Explain It to Me

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 HillCredits:Sofi LaLonde, producerCristian Ayala, engineerA.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcastsWant to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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, producerPatrick Boyd, engineerA.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcastsWant to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/w9vYsfFGvdJLJ3LY9Host: Fabiola Cineas, race and policy reporter, VoxGuests: William “Sandy” Darity and Kirsten Mullen, authors of From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First CenturyReferences:  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 mistakePublic commenting rulesHost:Jonquilyn HillCredits:Sofi LaLonde, producerCristian Ayala, engineerA.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcastsWant to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 HillCredits:Sofi LaLonde, producerCristian Ayala, engineerA.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcastsWant to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. EllisAtiba 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 HillCredits:Sofi LaLonde, producerCristian Ayala, engineerA.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcastsWant to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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 MagazineOpinion: Gerrymandering on steroids is the new normal | CNNRedistricting 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 HillCredits:Sofi LaLonde, producerCristian Ayala, engineerLibby Nelson, editorial adviserA.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcastsWant to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

(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 TaxPamela Herd and Don Moynihan's book on administrative burdenWhy Is It So Hard to Make a Website for the Government? from the New York TimesWhite paper — Program Recertification Costs: Evidence from SNAPA sudden change to SSI eligibility had huge, lasting negative consequencesCredits:Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineerLibby Nelson, editorial adviserA.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcastsWant to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2022, we saw a lot of climate change news. Europe hit record-high temperatures, Pakistan was devastated by flooding, and in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency got a little less powerful. While those are major causes for concern, there is a bright spot on the climate change policy landscape: 2023. Vox’s Rebecca Leber (@rebleber) tells us what to look forward to next year. References:The next frontier for climate action is the great indoors The mystery of methane gone missing The US could stop one cause of heat wave deaths tomorrow Climate change has made air conditioning a vital necessity. It also heats up the planetThe good and bad news for the planet after the latest UN climate talks Even Breathing Is A Risk In One Of Orlando's Poorest Neighborhoods | HuffPost Voices Host:Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)Credits:Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineerLibby Nelson, editorial adviserA.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcastsWant to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices