Explain It to Me
Vox
Should I buy a house? Why do I say “like” so much? Should Gen Z bother to save for retirement?Explain It to Me is the hotline for the issues that matter to your life. Send us your questions about health, personal finance, relationships, and anything else that matters to you. Host Jonquilyn Hill will take you on a journey to find the answers, whether it's to the halls of Congress or the local bar. You’ll get the answers you were looking for, and sometimes ones you didn't expect — and always with a dose of humor. New episodes every Sunday. Part of Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 25, 2019 • 1h 4min
The end of the shutdown
Jane, Ezra, and Matt have a slightly ill-timed discussion about the Pelosi-Trump showdown and the politics of the wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 22, 2019 • 55min
Investigating ER bills and SNAP fraud
Sarah, Dara, and Matt discuss Trump's latest proposal, suspicious ER billing practices, and SNAP investigationsSarah's articles about hospital ER feesWhite Paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 18, 2019 • 57min
You can't eat your principles for dinner
Sarah, Dara, and Matt analyze the prolonged shutdown's impact on the future of the federal workforceReference Articles:The shutdown threatens the promise of government jobs — and a way of lifeFBI, federal agents see cases hampered, lives rattled as shutdown continuesThe American Action Forum explainer on the Anti-Deficiency ActHow the Border Patrol union became Trump’s closest shutdown alliesby Dara LindWhy Don’t Unpaid Federal Workers Walk Off the Job? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 15, 2019 • 59min
Taxing the rich
Jane, Ezra, and Matt consider the ethics and economics of a 70 percent top marginal rateAmericans misperceive racial economic equality Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 11, 2019 • 60min
Tucker Carlson vs the free market
Jane, Dara, and Matt explain the argument over economic populism that’s roiling the conservative world Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 8, 2019 • 58min
Ask Weeds Anything
Matt, Sarah, and Dara take questions from our audience
Book Recommendations:
The Field of Blood by Joanne B. Freeman
Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life by Kathleen Dalton
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
Stories:
The 17 saddest moments of Jeb Bush’s very sad campaign by Dara Lind
Despite congressional pressure, Amtrak can’t get its story straight on train-boarding rules by Matthew Yglesias
Do No Harm by Sarah Kliff
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 4, 2019 • 1h 5min
New year, no government
Dara, Jane, and Matt explain why a shutdown is not The Purge and delve into the all-important difference between slats, bollards, and walls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 1, 2019 • 1h 10min
Classic Weeds: The great white panic
Jane Coaston joins Dara, Ezra, and Matt to talk about the racial panic tearing America apart and also salt. References and further reading: Ezra's piece on the changing demographics in America Identity Crisis book mentioned by Ezra Salt white paper This episode is a rebroadcast from July of 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 28, 2018 • 56min
The Weeds Year-End Spectacular
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt share what they learned in 2018, predictions for 2019, and their favorite research of the year.
Links:
Matt's white paper pick
Sarah's white paper pick
Ezra's white paper pick
Sarah’s ER opus
Ezra on white threat
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 21, 2018 • 1h 2min
Congress actually did something important
Jane, Dara, and Matt analyze the substance and political context of the big bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. References and further reading: German Lopez explains the First Step Act Jane’s piece on Kanye West’s meeting with President Trump James Forman Jr. examines why many African American leaders supported the war on crime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
