Today, Explained

The Covid-19 vaccine is being distributed in the United States, and you have questions. Vox’s Umair Irfan has answers.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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The world’s biggest democracy is contending with what might be the world’s biggest labor stoppage.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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On this episode of the Decoder podcast, host Nilay Patel speaks with Shelli Taylor, the CEO of Alamo Drafthouse. Taylor argues the government has failed to manage the pandemic effectively for business owners and explains what the future of theaters could look like in the streaming age.

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Martin Kenyon was one of the first people to get the Covid-19 vaccine this week. He talks about his experience, and an epidemiologist explains how to talk to the “vaccine hesitant” people in your life.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Joe won. And won. And won. Rudy can fail. And fail. And fail.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Melbourne, Australia, had a first wave. Then it had a second wave. Then it decided it was done with Covid-19.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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In an end-of-year plot twist, Congress is working on a fresh bipartisan stimulus bill.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Millions of women left the workforce as Covid-19 forced school closures, but that doesn’t mean they have less on their plates. Is government-funded child care the answer?

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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The Supreme Court ruled that New York state can’t limit how many people gather in church, even during a pandemic. Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains why this is one of the most significant religious liberty cases in the last 30 years.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Low-income students are dropping out of college because many don’t have a reliable way to get online. Vox’s Emily Stewart says the solution is simple: Give everybody the internet.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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President-elect Biden has started announcing his Cabinet nominees, but Matthew Yglesias says the most important positions aren’t the ones you’d think.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Covid-19 vaccines are coming out faster than many thought possible. But distributing the vaccines could be an even tougher challenge.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Scientists all over the world are searching for dark matter: an invisible, untouchable substance that holds our universe together. But they haven’t found it. Are they chasing a ghost?

We want to hear your feedback on Unexplainable! Email us at todayexplained@vox.com or let us know on Twitter @today_explained

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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With two months left in the Trump presidency, the US is reducing the number of troops in Afghanistan in an attempt to end America's longest war. But Biden will still inherit the conflict.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Retail was struggling. Then came the virus. Recode’s Jason Del Rey explains how the American mall will never be the same, and how the machines might save retail.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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An ethnic conflict in Ethiopia has thrown the Horn of Africa into disarray and could upset order on the continent.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Covid-19 is surging across the United States, just in time for cold weather and major holidays. North Dakota is doing particularly badly. Vermont may offer hope.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Oregon decriminalized all drugs. Red states and blue states are doing the same with weed. It’s the culmination of a failed drug war.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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A weekend of protests, violence, and enmity in DC revealed what Donald Trump has planned post-presidency.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Covid-19 is surging (again). Schools are closing (again). Kids are learning online (again). And more American parents than ever are turning to homeschool (for the very first time). 

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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California tried to strengthen labor rights for gig workers. Uber, Lyft, and their food-delivering cohorts responded with a $200 million propaganda offensive.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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After a fraught Election Week, cable news is finally cutting away from President Trump’s falsehoods. Erik Wemple, media critic for the Washington Post, explains why it might not last.

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The 45th president of the United States has thus far refused to acknowledge the 46th. Political scientist Zeynep Tufekci explains this latest test of America’s democracy. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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And some big vaccine news, too.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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-And Kamala Harris, too.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Vox’s Ella Nilsen explains why Democrats are waving goodbye to the blue wave.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains the latest election math, and Ezra Klein argues that, despite record-setting turnout, it wasn’t a great night for American democracy.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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This Election Day, voter turnout is projected to break records in the United States, but it won’t get anywhere close to Australia’s. Professor Lisa Hill explains what happens when you make voting mandatory.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains how Joe Biden — or President Trump — could win 270 electoral votes.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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In the final episode of our five-part series, New York Magazine’s Rebecca Traister and Vox’s Ezra Klein explain how four years of the Trump presidency have changed the American people and their politics.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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In the fourth of our five-part series, Vox’s Dylan Scott explains how a president with no plan on health care evolved into a president with no plan for the pandemic.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Election turnout is on track to be the highest in a century. Farmers, essential workers, prisoners, and two ladies named Ruth explain their 2020 presidential pick.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Pandemic or not, the highest court in the land won’t extend Wisconsin’s deadline for mailed ballots. Good thing it’s not a swing state. Oh, wait ...

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Alexis Akwagyiram, bureau chief for Reuters in Nigeria, explains how a protest to reform the country’s police made its way around the world.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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In the third of our five-part series, Vox’s Andrew Prokop says there’s one key takeaway from the Mueller investigation and impeachment: Trump will do anything to win an election.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Bill Barr and Elizabeth Warren have found a common enemy.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Last Christmas, I gave you my health.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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The 2020 election is well underway, as are efforts to prevent people from voting.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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Live from New York, impressions are trite! Vox critic-at-large Emily VanDerWerff explains why late-night TV struggles to satirize President Trump, and argues the internet is doing a much better job.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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In the second of our five-part series, Vox’s Nicole Narea and Jenn Williams explain how President Trump has fundamentally changed the perception of the United States at home and abroad.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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A Los Angeles magician struck gold with a glorified Zoom meeting. Some are asking if he’s figured out how to save theater.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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The judge isn’t saying much in her confirmation hearing, but Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains how her legal theory will guide her on the Supreme Court. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Even if Democrats win the White House, take the Senate, and hold the House, most of their legislation could be doomed because of the filibuster. Vox’s Ezra Klein says it’s filibusted.

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In the first of our five-part series, Vox’s Matthew Yglesias explains why President Donald Trump seldom boasts about his biggest accomplishment.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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In June, nine members of the Minneapolis City Council stood onstage at a community rally and pledged to dismantle the police. Council member Alondra Cano returns to explain why it’s taking so long.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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After months of downplaying the risks, the White House has come down with Covid-19. Vox’s Aaron Rupar gives the updates, and Future Perfect’s Sigal Samuel sifts through the moral complexities in the gleeful reactions.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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President Trump told a fringe group of misogynistic racists to “stand back and stand by” at the first presidential debate. Vox’s Jane Coaston explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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President Trump is battling Covid-19 and the vice-presidential debate is days away. McKay Coppins from the Atlantic explains the man waiting in the wings. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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The president had a very busy week, then tested positive for the coronavirus. Vox’s Aaron Rupar traces his steps and Ella Nilsen explores the possible scenarios.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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A forgotten protest movement in a seaside Florida town helped end legal segregation in the United States. Vox’s Ranjani Chakraborty explains.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained.

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