Today, Explained Going to Mars
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Aug 8, 2025 
Join space reporter Lauren Grush, known for her book on America’s first women astronauts, and author David Barron, who explores our fascination with Mars, as they delve into our cosmic neighbor's allure. They discuss the passionate political and public support for Mars missions, weighing humanity's aspirations against earthly challenges. The episode also uncovers the historical obsession with the red planet, from 19th-century maps to contemporary myths, and reflects on how visions of Martian civilizations shape our imagination and cultural narrative.
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Prioritize Earth Before Colonization
- Do solve pressing Earth problems before prioritizing Mars colonization, Lauren Grush argues.
- She urges funding and focus to address current issues on Earth first.
President And Elon Push Mars
- Donald Trump's speeches and rapport with Elon Musk revived political focus on Mars exploration.
- Lauren Grush says this rhetoric increased momentum for human Mars initiatives.
Cuts To Science, Push For Human Missions
- The White House proposed a roughly 24% cut to NASA while channeling more money to human exploration programs.
- Lauren Grush explains the cuts target robotic science while boosting Artemis and Mars-related human initiatives.
