has a solution: Make its own.

Host:

Jonquilyn Hill

Credits:

Sofi LaLonde, producer

Cristian Ayala, engineer

A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

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Weeds Time Machine: The Voting Rights Act Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

Buckle up for another trip in the Weeds Time Machine! Today, we are going back in time to 1965 to talk about one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in American history: the Voting Rights Act. Once again, its fate is in the hands of the Supreme Court. Professor Atiba R. Ellis walks us through the legislative and judicial history of this landmark policy.

References:

Atiba Ellis

Brief amici curiae of Boston University Center for Antiracist Research & Professor Atiba R. Ellis

Atiba Ellis: Using Memes to Break Out of Voter Fraud Talk

The Changing Racial and Ethnic Composition of the U.S. Electorate | Pew Research Center

Voting Rights Act (1965) | National Archives

Host:

Jonquilyn Hill

Credits:

Sofi LaLonde, producer

Cristian Ayala, engineer

A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reintroducing The Weeds Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

Politics is how people achieve power. Policy is what they do with it. Every week on The Weeds, host Jonquilyn Hill and guests break down the policies that shape our lives, from abortion to financial regulations to affirmative action to housing. We dive deep and we get wonky, but we have fun along the way. New episodes drop every Wednesday. From Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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The great American gerrymander Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

Gerrymandering shapes our political maps, which in turn shape our policies. While there are concerns about how hyperpartisan voting maps are becoming, there’s one state where grassroots organizers have changed the system. On today’s episode of The Weeds, we pass the mike to one of you and answer your burning questions about redistricting in this polarized era.

References:

Where Did the Term “Gerrymander” Come From? | History| Smithsonian Magazine

Opinion: Gerrymandering on steroids is the new normal | CNN

Redistricting experts weigh in on results of first general election under new maps | Detroit Free Press

Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn't Count, a book by David Daley

Host:

Jonquilyn Hill

Credits:

Sofi LaLonde, producer

Cristian Ayala, engineer

Libby Nelson, editorial adviser

A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

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The scourge of the “time tax” Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

(Originally aired May 2022) Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Annie Lowrey (@annielowrey), a staff writer at the Atlantic, to talk about why it’s so hard for people to get government benefits. Frequently called the “time tax,” the administrative burden of applying for and distributing government benefits leads to thousands of people not getting the aid they qualify for.

References:

Annie Lowrey on Code America’s efforts to fight the Time Tax

Pamela Herd and Don Moynihan's book on administrative burden

Why Is It So Hard to Make a Website for the Government? from the New York Times

White paper — Program Recertification Costs: Evidence from SNAP

A sudden change to SSI eligibility had huge, lasting negative consequences

Credits:

Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer

Libby Nelson, editorial adviser

A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices