Explain It to Me

Latest Episodes:

The left’s path to power Sep 06, 2019

Show notes

Data for Progress co-founder Sean McElwee explains his strategy for a left-wing takeover of American politics, and the data-driven path to winning elections.

Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox

Sean McElwee (@SeanMcElwee) , Co-founder, Data for Progress

More to explore:

Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.

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

Facebook group: The Weeds

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Trump's primary challengers Sep 03, 2019

Show notes

Jane, Dara, and Matt talk about Donald Trump’s potential 2020 presidential primary challengers — Joe Walsh, Bill Weld, Justin Amash, and others, and what their bids mean for the post-Trump future. We also ruminate on a white paper exploring potentially racist hiring practices.

Links to resources discussed:

“Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld explains why he’s primarying Donald Trump” by Jane Coaston, Vox

“The problem with primarying Trump” by Jane Coaston, Vox

“Former Rep. Joe Walsh, once a Trump supporter and conspiracy theorist, is running for president” by Jane Coaston and Sean Collins, Vox

“Decades before Trump, Marion Barry fooled D.C.” by Jane Coaston, MTV News

“Ex-Newark Mayor Is Accused of Misusing Campaign Funds” by Richard Pèrez-Peña, New York Times

White paper

Hosts:

Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox

Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large Vox

Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox

Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica

More to explore:

Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.

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

Facebook group: The Weeds

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

The case for foreign policy restraint Aug 30, 2019

Show notes

Emma Ashford, a research fellow in defense and foreign policy at the Cato Institute, joins Matt for a wide-ranging discussion on China and the Middle East, the United States’ relationship with Russia since the Cold War, and the defense budget. They also explore the difference between restraint and realism, and whether or not President Donald Trump is an isolationist.

More to explore:

Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.

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

Facebook group: The Weeds

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

Trump's latest trade war Aug 27, 2019

Show notes

Ezra, Jane, and Matt talk about Trump's approach to China and what his critics get right and wrong.

Links to resources discussed:

“Making China Great Again” by Evan Osnos, The New Yorker

“The past 3 wild days in Trump’s trade war with China, explained” by Matthew Yglesias, Vox

“Trump’s puzzling trade war with China, sort of explained” by Matthew Yglesias, Vox

“Why Elizabeth Warren is declaring war on an obscure trade policy” by Danielle Kurtzleben, Vox

“Elizabeth Warren’s vision for changing America’s trade policy, explained” by Matthew Yglesias, Vox

“The progressive case for free trade” by Hilary Matfess, Vox

“The weak defenses of Elizabeth Warren’s trade plan” by Daniel W. Drezner, Washington Post

White paper

Hosts:

Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias),

Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein),

Editor-at-large Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter,

VoxDara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica

More to explore:

Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.

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

Facebook group: The Weeds

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

Does America need trade deals? Aug 23, 2019

Show notes

Yale's Hilary Matfess joins Matt to debate Elizabeth Warren's trade proposals, and the role of trade policy in progressive politics.

Recommended reading:

“The progressive case for free trade” by Hilary Matfess

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Slavery and its legacy Aug 20, 2019

Show notes

Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss the 1619 project and its critics

Related reading:

“The 1619 Project” New York Times Magazine

“Henry Clay, Edward Baptist, and the Whipping Machine” by Bradley A. Hansen

“Cotton, Slavery, and the New History of Capitalism” by Alan L. Olmstead and Paul W. Rhode

“Capitalism and Slavery” by John J. Clegg, New York University

“Slavery and Anglo-American capitalism revisited” by Gavin Wright, Stanford University

White paper

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News comes at you fast. Join us at the end of your day to understand it. Subscribe to Today, Explained

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Trump's war on Medicaid Aug 16, 2019

Show notes

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' Jessica Schubel explains how Medicaid works, and how the White House is trying to undermine it.

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Epstein conspiracy time Aug 13, 2019

Show notes

Jane, Dara, and Matt try to offer actual facts about prison suicide and new research on hot weather and crime.

Related reading:

“Jeffrey Epstein’s Death, in Context”’ by Ken White, the Atlantic

"Jeffrey Epstein’s Death Underlines A Nationwide Problem" by Jesselyn Cook, Huffington Post

White paper

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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

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The case for a Green New Deal Aug 09, 2019

Show notes

Julian Brave NoiseCat of Data for Progress joins Matt to discuss the vision of the Green New Deal, the need to link it to social justice, and whether or not it’s politically viable.

Recommended reading:

“No, climate action can’t be separated from social justice” by Julian Brave NoiseCat

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Domestic terrorism after El Paso Aug 06, 2019

Show notes

ProPublica’s Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to talk about the mass shooting in El Paso and what it means to take white nationalist violence seriously.

Recommended reading:

“The top House Republican is blaming video games for the weekend’s mass shootings” by Jane Coaston, Vox

“A question for conservatives: what if the left was right on race?” by Jane Coaston, Vox

“Crush This Evil” by The Editors, National Review

“Who are the Trenchcoat Mafia?” BBC News