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Explain It to Me

Explain It to Me is Vox’s new franchise focused on answering your questions—through a weekly podcast, a weekly newsletter, and a video series.

Wondering about why American politics work the way they do? Have a question about retirement? Or just curious about something in your everyday life—like whether your dentist is scamming you? We want to hear from you.

The Explain It to Me newsletter tackles a question each week, delivering a digestible explainer that’s fun to read, answered by different journalists around our newsroom.

Should I buy a house? Why do I say “like” so much? Should Gen Z bother to save for retirement? The Explain It to Me podcast is the hotline for the issues that matter to your life. Call in your questions about health, personal finance, relationships, and anything else that matters to you at 1-800-618-8545. 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.

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Vox, explain it to me
Explainers

Want to inspire a Vox story? Share your ideas with us.

By Gabriela Fernandez
Vox, explain it to me
Explainers

Want to inspire a Vox story? Share your ideas with us.

By Gabriela Fernandez
Can men get better at dating?Can men get better at dating?
Explain It to Me

A dating coach for men on the state of relationships.

By Hady Mawajdeh
Is wealth inequality leading to a class war?Is wealth inequality leading to a class war?
Explain It to Me

In the past four decades, the gap between rich and poor has grown significantly. It’s a dangerous trend.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Are vitamins a scam?Are vitamins a scam?
Explain It to MeThe Highlight

The unregulated morass of vitamins and supplements makes it hard to know what’s legitimate. We can help.

By Dylan Scott

The latest in Explain It to Me

Why you still don’t need a REAL ID…yetWhy you still don’t need a REAL ID…yet
Podcast
Explain It to Me

Here’s the story of the 9/11-era law that still hasn’t been enacted.

By Jonquilyn Hill
How scared should you be about tariffs?How scared should you be about tariffs?
Explain It to Me

Everything you need to know about tariffs but were too afraid to ask.

By Sean Collins
Why do US politics affect the rest of the world?Why do US politics affect the rest of the world?
Explain It to Me

America is still the most influential country in the world, for better or worse.

By Zack Beauchamp
What happens to the money when I round up at the register?What happens to the money when I round up at the register?
Explain It to Me

No, they aren’t a scam.

By Jess Craig
Is our sleep getting worse?Is our sleep getting worse?
Explain It to Me

And your other urgent sleep questions, answered.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Why are young men so hopeless at dating?Why are young men so hopeless at dating?
Explain It to Me

The rules of romance have changed. Can men keep up?

By Allie Volpe
How safe is donating your eggs?How safe is donating your eggs?
Health

Egg donation is common. How well do we understand the risks?

By Anna North
Has Caitlin Clark changed the game between men’s and women’s sports?Has Caitlin Clark changed the game between men’s and women’s sports?
Explain It to Me

Men’s sports have historically been much more popular than women’s. But that may be changing.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Have we cured AIDS?Have we cured AIDS?
Explain It to Me

The global fight against HIV is at a perilous tipping point.

By Jess Craig
Your brain is lying to you about the “good old days”Your brain is lying to you about the “good old days”
Explain It to Me

The science behind why we think the past was better than the present.

By Bryan Walsh
4 reasons why factory farming still exists4 reasons why factory farming still exists
Future Perfect

Despite being reviled by just about everyone.

By Kenny Torrella
If you want to find a match, try swiping this time of yearIf you want to find a match, try swiping this time of year
Explain It to Me

Is the holiday season also cuffing season?

By Jonquilyn Hill
Why do people think Republicans are better for the economy?Why do people think Republicans are better for the economy?
Explain It to Me

Since World War II, the economy has, on average, fared better when Democrats are in the White House.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Why do so many young people suddenly have cancer?Why do so many young people suddenly have cancer?
Explain It to Me

When you were born is actually an important risk factor for cancer.

By Dylan Scott
Is it possible to have both pride and humility?Is it possible to have both pride and humility?
Explain It to Me

In a culture that rewards relentless bragging, staying humble takes practice and introspection.

By Allie Volpe
Trump’s tariff plan is an inflation planTrump’s tariff plan is an inflation plan
Trump 2.0, explained

New tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China could make life more expensive.

By Ellen Ioanes
Why do hotel lobbies smell like that?Why do hotel lobbies smell like that?
Explain It to Me

Scent is a way to draw you in and, hopefully, get you to open your wallet.

By Whizy Kim
Could carbon capture fix climate change?Could carbon capture fix climate change?
The Highlight

A reader asks whether the latest developments in clean energy technology can help save the planet. We break it down.

By Umair Irfan
Why libraries need librariansWhy libraries need librarians
Explain It to Me

Public librarians have to be coders, social workers, and book rec machines. They’re irreplaceable.

By Constance Grady
Can Trump run again in 2028? Here’s what you need to know.Can Trump run again in 2028? Here’s what you need to know.
Explain It to Me

Here’s what to know about the 22nd Amendment.

By Li Zhou
How to make sense of the 2024 electionHow to make sense of the 2024 election
2024 Elections

Why did Trump win? What will he do now? And more questions, answered.

By Dylan Scott
Why are foods banned in other places still on US grocery shelves?Why are foods banned in other places still on US grocery shelves?
Explain It to Me

Who decides what can and can’t be in food in the US?

By Jonquilyn Hill
How safe is your vote from manipulation?How safe is your vote from manipulation?
Politics

Some election deniers are now election officials. That has caused concern.

By Li Zhou
Why do the ugly fashion trends from our youth keep coming back?Why do the ugly fashion trends from our youth keep coming back?
Explain It to Me

A reader is horrified by the return of mom jeans. What’s happening?

By Rebecca Jennings
What’s up with all those unhinged texts from political campaigns?What’s up with all those unhinged texts from political campaigns?
Explain It to Me

Explain It to Me gets to the bottom of those pesky appeals for cash — and how to stop them.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Is every car dealer trying to rip me off?Is every car dealer trying to rip me off?
Explain It to Me

Why buying a car is the worst kind of shopping.

By Whizy Kim
I’m Gen Z. ​​How can I save for retirement and still enjoy my life?I’m Gen Z. ​​How can I save for retirement and still enjoy my life?
Explain It to Me

A financial expert explains why you can invest wisely and still take that trip.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Why are political campaigns always guilt-tripping us to donate?Why are political campaigns always guilt-tripping us to donate?
Explain It to Me

And is there a better way to ask for money?

By Nicole Narea
Am I less likely to get a divorce than my parents?Am I less likely to get a divorce than my parents?
Explain It to Me

Millennials are less likely to get divorced than their parents. Why?

By Jonquilyn Hill
Why is US health care like this?Why is US health care like this?
Explain It to Me

America unintentionally built a health care system that is hard to fix.

By Dylan Scott
Can clean energy handle the AI boom?Can clean energy handle the AI boom?
Play
Video

How digital lives are impacting our climate goals.

By Laura Bult
Is making friends as an adult really hard, or is it just me?Is making friends as an adult really hard, or is it just me?
Explain It to Me

It’s tough out there. But it’s not all bad news.

By Allie Volpe
Why do we say “like,” like, all the time? Why do we say “like,” like, all the time? 
Explain It to Me

In defense of the supremely useful and unfairly maligned word.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Is my dentist scamming me?Is my dentist scamming me?
Podcast
Explain It to Me

How insurance treats dentistry different from medicine — and makes things weird.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Vox launches Explain It to Me franchise to answer audience questionsVox launches Explain It to Me franchise to answer audience questions
Explain It to Me

Explain It to Me will publish as a podcast, newsletter, and video series.

By Gabriela Fernandez and Bill Carey
Are bugs really disappearing?Are bugs really disappearing?
Explain It to Me

A Vox reader asks: Is there really an insect apocalypse happening? We explain what’s really going on.

By Benji Jones
Vox Expands Its Mission of Explaining the World With Multi-Platform Podcast Franchise, Explain It to MeVox Expands Its Mission of Explaining the World With Multi-Platform Podcast Franchise, Explain It to Me
Vox Press Room

Explain It to Me will include a weekly podcast and newsletter, as well as a video series.

By Vox Communications