Today, Explained

Latest Episodes:

What about Iraq? Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

Iran fired back. The United States issued a statement. Iraq wishes its allies would fight somewhere else. (Transcript here.)

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The view from Iran Jan 07, 2020

Show notes

Iran analyst Dina Esfandiary explains why the killing of Qassem Soleimani was “the greatest gift the Trump administration could have given the Iranian government.” And an Iranian-American family disagrees on the meaning of Soleimani’s death. (Transcript here.)

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War with Iran? Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

The United States killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq last week. Vox's Alex Ward explains what might happen next. (Transcript here.)

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Should we burn our recycling? Jan 03, 2020

Show notes

The vast majority of our plastic isn’t being recycled. It might be time to consider lighting it on fire. (Transcript here.)

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The other TV president Jan 02, 2020

Show notes

Before stumbling into the biggest American political scandal in a generation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was best known for playing the president on TV. (Transcript here.)

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Trump of the Year Dec 30, 2019

Show notes

On the cusp of a big election year, Vox’s Matthew Yglesias reviews President Trump’s accomplishments thus far. (Transcript here.)

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Song of the Year Dec 27, 2019

Show notes

“Old Town Road” is unlike anything that’s ever happened in American popular music. (Transcript here.)

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Person of the Year Dec 26, 2019

Show notes

Time named Greta Thunberg its ‘Person of the Year.’ David Wallace-Wells from New York Magazine explains why. (Transcript here.)

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The Queen of Christmas Dec 23, 2019

Show notes

A quarter-century after its release, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has claimed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Call it a "Christmas Mariahcle." (Transcript here.)

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Debate 6: Enter the Wine Cave Dec 20, 2019

Show notes

The sixth and final Democratic debate of the year was less diverse, more substantive, and also featured a fight about a wine cave. Vox's Emily Stewart explains. (Transcript here.)

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