Pardoner-in-chief

The internet is forever. So how do we handle posts from our past selves? This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Sarah Schweppe, engineered by Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Image credit Hady Mawajdeh.   If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here.  Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The polls all point to the new reality: Trump voters are disappointed in the president they helped elect, especially when it comes to ICE, affordability, and the Epstein files. We hear from them. This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, and hosted by Astead Herndon. President Trump after a rally in North Carolina. Photo by Cornell Watson/Bloomberg via Getty Images. Thanks to The Bulwark’s Focus Group podcast for their swing voter footage. You can also watch this episode on video at youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's 2016 on the internet again. The nostalgia is a reminder that many Millennials are starting to his their first "aging cliff." This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Drake poses with his awards during the 2017 Billboard Music Awards. Photo by David Becker/Getty Images. Further Reading: Falling off the aging cliff at 44 Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump has issued a flurry of pardons and commutations in his second term — but it's not entirely different from how his predecessors used that power. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers and Jenny Lawton, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. President Trump at the 2025 Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House. Photo by Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The president's Board of Peace is kind of like the UN Security Council. But it costs a billion dollars to join for life. Israel, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina have already signed on. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Noel King. President Trump at the "Board of Peace" meeting during the World Economic Forum in Davos. Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Young conservatives are struggling with where to turn after Kirk's assassination. Some of the options are frightening. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Noel King. A woman holding an American flag at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk. Photo by Olivier Touron / AFP via Getty Images. Further Reading: Inside the Conservative Campus Revolution Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Federal agents killed a second civilian observer in Minneapolis this weekend. Now, the Trump administration is feeling the political pressure. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto and Miles Bryan with help from Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Noel King. A makeshift memorial for Alex Pretti after he was shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bland colors, AI summaries, and declining literacy rates have lots of us worried that we’re losing our intelligence to the modern world. Can we get it back? This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images.  If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545 or send us a note here.  Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thousands of federal immigration officers have descended onto Minneapolis. The state is in a full-blown conflict with the Trump administration. What can Democratic leaders do, and what it would mean if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act there? This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado and Danielle Hewitt, engineered by Shannon Mahoney, and hosted by Astead Herndon. A demonstrator holds a photo of Renee Nicole Good, the anti-ICE protester fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images.  You can also watch this episode on video at ⁠⁠youtube.com/vox⁠⁠. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More young people are insisting on prenups. They’re not just for millionaires and celebrities anymore. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers and Jenny Lawton, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Photo by Chantal CASANOVA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images. Further listening: The Breadwinners Podcast featuring guest Libby Leffler. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices