In politics, you’re often told not to get lost in the weeds. But we love the weeds! That’s where politics becomes policy – the stuff that shapes our lives. Every Tuesday and Friday, Matthew Yglesias is joined by Ezra Klein, Dara Lind, Jane Coaston and other Vox voices to dig into the weeds on important national issues, including healthcare, immigration, housing, and everything else that matters. Produced by Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Let’s fix retirement together
It’s an election year, and there are so many different policy discussions we could be having: affordable child care, housing, health care, you name it. Based on how the campaigning has gone so far, though, it seems that hard policy debates and discussions won’t get much — if any — airtime. So, how about we have that discussion? Today on The Weeds: the economic policies we should be talking about.
Read More:
Americans’ Working Years Need a Better Ending — Bloomberg
Kathryn Edwards on TikTok (@keds_economist)
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Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
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1/31/2024 • 43 minutes, 56 seconds
How to be a (realistic) climate optimist
The Earth was its hottest in recorded history in 2023. Our winters are shorter, our summers hotter, and our natural disasters more extreme. It’s dark. But maybe it doesn’t have to be. Hannah Ritchie is deputy editor at Our World in Data and author of the book Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet. On this week’s episode of The Weeds, she talks with host Jonquilyn Hill about how the world has never been sustainable, why scientists shouldn’t advocate for policy, and ways to balance optimism and realism when it comes to stopping climate change.
Read More:
Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet — Hannah Ritchie
Hannah Ritchie fights climate doomerism with facts — Vox
What If People Don't Need to Care About Climate Change to Fix It? — NYT
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1/24/2024 • 40 minutes, 30 seconds
How celebrity fandom explains Trump
To no one’s surprise, former president Donald Trump handily won the Republican Iowa caucuses this week. Despite his recent bout of legal trouble, he still has the backing of a dedicated voting base. But at times, his base feels more like stans than supporters. This week on The Weeds, host Jonquilyn Hill sits down with Vox culture writer Aja Romano to discuss the origins of fandom, the toxicity of stan culture and online harassment, and how we’ve trained politicians to be performers first.
Read More:
The “Dark Brandon” meme — and why the Biden campaign has embraced it — explained
Zhang Zhehan is a deepfake: fandom conspiracy theories are getting worse — Vox
What Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ Tour Tells Us About Trump’s Appeal — Politico
2024 campaign: Trump rallies aren't even about politics at this point — Slate
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1/17/2024 • 43 minutes, 4 seconds
Why we can’t stop talking about Harvard
Harvard and elite institutions like it have been in the news a lot lately. Following the outbreak of war in Gaza, three university presidents — Liz Magill, Claudine Gay, and Sally Kornbluth — testified in a congressional hearing about antisemitism on campus. And since that hearing, two of those three presidents have resigned from their posts. But the criticism of inadequate responses to antisemitism — and the accusations of plagiarism — are just the tip of the iceberg. Weeds host Jonquilyn Hill sits down with the Atlantic’s Adam Harris to discuss.
Read More:
An Existential Threat to American Higher Education — The Atlantic
Republicans are weaponizing antisemitism to take down college DEI offices — Vox
The State Must Provide: Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal—and How to Set Them Right (Hardcover) | Loyalty Bookstores
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1/10/2024 • 39 minutes, 42 seconds
Are unions making a comeback?
2023 was a big year for unions. WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes brought Hollywood to a standstill, and the UAW made historic gains for nearly 150,000 of its members. But despite all of the commotion around unions, membership is still way down from its peak — and has been steadily declining since the 1950s. Was the past year a sign of an upcoming resurgence in the labor movement? Weeds host Jonquilyn Hill talks to journalist and organizer Kim Kelly to find out.
Read More:
More in U.S. See Unions Strengthening and Want It That Way
Labor unions aren't “booming.” They're dying.
The UAW Strike May Have Finally Set Us Up for a General Strike
Fight Like Hell: The Untold History Of American Labor
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12/20/2023 • 37 minutes, 23 seconds
Why are so many kids missing school?
Nearly four years after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and years after school reopenings, schools still face a major challenge: Students aren’t showing up. An estimated 14.7 million students didn’t show up regularly in the 2022-23 school year and were “chronically absent.” As data rolls out, states are realizing that they can’t address chronic absences without strategic plans to target it. Today on The Weeds, Vox reporter Fabiola Cineas explores what chronic absenteeism is, how it affects children's learning in both the short and long term, and what strategies have a proven track record of getting kids back to school.
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Read more from Fabiola Cineas
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Colleen Barrett, fact-checker
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12/13/2023 • 38 minutes, 17 seconds
Can Black churches lead the way on teen mental health?
It’s hard to get Americans to agree on any topic these days, but a majority of them do agree on one thing: The country is in a mental health crisis. Young people in particular are struggling, and Vox senior health correspondent Dylan Scott wanted to see what is being done to help them. He found the work of Sherry Molock, a researcher and retired pastor, who is running a suicide prevention pilot program out of Black churches in New York State. Today on The Weeds: The current mental health crisis and the story of one researcher’s long pursuit of good, empirical data.
Read More:
More reporting from Dylan Scott
Lifeline.org
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12/6/2023 • 45 minutes, 57 seconds
The Devil wears fast fashion
Most of us love a bargain, but when it comes to our wardrobe, there’s a high cost for those cheap clothes. Fast fashion has taken the world by storm, with brands having tens of thousands — if not over a million — designs available at any moment. The consumption comes at a cost: the factory workers making those outfits are often underpaid and working in terrible conditions, and some countries have literal mountains of synthetic clothing filling their landfills. This week on The Weeds, host Jonquilyn Hill talks with Vox deputy editor Izzie Ramirez and author Elizabeth Cline about the scope of fast fashion, and how we got here in the first place.
Read More:
Buy Less Stuff - Vox
Why you shouldn’t shop at fast fashion retailers like Shein - Vox
Your stuff is actually worse now - Vox
Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good
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11/29/2023 • 41 minutes, 10 seconds
Barack Obama on AI, free speech, and the future of the internet
This episode of Decoder with Nilay Patel originally ran in early November. Patel and former President Barack Obama discuss AI and the future of the internet. They talk about President Biden’s recent executive order on AI, the First Amendment, democracy, and if the government could – or even should – regulate social media.
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11/22/2023 • 49 minutes, 14 seconds
Why everything is (still) so expensive
If you are frustrated with how expensive everything feels right now, you’re not alone. Inflation has fallen from last year’s high, but prices haven’t. And while the rise in prices of goods has slowed, people are pretty unhappy with the economy right now. But a lot of experts are saying the economy is in a good spot right now. So why doesn’t it feel that way? Weeds host Jonquilyn Hill discusses with Vox senior correspondent Emily Stewart and Mike Konczal of the Roosevelt Institute.
Read More:
Inflation in the US isn’t the issue. High prices are here to stay. - Vox
Sign up for The Big Squeeze newsletter - Vox
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11/15/2023 • 42 minutes, 55 seconds
BDS and the history of the boycott
If you turn on the news, or scroll through your social media feed of choice, there’s a good chance you’ll see the latest on the Israel-Hamas war — and the reaction to it. But there’s one call to action making its way down social media feeds that feels different from all these other responses. It’s called BDS, short for boycott, divest, and sanction. And like just about everything related to this conflict, it’s complicated and controversial. This week on The Weeds, host Jonquilyn Hill sits down with Vox senior reporter Whizy Kim to explain the controversial movement, and with Cornell professor and author of Buying Power: A History of Consumer Activism in America Lawrence B. Glickman to discuss the history of boycotts, and if they even work.
Read More:
The boycott movement against Israel, explained
Buying Power: A History of Consumer Activism in America, Glickman
Is B.D.S. Anti-Semitic? A Closer Look at the Boycott Israel Campaign — the New York Times
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11/8/2023 • 47 minutes, 15 seconds
Will school choice change the future of education?
The school choice movement is having a moment again. Charter schools and voucher programs have been around for decades, but the Covid-19 pandemic has created another explosion in popularity for the choice movement. And since the pandemic, a slew of Republican-led states have passed choice policy aimed increasing access to other choice options. But does the choice movement come at the expense of public schools? Cara Fitzpatrick, author of the new book The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America, joins Weeds host Jonquilyn Hill to discuss the origins of the school choice movement, how Covid shook everything up, and if public schools can survive this political moment.
Read More:
The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America | Cara Fitzpatrick
Is public school as we know it ending? | Vox
The conservative push for “school choice” has had its most successful year ever | Vox
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11/1/2023 • 46 minutes, 11 seconds
The sandwich generation: Caring for kids and seniors
The struggles of caretaking are nothing new, but there’s a trend emerging as baby boomers get older: More and more younger adults are becoming part of the “sandwich generation.” That means they’re caring for young children and aging loved ones at the same time, and this change is exposing gaps in eldercare policy. More than half of Americans in their 40s and a quarter of adults overall are becoming part of this growing cohort. This week on The Weeds, we sat down with Vox senior correspondent Anna North about how we got here, what to do, and what’s next.
Read more:
Baby boomers are aging. Their kids aren't ready.
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10/25/2023 • 38 minutes, 19 seconds
Why your health insurance is tied to work
Open enrollment is around the corner, which means soon it will be time to pick your health insurance again. And you may ask yourself: Why do we do it this way? In 2022, almost 55 percent of Americans got their insurance through an employer, meaning that your employment status and where you work are major factors in the kind of coverage you get. This week on The Weeds, we go back in time with Senior Correspondent Dylan Scott about why our insurance is so tied to where we work.
Read More:
The Vox guide to open enrollment
Why you're stuck with your company's health insurance plan
Vox explores health care systems around the world in Everybody Covered (2020)
The Weeds: Three roads to universal coverage (2020)
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10/18/2023 • 45 minutes, 7 seconds
Conservative socialism?
What will American politics look like after Trump? Sean Illing is joined by Sohrab Ahmari to discuss his new book, Tyranny, Inc. Ahmari is one of the conservative intellectuals trying to map out a post-Trump future for the Republican Party, and his book is an attempt to justify a form of democratic socialism from the right. The two discuss whether his vision could ever be the basis for a broader coalition.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area
Guest: Sohrab Ahmari (@SohrabAhmari), author, Tyranny, Inc.
References:
Tyranny, Inc. by Sohrab Ahmari (Penguin Random House, 2023)
American Capitalism: The Concept of Countervailing Power by John Galbraith (Routledge, 1993)
Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
“Social Democracy and Social Conservatism Aren’t Compatible” by Matt McManus (Jacobin, August 2023)
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10/11/2023 • 56 minutes, 29 seconds
How (not) to budget
Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown when it passed a bill funding the government for the next 45 days. And while keeping the government open is a good thing, Congress just kicked the can down the road. The bill didn’t actually resolve the big-picture budget fight, and certainly didn’t solve the inevitable problem of political fights delaying the appropriations process. Molly Reynolds, senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, explains why Congress does the budget this way and what could be done to fix it.
Read More:
Government shutdown 2023: House Republicans divided on stopgap bill with days to go - Vox
Congress just avoided a shutdown. Kevin McCarthy's fight is just beginning - Vox
How did Congress avoid a shutdown, and what happens now? - Vox
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10/4/2023 • 45 minutes, 58 seconds
NYC’s not-so-sudden migrant surge
Earlier this month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the current migrant crisis would “destroy the city.” Since April 2022, more than 115,000 migrants have arrived in New York City, many fleeing hardship from their home countries. In response, the Biden administration granted Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelan migrants. But while the move may provide some immediate relief to migrants seeking work authorization, some experts worry that it won’t fix the root of the problem: the broken US immigration system.
Read More:
New York City’s migrant surge, explained — Vox
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Fabiola Cineas, host
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9/27/2023 • 51 minutes, 39 seconds
What’s up, doc(ket)?
Summer is over, school is back, and the Supreme Court is getting ready for a new term. The term starts in early October, and the docket is stacked. Host Jonquilyn Hill sits down with Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser to get into the major cases the court will hear this term.
Read More:
The Supreme Court will spend its new term cleaning up after rogue MAGA judges — Vox
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9/20/2023 • 43 minutes, 55 seconds
Who protects workers from extreme heat?
No matter where you live in the US, this summer was hot. Extremely hot. Temperatures soared all over the country, breaking records almost daily. Even Arizona saw unprecedented heat: Phoenix baked under 110º heat for 31 days straight, with little to no relief at night. The extreme heat poses a grave threat to workers in America, both indoor and outdoor, because there are few to no heat-related protections for workers. It asks the question: Whose responsibility is it to keep us cool?
Read More:
Extreme heat is giving us a glimpse at the dangerous future of work | Vox
Laws don't protect outdoor workers from heat. Advocates say the consequences are deadly
Heat is not classified as a natural disaster. Arizona officials say that needs to change
Workers exposed to extreme heat have no consistent protection in the US | AP News
More from David Michaels:
The Triumph of Doubt: Dark Money and the Science of Deception
Doubt Is Their Product: How industry’s Assault on Science Threatens Your Health
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9/13/2023 • 46 minutes, 39 seconds
Why isn’t school lunch free?
The problem of school lunch debt is not a new one. But during the early days of the Covid-19 public health emergency, Congress had a solution: universal free school lunch. Suddenly, federal waivers were available to public schools around the country, and food insecurity in at-risk households dropped by 7 percent. But, like many other Covid-era policies, it lapsed. And while some states moved to make universal free lunch permanent, many didn’t. Vox senior correspondent Anna North (@annanorthtweets) explains.
Read More:
The return of “lunch debt”: Why schools and families are facing a food crisis - Vox
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8/30/2023 • 38 minutes, 4 seconds
Trump’s RICO problem
In case you missed it, Donald Trump was indicted once again, this time for his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. But this indictment is different from the others, because it involves a RICO charge. RICO, short for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, is most commonly used to prosecute organized crime. These cases can also be exceedingly complicated, and often take months to even make it to trial. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis wants to see a trial date within six months, but is that too ambitious? Stanford law professor David Sklansky (@d_a_sklansky) explains.
Read More:
Trump's 4 indictments, ranked by the stakes - Vox
Georgia Trump indictment: The 5 conspiracies at its heart - Vox
Florida man indicted (again) (again) (again) - Today, Explained
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8/23/2023 • 47 minutes, 13 seconds
Biden messed with Texas
In early July, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott installed a chain of buoys and barbed wire in the Rio Grande as part of his “Operation Lone Star” plan to crack down on illegal border crossings. Then, a few days later, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit in response to the floating buoy border. The DOJ is using an obscure 1899 law called the Rivers and Harbors Act as the legal basis for this suit, claiming the border obstructs navigable waterways. Will that be enough for the DOJ to force Abbott to remove the buoys? Weeds host Jonquilyn Hill asks Texas A&M law professor Gabriel Eckstein and Texas Tribune reporter Uriel García to find out.
Read More:
Biden is taking Texas to court over its floating border barrier
Eagle Pass residents sour on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star
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8/16/2023 • 43 minutes, 58 seconds
Biden wants YOU (to go to therapy)
Finding a therapist can be exhausting. Between connecting with a clinician you like and locating someone who takes your insurance, it can be a daunting process. And despite a 2008 law that requires parity between mental and physical health care, insurers have found workarounds. Now, the Biden administration is moving to strengthen the parity law to make it easier for folks to access mental health care. Will it work? Vox’s Dylan Scott explains.
Read More:
Why it’s so hard to get health insurance to pay for therapy - Vox
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8/9/2023 • 40 minutes, 45 seconds
A new era for birth control
For the first time ever in America, a birth control pill will be available over the counter. In July 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved Opill, a progestin-only form of daily oral contraception. This move could open the doors to millions of people who need, and want, to use birth control. To understand the court rulings that got us here, the potential obstacles to equal access, and what Opill means for the future of contraceptives in the US, host Jonquilyn Hill speaks with Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, an OBGYN and the CEO of Power to Decide, and Khiara M. Bridges, a professor of law at UC Berkeley School of Law.
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8/2/2023 • 51 minutes, 17 seconds
Who broke student loans?
Last month, the Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program. Student loan debt these days weighs in at about $1.7 trillion. Leah Litman and Josh Mitchell join us on the latest episode of The Weeds to dive into the legal landscape and discuss how we got this student loan system in the first place.
Read More:
The Supreme Court’s student loan decision in Biden v. Nebraska is lawless and completely partisan | Vox
The Supreme Court put itself in charge of the executive branch with its major questions doctrine | Vox
Student Debt Relief Bad, Bigotry Good | Crooked Media
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7/26/2023 • 52 minutes, 13 seconds
Expecting: Weed and Pregnancy
Many states have extremely punitive policies around cannabis and pregnancy. But researchers don't actually have great data on cannabis's harms. This episode of Unexplainable originally aired in May 2023.
Read More:
Weed in pregnancy: Is it safe? - Vox
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7/19/2023 • 42 minutes, 42 seconds
It's an HOA world; you're just living in it
If you’re buying a new home, there’s a good chance it’s part of a homeowners association. HOAs are a form of common interest housing, and roughly a quarter of Americans live in communities with one. These private entities work as a pseudo-government in many neighborhoods, and they’re shaping housing policy across the country.
Read More:
When your neighbors become your overlords
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7/12/2023 • 51 minutes, 24 seconds
The Republican plot to defund public libraries
A popular saying is that public libraries are the last bastion of true democracy. But in recent months, Republican state lawmakers and local elected boards in states including Texas and Missouri have threatened libraries as a way to control what materials patrons can and cannot access. But these funding threats didn’t come out of nowhere. They often start with book bans in public schools. In today’s episode of The Weeds, we dig into threats to defund public libraries and the growing movement to ban books at schools and libraries across the country. Cody Croan, an administrative librarian in Missouri, talks about what he’s seen on the ground, and Kasey Meehan, the program director for Freedom to Read at PEN America, tells us what this new level of censorship means for American democracy.
Read More:
Why Republicans want to defund public libraries and ban books | Vox
The “anti-intellectual attack” on higher ed will take years to undo | Vox
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6/28/2023 • 47 minutes, 40 seconds
A conversation with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
In this live taping of The Weeds from TruCon 2023, host Jonquilyn Hill sits down with Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, for a conversation about the role of Africa in the current geopolitical landscape. They discuss the ongoing conflict in Sudan, Uganda’s new anti-LGBTQ law, South Africa’s move to supply weapons to Russia, and take some audience questions.
Submit your policy questions!
We want to know what you’re curious about.
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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6/21/2023 • 34 minutes, 38 seconds
We need to rethink discipline in schools
For many Black children, their first encounter with the discrimination that will trail them their whole lives comes from the school system — a system where they are five times more likely to attend a segregated school than their white counterparts. This early exposure to segregation is one of many possible factors contributing to what’s known as the racial achievement gap — the gap between Black and white students’ test scores. Education experts have looked to a number of factors as root causes of the gap: family income, single parenthood, school resources. Another is the disparities in school discipline. In today’s episode of The Weeds, we dig into school discipline and the achievement gap with Francis Pearman of Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education.
Read more:
Discrimination everywhere | Vox and Capital B
Abbott Elementary Recap: Janine and Gregory Sitting in a Tree | Vulture
Excerpt: Collective Racial Bias and the Black-White Test Score Gap
Schools are still segregated, and Black children are paying a price | Economic Policy Institute
Full study: Collective Racial Bias and the Black-White Test Score Gap | SpringerLink
Submit your policy questions!
We want to know what you’re curious about.
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/14/2023 • 51 minutes, 48 seconds
The kids suing their state for climate change
Do Montanans have a constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment? According to the state constitution they do. And a group of young people are using that language to sue the state over its energy policies. The case is called Held v. Montana, and the plaintiffs want to prove the state’s energy policies directly harm the Montana environment. In today’s episode of The Weeds, we’ll dig into the case with Amanda Eggert (@amandaleggert), environmental reporter at the Montana Free Press, and also hear from a plaintiff about why she decided to join the lawsuit.
You can read more reporting from Amanda on the Montana legislature, state energy policy, and the environment at MontanaFreePress.org
We reached out to the Montana attorney general’s office for comment. Here is the full statement below:
“Following the legislative session, there are no existing laws or policies for the district court to rule on. A show trial on laws that do not exist, as the district court seems intent on holding, would be a colossal waste of taxpayer resources. This same lawsuit has been thrown out of federal court and courts in a dozen other states — and it should be dismissed here in Montana as well.” —Emily Flower, spokeswoman for Attorney General Austin Knudsen
“This entire lawsuit is a meritless publicity stunt to increase fundraising for their political activism at the expense of Montana taxpayers. Our Children’s Trust is a special-interest group that is exploiting well-intentioned Montana kids — including a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old — to achieve its goal of shutting down responsible energy development in our state. Unable to implement their policies through the normal processes of representative government, these out-of-state climate activists are trying to use liberal courts to impose their authoritarian climate agenda on Montanans.” —Kyler Nerison, communications director for Attorney General Austin Knudsen
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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6/7/2023 • 41 minutes, 41 seconds
The fate of affirmative action
Summer is around the corner, which means the latest rulings from this Supreme Court are as well. Two cases will take on affirmative action. In this episode of The Weeds we go on a deep dive with Vox reporters Fabiola Cineas and Ian Millhiser and look at the man behind both cases, the current state of affirmative action, and what a future without this policy would look like.
Read More:
Everything you need to know about the Supreme Court affirmative action cases - Vox
The Supreme Court discovers that ending affirmative action is hard in the Harvard and UNC cases - Vox
Reflections of an Affirmative Action Baby, by Stephen L. Carter
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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5/24/2023 • 58 minutes, 32 seconds
Why is child labor making a comeback?
The first child labor law in America went on the books almost 200 years ago, and federal labor protections were enshrined in the Fair Labor Standards Act nearly 100 years later in 1938. So almost a century after the passage of the FLSA, why are we seeing reports of children working in factories, slaughterhouses, and even at McDonald’s? Meanwhile, state legislators are introducing bills across the country that further weaken child labor protections. Historian Beth English and Vox senior policy reporter Rachel Cohen explain.
References:
The Republican push to weaken child labor laws, explained | Vox
Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S. | The New York Times
10-year-olds among hundreds of children found working at McDonald's restaurants | NBC News
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Brandon McFarland, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/17/2023 • 53 minutes, 15 seconds
The Weeds, Live – Anti-trans legislation, explained
In recent years, there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures across the country. The ACLU is currently tracking 474 such bills, the majority of which target transgender rights. Meanwhile, trans people are over four times more likely than cisgender people to be the victims of violent crime. And according to a 2022 report from the Trevor Project, 45 percent of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth.
In this live taping of The Weeds, host Jonquilyn Hill sits down with Danni Askini, co-executive director of national programs for the Gender Justice League. The two examine the history of gender-affirming care, discuss how changes in health policy and advancements in marriage equality have led to this backlash, and explore how advocates are responding.
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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5/10/2023 • 45 minutes, 30 seconds
Policymaking on the high seas
Question: What is the world’s largest habitat? Here’s a hint: It also takes up about half of the Earth’s surface. Any guesses? It’s the high seas, the parts of the open ocean outside any single country’s jurisdiction. And for the first time ever, there is a plan to protect it.
Read More:
The largest habitat on Earth is finally getting protection | Vox
The High Seas Treaty, Explained | Reuters
The BBNJ agreement and liability | ScienceDirect Journal
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/3/2023 • 44 minutes, 29 seconds
How Secretary Buttigieg wants to make America’s roads safer
On this week’s episode of The Weeds, we sit down with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to talk about transportation policy in America. From subways and buses to cars and safer roads, listen for more about the future of public transportation and the policies that can curb traffic deaths. Plus, more from Vox’s Marin Cogan and her reporting on the deadliest road in America.
Related Reading:
How a stretch of US-19 in Florida became the deadliest road for pedestrians - Vox
Cars transformed America. They also made people more vulnerable to the police.
A driver killed her daughter. She won't let the world forget.
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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4/26/2023 • 52 minutes, 44 seconds
Mifepristone and the FDA’s exhaustive approval process, explained
It’s been 10 days since a federal judge in Texas issued an unprecedented ruling that nullified the 2000 Food and Drug Administration approval of mifepristone, the first medication in a two-pill combination for medication abortion. A confusing legal battle ensued, and now we are waiting to hear from the Supreme Court. But we still want to know: What does this mean for the future of FDA drug approval? Vox’s Keren Landman (@landmanspeaking) explains.
References:
Abortion pill ruling: Why mifepristone is safe abortion medication - Vox
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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4/18/2023 • 37 minutes, 29 seconds
How corporations got all your data
Sean Illing speaks with Matthew Jones, historian of science and technology, and co-author (with data scientist Chris Wiggins) of the new book How Data Happened. They discuss the surprisingly long history of data from the 18th century to today, in service of explaining how we wound up in a world where our personal information is mined by giant corporations for profit. They talk about how the allure of measurement and precision spread from astronomy to the social sciences, why advertising became so bound to the operation of the internet, and how we can imagine a more democratic future for us and our data, given the unprecedented power of today's tech companies.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area
Guest: Matthew L. Jones (@nescioquid), author; James R. Barker Professor of Contemporary Civilization, Columbia University
References:
How Data Happened: A History from the Age of Reason to the Age of Algorithms by Chris Wiggins and Matthew L. Jones (W.W. Norton; 2023)
"How Alan Turing Cracked The Enigma Code" (Imperial War Museum)
Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass media by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky (1988)
"The manipulation of the American mind: Edward Bernays and the birth of public relations" by Richard Gunderman (The Conversation; July 9, 2015)
On Herbert Simon (The Economist; Mar. 20, 2009)
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff (Profile; 2019)
Jeffrey Hammerbacher quoted in "This Tech Bubble Is Different" by Ashlee Vance (Bloomberg Businessweek; Apr. 14, 2011)
Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
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Help keep this show and all of Vox's journalism free by making a gift to Vox today: bit.ly/givepodcasts
This episode was made by:
Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Engineers: Patrick Boyd & Brandon McFarland
Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall
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4/11/2023 • 55 minutes, 3 seconds
Do assault weapons bans work?
After the shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville in late March, President Biden once again called for reinstating the federal assault weapons ban. The United States banned new sales of assault weapons from 1994 to 2004, but the law was easy to skirt, and the data we do have about its effectiveness is complicated. Is an assault weapons ban where advocates should spend their political capital?
References:
America's unique, enduring gun problem, explained
The Secret History of Guns
Gun Policy in America | RAND
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Help keep this show and all of Vox's journalism free by making a gift to Vox today: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
4/4/2023 • 45 minutes, 35 seconds
Medicaid’s “Great Unwinding”
On April 1, 2023, a Covid-era Medicaid policy called continuous enrollment will end. The policy allowed recipients to retain their benefits, even if they were no longer eligible, throughout the federal public health emergency and prevented lapses in coverage. Now that that’s coming to an end, state Medicaid offices need to audit their enrollees. But that process isn’t so simple, and millions are expected to slip through the cracks. Vox senior correspondent Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott) explains.
References:
Millions of people are about to get kicked off Medicaid
Our Welfare Puritanism : Democracy Journal
Subscribe to the VoxCare newsletter
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
3/28/2023 • 48 minutes, 3 seconds
Why Illinois wants to end cash bail
This month, the Illinois Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case examining the Safe-T Act. The legislation would bring sweeping reform to the state’s criminal justice system, but one policy in particular has caught the eye and the ire of prosecutors: the elimination of cash bail. Proponents say ending cash bail bonds will get rid of inequities that favor the rich; opponents say it will lead to a rise in crime. What does the fight over cash bail in Illinois tell us about criminal justice in America?
References:
Season 4 of WBEZ’s Motive podcast
Safe-T Act and cash bail goes before Illinois Supreme Court | WBEZ Chicago
The Chicago Community Bond Fund
I Was Locked Away from My Children for 14 Months Because I Couldn't Make Bail
The Lifeline and 988
Guests:
Lavette Mayes
Shannon Heffernan (@shannon_h)
Insha Rahman
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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3/21/2023 • 54 minutes, 28 seconds
The debt ceiling drama
You’ve probably heard by now that President Joe Biden released his 2024 budget proposal. You’ve also probably heard that it has almost no chance of passing through both chambers of Congress. What is likely to come to pass is more drama over a recurring problem: the fight over the debt ceiling. If the US doesn’t raise the ceiling and defaults on its debt, financial catastrophe would ensue. What does that mean for the country’s fiscal future?
References:
What’s in Biden’s new White House budget - Vox
Biden’s billionaire tax proposal, explained - Vox
House Republicans are taking steps to prepare for a possible debt ceiling default - Semafor
President's Budget | OMB | The White House
Guests:
Joseph Zaballos-Roig (@josephzeballos)
Kathleen Day (@kathleenday)
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
3/14/2023 • 44 minutes, 24 seconds
What East Palestine can tell us about the rail industry
On the evening of February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed outside of East Palestine, Ohio. The environmental impact was almost immediate: Residents were forced to evacuate while authorities carried out a controlled release of the hazardous chemical vinyl chloride. The aftermath also raises questions about freight rail policy and regulation. Host Jonquilyn Hill talks with Joanna Marsh of FreightWaves and Ian Duncan of the Washington Post about what East Palestine tells us about the rail industry’s past and future.
References:
Ohio senators introduce rail safety bill after fiery crash
5 questions you might ask about freight train accidents
Yes, the Ohio train wreck is an environmental disaster. No, it's not Chernobyl.
The East Palestine, Ohio, train wreck didn't have to be this bad
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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3/7/2023 • 46 minutes, 28 seconds
How a 1996 US immigration policy changed everything
Almost 30 years ago, President Bill Clinton signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act into law. This policy would have far-reaching implications and ripple effects that are still present today. Here to explain are two beloved Weeds alumni: Dara Lind and Dylan Matthews.
References:
(2016) The disastrous, forgotten 1996 law that created today's immigration problem
(2016) "If the goal was to get rid of poverty, we failed": the legacy of the 1996 welfare reform
(2021) Time Machine: Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
One Mighty and Irresistible Tide: The Epic Struggle Over American Immigration, 1924-1965 by Jia Lynn Yang
Credits:
Jonquilyn Hill, host
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2/28/2023 • 52 minutes, 13 seconds
Will the Supreme Court ruin the internet?
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 Hill
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2/21/2023 • 49 minutes, 26 seconds
The Ukraine war: past, present, and future
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, producer
Patrick Boyd, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2/14/2023 • 55 minutes, 44 seconds
$14 trillion and no mules
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/w9vYsfFGvdJLJ3LY9
Host: Fabiola Cineas, race and policy reporter, Vox
Guests: William “Sandy” Darity and Kirsten Mullen, authors of From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century
References:
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
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2/7/2023 • 56 minutes, 50 seconds
The Biden policy that could change your neighborhood
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 mistake
Public commenting rules
Host:
Jonquilyn Hill
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1/31/2023 • 52 minutes, 52 seconds
Insulin is for the world
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 Hill
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1/24/2023 • 47 minutes, 23 seconds
Weeds Time Machine: The Voting Rights Act
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. Ellis
Atiba 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 Hill
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1/17/2023 • 55 minutes, 41 seconds
Reintroducing The Weeds
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
1/16/2023 • 1 minute, 12 seconds
The great American gerrymander
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 Magazine
Opinion: Gerrymandering on steroids is the new normal | CNN
Redistricting 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 Hill
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1/10/2023 • 32 minutes, 43 seconds
The scourge of the “time tax”
(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 Tax
Pamela Herd and Don Moynihan's book on administrative burden
Why Is It So Hard to Make a Website for the Government? from the New York Times
White paper — Program Recertification Costs: Evidence from SNAP
A sudden change to SSI eligibility had huge, lasting negative consequences
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/27/2022 • 51 minutes, 53 seconds
Climate optimism in 2023
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 planet
The 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 engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/20/2022 • 45 minutes, 40 seconds
Our mental health doom loop
Last month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a new mental health policy that lowers the threshold for involuntary commitments for psychiatric care. While the Adams administration argues this shift is a solution for growing crime and homelessness numbers, critics argue it’s a step in the wrong direction. What’s the history behind involuntary holds, and what does it say about mental health policy in America?
References:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
SAMHSA
Introducing the "Designed to Fail" series | Mental Health America
America's Long-Suffering Mental Health System
Hosts:
Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/13/2022 • 47 minutes, 54 seconds
The bipartisan bill that could protect elections
With the 2022 midterm elections mostly over, members of Congress are back on the Hill to wrap up loose legislative ends. One of the bipartisan bills floating through the lame-duck session is the Electoral Count Reform Act, a bill that would add protections to the presidential transfer of power. So, what exactly does this legislation do to protect elections, and is it enough?
Hosts:
Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/6/2022 • 46 minutes, 32 seconds
The rebirth of industrial policy
(Originally aired August 2022) Vox senior correspondent Dylan Matthews sits down with Felicia Wong (@FeliciaWongRI), president and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute, to talk about a new era of industrial policy. They discuss the theory of modern supply-side economics, the passage of the Inflation Reduction and CHIPS acts, and how much common ground exists between the political left and the right.
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/29/2022 • 42 minutes, 12 seconds
It’s time to regulate crypto
The world of cryptocurrency is infamously unregulated, but what happens when a major crypto exchange crashes, uprooting almost the entire crypto ecosystem, and there’s no regulatory body in charge? You have the FTX crash of 2022. And it’s hard to ignore the elephant in the room: why don’t we have a regulation framework for crypto? It seems like an obvious solution, but as The Verge’s Liz Lopatto (@mslopatto) and financial regulation expert Yesha Yadav explain, it’s not as simple as it sounds.
References:
Sam Bankman-Fried tries to explain himself
The collapse of FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried’s shocking downfall
How FTX played both parties and almost won Washington
Man who cleaned up Enron says FTX is worse
Binance to sell rest of FTX token holdings as Alameda CEO defends firm's financial condition
Hosts:
Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Patrick Boyd, engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/22/2022 • 57 minutes, 9 seconds
The Weeds’ weed episode
Let’s be blunt: Weed policy is complicated. As with many elections in the past decade, recreational marijuana was on the ballot again during the 2022 midterm elections. After Colorado and Washington voted to legalize recreational use in 2012, more and more states have decided to ride the green wave. And recent moves by the Biden administration signal the federal government may finally come around to decriminalizing marijuana. But do these policies have any power?
References:
Marijuana election results: Maryland and Missouri vote to legalize cannabis by ballot measure
President Biden’s pardons for marijuana possession, explained
Federal marijuana legalization is stopped in its tracks
Hosts:
Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/15/2022 • 50 minutes, 1 second
How to call an election
We did it, y’all – we made it to Election Day! And if you’re like us, tonight you’ll be glued to your TV and constantly refreshing Vox.com waiting for the returns to come in. We’re pretty used to knowing the winner that same night, but in 2020, we had to wait days before a winner was announced. So this got us thinking: How do news networks know when to make a call? And how has that changed through the years? We talked to three experts to find out.
References:
The 2022 midterm elections, explained
When will we know results in the 2022 midterm elections?
How elections are called and what “projected winner” means, explained (November 2020)
How we call races | AP
EXPLAINER: Why do the media call races in US elections? | AP News
Hosts:
Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Cristian Ayala, engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/8/2022 • 55 minutes, 47 seconds
How to fix inflation
With only a week to go until the US midterm elections, inflation is the issue at the top of most voters’ minds. As Democrats and Republicans make their cases for who can get prices to come down, one thing remains true: High prices are not going to go away overnight. Economists Mike Konczal (@rortybomb) of the Roosevelt Institute and Michael Strain (@MichaelRStrain) of the American Enterprise Institute discuss how we got here and the least painful way out of this.
References:
Is the cure for inflation worse than the disease?
Today, Explained: The devil’s bargain on inflation
To beat inflation, the Fed might have to trigger a recession
What aren't we doing to fix inflation?
Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Won’t Make Inflation Worse—Even If It Adds $400 Billion To Deficit, Goldman Says
Hosts:
Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Efim Shapiro, engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/1/2022 • 1 hour, 33 seconds
Why scaring voters works
Midterm elections are around the corner, and while voters are concerned about the economy, inflation, and abortion, there’s one other issue jumping to the top of the list: crime. Rising crime comes up in campaigns like clockwork, but during this election season, it's making a particular mark on two key Senate races: Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Vox’s Nicole Narea (@nicolenarea) and Li Zhou (@liszhou) explain.
References:
The 2022 midterm elections, explained
2021 crime rates are a big mystery
Hosts:
Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Efim Shapiro, engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/25/2022 • 50 minutes, 20 seconds
The most interesting issues on the ballot
The midterm elections are three weeks away, and candidates aren’t the only ones on the ballot. Voters across the country will decide new laws and policy through ballot initiatives, which can include proposals like legalizing recreational marijuana, funding in-state college tuition, and raising taxes to fight climate change. But how do these issues get on the ballot in the first place, and will they stay there? Vox policy editor Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson) explains.
References:
The 2022 midterm elections, explained
Two states, two visions for the future of labor
The states where the midterms will directly decide the future of abortion access
New Mexico voters are set to weigh in on a constitutional ballot measure for early childhood education this November
Sample ballot lookup — Ballotpedia
VOTE411
Hosts:
Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/18/2022 • 46 minutes
The candidates haunting the GOP
The midterm elections are four weeks away. Senate control is on the line, and races in battleground states are tightening. Few things say “close election” like an October surprise. The one getting the latest buzz this election cycle comes from Georgia, courtesy of Republican senatorial candidate Herschel Walker. Vox politics reporter Li Zhou (@liszhou) explains the race, and Rutgers professor David Greenberg (@republicofspin) tells us the origin of the October surprise.
References:
Herschel Walker is an epically flawed candidate. He could still win.
Hosts:
Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/11/2022 • 46 minutes, 13 seconds
AMERICA HAS A (POLLING) PROBLEM
Pollsters are starting to panic. There’s headline after headline after headline ahead of the midterms on whether this election cycle’s polling is accurate or not. How does polling actually work? Is it really representative of how voters are feeling and what the outcome will be on Election Day? And when it comes to Democrats, why is polling so wrong? Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, explains why polls are complicated, lessons to learn from past elections, and what we could expect this November.
References:
Which Midterm Polls Should We Be Taking With a Grain of Salt?
Pollsters fear they’re blowing it again in 2022
Hosts: Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/4/2022 • 56 minutes, 36 seconds
Abbott and DeSantis: Stunt queens or policy makers?
US immigration policy is complicated. And when Republican Govs. Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis chartered buses and planes to relocate migrants to “blue cities,” it raised a ton of legal questions. But it also ignited the age-old question about our immigration system: Why is it so complicated? Weeds veteran Dara Lind (@DLind) explains.
References:
Why Ron DeSantis is baiting Biden on the border
Opinion | Ron DeSantis Is Making an Asylum Crisis of His Own
Host:
Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill), Vox senior producer
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/27/2022 • 49 minutes, 57 seconds
The fastest growing voting bloc in America
For the September issue of The Highlight, the Vox politics team examined the fastest growing voting bloc in the country: Latino voters. But the 32 million voters that make up the Latino electorate are not a monolithic group. In today’s episode, we’ll look at the intricacies and nuances of the Latino voting bloc and what might happen in the 2022 midterm elections.
References:
Ruben Gallego's ready for a fight — even if the Democratic Party isn't
Yes, most Latinos are Christian. No, that doesn't make them anti-abortion.
Latino voters are being flooded with even more misinformation in 2022
The full September issue of The Highlight from Vox
Hosts:
Marin Cogan (@marincogan), senior correspondent
Christian Paz (@realcpaz), senior politics reporter
Nicole Narea (@nicolenarea), politics reporter
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/20/2022 • 59 minutes, 45 seconds
Who decides how we’ll save the future?
How do we make life better for future generations? Who gets to make those decisions? These are tough questions, and today’s guest, philosopher William MacAskill (@willmacaskill), tries to help us answer them.
References:
What We Owe the Future by William MacAskill
Effective altruism's most controversial idea
How effective altruism went from a niche movement to a billion-dollar force
Effective altruism’s longtermist goals for the future don’t hurt people in the present
Hosts:
Bryan Walsh (@bryanrwalsh)
Sigal Samuel (@sigalsamuel)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/13/2022 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 9 seconds
Vitamin X
Today on The Weeds, we are sharing an episode of another Vox podcast, Unexplainable, that originally aired in June 2022.
Millions of Americans take dietary supplements — everything from vitamins and minerals to weight-loss pills and probiotics. But because supplements are loosely regulated in the US, their makers don't have to prove that they work, or even that they are safe.
Full transcript available here.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/6/2022 • 35 minutes, 46 seconds
It’s a policy team takeover!
Join editor Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson) and reporters Rachel Cohen (@rmc031) and Madeleine Ngo (@maddiengo) for a summer policy wrap-up. Inflation, the economy, and gas prices were on everyone’s minds, but we have even more policy news to talk about. Both Congress and the Biden administration made one last late-summer policy push with the Inflation Reduction Act and student loan cancellation. What does this all mean for you? Listen to find out!
References:
School vaccine mandates for Covid-19 are not happening
Will student loan forgiveness make inflation worse?
Inflation is finally slowing down. Will things get cheaper?
The inflation numbers are bad — but how bad are they?
GDP declined again — but that might not mean we're in a recession
”Standard Oil” octopus cartoon
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
A.M. Hall, deputy editorial director
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/30/2022 • 43 minutes, 53 seconds
The rebirth of industrial policy
Vox senior correspondent Dylan Matthews sits down with Felicia Wong (@FeliciaWongRI), president and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute, to talk about a new era of industrial policy. They discuss the theory of modern supply-side economics, the passage of the Inflation Reduction and CHIPS acts, and how much common ground exists between the political left and the right.
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
A.M. Hall, editorial director
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/23/2022 • 52 minutes, 1 second
Could the war on terror be over?
Vox senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp and Vox senior foreign writer Jonathan Guyer discuss the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of the organizers behind the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US. His death marks a turning point in the “war on terror” and US foreign policy, but what kind of turning point? Can we say the war on terror is over, or is it just entering a new stage?
References:
What Ayman Zawahiri’s death tells us about terrorism and US foreign policy
Ayman al-Zawahiri’s death by drone was President Biden’s opportunity to end the war on terrorism
No one has been held accountable for the catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal
Where in the world are Russians going to avoid sanctions?
Hosts:
Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox
Jonathan Guyer (@mideastXmidwest), senior foreign policy writer, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/16/2022 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 30 seconds
The new politics of abortion
In a surprise to many, last week Kansas overwhelmingly voted down an anti-abortion ballot initiative. If abortion rights can win in a deep-red state, what does that mean for the midterms this fall? Join Vox policy editor Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson), Vox senior policy reporter Rachel Cohen (@rmc031), and Vox politics reporter Nicole Narea (@nicolenarea) for a conversation about the new state of abortion politics.
References:
Abortion was on the ballot in Kansas. Access won.
Why the Kansas abortion amendment is so confusing
The challenge of turning pro-choice Americans into pro-choice voters
The states pushing abortion ballot measures in 2022 post-Roe
Senate Democrats slowly consider their options after Roe
Hosts:
Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson)
Rachel Cohen (@rmc031)
Nicole Narea (@nicolenarea)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/9/2022 • 46 minutes, 44 seconds
Maybe we’re not doomed?
As the Earth swelters through yet another record-breaking summer, a surprise push for climate legislation on Capitol Hill gave us a shimmer of optimism and hope toward fighting climate change. But, while it’s a step in the right direction to reduce carbon emissions, it’s not a panacea. How do we maintain optimism, even when the right steps feel too small?
References:
Summaries of the climate, tax, and prescription drug parts of the Manchin deal
What Democrats' big new bill would actually do
What the Inflation Reduction Act needs to pass, including Sen. Sinema
Princeton researchers’ estimate of the deal’s climate impact
The Republican vote against benefits for veterans exposed to toxins
The White House/Employ America plan to reduce gas prices
Nina Kelsey’s theory of the “green spiral”
It’s so hot in Europe that roads are literally buckling
Europe is burning like it’s 2052
Hosts:
Bryan Walsh(@bryanrwalsh), Future Perfect editor, Vox
Dylan Matthews, (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Sigal Samuel (@sigalsamuel), Future Perfect senior reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/2/2022 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 47 seconds
Weeds Time Machine: The ADA
Dylan Matthews, Dara Lind, and special guest Ari Ne’eman (@aneeman) fire up the Weeds Time Machine for a special episode on the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA was signed into law 32 years ago today, and while the legislation had a profound impact on almost every corner of American society, the bill wasn’t perfect. So hop into the Time Machine to learn about the history of the disability rights movement, how the ADA came to be, and what the movement is working toward today.
References:
What if Disability Rights Were for Everyone?
Opinion | A 'Safety Net' That's a Kafkaesque Mess
Watch Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution | Netflix Official Site
The Power of 504
Episode transcript
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/26/2022 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 26 seconds
What the hell is up with SCOTUS?
Dara Lind is joined by Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) to discuss the major decisions handed down by the Supreme Court this term. They talk about the Court’s emphasis on historical narrative, its move away from settled legal doctrine, and the politicization of the Court. Plus, a white paper on originalism and stare decisis written by then-professor Amy Coney Barrett.
References:
The post-legal Supreme Court
Originalism and Stare Decisis
Hosts:
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/19/2022 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 2 seconds
The legal limbo of abortion rights
Vox Supreme Court correspondent Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) speaks with Michele Goodwin, a law professor, bioethicist, and leading expert on reproductive health policy, about the future of abortion rights in a world without Roe.
References:
Policing the Womb by Michele Goodwin
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/12/2022 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 46 seconds
Pregnancy in a post-Roe America
Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Vox senior reporter Keren Landman, M.D., (@landmanspeaking) to discuss the extremely high maternal mortality rate in the United States. Breaking down those numbers by socioeconomic factors like race or income, the rate of pregnancy-related deaths gets even worse. What will happen now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned?
References:
Where will abortion still be legal now that Roe v. Wade has been overruled?
The end of Roe will mean more children living in poverty
Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2020
Maternity Care Deserts Report
Maternal Mortality and Maternity Care in the United States Compared to 10 Other Developed Countries
How Many American Women Die From Causes Related to Pregnancy or Childbirth? No One Knows.
Overturning Roe v. Wade Could Make Maternal Mortality Even Worse
White paper: Maternal Mortality and Women's Political Power
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/28/2022 • 48 minutes, 42 seconds
ConGRADulations, fellow kids
Hey, Weeds listeners: Today, we are bringing you an episode of Today, Explained that originally aired in early June.
Ten months ago, the faculty of Cramer Hill Elementary set out to get their kids back on track after a year of mostly remote learning. Today, Explained’s Miles Bryan attended eighth-grade graduation to see how they did.
This episode was reported and produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Efim Shapiro, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/21/2022 • 27 minutes, 40 seconds
How the world became rich
Dylan Matthews sits down with economic historians Jared Rubin and Mark Koyama to discuss their new book, How the World Became Rich. It tries to answer one of the hardest questions in history: Why, roughly 200 years ago, did parts of the world start experiencing sustained economic growth?
References:
How the World Became Rich by Jared Rubin and Mark Koyama
Dylan also wrote about the book
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/14/2022 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 11 seconds
Does the US need a National Guard of nurses?
Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Vox senior correspondent Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott) to discuss the shortage of nurses in the American health care workforce. The nursing shortage goes back many years, and not only did the pandemic exacerbate the problem, it also put it under a microscope. The US needs more nurses, but what can be done?
References:
America needs more doctors and nurses to survive the next pandemic
The way the United States pays for nurses is broken
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/7/2022 • 46 minutes, 3 seconds
The gun control stalemate, explained
Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Vox politics reporter Nicole Narea (@nicolenarea) to talk about gun violence. They discuss the findings of three different research studies related to gun policy, which gun control policies are effective, the outcomes of specific violence interventions, and how state legislatures respond to mass shootings.
Editorial note: This episode touches on gun violence and suicide. If you want to talk to someone, you can call 1-800-273-8255 or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
References:
The Uvalde massacre and America's unique gun violence problem, explained
Dylan on how gun ownership became a powerful political identity
White paper 1: “The Science of Gun Policy”
White paper 2: “Presence of Armed School Officials and Fatal and Nonfatal Gunshot Injuries During Mass School Shootings, United States, 1980-2019”
White paper 3: “The Impact of Mass Shootings on Gun Policy”
Press coverage of mass shootings can cause copycat shootings
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/31/2022 • 48 minutes, 20 seconds
The Most Dangerous Branch: A well-regulated militia
This episode originally published in October 2021 as the second installment of our “Most Dangerous Branch” miniseries about the Supreme Court. Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) talks with law professor Joseph Blocher and historian Carol Anderson about the Second Amendment, the triumph of the NRA's vision for that amendment, and an upcoming Supreme Court case that endangers more than a century of American gun control laws.
References:
The Positive Second Amendment Rights, Regulation, and the Future of Heller, Joseph Blocher
The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America, Carol Anderson
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial advisor
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/27/2022 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 52 seconds
Immigration, democracy, and the rise of the Western far right
This special episode of The Weeds was taped live at TruCon 2022! Join Dara Lind, Zack Beauchamp, and Jen Kirby for a live panel discussion about the state of global democracy. They discuss the complicated relationship among migration, the threat of the populist far right, and what this means for global democracy.
References:
Zack’s latest piece on “replacement theory”
He also wrote about Democrats and immigration policies in 2019
And more from Zack about Hungary, Tucker Carlson, and the election in the Philippines
Jen wrote about the French presidential runoff elections in April
She also recommends this piece about far-right politics in Germany
The first installment of the multi-part series from NYT about Tucker Carlson and Fox News
White paper: Waking Up the Golden Dawn: Does Exposure to the Refugee Crisis Increase Support for Extreme-Right Parties?
White paper: Refugee Migration and Electoral Outcomes
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Jen Kirby (@j_kirby1), foreign and national security reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/24/2022 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 1 second
The scourge of the “time tax”
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 Tax
Pamela Herd and Don Moynihan's book on administrative burden
Why Is It So Hard to Make a Website for the Government? from the New York Times
White paper — Program Recertification Costs: Evidence from SNAP
A sudden change to SSI eligibility had huge, lasting negative consequences
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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5/17/2022 • 53 minutes, 46 seconds
Ukraine and the global food supply crisis
Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind talk with Washington Post economic columnist Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) about the global food supply crisis spinning out of the war in Ukraine. The crisis is so bad that the United Nations said it could be the worst shortage since World War II. What, if anything, can be done? Dylan, Dara, and Heather discuss how we got here and the costs of potential solutions.
References:
The war in Ukraine is triggering a global food crisis. Here’s how the U.S. can help.
A global famine looms. The U.S. could prevent it.
How war in Ukraine is making people hungry in the Middle East
Russian Blockade Prompts Ukraine to Find New Ways to Shift Vital Wheat Exports
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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5/10/2022 • 47 minutes, 8 seconds
What the Alito leak means for Roe — and everything else
Dara Lind sits down with Vox Supreme Court correspondent Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) for a deep dive into the leaked draft opinion on abortion written by Justice Samuel Alito. They discuss the text of the opinion itself; why Alito was chosen to write it; and what could happen in the days, weeks, and months following a ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
References:
The Roe opinion and the case against the Supreme Court
Ian’s explainer on the draft memo
What happens next if the Supreme Court strikes down Roe
Ian’s interview with Professor Melissa Murray
Professor Melissa Murray NYT op ed from December: What would a post-Roe America look like?
Hosts:
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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5/5/2022 • 58 minutes, 21 seconds
The Most Dangerous Branch: Roe v. Wade
This episode originally published in October 2021 as the first installment of our “Most Dangerous Branch” miniseries about the Supreme Court. Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) talks with NYU professor Melissa Murray about the future of Roe v. Wade, specifically discussing some of the legal theories used to chip away at the law.
References:
What we know and don't know on the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade draft opinion
Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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5/3/2022 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 41 seconds
Why do we go to war?
Dylan Matthews interviews economist Chris Blattman (@cblatts) about his new book Why We Fight, which examines the root causes of war and what can be done to stop it. In a wide-ranging discussion that touches on conflict all over the world, Dylan and Chris discuss the role of the state, commonalities among historical conflicts, and the game theory of war.
References:
Chris Blattman’s book, Why We Fight
Chris’s research work
Research on how drug gangs govern in Colombia
How therapy can reduce conflict
Using summer vacations to study peace deal mediators
The influence of royal mounties in the 19th century may make Canadian hockey less violent now
Blattman on Ukraine before the war
Civil war predictions in the US
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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4/26/2022 • 50 minutes, 20 seconds
Weeds Time Machine: The Clean Air Act
Buckle up! The Weeds Time Machine is back. Today, Dylan Matthews, Dara Lind, and special guest Maureen Cropper, economist and professor at the University of Maryland, travel back in time to the 1970s to discuss one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation of the 20th century: the Clean Air Act.
References:
White paper: Looking Back at 50 Years of the Clean Air Act
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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4/19/2022 • 48 minutes, 30 seconds
Tax time at the culture wars
Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Washington Post reporter Toluse Olorunnipa (@ToluseO) to talk more taxes for our hot! tax! policy! episodes this month. Today’s topic: Sen. Rick Scott’s 11-point plan to rescue America. Dylan, Dara, and Tolu get into the specifics of Scott’s policy proposal and speculate if the culture wars have seeped into tax policy. Plus, a white paper about unemployment benefits and opioid overdose mortality rates.
References:
Preorder His Name Is George Floyd by Toluse Olorunnipa and Robert Samuels
The Tax Policy Center’s analysis of the Rick Scott plan
How many people don’t pay income tax?
The original 47% remarks
The folk Republican morality behind the plan
White paper: “Unemployment Insurance and Opioid Overdose Mortality in the United States”
Medicaid expansion reduced opioid deaths too
The relationship between the economy and the opioid epidemic
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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4/12/2022 • 55 minutes, 56 seconds
Taxes! Let’s get right Intuit.
Weeds co-hosts Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Vox policy editor Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson) to talk about some hot! tax! policy! But mostly, why it’s so annoying to file our taxes every year. The three discuss why the tax code is so complicated to begin with; compare our filing system to other countries; and daydream about what could be done to fix the system. Plus, a white paper about, you guessed it: taxes.
References:
How to get free tax prep, or volunteer to provide tax prep to others
TR Reid’s A Fine Mess
Justin Trudeau’s return-free tax promise
Dylan explaining near-term options to reform tax filing
“What is return-free filing, and how would it work?”
The benefits of return-free filing
Option one: the pre-filled return
Option two: pay-as-you-earn
ProPublica on Intuit/H&R Block lobbying that’s kept taxes complicated
White paper: “Inertia and Overwithholding: Explaining the Prevalence of Income Tax Refunds” by Damon Jones
Does the EITC promote work?
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
4/5/2022 • 52 minutes, 22 seconds
The Great Expiration
Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Washington Post columnist Christine Emba (@ChristineEmba) to discuss the end of Covid-era welfare programs. We just hit two years of the pandemic, and some of those social safety programs, most notably the child tax credit, have expired. These policies dramatically improved the lives of millions of Americans; did we waste an opportunity to make these policies permanent? And later, a conversation about the politics of sex and consent as discussed in Christine’s new book, Rethinking Sex.
References:
Christine’s book, Rethinking Sex
A guide to all the Covid-era social safety net expansions
Li Zhou on the child tax credit’s expiration
3.4 million more children were in poverty in February than December
Up to 16 million Americans could lose Medicaid after the public health emergency lifts
The effect of bonus unemployment insurance expiring last year
Sam Adler-Bell’s profile of David Leonhardt
Ed Yong on reopening and the lack of a safety net
The enormous learning loss caused by the pandemic
White Paper: “Consent, Legitimation, and Dysphoria” by Robin West
BDSM-interested parents have lost child custody just for their kink
Oklahoma’s new abortion ban
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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3/29/2022 • 53 minutes, 28 seconds
The art of the gerrymander
Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Vox Senior Politics Correspondent Andrew Prokop (@awprokop) for a dive deep into the newly redrawn 2022 congressional maps. They discuss what makes a fair map, the strategy behind gerrymandering, and what this could mean for the 2022 midterm elections. Plus, a white paper about the Voting Rights Act and Black electoral representation in Congress.
References:
Andrew’s explainer on the redistricting wars
The Supreme Court’s last ruling on partisan gerrymandering
An argument that the 2022 redistricting has featured “an unprecedented attack … on the political power of communities of color”
White Paper: "The Triumph of Tokenism: The Voting Rights Act and the Theory of Black Electoral Success"
“The US Senate considerably dilutes the voting power of African Americans”
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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3/22/2022 • 55 minutes, 2 seconds
The myth of US energy independence
Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Robinson Meyer (@robinsonmeyer), a staff writer at the Atlantic, to talk about the illusion of US energy independence. They discuss how the US produces its oil; the fracking boom and bust; and the country’s position in the global market. Plus, a white paper about carbon taxes and CO2 emissions in Sweden.
References:
Robinson’s piece about America’s “independence” from Russian oil
He was also on Today, Explained to talk about the US banning Russian oil imports
And, you can sign up for Rob’s newsletter here
Vox reporter Rebecca Leber busted a few myths about oil and gas prices
Biden’s administrative authority to lower gas prices
Russell Gold’s The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World
White Paper: “Carbon Taxes and CO2 Emissions: Sweden as a Case Study”
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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3/15/2022 • 51 minutes, 29 seconds
Why it’s so hard to move in America
Dylan Matthews and Jerusalem Demsas are joined by Nick Buttrick (@NickButtrick), a psychologist at Princeton, to talk about interstate mobility in the US (or the lack thereof). They talk about why it is so hard to move; why some of those reasons, Jerusalem argues, are arbitrary; and what an immobile population means for American culture.
References:
Jerusalem’s article about why it’s so hard to move in America
Nick Buttrick’s research: The cultural dynamics of declining residential mobility
A paper from David Schleicher called Stuck! The Law and Economics of Residential Stagnation
Research from the Brookings Institution: US migration still at historically low levels
NBER paper: The China Shock: Learning from Labor Market Adjustment to Large Changes in Trade
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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3/8/2022 • 45 minutes, 49 seconds
Russia's terrible invasion
Dylan Matthews and Jerusalem Demsas are joined by Vox senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp to talk about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They discuss Ukraine’s surprising strength to date, plus Europe’s and America’s overwhelming economic response to the invasion. Plus, a white paper about how citizens in authoritarian regimes think about war.
References:
Vox’s podcast playlist: What to know about Russia and Ukraine
All of Vox’s written coverage on Russia and Ukraine
Zack’s piece on why Putin is attacking Ukraine
Adam Tooze on the economic war with Russia
Putin’s brother died in the siege of Leningrad
The real history of the Soviet-Pepsi submarine deal
WHITE PAPER: “Authoritarian Public Opinion and the Democratic Peace”
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Zack Beauchamp (@ZackBeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and mix engineer
Dara Lind, studio engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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3/1/2022 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 49 seconds
A quick update
We’re hitting snooze on Friday episodes, but they’re not going away forever. We’re just slowing things down while we work on some special projects. We’ll see you on Tuesday!
Important Links:
Send us an email at weeds@vox.com
Check out The Weeds Facebook group
Sign up for our newsletter at vox.com/weedsletter
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2/25/2022 • 1 minute, 35 seconds
Why San Francisco’s school board got booted
Dylan Matthews, Jerusalem Demsas, and Dara Lind discuss the recent school board recall election in San Francisco and also whether the Great Resignation is boosting inflation.
References:
Clara Jeffery's summary of why the recall succeeded
Former Green Party mayoral nominee Matt Gonzalez’s case for the recall
Former board president Gabriela López's post-mortem after she was recalled
López’s 2021 interview with the New Yorker on school renaming
The $87 million lawsuit
Lowell alum Justin Lai arguing in favor of the new admissions policies
The Asan American backlash against changing Lowell admissions (see also)
Students in selective exam schools don’t seem to reap many benefits
A review of exam schools nationwide
Putting “non-gifted” students in gifted classrooms helps them a lot
White Paper: The Effects of the “Great Resignation” on Labor Market Slack and Inflation
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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2/23/2022 • 53 minutes, 55 seconds
Democracy in crisis: The two-party problem
Vox Senior Correspondent Zack Beauchamp talks with political scientist Lee Drutman, author of Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop. They discuss the history of the two-party system in American politics, and examine a number of possible structural reforms that could work to get the U.S. out of the morass it's in, looking to several other countries' democracies for inspiration.
Host: Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Guest: Lee Drutman (@leedrutman), senior fellow, New America
References:
"How does this end?" by Zack Beauchamp (Vox; Jan. 3)
Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America (Oxford; 2020)
"Democracy in America? Partisanship, Polarization, and the Robustness of Support for Democracy in the United States" by Matthew H. Graham and Milan W. Svolik (American Political Science Review, 114 (2); May 2020)
"One way to reform the House of Representatives? Expand it" by Lee Drutman and Yuval Levin (Washington Post; Dec. 9, 2021)
Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
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This episode was made by:
Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey
Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall
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2/18/2022 • 59 minutes, 31 seconds
The curse of the midterms
Dylan Matthews and Jerusalem Demsas are joined by Vox’s Andrew Prokop (@awprokop) to talk about the midterm elections. More specifically, why the president’s party almost always loses seats in Congress. They discuss the theories of this phenomenon and what, if anything, can work on the margins. Plus, a white paper about Obamacare and the 2010 midterm elections.
References:
Why the president’s party almost always has a bad midterm
The political science of door-knocking and TV ads
White paper: “One Vote Out of Step? The Effects of Salient Roll Call Votes in the 2010 Election”
Dylan’s old, wrong article arguing that congressional position-taking doesn’t matter much
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer
Dara Lind, engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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2/15/2022 • 1 hour, 33 seconds
Beijing, boycotts, and the enduring politics of the Olympics
Dylan Matthews talks with Victor Cha (@VictorDCha) about the international politics surrounding the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The US and several other countries are boycotting the games to protest China’s human rights record, which brings up the question: What does this boycott mean for US-China relations?
References:
Beyond the Final Score by Victor Cha
Cha on the politicization of the 2022 Games
Vox’s Jen Kirby on the Biden administration’s diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Olympics
Vox’s Bryan Walsh on the failure of the Games to promote international peace
Olympic sponsors are facing pressure over China’s human rights violations
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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2/11/2022 • 35 minutes, 48 seconds
Affirmative action could be doomed (again). What comes next?
Dylan Matthews, Dara Lind, and Jerusalem Demsas talk about affirmative action. They dig into the current Supreme Court case about Harvard’s admission rates and ask: How do we make sure our elite institutions adequately reflect the population? Plus, a white paper about the effects of education on mortality.
References:
Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser’s explainer about the SCOTUS cases
Peter Arcidiacono, Josh Kinsler, and Tyler Ransom's empirical papers on Harvard admissions
Jay Caspian Kang on the Harvard case
Ending affirmative action in California pushed Black and Latinx students into worse schools and jobs
Randall Kennedy’s case for affirmative action
Sheryll Cashin’s case for “place-based affirmative action”
An argument that class-based affirmative action produces more racial diversity than regular affirmative action
Nicholas Lemann on affirmative action for the New Yorker
How the Texas “10 percent” rule changed high school enrollment
White paper: "The Effects of Education on Mortality: Evidence Using College Expansions"
“A Generation of American Men Give Up on College: ‘I Just Feel Lost,’” the Wall Street Journal
Opinion | “Affirmative Action Was Never a Perfect Solution,” the New York Times
“Estimating Benefits from University-Level Diversity”
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds cohost, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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2/8/2022 • 42 minutes, 20 seconds
It’s not about Ukraine. It’s about Putin.
Dylan Matthews talks with Mark Galeotti (@MarkGaleotti), director of Mayak Intelligence, about what’s going on in Ukraine. They discuss in depth the historical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Russia’s NATO problem, and the calculations and motivations behind President Vladimir Putin’s moves.
References:
Today, Explained’s episode about Ukraine's pipeline problem
Vox’s Jen Kirby wrote an explainer about Russia-Ukraine tensions
Adam Tooze on Russia as a petro-state
An excellent 2019 episode from NPR’s Throughline about the rise of Putin
The Weaponisation of Everything: A Field Guide to the New Way of War, by Mark Galeotti
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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2/4/2022 • 53 minutes, 55 seconds
Think of the children
Dylan Matthews, Dara Lind, and Vox policy editor Libby Nelson discuss the findings of two recent studies on early childhood development. One study found that cash transfers increase brain activity in infants, while the other found a negative impact of universal pre-K on academic outcomes. So ... what’s actually going on here? Does one negate the other? The Weeds team talks it out. Plus, a white paper on the effects of parenthood on voter turnout.
References:
Dylan’s story on the cash-transfer study and his piece on the universal pre-K findings
The impact of a poverty reduction intervention on infant brain activity. PNAS
The New York Times’s Jason DeParle’s take on the cash-transfer study
Scott Alexander summarizes the skeptical takes on the cash transfer study
Noah Smith’s review of the research on pre-K, and Kelsey Piper’s
Effects of a Statewide Pre-Kindergarten Program on Children’s Achievement and Behavior Through Sixth Grade
White Paper: Parents, Infants and Voter Turnout: Evidence from the United States
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson), policy editor, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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2/1/2022 • 47 minutes, 20 seconds
Unions!
Dara Lind talks with professor Gabriel Winant of the University of Chicago about the new Bureau of Labor Statistics report that showed a topline decline in union membership despite increasing labor-oriented momentum. And later, journalist Rachel Cohen (@rmc031) joins to talk about the importance of teachers’ unions in the labor movement and in Democratic politics.
References:
The Next Shift: The Fall of Industry and the Rise of Health Care in Rust Belt America, Gabriel Winant
Rachel Cohen’s recent article about school closures and Democrats
The recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report on union membership numbers
Hosts:
Dara Lind (@dlind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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1/28/2022 • 53 minutes, 46 seconds
What happens to voting rights now?
Dylan Matthews and Jerusalem Demsas talk with Emily Rong Zhang, a PhD candidate in political science at Stanford and a former Skadden Fellow at the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, about the recent attempts in Congress to pass voting rights legislation. And, a white paper about voter ID laws, written by Emily herself!
References:
Recapping Congress’s failed voting rights push
Why some Dem strategists were skeptical of the effort
The case for fixing the Electoral Count Act
What happens after the voting rights fights
White Paper: “What the Debate over Voter ID Laws' Effects Teaches about Asking the Right Questions”
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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1/25/2022 • 45 minutes, 34 seconds
Are corporations winning at inflation?
Jerusalem Demsas and Dylan Matthews talk with Joey Politano (@JosephPolitano), economics blogger and self-described "mid-tier take-haver," to go over one big question on people’s minds right now: are corporations profiting off of inflation?
References:
Joey’s blog post about rising corporate prices and inflation
Sen. Elizabeth Warren on rising corporate profit margins
Paul Krugman’s newsletter from this week
Binyamin Appelbaum on the meatpacking industry
The White House’s statement on meat companies taking advantage of market power
The letter from President Joe Biden to FTC chair Lina Khan
“Could strategic price controls help fight inflation?” in the Guardian
Rethinking Inflation Policy: A toolkit for economic recovery by JW Mason and Lauren Melodia
Hosts:
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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1/21/2022 • 42 minutes, 34 seconds
What BBB means for climate policy
Weeds co-hosts Jerusalem Demsas and Dara Lind talk with Robinson Meyer (@yayitsrob), staff writer at the Atlantic, about the climate provisions in President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better bill. They discuss specific climate-focused policy proposals and the political stalemate Congress is in, thanks to the filibuster in the Senate. Plus, a white paper about building codes and wildfires in California.
References:
Robinson Meyer on the climate gamble going on in Congress
Weeds alum Matt Yglesias on the Build Back Better Bill
Vox’s Rebecca Leber on why Joe Manchin may have doomed climate policy
A 2016 piece from Vox’s Dylan Matthews about money in politics
“Progressive leader calls on Biden to unilaterally act on agenda,” The Hill
“Manchin's $1.8 trillion spending offer appears no longer to be on the table,” The Washington Post
“Noisy and Unsafe: Stop Fetishizing Old Homes,” The Atlantic
Hosts:
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind) immigration reporter and Weeds host, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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1/19/2022 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 35 seconds
How the 1918 flu pandemic ended
Dylan talks to John M. Barry, distinguished scholar at Tulane University and author of The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, about the Spanish flu of 1918-1919, its parallels to Covid-19, and what that pandemic’s end tells us about how this one might end.
References:
The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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1/14/2022 • 38 minutes, 48 seconds
The case for more babies
Dylan, Jerusalem, and special guest Bryan Walsh discuss the slowing population growth in America, and what a smaller-than-expected America could mean. They also talk about which immigration and child care policies could speed up population growth. Finally, they discuss a paper on why Europe is so much more equal than America.
References:
The Great Population Slowdown
How immigration could reverse population decline
The rise of childlessness
The climate case that it’s okay to have kids
The link between fertility and income
The complex relationship between housing prices and fertility
Changes in abortion access in a post-Roe America
Romania’s abortion ban and its effect on fertility
Recent research on global fertility patterns and cohabitation
What is the relationship between gender equality and fertility rates?
The Conservative Fertility Advantage
White paper: “Why Is Europe More Equal than the United States?”
A critique of the paper’s approach to health care
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Bryan Walsh (@bryanrwalsh), editor for Future Perfect, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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1/11/2022 • 55 minutes, 1 second
The building blocks of radicalization
How does someone get radicalized? What do political scientists see as the building blocks of political violence? Is there anything we can do to stop radicalization? One year after the insurrection on January 6, 2021, Vox policy reporter Jerusalem Demsas talks with Peter Neumann, a professor of security studies at King’s College in London, to answer these questions.
References:
Vox’s Zack Beauchamp on where the crisis in American democracy might be headed
Peter Neumann’s paper: The trouble with radicalization
A Q&A with a French philosopher about the fear of replacement within white nationalism
Colin Clarke writes for Politico on what happened after January 6
Northwestern University research about the perceived threat of a racial demographic shift in the US
Hosts:
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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1/7/2022 • 58 minutes
Why hasn’t student debt been canceled?
Dylan and Dara are joined by Vox’s Libby Nelson to talk about the policy merits and political implications of plans to cancel some or all student loans. They also discuss whether President Joe Biden has the power to cancel student debt unilaterally. And, Vox’s Jerusalem Demsas joins Dylan and Dara for a white paper about prisoners of war and genetics.
References:
Brookings Institution’s Andre Perry on why student loan forgiveness isn't regressive
How canceling student debt helps beneficiaries get out of other debt
The racial justice case for student loan cancellation
Luke Herrine arguing that the Department of Education can erase debt unilaterally
Is there a secret memo saying Biden can erase the debt?
David Leonhardt’s case against debt cancellation
White Paper of the Week: “Health Shocks of the Father and Longevity of the Children's Children”
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), immigration reporter
Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson) policy editor, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1/4/2022 • 56 minutes, 3 seconds
Best Of: The coming climate exodus
Vox senior reporter Rebecca Leber (@rbleber) joins The Weeds to explain the problem of migration caused by climate change, such as that due to wildfires, rising seas, and crop failures. She explains how a warming planet is forcing people to move both in the US and internationally, and how policymakers are and aren’t adapting. Vox reporters Dylan Matthews and Jerusalem Demsas continue the conversation with ProPublica’s Dara Lind, discussing a new white paper arguing that social mobility in America rose in the 20th century.
References:
ProPublica’s feature on climate migration in Central America
How climate change is driving up flood insurance premiums in Canarsie, Brooklyn
NPR’s investigation into the federal government selling flood-prone houses to low-income families
California is encouraging rebuilding in fire-prone regions
The case for “managed retreat” from coastal areas
A New York Times feature on how climate migration will reshape America
The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
Why Greg Clark is pessimistic that social mobility even exists
White Paper of the Week: Intergenerational Mobility in American History: Accounting for Race and Measurement Error, Zachary Ward
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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12/28/2021 • 1 hour, 58 seconds
America’s Public Health Experiment: Federal failures
In the final episode of our series, America’s Public Health Experiment, Dylan, Dara, and Jerusalem discuss how the CDC and the FDA failed the American public in the early months of the pandemic. Plus, a white paper about excess deaths in the first year of Covid-19.
References:
How the experts botched masking advice
Zeynep Tufekci on the case for masks (in March 2020)
Inside the Fall of the CDC
Can the CDC be fixed?
How the CDC failed to detect Covid early
Scott Gottlieb on CDC versus FDA turf wars
The Government Asked Us Not To Release Records From The CDC’s First Failed COVID Test. Here They Are.
Zeynep Tufekci in the Atlantic: The CDC Is Still Repeating Its Mistakes
Dylan Scott on FDA approval of controversial Alzheimer's drug
White paper: Excess Deaths in the United States During the First Year of COVID-19
What happened to drug deaths in 2020
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/21/2021 • 58 minutes, 27 seconds
America's Public Health Experiment: More checks, less politics
In the penultimate episode of our series America’s Public Health Experiment, Vox policy reporter Jerusalem Demsas talks to Arnab Datta, senior counsel at Employ America, about automatic stabilizers: what they are and how they could help during a crisis that affects the economy, such as a global pandemic.
References:
Vox's Emily Stewart on Democrats abandoning automatic stabilizers
Recession Ready: Fiscal Policies to Stabilize the American Economy
Structuring Federal Aid To States As An Automatic (And Autonomous) Stabilizer
A Historic Decrease in Poverty
GOP Governors Reject Extra Federal Unemployment Payments
Host:
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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12/17/2021 • 55 minutes, 11 seconds
Can school be normal again?
Dylan and Jerusalem are joined by Vox Policy Editor Libby Nelson to talk about the current state of Covid-19 and schools. They discuss vaccine mandates, rapid testing – or a lack thereof – and teacher burnout. Plus, a white paper about college majors and GPA requirements.
References:
Why schools weren’t “back to normal” this year
The pandemic caused huge levels of learning loss, especially in districts with less in-person schooling, and especially in poor countries
Can pandemics affect educational attainment? Evidence from the polio epidemic of 1916
Some schools are going remote on Fridays to address “burnout”
Schools cre closing classrooms on Fridays. Parents are furious.
Do school closures and school reopenings affect community transmission of COVID-19? A systematic review of observational studies
Quarantines are driving down attendance
The “test to stay” alternative to quarantines
How school districts have used their Covid relief funds
White Paper: “College Major Restrictions and Social Stratification”
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson), policy editor, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/14/2021 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 4 seconds
America’s Public Health Experiment: The agencies Covid broke
In the second episode of our series, America’s Public Health Experiment, Weeds co-host Dara Lind looks at two government agencies that went from quietly to loudly broken during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dara is joined by the Washington Post’s Jacob Bogage (@jacobbogage) and Jeremy McKinney (@McKJeremy) from the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Host:
Dara Lind (@dlind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/10/2021 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 46 seconds
Learning to love rent control
Dara and Dylan talk to Jerusalem about her new article defending rent control laws. The three discuss the policy impacts of rent limits and the politics driving their adoption in large American cities. Finally, they discuss a new paper on declining fertility in 18th-century France.
References:
Jerusalem’s case for rent control
A poll of leading economists, who almost all oppose rent control
Economist Rebecca Diamond on the effects of rent control
Manhattan Institute fellow Michael Hendrix’s case against rent control
Time for revisionism on rent control?
The Invention of Brownstone Brooklyn by Suleiman Osman
Review of the literature by the Urban Institute
White paper: “The Cultural Origins of the Demographic Transition in France” by Guillaume Blanc
Blanc’s Twitter summary of his paper
The demographic transition for beginners
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/7/2021 • 59 minutes, 22 seconds
America’s Public Health Experiment: The testing failure
German talks with Dr. Neeraj Sood, director of the Covid Initiative at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, about the US’s many failures on Covid-19 testing. They dive into the country’s original mistakes, then go into how lack of testing continues to plague America’s pandemic response. They conclude with what this means not just for the current pandemic but for future public health crises, too.
Host:
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/3/2021 • 41 minutes, 8 seconds
Defund the police?
German, Jerusalem, and Dylan talk about an idea that has come to dominate national discussions of policing: defunding the police. They walk through the pros and cons of the idea as a policy proposal, then discuss how it’s affecting the politics of criminal justice. Finally, they discuss new research on discrimination against Black and Latinx renters.
References:
German’s article on police research
German’s article on guns and policing
Austin’s defunding journey
Study finding more police mean fewer homicides
Study finding London police closures led to more violent crime
Expert survey finding most say more police funding would mean public safety improvements
2020's protests led to state policing reforms, but not defunding
Pew on public opinion toward defunding the police
Rogé Karma interviews Patrick Sharkey on The Ezra Klein Show
White paper: “Racial Discrimination and Housing Outcomes in the United States Rental Market”
Jerusalem's article on discrimination against housing voucher recipients
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/1/2021 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 51 seconds
Biden’s $3.40 a gallon problem
Dylan, Jerusalem, and Dara talk about the specific kind of inflation that’s roiling American politics: the heightened price of gas. They discuss how and why gas prices have shot up in recent months, and what it means for Joe Biden’s popularity and presidency. Plus, a white paper about the most important labor market of all: the global market for soccer (excuse me, football) players.
References:
Biden’s strongly worded letter on gas prices
Biden is tapping the strategic petroleum reserve
Reuters on why gas prices are high
Why OPEC isn’t lowering gas prices
Eric Levitz on what Biden should do to combat inflation
The correlation between Biden’s popularity and gas prices
Lasting Impacts of a Gas Price Shock during Teenage Driving Years
Voters who drive a lot are likelier to vote based on gas prices
Presidential approval is historically strongly affected by gas and food prices (and not due to media coverage)
The collapse of New England’s Transportation and Climate Initiative
White paper: “Does Employing Skilled Immigrants Enhance Competitive Performance? Evidence from European Football Clubs”
Mo Salah reduced prejudice
Newcastle Football Club controversy
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/24/2021 • 51 minutes, 2 seconds
Taxing Back Better
Dylan talks to Chye-Ching Huang, the executive director of the Tax Law Center at NYU Law, about the many, many, many tax provisions in Democrats’ Build Back Better package. First they dive into the new tax benefits in the bill, from the expanded child tax credit to the $7,500 credit for electric cars. Then they talk about how the bill raises money through taxes, especially through higher taxes on high-income people and corporations. Then they talk about the future of taxes, like what will happen when most of the Trump tax cuts expire at the end of 2025.
References:
A breakdown of the components of the House Build Back Better bill
Whose taxes Build Back Better would raise and cut
Huang’s testimony to Congress on Build Back Better
UChicago and Columbia researchers on the Child Tax Credit and employment
The health care tax credit provisions of Build Back Better, explained
The clean energy tax credits would help cut emissions by 40-50 percent
The bill’s minimum corporate tax plan and millionaire surtax, explained
How rebuilding the IRS would boost tax compliance
Host:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/19/2021 • 49 minutes, 28 seconds
How does the pandemic end?
Now that nearly 60 percent of the US population is fully vaccinated, Dylan, German, and Jerusalem discuss potential exit strategies for policies such as mask mandates and mandatory quarantines. They also talk about what an “endemic” Covid might be like in the US and which aspects of pandemic life might stick around. Finally, they discuss how better access to mental health care could affect crime.
References:
Mandate the vaccines, not masks
The case for ending school mask mandates at the end of the year
The case for keeping mask mandates
Emily Oster on kids and masks
The Black Death and its Consequences for the Jewish Community in Tàrrega
Against “deep cleaning” surfaces for COVID
Vaccines are coming along for children under 5
Do booster shots make vaccinating the world harder?
White paper of the week: Better access to outpatient psychiatric care reduces crime
Cognitive-behavioral therapy reduced crime in Liberia
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/16/2021 • 59 minutes, 54 seconds
Reshaping America’s cities
Vox policy reporter Jerusalem Demsas talks with the Atlantic’s Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) about how the future of remote work could reshape America’s cities, upend US labor markets, and cause fundamental shifts in where people live. Derek and Jerusalem discuss how it would take only a small percentage of remote workers to impact the urban geography of the US — with complicated implications for electoral politics and the climate.
References:
Jerusalem's Q&A with housing economist Enrico Moretti on the future of remote work: Remote work is overrated. America’s supercities are coming back.
Superstar Cities Are in Trouble [The Atlantic]
How America Lost Its Mojo [The Atlantic]
The Coronavirus is Creating a Huge, Successful Experiment in Working From Home [The Atlantic]
Where Americans Are Moving [Bloomberg]
Could a Heartland visa help struggling regions? [Economic Innovation Group]
Host:
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/12/2021 • 58 minutes, 46 seconds
Pass the SALT?
Dylan, Jerusalem, and Dara discuss congressional Democrats’ efforts to uncap the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, and how the party found itself proposing a massive tax cut for high-income households. They also dive into the deduction’s stated purpose (encouraging states to spend on social programs) and talk about other programs that could encourage states to invest in health and education. Finally, they examine a white paper showing that domestic violence crimes didn’t increase during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
References:
The state and local tax deduction, explained [Vox]
SALT cap repeal would overwhelmingly benefit high income households [Tax Policy Center]
Reconciliation may deliver a tax cut to the rich [Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget]
5-Year SALT cap repeal would be costliest part of Build Back Better [Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget]
Senators Menendez and Sanders show the way forward on the SALT cap [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy]
Easy on the SALT: A qualified defense of the deduction for state and local taxes [Daniel J. Hemel, University of Chicago Law School]
Congress can help state and local governments prepare for a rainy day without repealing the SALT cap [Tax Policy Center]
What you don’t know about fiscal federalism can hurt you [Milken Institute Review]
Progressive politics from the ground up [CommonWealth Magazine]
California is making liberals squirm [The New York Times]
Effects of COVID-19 shutdowns on domestic violence in US cities [Amalia R. Miller, Carmit Segal, and Melissa K. Spencer, National Bureau of Economic Research]
One explanation for conflicting reports on domestic violence during the pandemic [Aaron Chalfin, Twitter]
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/10/2021 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 36 seconds
The Most Dangerous Branch: Covid-19 v. The Constitution
Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser talks to law professor Nicholas Bagley about the pandemic — and how the courts are undermining the government's ability to respond to emergencies. They discuss the constitutionality of vaccine mandates, religious exemptions to public health laws, and court decisions undermining the power of public health agencies.
References:
Delegation at the Founding (Columbia Law Review)
The Supreme Court’s coming war with Joe Biden, explained
Religious conservatives have won a revolutionary victory in the Supreme Court
A New Supreme Court case could gut the government’s power to fight climate change
Hosts:
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser)
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/5/2021 • 56 minutes, 14 seconds
Is Facebook really that bad?
Dylan, German, and Dara talk about Facebook and the controversy surrounding it in recent weeks. They cover just how much — and how little — we know about Facebook’s impact on the world and talk about whether there are good policy solutions to Facebook’s problems. For the white paper of the week, they break down a study on free school lunch programs.
References:
The Wall Street Journal’s reporting on how Facebook’s efforts to improve the platform backfired
The Washington Post’s reporting on how Facebook prioritized “angry” over “like”
The Washington Post’s reporting on Facebook picking engagement over fighting misinformation
Section 230 basics, explained
Vox’s Recode Daily podcast
What happened when experimenters paid people to deactivate Facebook before the 2018 midterms
Max Fisher and Amanda Taub on Facebook-inspired anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka
Facebook did enable the Arab Spring
Farhad Manjoo on how bad regulations could make Facebook worse
A child psychologist on what we don’t know about Instagram’s effect on teen girls
Kevin Drum’s counter-takes on Facebook
NBER study on school lunch programs reducing grocery costs
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial advisor
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/2/2021 • 53 minutes, 3 seconds
Housing policy, but make it British
America’s housing market is failing to meet the needs of most Americans. Rents have skyrocketed, homeownership is slipping out of grasp for young and other first-time homebuyers, and policymakers have struggled to meet the moment. But we’re not alone. The UK is also facing a dire housing shortage, one that is leading to skyrocketing rents and home prices. Usually, the solution to this problem is pushing higher levels of government to step in where local government has failed, but today’s guest, John Myers, the co-founder of London YIMBY, thinks his country should go in the opposite direction: more local.
References:
More Housing? YIMBY, Please (Bloomberg)
Strong Suburbs: Enabling streets to control their own development (Policy Exchange)
Seoul searching – does the Korean capital have the solution to the housing crisis? (CapX)
How Houston Achieved Lot Size Reform (Planetizen)
California is ending a rule that helped cause its housing crisis (Vox)
Hosts:
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/29/2021 • 43 minutes, 6 seconds
The case for and against open borders
Dylan, German, and Jerusalem get together to discuss one of the world’s least likely but most interesting utopian ideas: open borders. They discuss the moral and economic logic for making it easy to move to and work in different countries, and the political constraints that make such an idea anathema in most rich countries. Also, they discuss a new paper about how housing regulation is making it hard for Americans to move to where they’d get the best jobs.
References:
Bryan Caplan’s case for open borders, on Vox and in comic book form
Matt Yglesias’s case for more immigration
Michael Clemens’s economic case for broader migration
A review of the evidence on voter backlash to immigration
Angela Nagle’s leftist case against open borders
Arlie Hochschild’s Strangers in Their Own Land
Jerusalem on the intersection of refugee policy and housing policy
”Angela Merkel Was Right” by NYT's Michelle Goldberg
“Does Immigration Produce a Public Backlash or Public Acceptance? Time-Series, Cross-Sectional Evidence from Thirty European Democracies”
White Paper: “Location, Location, Location” by David Card, Jesse Rothstein, and Moises Yi
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial advisor
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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10/26/2021 • 59 minutes, 49 seconds
The Most Dangerous Branch: A well-regulated militia
Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser talks with law professor Joseph Blocher and historian Carol Anderson about the Second Amendment, the triumph of the NRA's vision for that amendment, and an upcoming Supreme Court case that endangers more than a century of American gun control laws.
References:
The Positive Second Amendment Rights, Regulation, and the Future of Heller, Joseph Blocher
The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America, Carol Anderson
Hosts:
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial advisor
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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10/22/2021 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 29 seconds
Is inflation out of control?
Dylan, German, and Dara talk about the whopping 5.4 percent inflation rate the Consumer Price Index estimated last week, what it means, and if inflation is going to get worse. They dig into a paper out of the Federal Reserve arguing that we're thinking about inflation all wrong. And they close out with a fascinating new study on what the Great Migration meant for African Americans who moved northward.
References:
Ben Casselman explains where prices are rising
Why looking at “trimmed” inflation measures can be useful
Neil Irwin from the New York Times on “shadow inflation”
Back when Dylan was less worried about inflation
JW Mason explains why “America’s inflation debate is fundamentally confused”
Jeremy Rudd, "Why Do We Think That Inflation Expectations Matter for Inflation? (And Should We?)"
Ricardo Reis’s critique of the Rudd paper; Joe Gagnon’s critique of the Rudd paper
Rudd and Blinder on the oil explanation for the inflation in the 1970s
This week’s white paper: Ellora Derenoncourt, "Can you move to opportunity? Evidence from the Great Migration"
Leah Boustan's book on the economic effects of the Great Migration on migrants and those left behind
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@dlind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
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10/19/2021 • 58 minutes, 26 seconds
The home care fight in Congress
Joe Biden has proposed a landmark $400 billion expansion of funding for home and community-based services (HCBS), the part of Medicaid that funds support services for older adults and people with disabilities living at home rather than in institutions. But with Congress fighting over which of Biden's priorities to cut to appease moderate Democrats, that proposal could be in peril.
Mia Ives-Rublee is a longtime disability rights activist who helped organize the Women's March in 2017 and now serves as director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress. She spoke with Vox's Dylan Matthews about how HCBS works now, and how Democrats' plans for additional funding would change it.
References:
Biden’s home-based care plan, explained
Polling suggests funding for home care is quite popular
"How Could $400 Billion New Federal Dollars Change Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services?"
The House Energy and Commerce Committee proposal on HCBS
Better Care Better Jobs Act state-by-state fact sheet
The Urban Institute's report on strengthening long-term care services
Investing in Home Care and Early Childhood Educators Has Outsize Impacts on Employment
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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10/15/2021 • 45 minutes, 38 seconds
The coming climate exodus
Vox senior reporter Rebecca Leber (@rebleber) joins The Weeds to explain the problem of migration caused by climate change, such as that due to wildfires, rising seas, and crop failures. She explains how a warming planet is forcing people to move both in the US and internationally, and how policymakers are and aren’t adapting. Vox reporters Dylan Matthews and Jerusalem Demsas continue the conversation with ProPublica’s Dara Lind, discussing a new white paper arguing that social mobility in America rose in the 20th century.
References:
ProPublica’s feature on climate migration in Central America
How climate change is driving up flood insurance premiums in Canarsie, Brooklyn
NPR’s investigation into the federal government selling flood-prone houses to low-income families
California is encouraging rebuilding in fire-prone regions
The case for “managed retreat” from coastal areas
A New York Times feature on how climate migration will reshape America
The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
Why Greg Clark is pessimistic that social mobility even exists
White Paper of the Week: Intergenerational Mobility in American History: Accounting for Race and Measurement Error, Zachary Ward
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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10/12/2021 • 1 hour, 44 seconds
The Most Dangerous Branch: Roe v. Wade
Vox Supreme Court correspondent Ian Millhiser talks with NYU professor Melissa Murray (@ProfMMurray) about the future of reproductive freedom. The Supreme Court started its new term this week, and with six conservative judges on the bench, Republicans are likely to win a generational victory overruling Roe v. Wade.
Resources:
Texas’s radical anti-abortion law explained
The staggering implications of the Supreme Court’s Texas anti-abortion ruling
“Race-ing Roe: Reproductive Justice, Racial Justice, and the Battle for Roe v. Wade
Hosts:
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, Producer & Engineer
Libby Nelson, Editorial Advisor
Amber Hall, Deputy Editorial Director of Talk Podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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10/8/2021 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 37 seconds
Yes, vaccine mandates work
Dylan, German, and Jerusalem talk about vaccine mandates. They discuss the evidence supporting vaccine requirements, the United States’ history with inoculation campaigns, and the patchwork nature of America’s many public health measures. Plus, a white paper about elite universities.
References:
This is a good summary of the evidence supporting vaccine mandates
Here is the Homevoter Hypothesis Dylan mentioned
The NIMBY lawsuit against UC Berkeley and the NIMBY war against Georgetown’s expansion
German mentioned two vaccination studies: this one and this one
This week’s white paper about elite universities
Leopold Aschenbrenner on the case for smaller universities
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@jerusalemdemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter
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10/5/2021 • 53 minutes, 47 seconds
How genes impact your life
Dylan and Jerusalem are joined by Kathryn Paige Harden, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, to discuss her new book The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality. They talk about what geneticists have learned about the impact of genes on income and education inequality, the social implications of this research and its potential misuse, and why genetics should leave us humbled by the huge effect of luck in our lives.
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director, talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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10/1/2021 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 2 seconds
The debt ceiling’s threat to America
Dylan, German, and Dara discuss the debt ceiling: the current crisis, what the debt ceiling even is, and how the debt ceiling has become a politically polarized issue. They also talk about why the debt ceiling is bad for democracy. Plus, a white paper about Canadian bread cartels.
Resources:
The Bipartisan Policy Center’s estimate of when we’ll hit the debt ceiling
Congressional Research Service’s history of the debt ceiling
Janet Yellen on the costs of breaching the debt ceiling
Neil Buchanan and Michael Dorf on why breaching the debt ceiling is the “least illegal” option
The trillion dollar coin (and the Obama rejection of it) explained
Steven Schwarcz on using special investment tools to evade the debt ceiling
Matt Yglesias on the “Honduras scenario” for American democracy failing
"Hub and Spoke Cartels: Theory and Evidence from the Grocery Industry" by Robert Clark, Ignatius Horstmann, Jean-François Houde
Netflix documentary on the Canadian maple syrup cartel
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), Senior Correspondent, Vox
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, Producer & Engineer
Libby Nelson, Editor
Amber Hall, Deputy Editorial Director of Talk Podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter
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9/28/2021 • 57 minutes, 4 seconds
AMA time with Dylan, German, and Jerusalem
Dylan, German, and Jerusalem sit down to answer listener questions. In our first AMA episode of the post-Matt-Yglesias Weeds era, the trio discusses constitutional amendments, climate change, how we could fix global poverty, influential books, and more.
Resources:
Reasons and Persons by Derek Parfit
Gang of Five: Leaders at the Center of the Conservative Ascendancy by Nina J. Easton
The Collaborator: The Trial and Execution of Robert Brasillach by Alice Kaplan
Night by Elie Wiesel
The Cult of Pharmacology: How America Became the World’s Most Troubled Drug Culture by Richard DeGrandpre
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Cochrane
The Journalist’s Resource, the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy
Jim Tankersley, the New York Times (@jimtankersley)
Victoria Guida, Politico (@vtg2)
Eric Levitz, New York magazine (@ericlevitz)
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), policy reporter, Vox
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director, talk podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcast
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9/24/2021 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 20 seconds
Means testing our patience
Dylan, German, and Jerusalem discuss means testing and work requirements after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) suggested their inclusion in one of Biden's legacy priorities: the expanded child tax credit. Right now Democrats in Congress are trying to hammer out a 10-year, $3.5 trillion budget that includes an extension of the federal child tax credit; expanding Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing aids; additional resources for home care workers; a slew of climate change measures; and much more.
Resources:
“The Time Tax” by Annie Lowrey (The Atlantic; July 27, 2021)
“We’re Still Here” by Jennifer Silva
“‘Neoliberalism has really ruptured’: Adam Tooze on the legacy of 2020” by Zack Beauchamp (Vox.com; September 9, 2021)
“Are we automating racism?” by Joss Fong (Vox.com; March 31, 2021)
“AIs Islamophobia problem” by Sigal Samuel (Vox.com; September 18, 2021)
White Paper: “New Evidence on Redlining by Federal Housing Programs in the 1930s” by Price V. Fishback, Jonathan Rose, Kenneth A. Snowden, and Thomas Storrs
Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), Senior Correspondent
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), Policy Reporter, Vox
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, Producer & Engineer
Amber Hall, Deputy Editorial Director of Talk Podcasts
Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
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9/21/2021 • 57 minutes, 42 seconds
Ezra, Matt, and Sarah Try (Again) to Podcast
For Matt’s last episode of The Weeds, Ezra Klein and Sarah Kliff return for a look at why health care and drug costs in the US keep rising, how subsidizing industries leads to higher consumer costs, and what both political parties can do about it. It gets real nerdy just as fast as the last time these three co-hosted. We also learn about the first print piece Matt ever published, and he shares some feelings about pseudo-Cyrillic.
Resources:
“How the US made affordable homes illegal” by Jerusalem Demsas (Vox Media; Aug 17, 2021)
“Building housing — lots of it — will lay the foundation for a new future” by Matt Yglesias (Vox Media; Sep 23, 2020)
“The true story of America’s sky-high prescription drug prices” by Sarah Kliff (Vox Media; May 10, 2018)
"The real reason American health care is so expensive" by Liz Scheltens, Mallory Brangan, and Ezra Klein (Vox Media; Dec 1, 2017)
White Paper: “Cost Disease Socialism: How Subsidizing Costs While Restricting Supply Drives America’s Fiscal Imbalance” by Steven Teles, Samuel Hammond, Daniel Takash (Niskanen Center; Sep 9, 2021)
Guest:
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Columnist, The New York Times
Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff), Investigative Reporter, The New York Times
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
Sofi LaLonde, Producer, The Weeds
Efim Shapiro, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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9/17/2021 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 58 seconds
The Weeds Will Live Forever
Matt, Dara, Jerusalem, and German use Matt’s last Tuesday episode to discuss life expectancy in the US. They explore paternalistic policy decisions, the misnomer of “deaths of despair,” and the longevity of The Weeds. US life expectancy is compared to that of European and Asian nations, and the US numbers are disaggregated and examined up close.
Resources:
“Why Americans Die So Much” by Derek Thompson (The Atlantic; Sep 12, 2021)
“Inequality in Mortality between Black and White Americans by Age, Place, and Cause, and in Comparison to Europe, 1990-2018” by Hannes Schwandt et al. (NBER; Sep 2021)
“The Great Divide: Education, Despair and Death” by Anne Case and Angus Deaton (NBER; Sep 2021)
The Insider by Michael Mann (Touchstone Pictures; 1999)
“Immigration and improvements in American life expectancy” by Arun S. Hendi and Jessica Y. Ho (Science Direct; Sep 2021)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), Policy Reporter, Vox
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
Sofi LaLonde, Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/14/2021 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 46 seconds
The Federal Reserve's regulatory issues
Matt is joined by Mike Konczal, Director of Macroeconomic Analysis and Progressive Thought at the Roosevelt Institute and author of Freedom From the Market. They explore Jerome Powell’s tenure as Fed Chair, the relationship between interest rates and unemployment numbers, and ways to use monetary policy to create an equitable society.
Resources:
“Fed Up” by Matthew Yglesias (Democracy Journal; Spring 2011)
“Disparities in Wealth by Race and Ethnicity in the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances” by Neil Bhutta et al. (The Federal Reserve; Sep 28, 2020
Guest:
Mike Konczal (@rortybomb), Director, Roosevelt Institute Macroeconomic Analysis and Progressive Thought, Author, Freedom From the Market
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/10/2021 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 40 seconds
The Federal Reserve: Climate Change edition
Vox's Dylan Matthews joins Matt and Jerusalem to talk about whether the Federal Reserve can use monetary policy to fight climate change and how the ideal Fed Chair may not exist. Plus, a new study about the effectiveness of masking against Covid-19 reignites the debate on public health messaging around the pandemic. Also, Matt wants experts to stay in their lanes.
Resources:
“Will Biden Make a Historic Mistake at the Fed?” by J. Bradford Delong (Project Syndicate; Sep 1, 2021)
“Strengthening the Financial System to Meet the Challenge of Climate Change” by Lael Brainard (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Dec 18, 2020)
“The Planet Depends on the Next Federal Reserve Chair” by David Dayen (The American Prospect; Aug 27, 2021)
“The Planet Needs Jerome Powell” by Robinson Meyer (The Atlantic; Sep 1, 2021)
“On Maximizing Employment, a Case for Caution” by Raphael Bostic (Policy Hub: Macroblog; Oct 26, 2018)
White paper: “The Impact of Community Masking on COVID-19: A Cluster-Randomized Trial in Bangladesh” by Mushfiq Mobarak et al. (Innovations for Poverty Action; Sep 1, 2021)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), Policy Reporter, Vox
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), Senior Correspondent
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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9/7/2021 • 58 minutes, 47 seconds
Who's afraid of a big bad poll?
Matt is joined by David Shor, Head of Data Science at OpenLabs R&D, to discuss the causes and implications of polling errors in recent election cycles. By looking at different response rates and the implicit bias in some polls David explains why some policies are less popular than they seem. Their conversation also tackles what can be done by politicians to achieve broader appeal.
Resources:
“What Do Partisan Donors Want?” by David Broockman and Neil Malhotra (Public Opinion Quarterly; 2020)
“Balancing, Generic Polls and Midterm Congressional Elections” by Joseph Bafumi, Robert S. Erikson, and Christopher Wlezien (Dartmouth Scholarship; 2010)
Guest:
David Shor (@davidshor), Head of Data Science, OpenLabs R&D
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/3/2021 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 7 seconds
Galaxy Brain Recession
Matt, Dara, and German use this week’s episode to explore the infrastructure bill before Congress. They focus on broadband access for rural and urban America and explore the purpose of the money being set aside for Amtrak. Parallels between the two emerge both in the need for connecting Americans and in the pitfalls facing this country if we fail to make progress. This week’s white paper is a study of a methodology for predicting recessions based on individuals' expectations of their own employment status and perception of the economy rather than a scientific dissection of impersonal macro data sets.
Resources:
“What’s in the new infrastructure bill — and why it’s a big deal” by German Lopez (Vox; Aug 10, 2021)
White Paper: “The Economics of Walking About and Predicting Unemployment” by David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson (NBER; August 2021)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/31/2021 • 57 minutes, 52 seconds
Afghan refugees face an uncertain future
Matt is joined by Vox’s Nicole Narea for a discussion on the complex situation facing Afghan refugees following the United States withdrawal. Nicole explains the variety of avenues through which Afghans can attempt to reach the US and why many of them are not viable at this moment. Nicole and Matt also compare the US evacuation from Kabul with the evacuations from Iraq and Vietnam.
Resources:
“Biden had a chance to save US allies in Afghanistan. He wasted it.” by Nicole Narea (Vox; Aug 17, 2021)
Google Map of Macedonia, Iraq, and Afghanistan
U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Office Of Refugee Resettlement
UNHCR - USA
Guest:
Nicole Narea (@nicolenarea), Immigration Reporter, Vox
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/27/2021 • 49 minutes, 47 seconds
Boosters: Worth it or not, here they come
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's German Lopez to talk about the Biden administration’s plan to authorize third doses of the vaccine for Americans beginning in September. They discuss the scientific, political, and moral reasons behind the decision. They also look at the international implications of sharing vaccines and the difficulties of ramping up production in the vaccine supply chain ecosystem. This week’s white paper is a study of how slave-owning southern families retained their wealth and influence after the Civil War. The conversation illuminates the importance of social ties to political continuity and explores a similar study of Chinese generational wealth spanning the Maoist revolution.
Resources:
"U.S. officials’ decision on Covid-19 booster shots baffles — and upsets — some scientists" by Helen Branswell (Stat News; Aug. 18, 2021)
"Myths of Vaccine Manufacturing" by Derek Lowe (Science Translational Medicine; Feb 2, 2021)
"The U.S. Is Getting a Crash Course in Scientific Uncertainty" by Apoorva Mandavilli (New York Times; Aug 22, 2021)
“Following full FDA approval Pfizer-BioNTech must share Covid-19 vaccine technology to boost global supply” by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF; Aug 23, 2021)
White Paper: “The Intergenerational Effects of a Large Wealth Shock: White Southerners after the Civil War” by Philipp Ager, Leah Boustan, Katherine Eriksson (American Economic Review; Forthcoming)
The Son Also Rises: Surnames and the History of Social Mobility by Gregory Clark (Princeton University Press; Feb 23, 2014)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/25/2021 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 49 seconds
Baby making vibes
Matt is joined by The Atlantic’s Elizabeth Bruenig. They discuss J.D. Vance’s attacks on the parental status of liberal politicians and dissect what is actually happening with left-wing birth rates. They explore the policy decisions that would actually affect natality and the vibes that right-wing media focus on instead. Listen for true facts about Batman’s role as a father, Matt’s take on children’s TV, and why we should all watch Daniel Tiger.
Resources:
"Invasion of the Baby-Haters" by Elizabeth Bruenig (The Atlantic; Aug 11, 2021)
"I Became a Mother at 25, and I’m Not Sorry I Didn’t Wait" by Elizabeth Bruenig (The New York Times; May 7, 2021)
One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger by Matthew Yglesias (Penguin Random House; Sep 15, 2020)
Guest:
Elizabeth Bruenig (@ebruenig), staff writer, The Atlantic
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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8/20/2021 • 54 minutes, 14 seconds
Back to School: Masters mishaps
Matt is joined by Vox's Libby Nelson and Jerusalem Demsas for a conversation about the rising cost of master’s programs, their usefulness in today’s economy, and their role as federally subsidized job training. Matt, Libby, and Jerusalem reflect on their varied educational paths and discuss the effectiveness of student loan forgiveness for higher ed. This week’s white paper illuminates the downstream consequences of raising pollution standards for battery recycling in the United States.
Resources:
“‘Financially Hobbled for Life’: The Elite Master’s Degrees That Don’t Pay Off” by Melissa Korn and Andrea Fuller (The Wall Street Journal; July 8, 2021)
The Masters Trap, Part Two, Part Three by Anne Helen Peterson (Culture Studies; July 2021)
“Graduate programs have become a cash cow for struggling colleges. What does that mean for students?” by Jon Marcus (PBS Newshour; September 18, 2017)
“Master’s degree programs surge at nation’s colleges and universities” by Nick Anderson (The Washington Post; May 25, 2013)
White Paper: “North-South Displacement Effects of Environmental Regulation: The Case of Battery Recycling” (NBER; August 2021)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson), Deputy Policy Editor
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), Policy Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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8/17/2021 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 42 seconds
Reign of Terror
Matt is joined by reporter Spencer Ackerman, author of the new book Reign of Terror. Ackerman explains the ways in which America’s approach to domestic white terrorism differs from its approach to international threats. They discuss the treatment of Timothy McVeigh after the Oklahoma City bombing, and the way in which it primed the political and cultural response to 9/11 and the War on Terror. Ackerman also argues that the unlawful and immoral approach of the government laid the groundwork for Trump's presidency.
Resources:
Reign of Terror by Spencer Ackerman (Penguin Random House; Aug 10, 2021)
The Jakarta Method by Vincent Bevins (Public Affairs; May 19, 2020)
"Second Inaugural Address" by George W. Bush (January 20, 2005)
State of Exception by Giorgio Agamben (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press; 2005)
Guest:
Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman), author, reporter, and publisher of Forever Wars on Substack, contributing editor at the Daily Beast.
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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8/13/2021 • 59 minutes, 25 seconds
Back to School: Learning loss
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's German Lopez for a conversation about student learning loss. They focus on the policy decisions that led to school shutdowns during the pandemic, the consequences for different demographics, and alternative solutions for future crises. In this week’s white, paper the concept of associating a monetary value with life is explored through re-enlistment bonuses paid out by the military.
Resources:
“COVID-19 and education: The lingering effects of unfinished learning” by Emma Dorn, Bryan Hancock, Jimmy Sarakatsannis, and Ellen Viruleg (McKinsey & Company; July 27, 2021)
“Learning Loss and Educational Inequalities in Europe: Mapping the Potential Consequences of the COVID-19 Crisis” by Zsuzsa Blaskó, Patricia da Costa, and Sylke V. Schnepf (Institute of Labor Economics; April 2021)
“Learning loss due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic” by Per Engzell, Arun Frey, and Mark D. Verhagen (PNAS; April 27, 2021)
“Is Summer Learning Loss Real?” by Paul T. von Hippel (Education Next; June 4, 2019)
White Paper: “The Heterogeneous Value of a Statistical Life: Evidence from U.S. Army Reenlistment Decisions” by Kyle Greenberg, et al. (NBER; July 2021)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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8/10/2021 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 8 seconds
Dare to speak freely
Matt is joined by author and CEO Suzanne Nossel for a discussion about how to reconcile a robust defense of free speech with the advancement of an inclusive and progressive society. They explore the risks associated with a censorious culture, and look at the effects on social media, retail, and school environments.
Resources:
Dare to Speak by Suzanne Nossel (HarperCollins Dey Street; July 2020)
Guest:
Suzanne Nossel (@SuzanneNossel), CEO, PEN America; author, Dare to Speak
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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8/6/2021 • 58 minutes, 22 seconds
Back to School: All for pre-K, and pre-K for all
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's Jerusalem Demsas for a conversation about pre-K and day care programs. They discuss the impacts of pre-K programs on socioeconomics, diversity, and political behavior. Plus, some historical research is considered on a Norwegian program of rural education expansion.
Resources:
"Exploring New Research on Pre-K Outcomes" by Adrienne Fischer, Tom Keily and Matt Weyer (Education Commission of The States; May 2020)
"Growing the Economy Through Affordable Child Care" by Rasheed Malik (Center for American Progress; May 24)
White paper: "The Making of Social Democracy: The Economic and Electoral Consequences of Norway’s 1936 Folk School Reform" (NBER; July 2021)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), Policy Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer
Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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8/4/2021 • 54 minutes, 25 seconds
Getting power to the people
Matt is joined by Liza Reed of the Niskanen Center to talk about energy policy, electricity transmission, and how America's complex system of power grids really function.
Resources:
"Transmission Stalled: Siting Challenges for Interregional Transmission" by Liza Reed (April 14)
Summary of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPA)
Guest:
Liza Reed (@LizaBevin), Research Manager, Low Carbon Technology Policy, Niskanen Center
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis (@erikk38), Producer
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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7/30/2021 • 45 minutes, 12 seconds
Time Machine: Buchanan v. Warley (1917)
Vox's Jerusalem Demsas joins Matt and Dara on a time machine trip back to a WW1-era Supreme Court decision that shaped land use policy, zoning, and racial discrimination in housing. Discussion of Buchanan (and the related Euclid case decided nine years later) leads our hosts to talk a lot about the interrelated histories of zoning and racism in twentieth-century America.
Resources:
Buchanan v. Warley, 245 US 60 (1917)
Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Company, 272 US 365 (1926)
"The racial origins of zoning: Southern cities from 1910–1940" by Christopher Silver (Planning Perspectives; May 8, 2007)
"Prelude to Euclid: The United States Supreme Court and the Constitutionality of Land Use Regulation, 1900-1920" by Joseph Gordon Hylton (Washington University Journal of Law & Policy; January 2000)
"Race, Ethnicity, and Discriminatory Zoning" by Allison Shertzer, Tate Twinam, and Randall P. Walsh (NBER; 2018)
"The National Rise in Residential Segregation" by Trevon Logan & John Parman (NBER; Feb. 2015)
"The Impact of Zoning on Housing Affordability" by Edward L. Glaeser & Joseph Gyourko (NBER; March 2002)
American Society of Planning Officials Report on Rooming Houses (1957)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), Policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis (@erikk38), Producer
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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7/28/2021 • 53 minutes, 24 seconds
Prices on the rise
Matt is joined by economist Julia Coronado to talk about inflation, markets, and employment in the pandemic recovery economy. They discuss housing, new and used car markets, and possible strategies toward achieving full employment.
Resources:
"Economic Outlook and Risks to Inflation" by Julia Coronado (presentation to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Economic Advisory Panel; April 9)
"Here's Who Will Be Left Behind in the Housing Boom" by Ali Wolf (New York Times; July 13)
Guest:
Julia Coronado (@jc_econ), Founder and President, MacroPolicy Perspectives; Clinical Professor of Finance, UT Austin
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis (@erikk38), Producer
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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7/23/2021 • 44 minutes, 44 seconds
Time Machine: Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
Vox's Li Zhou joins Dara and Matt for another spin in the time machine, to talk about the policy that shaped how immigration largely still works in America. They discuss the history and context of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (a.k.a. the Hart-Celler Act), and the previous discriminatory immigration policies that preceded it. Our hosts also discuss how this piece of legislation shaped — and still shapes — the way immigration in America takes place today.
Resources:
One Mighty and Irresistible Tide: The Epic Struggle Over American Immigration, 1924-1965 by Jia Lynn Yang (W.W. Norton; 2021)
"Unintended Consequences of US Immigration Policy: Explaining the Post-1965 Surge from Latin America" by Douglas S Massey and Karen A. Pren (Popul Dev Rev.; 2012)
"Modern Immigration Wave Brings 59 Million to U.S., Driving Population Growth and Change Through 2065: Views of Immigration's Impact on U.S. Society Mixed" (Pew Research Center, 2015)
"Who Was Shut Out? Immigration Quotas, 1925-1927" (GMU/Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1929)
Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America by Mae M. Ngai (Princeton; 2014)
"Why income inequality is growing at the fastest rate among Asian Americans" by Natalie Zhang (CNBC; May 26)
The Making of Asian America by Erika Lee (Simon & Schuster; 2015)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Li Zhou (@liszhou), Politics and policy reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis (@erikk38), Producer
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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7/21/2021 • 56 minutes, 16 seconds
The critical race theory debate
Matt is joined by Education Week reporter and editor Andrew Ujifusa to talk about the ill-defined and somewhat facetious debate over critical race theory. But really, this conversation is about the schools, and all sorts of issues facing them: pandemic learning loss, re-opening plans, and the perennial debates over how best to serve all students, particularly students of color.
We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes about five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: vox.com/survey
Resources:
"'Stop CRT' Bill, Votes in Congress Add to Political Drama Over Critical Race Theory" by Andrew Ujifusa (Education Week; July 15)
"How to Manufacture a Moral Panic: Christopher Rufo helped incite an uproar over racism education with dramatic, dodgy reporting" by Sarah Jones (New York; July 11)
"Randi Weingarten Rips CRT Critics for 'Trying to Stop Us From Teaching Students Accurate History'" by John Nichols (The Nation; July 9)
Guest:
Andrew Ujifusa (@AndrewUjifusa), Assistant Editor, Education Week
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis (@erikk38), Producer
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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7/16/2021 • 57 minutes, 22 seconds
Time Machine: Volcker Shock
Vox's Dylan Matthews joins Matt and Dara for another step into Weeds Time Machine: a visit to the past to review some now-forgotten chapter in policy history. This week, it's a return to the late 1970s and a reexamination of "Volcker shock": an attempt by Fed Chairman Paul Volcker to cope with rising inflation, and the myriad consequences of his efforts. Our hosts discuss the oil crisis, stagflation, the curious relationship between central banking and fiscal policy, and give some much-needed reanalysis to this crucial and topsy-turvy time in American history.
We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes about five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: vox.com/survey
Resources:
Charts: Unemployment in the 1970s & Inflation in the 1970s
"America's Peacetime Inflation: The 1970s" by J. Bradford De Long in Reducing Inflation: Motivation and Strategy, eds. Christina D. Romer and David H. Romer (U. Chicago; 1997)
"Commentary" [on 1970s inflation] by Christina D. Romer (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review; 2005)
Keeping At It: The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government by Paul Volcker (Public Affairs; 2018)
"Other People's Blood" by Tim Barker (n+1; 2019)
"Paul Volcker Was a Hero of the Ruling Class" by Doug Henwood (Jacobin; 2019)
The Economists' Hour: False Prophets, Free Markets, and the Fracture of Society by Binyamin Appelbaum (Little, Brown; 2019)
"What really drives inflation" [on "Regulation Q"] by Itamar Drechsler, Alexi Savov, Philipp Schnabl (Sept. 11, 2019)
"Paul Volcker's Complicated Latin American Legacy" by Tyler Cowen (Bloomberg; Dec. 10, 2019)
"The Rise of Finance" by Jonathan Levy (Public Books; Nov. 22, 2011)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis (@erikk38), Producer
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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7/14/2021 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 24 seconds
Cruelty: the point
Matt is joined by Atlantic staff writer Adam Serwer, author of the new book The Cruelty Is the Point. They discuss the racial politics of the Trump-era, how these tactics persist in the GOP today, and how the dynamics of the present moment have led us to relitigate Reconstruction-era problems that go against the fundamental understanding of American equity. They also have a few things to say in there about Die Hard and Indiana Jones.
Resources:
"The Cruelty Is the Point" by Adam Serwer (The Atlantic; Oct. 3, 2018)
The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America by Adam Serwer (Penguin Random House, June 2021)
"The Flight 93 Election" by Michael Anton (Claremont Review of Books; Sept. 5, 2016)
"The Great Awokening" by Matthew Yglesias (Vox; Apr. 1, 2019)
"The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates (The Atlantic; June 2014)
Steadfast Democrats: How Social Forces Shape Black Political Behavior by Ismail K. White and Chryl N. Laird (Princeton' Oct. 2021)
Schoolbook Nation: Conflicts over American History Textbooks from the Civil War to the Present by Joseph Moreau (U. Michigan; 2004)
Guest:
Adam Serwer (@AdamSerwer), staff writer, The Atlantic; author, The Cruelty Is the Point
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Producer
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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7/9/2021 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 52 seconds
Time Machine: No Child Left Behind
Vox's Libby Nelson joins Matt and Dara on the first episode of the Weeds Time Machine: a visit to the past to review some now-forgotten chapter in policy history. This week, it's No Child Left Behind. Our hosts discuss the bipartisan consensus that existed at the outset of this policy, how everyone eventually turned on it, and the legacy it still leaves behind in our school systems today.
Resources:
"The GOP's Plan to Take Education Policy Back to the Early 1990s" by Kevin Carey (Oct. 5, 2011; The New Republic)
"The scariest lesson of No Child Left Behind" by Libby Nelson (July 27, 2015; Vox)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson), Deputy Policy Editor, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Producer
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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7/7/2021 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 22 seconds
Coming attractions
Vox film critic and culture reporter Alissa Wilkinson joins Matt and Dara to take a break from politics (sort of) to talk about movies. They discuss the state of the streaming wars, the fate of the post-Covid movie theater, and rehearse some Hollywood history to discover that vertical integration might be... good? Plus, some research is examined that deals with spectator inattention and umpire performance in Major League Baseball.
Resources:
"On going back to the movies" by Alissa Wilkinson (Vox; June 23)
The Paramount Decrees (Dept. of Justice)
"Judge Agrees to End Paramount Consent Decrees" by Eriq Gardner (Hollywood Reporter; Aug. 7, 2020)
White paper: "The Dynamics of Inattention in the (Baseball) Field" by James E. Archsmith, Anthony Heyes, Matthew J. Neidell & Bhaven N. Sampat (NBER; June 2021)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie), Film Critic and Culture Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Producer
Ness Smith-Savedoff, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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6/30/2021 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 16 seconds
Who started Covid?
Matt is joined by deputy editor of New York magazine and author David Wallace-Wells to talk about the new evidence for the so-called "Lab-Leak hypothesis," and about the possible origins of Covid-19. Wallace-Wells introduces the new research done by Jesse D. Bloom on possible missing tranches of genetic sequencing data from Chinese servers, and the discussion turns to what we know, don't know, can't know, and might know about the origins of Covid . . . and where that leaves us for the next pandemic.
Resources:
"Understanding the Origins of SARS-CoV-2" (June 14; Fred Hutch News Service)
"Recovery of deleted deep sequencing data sheds more light on the early Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 pandemic" by Jesse D. Bloom (June 22)
"Scientist Opens Up About His Early Email to Fauci on Virus Origins" by James Gorman and Carl Zimmer (June 14, New York Times)
"The Lab-Leak Hypothesis" by Nicholson Baker (Jan. 4, New York magazine)
"Could COVID-19 Have Escaped from a Lab?" by Rowan Jacobsen (Sept. 9, 2020, Boston Magazine)
"We Had the Vaccine the Whole Time" by David Wallace-Wells (Dec. 7, 2020, New York magazine)
"The Implications of the Lab-Leak Hypothesis" by David Wallace-Wells (June 12, New York magazine)
Guest:
David Wallace-Wells (@dwallacewells), Deputy Editor, New York magazine; author, The Uninhabitable Earth
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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6/26/2021 • 54 minutes, 52 seconds
So, for the next pandemic....
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's German Lopez to talk through some of the lessons we seem not to have learned from the way the Covid pandemic unfolded — or, is still unfolding. Our hosts discuss the abandonment of the Obama-era pandemic playbook, the politicized messaging and idiosyncratic inattention of former President Trump, and what it would mean to develop a truly harm-reducing strategy for the America we actually have. Plus, some research is discussed that evaluates the relationship between access to treatment facilities and morbidity due to substance abuse.
Resources:
"America still needs to learn from its biggest pandemic failure" by German Lopez (June 4; Vox)
"The US doesn't just need to flatten the curve. It needs to 'raise the line'" by Eliza Barclay, Dylan Scott, and Christina Animashaun (Apr. 7, 2020; Vox)
"The fundamental question of the pandemic is shifting" by Ed Yong (June 9; The Atlantic)
White paper: "Tackling the Substance Abuse Crisis: The Role of Access to Treatment Facilities" by Adriana Corredor-Waldron and Janet Currie (NBER; May 2021)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Producer
Paul Robert Mounsey, Engineer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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6/23/2021 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 25 seconds
What's the deal with that new Alzheimer's drug?
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's Dylan Scott to learn about aducanumab, the new drug that was recently approved by the FDA for treating Alzheimer's disease despite a lack of evidence of its effectiveness, possibly serious side effects, and a jaw-droppingly high price tag. Matt, Dara, and Dylan discuss the situation in light of lessons learned, or not quite learned, from the global pandemic. Then, some research is discussed that evaluates the effects of work requirements on supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) participation and the workforce.
Resources:
"The new Alzheimer's drug that could break Medicare" by Dylan Scott (June 10; Vox)
"FDA's Decision to Approve New Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease" by Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, Director, FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (June 7)
"The maddening saga of how an Alzheimer's 'cabal' thwarted progress toward a cure for decades" by Sharon Begley (June 25, 2019; STAT News)
"What the Rich Don't Want to Admit About the Poor" by Ezra Klein (June 13; New York Times)
White paper: "Employed in a SNAP? The Impact of Work Requirements on Program Participation and Labor Supply" by Colin Grey, et al. (Sept. 2019)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott), Policy Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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6/16/2021 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 59 seconds
Zoning our way through it
Matt is joined by Emily Hamilton of the Mercatus Center to talk about the way that zoning and land use policy affects property value, housing availability, and affordability. They discuss some example statutes from those laboratories of democracy, the several states, tackle the most divisive issue in all of housing Twitter, and Matt just lets totally loose about how he's not allowed to replace his home's windows.
Resources:
H.R. 4307, the Build More Housing Near Transit Act
2006 Arizona Proposition 207
Kelo v. New London (545 US 269, 2005)
"How policymakers can improve housing affordability" by James Pethokoukis and Emily Hamilton (May 4, American Enterprise Institute)
Guest:
Emily Hamilton (@ebwhamilton), Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Urbanity Project, Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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6/12/2021 • 50 minutes, 20 seconds
Hot jobs summer
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's Emily Stewart to talk about the state of the economy right now. They take on the jobs numbers, some of the markets that were hit with unforeseen interruptions and shortages, and get pretty philosophical amidst a detailed discussion about the supply chain for chicken wings. Then, some research is discussed that suggests that maybe your tweets really do matter... or, at least when you tweet through U.S. elections where Donald Trump is on the ballot.
Resources:
"May's solidly meh jobs report" by Emily Stewart (June 4, Vox)
"Lumber mania is sweeping North America" by Emily Stewart (May 3, Vox)
White paper: "The Effect of Social Media on Elections: Evidence from the United States" by Thomas Fujiwara, Karsten Müller, and Carlo Schwarz (October 27, 2020)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Emily Stewart (@EmilyStewartM), Senior Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/9/2021 • 1 hour, 24 seconds
The pipeline to prison
Matt sits down with John Pfaff, professor and author of Locked In, an influential and important 2017 book about mass incarceration in America. The two discuss some common misconceptions about America's prison population, three different meanings of the term "broken windows," and what might be the true cause of the current trending rise in violent crime across the nation.
Resources:
Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration and How to Achieve Real Reform by John Pfaff (2017; Basic Books)
Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Levoy (2015; One World)
"Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach" by Gary S. Becker (Journal of Political Economy v. 76 no. 2, Mar.-Apr. 1968)
Uneasy Peace: The Great Crime Decline, the Renewal of City Life, and the Next War on Violence by Patrick Sharkey (2019; W.W. Norton)
The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs (1961)
"Broken Windows: The police and neighborhood safety" by George L. Kelling and James Q. Wilson (March 1982; The Atlantic)
Guest:
John Pfaff (@JohnFPfaff), author; professor, Fordham Law School
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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6/5/2021 • 1 hour, 8 minutes
The lab-leak hypothesis
Matt is joined by Vox's Libby Nelson and Jerusalem Demsas for a conversation about the rising cost of master’s programs, their usefulness in today’s economy, and their role as federally subsidized job training. Matt, Libby, and Jerusalem, explore their varied educational paths and discuss the effectiveness of student loan forgiveness for higher ed. This week’s white paper illuminates the downstream consequences of raising pollution standards for battery recycling in the United States.
Resources:
"The Lab-Leak Theory" by David Leonhardt (May 27, New York Times)
"The Biological Weapons Convention at a crossroad" by Bonnie Jenkins (Sept. 6, 2017; Brookings)
Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham (Simon & Schuster; 2019)
"The NPT [Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty]: Learning from a Longtermist Success" by Danny Bressler (May 19, Effective Altruism)
White paper: "Strict ID Laws Don't Stop Voters: Evidence from a U.S. Nationwide Panel, 2008–2018," by Enrico Cantoni and Vincent Pons (May 22; The Quarterly Journal of Economics)
"After Dramatic Walkout, a New Fight Looms Over Voting Rights in Texas" by Dave Montgomery and Nick Corasaniti (May 31, New York Times)
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/2/2021 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 13 seconds
Stephen Breyer should retire
Matt is joined by author and Harvard Kennedy School professor Maya Sen to talk about the state of the American judiciary. They discuss Breyer's unwillingness to retire, the pervasive influence of prestige on the "legal elite," the cult of RBG, the influence and role of The Federalist Society, and the inherent biases in the elite legal system that have led to an "affirmative action"-like feeder program for conservative judges.
Resources:
The Judicial Tug of War: How Lawyers, Politicians, and Ideological Incentives Shape the American Judiciary by Adam Bonica and Maya Sen (Cambridge University Press, 2020)
"The Endgame of Court-Packing" by Adam Chilton, Daniel Epps, Kyle Rozema, and Maya Sen (May 17)
Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative Counterrevolution by Amanda Hollis-Brusky (Oxford University Press, 2015)
The Rise of the Conservative Legal Movement: The Battle for Control of the Law by Steven M. Teles (Princeton, 2008)
"Legal Scholar's Anti-Sotomayor Letter Leaks, Causing Awkward Fallout" by Heather Horn (The Atlantic, Nov. 5, 2010)
"The Case Against Sotomayor" by Jeffrey Rosen (The New Republic, May 4, 2009)
Guest:
Maya Sen (@maya_sen), professor, Harvard Kennedy School
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/28/2021 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 15 seconds
Give more money to cranks!
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's Dylan Matthews to talk about what the Covid vaccine development process has taught us vaccine development, production, and regulation. They also discuss the way we fund scientific research, evaluating a possible "prize"-based alternative to our current grant-funding system, and some research is analyzed that concerns the resiliency of so-called "forced entrepreneurs," and their businesses' tendency to better weather recessions.
Resources:
"How to supercharge vaccine production for the next pandemic" by Dylan Matthews (May 20; Vox)
"Inside Moderna: The Covid Vaccine Front-Runner With No Track Record and an Unsparing CEO" by Peter Loftus and Gregory Zuckerman (July 1, 2020; Wall Street Journal)
"The story of mRNA: How a once-dismissed idea became a leading technology in the Covid vaccine race" by Damian Garde and Jonathan Saltzman (Nov. 10, 2020; STAT News)
"Science funding is a mess. Could grant lotteries make it better?" by Kelsey Piper (Jan. 18, 2019; Vox)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/25/2021 • 59 minutes, 13 seconds
Research the police
Matt is joined by economist and NYU faculty fellow Morgan Williams, Jr. to talk about his research on policing and gun control legislation, and the consequences of policy on crime and incarceration.
Resources:
"Police Force Size and Civilian Race" by Aaron Chalfin, Benjamin Hansen, Emily K. Weisburst & Morgan C. Williams Jr. (Dec. 2020)
"Body-Worn Cameras in Policing: Benefits and Costs" by Morgan C. Williams Jr., Nathan Weil, Elizabeth A. Rasich, Jens Ludwig, Hye Change & Sophia Egrari (Mar. 2021)
"When You Add More Police To A City, What Happens?" by Greg Rosalsky (Apr. 20, NPR)
"Gang Behavior, Law Enforcement, and Community Values" by George Akerlof and Janet L. Yellen
"The Effects of Local Police Surges on Crime and Arrests in New York City" by John MacDonald, Jeffrey Fagan, and Amanda Geller (2016)
"Peaceable Kingdoms and War Zones: Preemption, Ballistics and Murder in Newark" by Brendan O'Flaherty and Rajiv Sethi (2010)
Guest:
Morgan Williams, Jr. (@MWillJr), faculty fellow, NYU Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
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5/21/2021 • 1 hour, 14 seconds
Masks off! Party time?
It's everybody's birthday! No, seriously. Taurus Matt Yglesias is joined by two people who also share a May 18th birthday: Vox's Libby Nelson and The Atlantic's Derek Thompson. They discuss the confusing range of public health and policy directives that have been issued to the American people over the 15+ months of the Covid pandemic. Plus, some research is discussed that evaluates the outcome of the recent rollout of universal preschool in Boston.
Resources:
"The CDC's Big Mask Surprise Came Out of Nowhere" by Derek Thompson (May 14, The Atlantic)
"The CDC Is Still Repeating Its Mistakes" by Zeynep Tufekci (Apr. 28, The Atlantic)
"Are Outdoor Mask Mandates Still Necessary?" by Derek Thompson (Apr. 19, The Atlantic)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson), Deputy Policy Editor, Vox
Derek Thompson (@DKThomp), Staff writer, The Atlantic
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/18/2021 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 57 seconds
The plan for more free school
Matt is joined by New York Times education reporter Dana Goldstein to talk about what Biden's American Families Plan will do to bolster and expand public education access in this country. They talk about the plan for universal preschool, free community college, and also talk about how the administration has been involved in pandemic-related school reopening decisions behind the scenes.
Resources:
"Schools Are Open, but Many Families Remain Hesitant to Return" by Dana Goldstein (New York Times, May 9)
The Teacher Wars: A History of America's Most Embattled Profession by Dana Goldstein (Anchor; 2015)
"Biden Directs Education Funding to Community Colleges, a Key Lifeline" by Stephanie Saul and Dana Goldstein (New York Times, Apr. 28)
Learning in Public: Lessons for a Racially Divided America from My Daughter's School by Courtney E. Martin (Little, Brown; August 2021)
Guest:
Dana Goldstein (@DanaGoldstein), national correspondent, New York Times
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/14/2021 • 59 minutes, 2 seconds
Homelessness and the rising tide
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox Politics and Policy Fellow Jerusalem Demsas to talk about homelessness, and the policies that have failed to even properly confront this problem. They talk about the decline of SRO housing, the progressives who seem to oppose any way to help out, and the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still. Then, some research is discussed that takes a look at how Italian workers responded to a 2011 pension reform.
Resources:
"Iowa is making it harder to be a low-income renter" by Jerusalem Demsas (Vox, May 5)
"Homeless Reflect on Life in a New York City Hotel Room, One Year Later" by Claudia Irizarry Aponte (The City, May 10)
"The effort to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom, explained" by Jerusalem Demsas (Vox, Apr. 26)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), Politics and Policy Fellow, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/11/2021 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 40 seconds
The app store war
Matt is joined by Makena Kelly of The Verge to talk about some recent stories at the intersection of policy and tech. She discusses the Facebook Oversight Board's ambivalent "ruling" on Trump's ban from the platform, Apple's ongoing antitrust court battles, and the prospect for a sweeping antitrust overhaul foreshadowed by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI).
Resources:
"Facebook's Trump ban can stay in place, says Oversight Board" by Makena Kelly and Adi Robertson (The Verge, May 5)
"As Epic v. Apple approaches the courtroom, Valve is getting sued over Steam too" by Sean Hollister (The Verge, May 1)
"Amazon's Antitrust Paradox" by Lina M. Khan (Yale Law Journal, Jan. 2017)
"Facebook's shadow court" (The Weeds, March 5)
"Apple Accused of 'Power Grab' in Senate App Store Hearing" by David McLaughlin and Anna Edgerton (Bloomberg, Apr. 21)
Guest:
Makena Kelly (@kellymakena), policy reporter, The Verge
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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5/7/2021 • 46 minutes, 34 seconds
The "hundred days" myth
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's Andrew Prokop to talk about the very notion of a president's "first hundred days," whether or not it is a useful or important metric for their performance. Andrew talks about the history of the term, originating with F.D.R., and our hosts evaluate some of the recent lines of comparison between Biden and Roosevelt that have been floating around in the discourse lately. Plus, some research is analyzed that examines the effect of the channel placement of Fox News in certain areas, and Republican performance in federal elections.
Resources:
"The myth of a president's 'first 100 days'" by Andrew Prokop, Vox (Apr. 29, 2021)
"Biden's first 100 days, explained in 600 words" by German Lopez, Vox (Apr. 30, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Andrew Prokop (@awprokop), Senior Politics Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/5/2021 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 15 seconds
There's lead in your turmeric
Matt is joined by Rachel Silverman, a policy fellow at the Center for Global Development, who talks about the extreme dangers and high prevalence of lead contamination globally. Despite the manifest health benefits that would be served by Biden's plans to finally replace lead pipes in the U.S., this is marginal compared to the lead poisoning occurring due to unregulated electronics recycling, traditional ceramics glazing, and by bright, yellow turmeric.
Resources:
"Biden Wants to Eliminate Lead Poisoning in American Children. We Propose an Even More Ambitious Goal: Global Eradication" by Susannah Hares, Rachel Silverman, and Lee Crawfurd (Apr. 20, 2021)
"Your old phone is full of untapped precious metals" by Bianca Nogrady, BBC (Oct. 18, 2016)
"Ground Turmeric as a Source of Lead Exposure in the United States" by Whitney Cowell, Thomas Ireland, Donna Vorhees, and Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Public Health Reports (May-Jun 2017)
Choked: Life and Breath in the Age of Air Pollution by Beth Gardiner (U. Chicago, 2019)
"New evidence that lead exposure increases crime" by Jennifer L. Doleac, Brookings Institution (June 1, 2017)
Guest:
Rachel Silverman (@rsilv_dc), policy fellow, Center for Global Development
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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4/30/2021 • 47 minutes, 46 seconds
A Manchin for all seasons
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's Andrew Prokop, author of an in-depth revelatory profile on America's swingiest Senator: Mr. Manchin in the Middle. Andrew brings Manchin's history as a legislator to bear in discussion, shedding light on what Manchin's policy goals as a legislator in this Congress might be (if he has any, that is), what his governing ideology might be beyond the mere politics of his re-election, and why, ultimately, he is being so weird about the filibuster right now. Joe, if you're out there: please get in touch. Also, some research is discussed that explores the connection between the partisan identity of members of the so-called "deep state" (non-political-appointee civil servants) and their performance at their jobs.
Resources:
"Joe Manchin wants to save Democrats from themselves" by Andrew Prokop, Vox (Apr. 27, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Andrew Prokop (@awprokop), Senior Politics Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
4/28/2021 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 27 seconds
Why transit projects fail
Matt is joined by professor and transit researcher Eric Goldwyn to talk about why transit projects in the U.S. often fail. They discuss several high-profile cases, including the Second Avenue subway line in New York, the Green Line Extension in Boston, and the DC Streetcar. Why do cities spearhead redundant transit lines on top of existing rights-of-way? Why do cities in other countries spend so much less per mile on transit than American cities do? And, how can the political opposition to mass transit be met, to build the more accessible and environmentally-conscious transit infrastructure of the future?
Resources:
The Transit Costs Project
"The Boston Case: The Story of the Green Line Extension" by Eric Goldwyn, Alon Levy, and Elif Ensari (Dec. 9, 2020)
"Costly Lessons from the Second Avenue Subway" by Eric Goldwyn, New York Review of Books (Sep. 22, 2020)
Guest:
Eric Goldwyn (@ericgoldwyn), Program Director at the Marron Institute of Urban Management and Associate Professor in the Transportation and Land-Use program, NYU Marron Institute.
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
4/23/2021 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 10 seconds
The pandemic playbook
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's Dylan Scott to talk about his new Pandemic Playbook project from Vox, exploring how six nations coped with the Covid-19 pandemic, and evaluating what we can all learn from their experiences to help us with the next pandemic. In this episode, Dylan talks with Matt and Dara about how South Korea's response to Covid-19 was shaped in many ways by the 2015 MERS outbreak, and about how the South Korean people's relationship to their government contrasts with the situation in the U.S. Then, some research is analyzed that aims to evaluate a correlation between female representation in the venture capital industry with news coverage of a high-profile trial.
Resources:
"The Pandemic Playbook: Vox explores the successes — and setbacks — in six nations as they fought Covid-19" by Dylan Scott, Vox (Apr. 19, 2021)
"South Korea's Covid-19 success story started with failure" by Dylan Scott and Jun Michael Park, Vox (Apr. 19, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott), Policy Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
4/21/2021 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 17 seconds
Think like a scout
Matt is joined by author and podcast host Julia Galef to talk about her new book The Scout Mindset. They talk about the difference between epistemic and social confidence, the role of uncertainty in thinking critically, and — most of all — about fighting with people on the internet.
Resources:
The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't by Julia Galef (Apr. 2021)
Guest:
Julia Galef (@juliagalef), Author, host of the Rationally Speaking podcast
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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4/17/2021 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 13 seconds
White paper-palooza
It's an all white paper episode, folks. Vox climate reporter Umair Irfan joins Matt and Dara to take on three research papers all concerning climate change: first, on the social costs of carbon; then on the disparate effects of temperature rise on a diverse array of geographic regions; finally, on global migration due to climate change.
Be sure to check out the bonus content on the short-form version of The Weeds that comes out Wednesday mornings as part of Vox Quick Hits. Subscribe to Vox Quick Hits wherever you get your podcasts.
Resources:
White Paper #1: "Revisiting the cost of social carbon" by William D. Nordhaus, PNAS 114 (7) 1518-1528; Feb. 2017. See also Umair's article on this paper: "Climate change is a global injustice. A new study shows why" by Umair Irfan, Vox (Sep. 26, 2018)
White Paper #2: "The Economic Geography of Global Warming" by Jose Luis Cruz Alvarez & Esteban Rossi-Hansberg, NBER Working Paper 28466; Feb. 2021.
White Paper #3: "Climate Vulnerability and Human Migration in Global Perspective" by Martina Grecequet, Jack DeWard, Jessica J. Hamilton, and Guy J. Abel, Sustainability 9 (5), Apr. 2017.
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Umair Irfan (@umairfan), Staff Writer, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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4/14/2021 • 58 minutes, 47 seconds
It's time for class warfare
Matt is joined by Faiz Shakir, a top adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders and the former manager of his 2020 presidential campaign, to talk about adopting a working class lens for crafting progressive policy, cultivating an ethic of solidarity, and about the organization he founded, More Perfect Union, which aims to craft media that centers working people. Faiz also gets Matt to go on the record about how his own feelings on Bernie have evolved, from the 2016 campaign to now.
Resources:
Mission Statement, More Perfect Union
Guest:
Faiz Shakir (@fshakir), Adviser, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Founder, More Perfect Union
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
Bernie Sanders, Would have won
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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4/10/2021 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 56 seconds
Bidencare?
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox's Dylan Scott to examine the $400 billion portion of Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan that is designated for the "caretaking economy." Is this merely an expansion of Medicaid? Does it actually address fundamental structural issues in the economics of long-term care? Plus, some research is examined that helps illustrate the power of "defaults" in ACA-type health insurance marketplaces.
Resources:
"White House unveils $2 trillion infrastructure and climate plan, setting up giant battle over size and cost of government" by Jeff Stein, Juliet Eilperin, Michael Laris and Tony Romm, Washington Post (Apr. 1, 2021)
"How Biden's infrastructure plan could leave child care behind" by Anna North, Vox (Apr. 3, 2021)
"Joe Biden is stretching Obamacare as far as it can go" by Dylan Scott, Vox (Mar. 29, 2021)
"Exclusive: Nearly 7 million uninsured Americans qualify for free health insurance" by Dylan Scott, Vox (Apr. 1, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott), Policy Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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4/7/2021 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 25 seconds
The politics of cultural criticism
Matt is joined by Alyssa Rosenberg, cultural critic and opinion columnist at the Washington Post, to talk about the intersection of criticism and politics. Should J.K. Rowling's recent anti-trans political statements retroactively alter the critical appraisal of Harry Potter? Can one be a fan of a cop show like Brooklyn Nine-Nine without committing to the show's interior politics? And can a show operate without interior politics when it, like David Simon's The Wire, confronts problems in policing at the institutional level — but happens to be a sitcom?
Resources:
"Why the world's most powerful people just want to podcast and make TV shows" by Alyssa Rosenberg, Washington Post (Mar. 25, 2021)
"'I was appalled to be tarred as misogynist': Variety critic hits back at Carey Mulligan's sexism accusations" by Catherine Shoard, The Guardian (Jan. 28, 2021)
Guest:
Alyssa Rosenberg (@AlyssaRosenberg), Opinion columnist covering culture, Washington Post
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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4/3/2021 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 50 seconds
All circuits matter
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox Senior Correspondent Ian Millhiser to discuss the future of judicial appointments in Biden Administration — starting with the spate of appointees announced on Tuesday, just as we began taping. They also discuss some new research about the historical roadshow of the 1915 film The Birth of a Nation around the country, and how this correlated with an uptick in racial violence in roadshow localities in the ensuing years.
Resources:
"What Biden's first list of judicial nominees tells us about his approach to the courts" by Ian Millhiser, Vox (Mar. 30, 2021)
The Agenda: How a Republican Supreme Court is Reshaping America by Ian Millhiser (Mar. 30, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/31/2021 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 47 seconds
The optimistic leftist
Matt is joined by political scientist and author Ruy Teixeira to talk about how Democratic messaging has gone wrong, and how to get it right.
Resources:
"Immigrant Neighborhoods Shifted Red as the Country Chose Blue" by Weiyi Cai and Ford Fessenden, New York Times (Dec. 20, 2020)
"The Five Deadly Sins of the Left" by Ruy Teixeira, American Compass (Oct. 13, 2020)
"'Hidden Tribes,' the new report centrists are using to explain away polarization, explained" by Zack Beauchamp, Vox (Oct. 22, 2018)
Guest:
Ruy Teixeira, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/27/2021 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 52 seconds
Is gun violence fixable?
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox Politics and Policy Fellow Jerusalem Demsas to talk about gun violence and mass shootings in America. They discuss the recent shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, talk through the difference between real policy solutions and more superficial ones, and discuss several non-productive but entrenched aspects of the media landscape surrounding mass shootings, gun violence, and progressive reforms. Then, they take on some new research on the correlation between political polarization in a society and the presence of a "charismatic leader."
Resources:
"The long history of anti-Asian hate in America, explained" by Li Zhou, Vox (updated Mar. 5, 2021)
"The history of tensions — and solidarity — between Black and Asian American communities, explained" by Jerusalem Demsas and Rachel Ramirez, Vox (Mar. 16, 2021)
"America's gun problem, explained" by German Lopez, Vox (updated Mar. 23, 2021)
"Here's What's Actually Being Done To Address Anti-Asian Racism" by Lydia Wang, Refinery29 (updated Mar. 19, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), Politics and Policy Fellow, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/24/2021 • 1 hour, 23 minutes, 16 seconds
All about inflation
Skanda Amarnath from Employ America joins Matt to talk about inflation. They discuss how the Fed tracks markers of inflation, the difference between cyclical and asymmetric inflation, and talk about whether or not to give into Larry Summers's fears about an "overheated" economy in our recovery.
Resources:
"Inflation: The Good, The Bad, and The Transitory" by Skanda Amarnath and Alex Williams (Feb. 12, 2021)
Guest:
Skanda Amarnath (@IrvingSwisher), Director of Research & Analysis, Employ America
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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3/19/2021 • 1 hour, 44 seconds
Asylum policy for the here and now
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox Senior Correspondent Ian Millhiser to examine the current state of affairs at the southern border, and to evaluate the Biden administration's immigration response more generally. Then, some research is discussed that examines (pre-Covid) data on the correlation between life expectancy and both race and educational attainment.
Resources:
Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas Regarding the Situation at the Southwest Border (Mar. 16, 2021)
"Biden to Announce Broad Plan to Reverse Trump Immigration Policies" by Michael D. Shear, New York Times (Jan. 19, 2021)
"Death in the prime of life: Covid-19 proves especially lethal to younger Latinos" by Akilah Johnson, Washington Post (Mar. 15, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/17/2021 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 51 seconds
Introducing Unexplainable
Unexplainable is a new podcast from Vox about everything we don’t know. Each week, the team look at the most fascinating unanswered questions in science and the mind-bending ways scientists are trying to answer them. New episodes drop every Wednesday.
Learn more: vox.com/unexplainable
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unexplainable/id1554578197
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0PhoePNItwrXBnmAEZgYmt?si=Y3-2TFfDT8qHkfxMjrJL2g
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3/14/2021 • 29 minutes, 15 seconds
An A.I. wrote this title
Vox's Kelsey Piper joins Matt to talk about the future of artificial intelligence and AI research. Should AI research be more heavily regulated, or banned? What kind of future will the continued development of AI bring us? Will AI turn out to be more like Skynet, or... like Philip Morris?
Resources:
"The case for taking AI seriously as a threat to humanity" by Kelsey Piper, Vox/Future Perfect (Updated Oct. 15, 2020)
Guest:
Kelsey Piper (@KelseyTuoc), Staff Writer, Vox
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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3/12/2021 • 57 minutes, 17 seconds
The right to vote, constrained
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox Senior Correspondent Ian Millhiser to talk through the several ongoing legal challenges being initiated by the GOP to curtail and hinder the right to vote in America. They talk through what has become of the Voting Rights Act, H.R. 1, as well as landmark Supreme Court cases of the past few decades — including the ones yet to be decided. Then, some research is discussed that examines the effect of private equity on nursing home patient welfare. Spoiler alert: Matt glimpses the abyss.
Resources:
"The new Republican war on voting rights, explained" by Ian Millhiser, Vox (Mar. 9, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/10/2021 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 58 seconds
Facebook's shadow court
Kate Klonick, law professor at St. John's University, joins Matt to talk about her investigation into Facebook's secret content moderation board. She talks about her inside-Silicon-Valley reporting, the problems of regulating content in general, and why Facebook both is and is not like a newsstand.
Resources:
"Inside the Making of Facebook's Supreme Court" by Kate Klonick, The New Yorker (Feb. 12, 2021)
"The New Governors: The People, Rules, and Processes Governing Online Speech" by Kate Klonick, Harvard Law Review (Mar. 2017)
Guest:
Kate Klonick (@Klonick), Assistant Professor of Law, St. John's University
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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3/5/2021 • 51 minutes, 6 seconds
How to destroy the suburbs
Matt and Dara are joined by Vox Politics and Policy Fellow Jerusalem Demsas to talk about how to take on America's housing problem, exclusionary and discriminatory zoning restrictions, message against NIMBYs, and ultimately, to sue and destroy the suburbs. Then, research is analyzed that confronts the effects of rising prescription drug prices on patient behavior.
Resources:
"America's racist housing rules really can be fixed" by Jerusalem Demsas, Vox (Feb. 17, 2021)
"How to convince a NIMBY to build more housing" by Jerusalem Demsas, Vox (Feb. 24, 2021)
"How George Floyd's death is fueling a push for affordable housing in mostly White parts of D.C." by Paul Schwartzmann, Washington Post (March 1, 2021)
"Homeowners and Opposition to Housing Development" by William Marble and Clayton Nall (Feb. 6, 2020)
"HUD can't fix exclusionary zoning by withholding CDBG funds" by Jenny Schuetz, Brookings (Oct. 15, 2018)
"Stuck! The Law and Economics of Residential Stability" by David Schleicher, Yale Law Journal (Vol. 127, 2017)
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGhee (2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Jerusalem Demsas (@JerusalemDemsas), Politics and Policy Fellow, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/3/2021 • 59 minutes, 38 seconds
All organizing is local
Author, researcher, and University of Pittsburgh professor of history Lara Putnam sits down with Matt to talk about the structure of local progressive political organization. They talk about the recent history of these movements in the wake of the 2016 election, the effect of these groups on downballot races in Pennsylvania and nationally, and look to the future of these groups in the Biden era.
Resources:
"Democrats are surging in special elections, and that's not what we've been used to in recent years" by Daniel Donner, Daily Kos (Sept. 27, 2017)
"The Other Infrastructure Program: Progressive Organizing" by Lara Putnam, The American Prospect (Feb. 22, 2021)
"Let's Organize—and Not Scapegoat Leaders" by Michael Podhorzer, The American Prospect (Feb. 17, 2021)
"Organizing Power: Theda Skocpol and Caroline Tervo"
Guest:
Lara Putnam (@lara_putnam), UCIS Research Professor, University of Pittsburgh
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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2/26/2021 • 1 hour, 19 seconds
Covid-$1.9T
Vox's Emily Stewart joins Matt and Dara to unpack what's in the Covid relief bill, now that it's out of committee. They talk about state & local relief, UI extensions, the $15 minimum wage, and why Congress is perma-hamstrung to effect real change. Plus, some research is analyzed about popular trading app Robin Hood, and its possible affect on stock prices.
Resources:
"The year that Congress just gave people money" by Dylan Matthews, Vox (Feb. 5, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Emily Stewart (@EmilyStewartM), Business and Politics reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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2/23/2021 • 58 minutes, 30 seconds
The problem of child care
Melissa Boteach of the National Women's Law Center joins Matt to have a discussion about the role of child care in the economy, which has been "made visible" in the Covid-19 pandemic, and exposed the economically marginalized care workers who perform this essential work in an industry on the verge of collapse.
Resources:
House Hearing on Child Care During COVID-19 (Feb. 19, 2021)
"How COVID-19 Relief for the Care Economy Fell Short in 2020" by Julie Kashen (Jan. 27, 2021)
"The COVID Relief Package Must Include Much-Needed Tax Credit Expansions for Women & Families" by Kathryn Menefee (Feb. 16, 2021)
"Undervalued: A Brief History of Women's Care Work and Child Care Policy in the United States" by Julie Vogtman (2017)
Guest:
Melissa Boteach (@mboteach), Vice President for Income Security and Child Care/Early Learning, National Women's Law Center
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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2/19/2021 • 48 minutes, 39 seconds
The Antipope in Mar-a-Lago
Vox's Emily Stewart joins Matt and Dara to wonder about whether and how Trump may rear his head in politics again, and about the future of the Republican party (zombie Paul Ryanism, or dynastic Trumpism?). Plus, a new study about the EITC is examined that leads to a broader discussion about the role of "nudges."
Resources:
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Emily Stewart (@EmilyStewartM), Business and Politics reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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2/17/2021 • 55 minutes, 32 seconds
Rethinking immigration
Immigration advocate Ali Noorani of the National Immigration Forum joins Matt to discuss the future of immigration in America, including the oncoming "grey tsunami," the consequences of Trump's border and asylum policies, and the effects of the way we speak about immigration on immigration policy.
Resources:
"Room to Grow: Setting Immigration Levels in a Changing America" by Ali Noorani & Danilo Zak (Feb. 3, 2021)
One Billion Americans by Matt Yglesias (2020)
One Mighty and Irresistible Tide: The Epic Struggle over American Immigration, 1924-1965 by Jia Lynn Yang (2020)
Guest:
Ali Noorani (@anoorani), President & CEO, National Immigration Forum
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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2/12/2021 • 54 minutes, 30 seconds
What's happening with the stimulus?
White House reporter Ella Nilsen joins Matt and Dara to talk about the current state of the Covid-19 relief bill, and the implications of the debate for both Congress and the Biden Administration. Plus, research on the correlation between SNAP benefit timing and college entrance exam scores.
Resources:
"The Senate vote-a-rama gets Democrats closer to approving Covid-19 relief on their own" by Li Zhou & Ella Nilsen, Vox (Feb. 4, 2021)
"The Biden stimulus is admirably ambitious. But it brings some risks, too." by Larry Summers, Washington Post (Feb. 4, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Ella Nilsen (@ella_nilsen), White House reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
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About Vox
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2/10/2021 • 59 minutes, 55 seconds
The future of remote work
Economist Adam Ozimek from Upwork joins Matt to discuss the future of remote work, post-pandemic. They discuss the implications for migration, local governance, and the elusive concept of work/life balance.
Resources:
"Economist Report: Future Workforce" by Adam Ozimek (Dec. 2020)
Guest:
Adam Ozimek (@ModeledBehavior), Chief Economist, Upwork
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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2/5/2021 • 58 minutes, 34 seconds
Where are the vaccines?
Vox Senior Correspondent German Lopez joins Matt and Dara to discuss what went — and is still going — wrong with vaccine distribution, as well as to talk through some new research about the effects of implementing eviction moratoria on the spread of Covid-19.
Resources:
"What Biden can do to fix America's Covid-19 vaccine mess" by German Lopez, Vox (Jan. 22, 2021)
"'We crushed it': How did West Virginia become a national leader in Covid vaccination?" by Laura Strickler and Lisa Cavazuti, NBC News (Jan. 31, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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2/3/2021 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 52 seconds
Filibusted
Matt is joined by author Molly Reynolds of the Brookings Institution to talk about the intricacies of the Senate filibuster, budget reconciliation, and the Byrd rule, with a view toward the prospect of getting legislation through a divided Senate.
Resources:
U.S. Senate rules on filibuster and cloture
"The history of the filibuster" by Sarah Binder, Brookings
Exceptions to the Rule: The Politics of Filibuster Limitations in the U.S. Senate by Molly E. Reynolds (2017).
Guest:
Molly Reynolds (@mollyereynolds), Senior Fellow, Brookings
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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1/29/2021 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 31 seconds
Biden's immigration shuffle
Vox Senior Correspondent German Lopez joins Matt and Dara to discuss some of the motivations, obstacles, and oppositions to the Biden administration's early signals on immigration policy, as well as a white paper on a natural experiment in the effects of a reduction in the number of police staff on crime.
Resources:
"Biden's sweeping immigration bill, explained" by Nicole Narea, Vox (Jan. 20, 2021)
"Biden's flurry of first-day executive actions, explained" by German Lopez, Vox (Jan. 20, 2021)
UPDATE: "A Texas judge just blocked Biden's 100-day pause on deportations" by Nicole Narea, Vox (Jan. 26, 2021)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
German Lopez (@germanrlopez), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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1/27/2021 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 31 seconds
Freedom from markets
Matt is joined by author Mike Konczal, Director of Progressive Thought at the Roosevelt Institute, and author of the new book Freedom from the Market. They talk about the past, present, and future of public affordances in America, and discuss the shifts in political imagination that could inaugurate a new era of public programs in the earnest interest of benefitting Americans.
Resources:
Mike's new book, Freedom from the Market: America's Fight to Liberate Itself from the Grip of the Invisible Hand, on sale here.
Read an excerpt: "When Medicare Helped Kill Jim Crow" by Mike Konczal, The Nation (Jan. 19, 2021).
Guest:
Mike Konczal (@rortybomb), Director, Progressive Thought, Roosevelt Institute
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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1/22/2021 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 17 seconds
Biden's rescue plan
Vox business and politics reporter Emily Stewart joins Matt and Dara to unpack what's in Biden's giant stimulus package, and to examine how the new Congress will handle the massive imperatives of economic recovery, on the eve of the commencement of the Biden administration.
Resources:
"Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 stimulus plan, explained" by Emily Stewart, Vox (Jan. 14, 2021)
"Legislative Process 101 — The Senate's Byrd Rule"
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Emily Stewart (@EmilyStewartM), Business and Politics Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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1/20/2021 • 57 minutes, 1 second
The Next Four Years: Fighting tech monopolies
Matt is joined by antitrust and competition policy expert Charlotte Slaiman to discuss the ongoing antitrust cases against Google and Facebook, the basics of antitrust litigation, and their outlook for the future of regulatory efforts to rein in the power of Big Tech through pro-competition policy.
Resources:
"Only Regulation Can Jumpstart Competition in Big Tech" by Gene Kimmelman and Charlotte Slaiman, Fortune (July 16, 2019)
"FTC Sues Facebook for Illegal Monopolization" (December 9, 2020)
"Colorado Attorney General leads multistate lawsuit seeking to end Google's illegal monopoly in search market" (December 17, 2020)
Guest:
Charlotte Slaiman (@CharlottesWWWeb), Competition Policy Director, Public Knowledge
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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1/15/2021 • 54 minutes, 41 seconds
Will the GOP be Q-pilled or Coup-pilled?
Vox Senior Correspondent Zack Beauchamp joins Matt and Dara to discuss some of the potential political ramifications of the insurrection of 1/6/21, as well as what this event might portend for addressing questions of police reform.
Resources:
"Capitol police officer praised as hero for diverting mob from Senate chamber" by Randi Richardson, NBC News (Jan. 11, 2021)
"I experienced the heinous assault on Capitol; now, time to face reality" op-ed by Rep. Peter Meijer, Detroit News (Jan. 9, 2021)
"Outgoing Capitol Police chief: House, Senate security officials hamstrung efforts to call in National Guard" by Carol D. Loennig, Aaron C. Davis, Peter Hermann and Karoun Demirjian, Washington Post (Jan. 10, 2021)
"Several Capitol police officers suspended, more than a dozen under investigation over actions related to rally, riot" by Aaron C. Davis, Rebecca Tan and Beth Reinhard, Washington Post (Jan. 11, 2021)
"What the police really believe" by Zack Beauchamp, Vox (July 7, 2020)
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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1/13/2021 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 7 seconds
Unemployment Insurance in the pandemic, and beyond
Matt is joined by Employ America policy advisor Elizabeth Pancotti for a detailed discussion about unemployment insurance. They take on the recent expansion of the benefits, explain some of the difficulties in distributing them, and outline a possible road toward meaningful reform.
Resources:
"Bennet Unveils Sweeping Proposal to Strengthen Unemployment Insurance Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic" (March 24, 2020)
Guest:
Elizabeth Pancotti (@ENPancotti), policy advisor, Employ America
Host:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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1/8/2021 • 59 minutes, 53 seconds
America's vaccine distribution needs a shot in the arm
Umair Irfan joins Dara and Matt to discuss some challenges and obstacles to prioritization and distribution of the Covid vaccine, in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Resources:
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Umair Irfan (@umairfan), Science Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Erikk Geannikis, Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please make a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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1/6/2021 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 18 seconds
Best of: Homelessness and how to fix it
Mary Cunningham, vice president of Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy at the Urban Institute, joins Matt for part two of homelessness week to discuss the causes and potential solutions of homelessness. They dive deep into the data surrounding the issue, and take a look at President Trump's claim that homelessness is on the rise.
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
About Vox: Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/22/2020 • 56 minutes, 27 seconds
The Next Four Years: Beyond the student debt debate
New America’s Kevin Carey explains loan forgiveness and the deeper problems with American higher education.
Guest:
Kevin Carey (@kevincarey1), Vice President, Education Policy and Knowledge Management, New America
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer
Jackson Bierfeldt, Editor
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/18/2020 • 56 minutes, 42 seconds
Build Back Exactly The Same
Dylan Matthews joins Matt and Dara to discuss Covid’s impact on poverty and the road to recovery.
Resources:
"Joe Biden is taking office amid a poverty crisis" by Dylan Matthews, Vox
Income and poverty in the COVID-19 pandemic by Jeehoon Han, Bruce D. Meyer, and James X. Sullivan
Kamala Harris's plan for $2,000 a month transfers to every man, woman, and child
Plan to have the Fed give people money by making everyone a bank
Who is Manasi Deshpande?
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please make a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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12/15/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 49 seconds
The Next Four Years: An optimistic climate agenda
Third Way’s Josh Freed and Jackie Kempfer explain a path forward for low-carbon policy in a time of divided government.
Guest:
Josh Freed (@ThirdWayEnergy), Senior VP, Climate and Energy Program, Third Way
Jackie Kempfer (@JackieKempfer), Senior Policy Advisor, Climate and Energy Program, Third Way
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer
Jackson Bierfeldt, Editor
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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12/11/2020 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 34 seconds
The blob is back
Alex Ward joins Dara and Matt to analyze the Biden national security team.
Resources:
"The revenge of the blob" by Alex Ward, Vox
Why Nations Fall
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), Staff Writer, International Security and Defense, Vox
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please make a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/8/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 21 seconds
The Next Four Years: The Covid transition
Kaiser’s Jennifer Kates joins Matt to explain the next steps in countering the pandemic.
Guest:
Jennifer Kates (@jenkatesdc), Senior VP/Director, Global Health & HIV Policy, Kaiser Foundation
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer
Jackson Bierfeldt, Editor
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/4/2020 • 53 minutes, 11 seconds
The job nobody wants
Dara and Matt on Biden’s choice to run Homeland Security and the many challenges he’ll face.
Resources:
"Biden picks Alejandro Mayorkas, a son of Jewish Cuban refugees, to lead the Department of Homeland Security" by Nick Miroff and
Maria Sacchetti, Washington Post
"How an Obama appointee helped influential Democrats get visas for rich immigrants" by Dara Lind, Vox
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please make a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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12/1/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 57 seconds
The post-election economy
Emily Stewart joins Dara and Matt to discuss the prospects for Covid relief and Janet Yellen.
Resources:
"Janet Yellen's mistake" by Matthew Yglesias, Slowboring.com
"Electoral politics on an unfair playing field" by Aaron Strauss, Slowboring.com
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Emily Stewart (@EmilyStewartM), Business and Politics Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please make a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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11/24/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 21 seconds
The Next Four Years: Joe Biden’s world
The Atlantic Council’s Emma Ashford joins Matt to explain the president-elect’s approach to national security.
Guest:
Emma Ashford (@EmmaMAshford), Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer
Jackson Bierfeldt, Editor
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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11/20/2020 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 33 seconds
Georgia on my mind
Resources:
"Why Georgia has runoff elections" by Jerusalem Demsas, Vox
"David Perdue and Jon Ossoff advance to Georgia Senate runoff" by Ella Nilsen and Jerusalem Demsas
"Detailed Turnout Data Shows How Georgia Turned Blue" by Nate Cohn, New York Times
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration Reporter, ProPublica
Ella Nilsen (@ella_nilsen), Politics & Policy Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please make a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/17/2020 • 51 minutes, 32 seconds
The Next Four Years: How to make a Biden Boom
Vox’s new series THE NEXT FOUR YEARS delving into the policy prospects for the Biden Era kicks off with Bloomberg’s Karl Smith explaining a bipartisan approach to healing the labor market.
Guest:
Karl Smith (@karlbykarlsmith), Bloomberg Columnist
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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11/13/2020 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 39 seconds
The never ending election story
Jane, Dara, and Matt on Trump’s refusal to quit and his “surprising” Hispanic support.
Resources:
"How Democrats Missed Trump’s Appeal to Latino Voters" by Jennifer Medina
"Why Democrats Lost So Many South Texas Latinos—the Economy" by Elizabeth Findell, Wall Street Journal
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please make a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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11/10/2020 • 55 minutes, 30 seconds
Democracy lost
Ezra and Matt on the election results and the prospects for majority rule.
Resources:
Chris Hayes and I process this wild election, Ezra Klein Show
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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11/6/2020 • 54 minutes, 35 seconds
Election Day Special
In this special live episode of the Weeds - Ella Nilsen joins Matt and Jane to highlight the most contested senate races, and what to watch for as results come in.
Resources:
2020 Election Coverage
Live results for the 2020 Senate races
Vox’s live results for the 2020 presidential election
2020 House election live results
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Ella Nilsen (@ella_nilsen), Politics & Policy Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please make a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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11/3/2020 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 49 seconds
Lessons learned from Trump’s first term
Ezra and Matt look back on what’s surprised them.
Resources:
"Can anything change Americans’ minds about Donald Trump?" by Ezra Klein, Vox
"Republicans are sowing the seeds of the next financial crisis" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"Trump Is Losing Ground With White Voters But Gaining Among Black And Hispanic Americans" by Geoffrey Skelley and Anna Wiederkehr, FiveThirtyEight
"Nate Silver on why 2020 isn't 2016" Ezra Klein Show
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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10/30/2020 • 52 minutes, 53 seconds
Biden’s border options
Dara, Jane, and Matt on the big immigration questions that will face a new administration.
Resources:
"Would Biden 'rebuild the old program' to reduce Northern Triangle migration?" by Teresa Welsh, Devex
"Inside the Refugee Camp on America's Doorstep" by Caitlin Dickerson, NYT
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds, and participate in "The Weeds Live" on election day? Please make a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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10/27/2020 • 52 minutes, 11 seconds
Trump’s last stand
Ezra and Matt on the final presidential debate.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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10/23/2020 • 55 minutes, 7 seconds
Trump's second term agenda
Dara, Jane, and Matt break down the policy stakes in 2020.
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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10/20/2020 • 1 hour, 42 seconds
Go For Broke: Inside the Dot-Com Bubble
Go For Broke is a new narrative series from Epic Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network exploring the 2000 dot-com bubble... and what happened when the bubble popped. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/31ovruD
Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/34WWNZI
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10/17/2020 • 39 minutes, 46 seconds
Email scandals are back!
Ezra and Matt discuss Hunter Biden’s laptop, social media regulation, and the ongoing stimulus standoff.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
This episode was brought to you by Novartis. To learn more about Cell and Gene Therapy visit vox.com/ad/novartis
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10/16/2020 • 53 minutes, 59 seconds
What is critical race theory, anyway?
Ian Haney Lopez joins Jane to discuss critical race theory: what it is and what it isn't.
Resources:
"Which Party Represents the Racial Future?" by Ross Douthat
Guest:
Ian Haney Lopez (@IanHaneyLopez), Professor of Law, UC Berkeley
Host:
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior Politics Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
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10/13/2020 • 54 minutes, 47 seconds
By the People: The Supreme Court's war on democracy
In this last episode of the By The People mini-series, host Ian Millhiser talks with legal scholar Pam Karlan about how the Supreme Court has harmed our democracy in the recent past, and what it's likely to do to voting rights in the future. Then he speaks with Supreme Court journalist Mark Joseph Stern about court-packing and other possible ways to reform the Court.
Featuring:
Pam Karlan, Professor of Public Interest Law at Stanford Law School
Mark Joseph Stern, Staff Writer at Slate
Host:
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Producer/Editor: Jackson Bierfeldt
Editor: Elbert Ventura
Executive Producer: Liz Nelson
About Vox:
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Please consider making a contribution to Vox to support this show: bit.ly/givepodcasts. Your support will help us keep having ambitious conversations about big ideas.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/10/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 4 seconds
The stimulus standoff
Ezra and Matt on the deadlock in congress and the VP debate.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Erick Gomez, Schuyler Swenson (@SchuylerSwenson), and Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producers
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
This episode was brought to you by Novartis. To learn more about Cell and Gene Therapy visit vox.com/ad/novartis
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/9/2020 • 57 minutes, 7 seconds
On biracial identity (with Thomas Chatterton Williams)
Jane and Thomas Chatterton Williams talk about mixed-race identity, race and racism, and what being biracial means now.
Resources:
"My Family's Life Inside and Outside America's Racial Categories" by Thomas Chatterton Williams, NYT
"A Detailed Look at the Downside of California’s Ban on Affirmative Action" by Kevin Carey, NYT
"Thomas Chatterton Williams on Race, Identity, and “Cancel Culture”" by Isaac Chotiner, NYT
"The Great Escape From Slavery of Ellen and William Craft" by Marian Smith Holmes, Smithsonian Magazine
"Black With (Some) White Privilege" by Anna Holmes, NYT
"Still Processing: Being Biracial" by Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham, NYT
"The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic
Guest:
Thomas Chatterton Williams (@thomaschattwill), Contributing Writer at New York Magazine, Columnist at Harpers Magazine
Host:
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior Politics Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/6/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 54 seconds
By the People: Blame the Constitution
Host Ian Millhiser talks with political scientist Norm Ornstein and Vox’s Matt Yglesias about the structural factors — many of them written into the Constitution itself — that impede a democratic majority from electing their preferred leaders and several ideas about how these hurdles can be overcome.
Relevant resources:
Confirm you are registered to vote
Featuring:
Norman Ornstein, Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute
Matthew Yglesias, Senior Correspondent at Vox
Host:
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Producer/Editor: Jackson Bierfeldt
Editor: Elbert Ventura
Executive Producer: Liz Nelson
About Vox:
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Please consider making a contribution to Vox to support this show: bit.ly/givepodcasts. Your support will help us keep having ambitious conversations about big ideas.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/3/2020 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 5 seconds
Fighting back against factory farming
On this special episode, we give you a preview of season 3 of the Future Perfect podcast. Vox's Dylan Matthews comes on to talk about meat and environmental justice.
Subscribe to Future Perfect on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app to automatically get new episodes of the latest season each week.
Further listening and reading:
ProPublica’s Talia Buford has done in-depth reporting on the problems of overflowing pig waste lagoons in North Carolina, and you can see images of the aftermath of lagoon flooding from Hurricane Florence collected here.
Pig waste from factory farms is not just a problem in North Carolina. You can read about issues in Iowa, Minnesota, and Ohio.
We always want to hear from you! Please send comments and questions to futureperfect@vox.com.
This podcast is made possible thanks to support from Animal Charity Evaluators. They research and promote the most effective ways to help animals.
Featuring:
Marianne Engleman Lado, Environmental Justice Clinic, Vermont Law School
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
Follow all of Future Perfect’s reporting on the Future of Meat.
Subscribe to Vox’s Future Perfect newsletter, which breaks down big, complicated problems the world faces and the most efficient ways to solve them.
Follow Us:
Vox.com
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10/2/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 48 seconds
A dark, dangerous debate
Ezra and Matt on the disturbing presidential showdown.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Buy Matt's book!
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/30/2020 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 23 seconds
By the People: How to make sure your vote is counted
Host Ian Millhiser talks with voting rights lawyer Sophia Lin Lakin and vote-by-mail advocate Amber McReynolds about voting, COVID-19, and what steps you can take to ensure that your vote is counted this election.
Relevant resources:
Confirm you are registered to vote
How to vote at home
ACLU’s Voting Rights Project
ACLU’s Voter Education Tool
Featuring:
Sophia Lin Lakin, Deputy Director of the Voting Rights Project at the ACLU
Amber McReynolds, CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute
Host:
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Producer/Editor: Jackson Bierfeldt
Editor: Elbert Ventura
Executive Producer: Liz Nelson
About Vox:
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Please consider making a contribution to Vox to support this show: bit.ly/givepodcasts. Your support will help us keep having ambitious conversations about big ideas.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/26/2020 • 1 hour, 4 seconds
Dianne Feinstein, please listen to this episode!
Ezra and Matt discuss the past and future of the US Senate.
Resources:
"How Mitch McConnell is changing the Democratic Party" by Ezra Klein, Vox
"America needs a democratic revolution" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Buy Matt's book!
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/25/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes
After RBG
Vox’s judiciary expert Ian Milhiser joins the panel to explain Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy and the future of American jurisprudence
Resources:
"Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy, and the future of the Supreme Court, explained" by Ian Millhiser, Vox
"The Surprising Conservatism of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" by Kimberly Wehle, Politico
"Social conservatives feel betrayed by the Supreme Court — and the GOP that appointed it" by Jane Coaston, Vox
"As Trump rushes to fill a court seat, conservative groups fear missteps" by Gabby Orr, Politico
"What happens to the Supreme Court (and the Constitution) if Trump wins" by Ian Millhiser, Vox
Guest:
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) Senior Correspondent, Vox
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/22/2020 • 55 minutes, 53 seconds
By the People: How to rig an election
Introducing By The People?, a new podcast miniseries on voting rights in the 2020 election, hosted by Ian Millhiser. Each episode will examine a specific obstacle facing voters in the upcoming election, and lay out various policy proposals and practical ways to overcome that obstacle. Our first episode takes a deep dive into intentional efforts to suppress the vote with historian Carol Anderson and voting rights lawyer Janai Nelson.
Relevant resources:
Confirm you are registered to vote
Legal Defense Fund Voting Rights Information
Featuring:
Carol Anderson, author of One Person, No Vote, professor of African American Studies at Emory University
Janai Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Host:
Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Producer/Editor: Jackson Bierfeldt
Editor: Elbert Ventura
Executive Producer: Liz Nelson
About Vox:
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Please consider making a contribution to Vox to support this show: bit.ly/givepodcasts. Your support will help us keep having ambitious conversations about big ideas.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/19/2020 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 35 seconds
One Billion Americans
In this crossover episode from the Ezra Klein Show - Ezra and Matt discuss the early days of blogging, Twitter, climate change, and Matt's case for having 1 billion Americans.
Buy Matt's book!
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/18/2020 • 1 hour, 34 minutes, 5 seconds
How Trump closed the border
Rep. Veronica Escobar joins Jane, Dara, and Matt to talk about Texas politics and the use of the pandemic as a pretext to clamp down on asylum.
Guest:
Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) US Congresswoman from Texas' 16th Congressional District
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords), Deputy Editor, The Goods
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/15/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 50 seconds
The definitive case against the filibuster
Ezra joins Matt to workshop his latest article — and save American democracy.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/11/2020 • 55 minutes, 24 seconds
Steal this podcast
Meredith Haggerty joins Jane and Matt to debate looting and corporate cooptation of social justice.
Resources:
"One Author's Controversial View: 'In Defense Of Looting'" by Natalie Escobar, NPR
"Examining Vicky Osterweil’s Case for Looting" by Isaac Chotiner
Baby, I'm an Anarchist by Against Me!
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords), Deputy Editor, The Goods
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/8/2020 • 58 minutes, 12 seconds
LAW AND ORDER
Matt and Ezra discuss why crime is rising in certain American cities, and the country's growing housing crisis.
Resources:
"Trump claims crime is up in US cities. The truth is more complicated." by German Lopez, Vox
Policing the Police: The Impact of "Pattern-or-Practice" Investigations on Crime by Roland Fryer Jr. & Tanaya Devi
The Effect of Police Oversight on Crime and Allegations of Misconduct: Evidence from Chicago by Roman Rivera & Bocar A. Ba
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/4/2020 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 22 seconds
Trump sells out
Dara, Jane, and Matt discuss Jane’s argument that the GOP establishment changed Trump more than he changed the party.
Resources:
"Trump was supposed to change the GOP. But the GOP changed him." by Jane Coaston, Vox
"Trump's approval rating among black voters jumps nine points during GOP convention: Poll" by Carly Ortiz-Lytle, Washington Examiner
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9/1/2020 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 3 seconds
The Trump Show
Ezra and Matt on the GOP convention and the politics of "law and order".
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/28/2020 • 54 minutes, 54 seconds
The Cut: Optimism
Introducing The Cut, a new podcast from our friends at New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network that dives deep into the cultural conversations that matter most in our current moment. Led by host Avery Trufelman, alumna of the podcasts 99% Invisible, Articles of Interest and Nice Try!, the Cut aims to answer questions before listeners know they have them, with a generous wit and an expansive idea of what is possible.
Subscribe to the Cut for new episodes every Wednesday.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/26/2020 • 31 minutes, 15 seconds
Trump's peddling a fake Covid-19 cure
Jane, Dara, and Matt on convalescent plasma, FDA reform, and the politics of science.
Resources:
"Trump used a rare disease survivor to take a shot at the FDA" by Julia Belluz, Vox
"Making American Great Again–The FDA" by Alex Tabarrok, Marginal Revolution
"Reopening schools safely is going to take much more federal leadership" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"Straight talk on the FDA’s tumultuous weekend — and new questions about its independence" by Adam Feuerstein & Matthew Herper, Stat News
One Billion Americans by Matthew Yglesias
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/25/2020 • 49 minutes, 39 seconds
Democratic convention special
Ezra and Matt stay up late to review Joe Biden's big speech and the Democrats' big week.
Resources:
"Obama’s Convention Speech Is the First Time I Have Seen Him Scared" by Jonathan Chait, NY Mag
"The tragedy of Hillary Clinton" by Ezra Klein, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/21/2020 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 6 seconds
WTF is happening with USPS
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the health and history of the postal service, the political games being played, and what it means for November's election.
Resources:
"The Post Office Mess Is Meant to Exhaust You. Don’t Let It." by Charlie Warzel, New York Times
"On the Post Office 'sabotage'" by Jay Caruso, The Monday Notice
"Why We Should Love The Post Office" by Addison Del Mastro, The American Conservative
"USPS badly needs an overhaul, but not smack in the middle of the Trump-Biden campaign" by Paul Brandus, USA Today
"State officials rush to shore up confidence in Nov. 3 election as voters express new fears about mail voting" by Amy Gardner and Seung Min Kim, WaPo
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Statement
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/18/2020 • 54 minutes, 35 seconds
What the hell is the Republican party doing?
Ezra and Matt on Republican policy nihilism and the Kamala Harris pick.
Resources:
"Kamala Harris Is Biden’s Choice for Vice President" by Alexander Burns and Katie Glueck, NYT
"How inequality and white identity politics feed each other" with Paul Pierson and Jacob Hacker, Ezra Klein Show podcast
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/14/2020 • 57 minutes, 44 seconds
What is the economy, stupid?
Vox's Emily Stewart joins Dara and Jane to discuss the relationship between "the market" and the "real economy."
Resources:
"The Stock Market Is an Engine of Civic Destruction" by Libby Watson, New Republic
"Who gets to be reckless on Wall Street?" by Emily Stewart, Vox
Hosts:
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Emily Stewart (@EmilyStewartM), Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/11/2020 • 44 minutes, 40 seconds
Veepstakes
Ezra and Matt on Susan Rice, Kamala Harris, and Trump’s increasingly chaotic authoritarianism.
Resources:
"What we know about Joe Biden’s possible vice presidential picks" by Ella Nilsen, Vox
"Harris allies granted call with Biden campaign after Dodd blowup" by Christopher Cadelago & Natasha Korecki, Politico
"Think the world is on fire? Obama’s national security adviser says things are better than ever." by Zack Beauchamp, Vox
"How inequality is changing the Republican Party — and breaking American politics" by Ezra Klein, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/7/2020 • 53 minutes, 18 seconds
The stimulus standoff
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the congressional deadlock over economic aid.
Resources:
"“The jobs aren’t there”: Why cutting off enhanced unemployment benefits would leave workers in the lurch" by Li Zhou, Vox
"Senate GOP Coronavirus Bill Has Some Good Provisions but Needs Serious Work" by Adam Michel, Rachel Greszler, Lindsey M. Burke, & Brian Finch, Heritage Foundation
"The Zombie Reaganism Trap" by Peter Spiliakos, National Review
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8/4/2020 • 59 minutes, 16 seconds
The Great Awokening
John McWhorter joins Matt to discuss the changing way we talk about racism in America.
Resources:
"“Latinx” is growing in popularity. I made a comic to help you understand why." by Terry Blas, Vox
"Racist Police Violence Reconsidered" by John McWhorter, Quillette
"The Virtue Signalers Won’t Change the World" by John McWhorter, The Atlantic
"The Dehumanizing Condescension of White Fragility" by John McWhorter, The Atlantic
"‘This Is How We Lost to the White Man’" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic
"The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic
Ibram X. Kendi wants to redefine racism, The Ezra Klein Show, VMPN
Guest:
John McWhorter (@JohnHMcWhorter), Professor at Columbia University / Host of the Lexicon Valley podcast, Slate
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/31/2020 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 31 seconds
Trafficking, and trafficking panics
Dara, Jane, and Matt on Wayfair, massage parlors, and reality.
Resources:
"The modeling industry is filled with exploitation—this labor activist is fighting back" by Sara Ziff, Fast Company
"American Airlines Reportedly Accused a Black Social Worker of Kidnapping the White Child In Her Care. Now She's Suing." by Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Reason
"Sen. Josh Hawley Says He 'Took on an Asian Trafficking Ring' and 'Freed a Dozen Women in Sex Slavery.' That's Not True." by Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Reason
"Trump has turned the war on trafficking into a war on immigrants" by Melissa Gira Grant & Debbie Nathan, The Appeal
"ICE Agents Fight Sex Trafficking by Paying Potential Victims for Hand Jobs" Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Reason
"'White slavery': the origins of the anti-trafficking movement" by Laura Lammasniemi, Open Democracy
"Baltimore Mayor Says Men in White Vans Are Snatching Young Girls for Sex Trafficking" Lenore Skenazy, Reason
"The allure of child trafficking conspiracy theories" Ben Sixsmith, Spectator
"The Making of “The Trafcking Problem”" by Ine Vanwesenbeeck
"American Fringes: How the extremes define our society" by Nick Fouriezos
"The bogus claim that 300,000 U.S. children are ‘at risk’ of sexual exploitation" by Glenn Kessler, WaPo
Polaris Statement on Wayfair Sex Trafficking Claims
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/28/2020 • 53 minutes, 25 seconds
The evidence on crime and policing
Texas A&M's Jennifer Doleac joins Matt to explain what we know (and don't know) about criminal justice.
Resources:
"How to Fix Policing" by Jennifer Doleac, Niskanen Center
"How to Make a Police Force More Diverse" by Jennifer Doleac, Bloomberg
"Changing Police Recruitment Messages Attracts a Larger and More Diverse Applicant Pool" by Jennifer Doleac, CCJ
"Making Fair and Respected Cops: Procedural Justice Training in Chicago Proves Successful" by Jennifer Doleac, CCJ
"Encouraging desistance from crime" by Jennifer Doleac
"The Unintended Consequences of “Ban the Box”: Statistical Discrimination and Employment Outcomes When Criminal Histories Are Hidden" by Jennifer Doleac (Texas A&M) & Benjamin Hansen (Univ. or Oregon)
Guest:
Jennifer Doleac (@jenniferdoleac), Economics professor, Texas A&M / Host of the Probable Causation podcast
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/24/2020 • 59 minutes, 23 seconds
Bad for the Jews?
Dara, Jane, and Matt on Nick Cannon, Louis Farrakhan, and antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Resources:
"The conspiracy theories behind the anti-Semitic violence in New York" by Jane Coaston, Vox
"Nick Cannon let go by ViacomCBS over anti-Semitic comments" by Lisa Respers France, CNN
"Calling out racism and anti-Semitism is a responsibility" by David Love, CNN
"Black Demagogues and Pseudo-Scholars" by Henry Louis Gates Jr., NYT
"July 20, 1992: Bias Is Poison" by Henry Louis Gates Jr., NYT
"Why Tamika Mallory Won’t Condemn Farrakhan" by Adam Serwer, The Atlantic
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/21/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 21 seconds
Biden reloaded
Ezra and Matt on Joe Biden’s unification strategy with the left.
Resources:
BIDEN-SANDERS UNITY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS
"How Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders joined forces to craft a bold, progressive agenda" by Ella Nilsen, Vox
"It’s time to move past employer-based health insurance" by Ezra Klein, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/17/2020 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 45 seconds
School’s out for Covid
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the school reopening debate and the political consequences of HIV/AIDS.
Resources:
"The debate over reopening America’s K-12 schools, explained" by Anna North, Vox
"I’m an epidemiologist and a dad. Here’s why I think schools should reopen." by Benjamin P. Linas, Vox
"‘I Don’t Want to Go Back’: Many Teachers Are Fearful and Angry Over Pressure to Return" by Dana Goldstein and Eliza Shapiro, NYT
"In D.C. wards hit hardest by covid-19, sending kids to school is a risk some parents won’t take" by Perry Stein
"Crucial Steps in Combating the Aids Epidemic; Identify All the Carriers" by William F. Buckley
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/14/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 26 seconds
The Covid resurgence
Ezra and Matt on how America failed while the world made progress on the pandemic, and what on earth is going on with the republican party.
Resources:
"Reopening schools safely is going to take much more federal leadership" by Matthew Yglesias
"Trumpism, not polarization, drives America’s disastrous coronavirus politics" by Ezra Klein
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/10/2020 • 53 minutes, 37 seconds
Contagious enthusiasm
Dara, Jane, and Matt on Biden’s excitement gap.
Resources:
"So … About That Supposed Lack Of Enthusiasm For Biden?" Five Thirty Eight
"Social conservatives feel betrayed by the Supreme Court — and the GOP that appointed it" by Jane Coaston, Vox
"Trump’s surprising resilience with Hispanic voters, explained" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/7/2020 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 11 seconds
Land of the Giants: The Netflix Effect
Land of the Giants is a podcast from our friends at Recode and the Vox Media Podcast Network that examines the most powerful tech companies of our time.
The second season is called The Netflix Effect, and it’s hosted by Recode editors Rani Molla and Peter Kafka.
The Netflix Effect explores how a company that began as a small DVD-by-mail service ultimately upended Hollywood and completely changed the way we watch TV.
It’s a fascinating look at what really goes on behind the scenes at Netflix, one of the few companies that’s actually growing during the pandemic, and how they’re continuing to transform entertainment for you and me.
New episodes are released every Tuesday morning.
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7/3/2020 • 22 minutes, 55 seconds
The war on bad statues
Jane, Dara, and Matt on Confederate Memorials, Woodrow Wilson, and the battle for historical memory.
Resources:
"Woodrow Wilson was extremely racist — even by the standards of his time" by Dylan Matthews, Vox
"Inside the growing movement to ditch Columbus Day and celebrate Native Americans instead" by Victoria M. Massie, Vox
"The battle over Confederate statues, explained" by German Lopez, Vox
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/30/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 56 seconds
The Veepstakes
Ezra and Matt on Warren, Abrams, Harris, and the Tammies and the links between racial and economic justice.
Resources:
"The Second Defeat of Bernie Sanders" by Ross Douthat, NYT
"The Black-White Wage Gap Is as Big as It Was in 1950" by David Leonhardt, NYT
"What is Owed" by Nikole Hannah-Jones, NYT
"The Triumph of Black Lives Matter and Neoliberal Redemption" by Cedric Johnson, Nonsite.org
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/26/2020 • 56 minutes, 19 seconds
Talking about talking
Jane, Dara, and Matt explain “intersectional,” “structural” and the new language of identity discourse.
Resources:
"The intersectionality wars" by Jane Coaston, Vox
"The Origins of “Privilege”" by Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker
"Toward Black Liberation " National Humanities Center
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/23/2020 • 43 minutes, 54 seconds
The legal doctrine that protects brutal policing
Cato's Clark Neily joins Jane to discuss Qualified Immunity - where is came from, why it exists, and what's being done to eliminate it. Clark details how the Supreme Court invented the civil doctrine to protect public workers from personal liability, and details hows it's being used to cloak police officers from being held accountable for unlawful practices.
*This interview was recorded on Monday, June 15th 2020
Relevant cases:
Amy Corbitt, Petitioner v. Michael Vickers, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Jessop v. City of Fresno, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Sims v. Labowitz, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Relevant articles:
"To Make Police Accountable, End Qualified Immunity" by Clark Neily, The Bulwark
"Is Qualified Immunity Unlawful?" by William Baude, California Law Review
"Jury Rejects Damages for Victims of Pot Raid Based on Wet Tea Leaves" by Jacob Sullum, Reason
"George Floyd’s Death Must Be a Catalyst for Accountability" by Clark Neily, Cato
Please visit https://www.unlawfulshield.com/ for more information on Cato's efforts to eliminate Qualified Immunity
Guest:
Clark Neily (@ConLawWarrior) Vice President of Criminal Justice, Cato Institute
Host:
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior Politics Reporter, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/19/2020 • 44 minutes, 3 seconds
Fixing the police
Jane, Dara, and Matt on what we know about police reform and its limits
Resources:
"Unbundle the Police" by Derek Thompson, The Atlantic
"Why Are the Police in Charge of Road Safety?" by Alex Tabarrok, Marginal Revolution
Collective Bargaining Rights and Police Misconduct: Evidence from Florida, by Dhammika Dharmapala, Richard H. McAdams, & John Rappaport, University of Chicago
Reducing Racial Disparities in Crime Victimization, by Anna Harvey & Taylor Mattia, NYU
The Impact of Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Policing by Bocar Ba, Dean Knox, Jonathan Mummolo, & Roman Rivera
Police Employment, Officers Per Capita Rates for U.S. Cities
Glossary of Nonviolence
A Force More Powerful
Gandhi on Non-Violence
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/16/2020 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 53 seconds
America gives up on Covid-19
Ezra and Matt on the return of a virus that never went away.
Resources:
"America Is Giving Up on the Pandemic" by Alexis C. Madrigal & Robinson Meyer, WaPo
"14 states and Puerto Rico hit highest seven-day average of new coronavirus infections" by Kim Bellware & Jacqueline Dupree, WaPo
"How Trump uses a crisis: Repeal rules while nobody is looking" by Rachel Augustine Potter, WaPo
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/12/2020 • 52 minutes, 32 seconds
After George Floyd
Jane, Dara, and Matt on America's dual reckonings with racism and police impunity
Resources:
"It's Time To Bust Police Unions" by Peter Suderman, Reason
"Libertarianism For Me, Authoritarianism For Thee" by Chris Arnade, American Compass
A Colony in a Nation by Chris Hayes
"10 Events that Shaped Cincinnati: Timothy Thomas is Shot and Killed" by Cedric Rose, Cincinnati Magazine
"The data proves that school segregation is getting worse" by Alvin Chang, Vox
"NYC delays controversial rezoning of 7 Brooklyn elementary schools" by Christina Veiga, Chalkbeat New York
"Restrictive Zoning Promotes Racial Segregation" by Matthew Yglesias, Slate
Mapping Police Violence
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/9/2020 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 42 seconds
Defund the police?
Ezra and Matt on reformism vs radicalism and reimagining law enforcement
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Producer
Jackson Bierfeldt, Editor
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6/5/2020 • 55 minutes, 15 seconds
The global class war
Barron's economics commentary Matt Klein explains what's really behind international trade conflicts
Guest:
Matthew C. Klein (@M_C_Klein) Senior Writer, Barrons and author of Trade Wars Are Class Wars
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
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6/2/2020 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 31 seconds
Tweeting through it
Ezra and Matt on Trump's war on social media, plus Joe Biden's policy agenda.
*This episode was recorded on Thursday, May 28th, 2020.
Resources:
"Twitter Must Cleanse the Trump Stain" by Kara Swisher, NYT
"Joe Biden has a plan for that" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/29/2020 • 1 hour, 13 seconds
Joe Biden ain't black
Jane, Dara, and Matt on gaffes and the racial politics of 2020
Resources:
"Do Joe Biden’s “you ain’t black” comments ultimately matter?" by Fabiola Cineas, Vox
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/26/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 9 seconds
The stimulus failure
Ezra and Matt on Trump's pseudo-federalism and Pelosi's strange aversion to automatic stabilizers.
Resources:
"Nancy Pelosi says Democrats opted against putting federal aid on autopilot in their $3 trillion coronavirus spending package to avoid amplifying sticker shock" by Joseph Zeballos-Roig, Business Insider
"Trump Rewrites the Book on Emergencies" by Christopher DeMuth, WSJ
"Federalism Is an Asset" by Danielle Allen, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Josh Simons, & Carmel Shachar, Harvard
References:
Recession Ready: Fiscal Policies to Stabilize the American Economy, The Hamilton Project
Fix recessions by giving people money - The Weeds, featuring Claudia Sahm
The case for subsidized jobs - The Weeds, featuring Indi Dutta-Gupta
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/22/2020 • 54 minutes, 20 seconds
Actual enumeration
Dara, Jane, and Matt take a look at America's first pandemic Census.
Resources:
"The pandemic may leave communities of color undercounted in the census — and cost them billions" by Donna M. Owens, Vox
"Trump is still trying to collect citizenship data for redistricting" by Nicole Narea, Vox
"A once-in-a-century pandemic collides with a once-in-a-decade census" by Andrew Whitby, Brookings
"Over a million Hispanics turned white between the 2000 and 2010 Census" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/19/2020 • 53 minutes, 37 seconds
The psychology of opening up
Ezra and Matt on the deep roots (or not) of the lockdown debate.
Resources:
"Experts’ 7 best ideas on how to beat Covid-19 and save the economy" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"This drawing explains a surprising amount about your political views" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"America’s coronavirus testing numbers are really improving — finally" by German Lopez
"The Density Divide" by Will Wilkinson, Niskanen Center
"Trump Rewrites the Book on Emergencies" by Christopher DeMuth, WSJ
"Without More Tests, America Can’t Reopen" by Ezekiel J. Emanuel &Paul M. Romer
Books referenced:
Prius or Pickup? by Jonathan Weiler & Marc Hetherington
Open versus Closed by Christopher M. Federico, Howard G. Lavine, & Christopher D. Johnston
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/15/2020 • 58 minutes, 26 seconds
Will the economy bounce back?
Dara, Jane, and Matt on the road ahead for the worst labor market since the Great Depression.
Resources:
"As deaths mount, Trump tries to convince Americans it’s safe to inch back to normal" by Josh Dawsey, Ashley Parker, Philip Rucker and Yasmeen Abutaleb, Washington Post
"Get ready for a second wave of economic pain" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"The economy is in free fall. So why isn’t the stock market?" by Emily Stewart, Vox
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
Follow Us: Vox.com
Facebook group: The Weeds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
5/12/2020 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 44 seconds
Reopening without a plan
Ezra and Matt on America's lost month and what happens next.
Resources:
"April was another lost month for Trump’s coronavirus response" by German Lopez, Vox
"Flattening the curve isn’t good enough" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"COVID-19: The CIDRAP Viewpoint" by Peter M. Sandman & Jody Lanard, Cidrap
"Canada succeeded on coronavirus where America failed. Why?" by Zack Beauchamp, Vox
"US coronavirus data is at odds with Trump’s push to get the economy back up and running" by Aaron Rupar, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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5/8/2020 • 54 minutes, 4 seconds
How to win elections
Dara, Jane, and Matt break down the great mobilization vs persuasion debate.
Resources:
"What Happened in the Georgia Gubernatorial Election?" Catalist Analytics, Medium
"The case for taking Trump’s black outreach seriously" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"Michelle Obama Is Mad at ‘Our Folks,’ Not Trump Voters: ‘That’s My Trauma’" by Kevin Fallon, Daily Beast
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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5/5/2020 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 3 seconds
Are Democrats getting rolled?
Ezra and Matt on congressional bargaining strategy and the China blame game.
Resources:
"Congressional Democrats are governing from the minority" by Ezra Klein, Vox
"Many world leaders have seen double-digit polling surges amid coronavirus. Trump isn’t one of them." by Roge Karma, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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5/1/2020 • 54 minutes, 43 seconds
A faster Covid-19 vaccine
Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss the possibility of "human challenge trials" to speed vaccine development.
Resources:
"How Anthony Fauci Became America’s Doctor" by Michael Specter, The New Yorker
"What Each Side of the COVID-19 Debate Should Understand About the Other" by Brian Doherty, Reason
"Special Report: Peruvian coca farmers to Paris pushers, coronavirus upends global narcotics trade" by Gabriel Stargardter, Drazen Jorgic, Reuters
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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4/28/2020 • 53 minutes, 36 seconds
Who models the modelers?
Ezra and Matt on the failures of some popular epidemiological forecasts and a viral Silicon Valley essay urging America to build again.
Resources:
"The US has a national service for predicting the weather. It needs one for predicting disease." by Brian Resnick, Vox
"What happens next in the coronavirus outbreak? We mapped 8 scenarios." by Julia Belluz, Vox
"It's time to build" by Marc Andreessen, a16z
"Why we can’t build" by Ezra Klein, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
Open courtesy of StatQuest
More to explore:
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About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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4/24/2020 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 18 seconds
Opening up
Dara, Jane, and Matt on conservatives’ desire for a rapid reopening of American businesses, and a 'feel good' white paper about air pollution.
Resources:
"This is where all 50 states stand on reopening" by Alaa Eslassar, CNN
The Heritage Foundation's plan.
The American Enterprise's plan.
The Center for American Progress's plan
"The legal scholar who shaped Trump’s coronavirus response defends his theory" by Jane Coaston, Vox
"Inclined to Putrefaction" by Erin Maglaque, London Review of Books
The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Theory
COVID-19 Outbreak Associated with Air Conditioning in Restaurant, Guangzhou, China, 2020, CDC
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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4/21/2020 • 59 minutes, 22 seconds
Help is on the way (sort of)
Ezra and Matt break down the implementation problems that have bedeviled the CARES Act.
Resources:
"Policy by no other means" The Weeds
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer
Cold open courtesy of NBC News
More to explore:
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4/17/2020 • 48 minutes, 3 seconds
The corporate bailout watchdog
Congressional oversight committee member Bharat Ramamurti joins Matt to explain his new job and what's wrong with shareholder capitalism.
Guest:
Bharat Ramamurti (@BharatRamamurti), Member, Congressional Oversight Commission
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Credits:
Jeff Geld (@jeff_geld), Editor & Producer
More to explore:
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4/14/2020 • 57 minutes, 32 seconds
How does this end?
Ezra and Matt review four major plans for after social distancing; plus the Democratic primary finally ends.
Resources:
Dan Hopkins' tweet
"National coronavirus response: A road map to reopening" by Scott Gottlieb, AEI
"A National and State Plan To End the Coronavirus Crisis" By Zeke Emanuel, Neera Tanden, Topher Spiro, Adam Conner, Kevin DeGood, Erin Simpson, Nicole Rapfogel, and Maura Calsyn, Center for American Progress
COVID-19 Response White Papers, Harvard University
"Simulating Covid-19: Part 1" by Paul Romer
"Even A Bad Test Can Help Guide the Decision to Isolate: Covid Simulations Part 3" by Paul Romer
"It’s time to move past employer-based health insurance" by Ezra Klein, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Producer and edited by Jeff Geld
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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4/10/2020 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 32 seconds
Covid-19 and the border
Dara, Jane, and Matt on the intersection between the pandemic and Trump's border crackdown, and a white paper about happiness.
Resources:
"It’s Impossible to “Distance” in ICE Detention. Doctors Say Free All Detainees." by Jack Herrera, Truthout
"How ice operations in New York set the stage for a coronavirus nightmare in local jails" by Ryan Devereaux, The Intercept
"Leaked Border Patrol Memo Tells Agents to Send Migrants Back Immediately — Ignoring Asylum Law" by Dara Lind, ProPublica
"The Real Roots of Midlife Crisis" by Jonathan Rauch, The Atlantic
"Why Elders Smile" by David Brooks, NYTimes
White Paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
The Weeds is produced and edited by Jeff Geld
More to explore:
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About Vox
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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4/7/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 58 seconds
Coronavirus meets health reform
Ezra and Matt discuss Covid-19's impact on insurance premiums, the case for single-payer, and more.
Resources:
"Coronavirus May Add Billions to U.S. Health Care Bill" by Reed Abelson, NYTimes
"The coronavirus crisis hasn't changed Joe Biden's mind on 'Medicare for All'" by Sahil Kapur, NBC News
Briahna Joy Gray Tweet
"Fighting coronavirus won’t help struggling Maine hospitals pay the bills" by Charles Eichacker, BDN
"California’s rural hospitals can’t handle a coronavirus wave. ‘People will die,’ doctor warns" by Ryan Sabalow and Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee
"Is U.S. Health Care Well-Equipped for the Coronavirus?" by Robert Orr, Niskanen Center
"Trump rejects Obamacare special enrollment period amid pandemic" by Susannah Luthi, Politico
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
Credits:
Producer and edited by Jeff Geld
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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4/3/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 23 seconds
The mask fiasco
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the evidence for mask wearing, and a totally non-coronavirus white paper.
Resources:
"Why America ran out of protective masks — and what can be done about it" by German Lopez, Vox
"Why Telling People They Don’t Need Masks Backfired" by Zeynep Tufekci, NYTimes
"It's Time to Face Facts, America: Masks Work" by Ferris Jabr, Wired
"Masks for Coronavirus Will Not Last Long in the West" by Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review
"FACE MASKS: MUCH MORE THAN YOU WANTED TO KNOW" by Scott Alexander, Slate Star Codex
"the global coronavirus epidemic: commentary on east asia’s response" by Rashawn Ray and Fabio Rojas, Contexts
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/31/2020 • 1 hour, 38 seconds
When $2 trillion isn’t enough
Ezra and Matt analyze the huge but inadequate stimulus bill
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/27/2020 • 57 minutes, 49 seconds
Fighting coronavirus with corporate conscription
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the Defense Production Act, wartime mobilization, and pandemic-induced autarky.
Resources:
"Trump’s excuses for not using the Defense Production Act are wrong — and dangerous" by Alex Ward, Vox
"“We are desperate”: Trump’s inaction has created a crisis with protective medical gear" by Caroline Hopkins, Vox
"The Defense Production Act, the law Trump is using to boost coronavirus supplies, briefly explained" by Alex Ward, Vox
"How Ford's Willow Run Assembly Plant Helped Win World War II" by Tim Trainor, Assembly Magazine
Willow Run
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/24/2020 • 57 minutes, 2 seconds
The story of Trump's swamp
Jane talks to Asawin Suebsaeng and Lachlan Markay about their new book "Sinking in the Swamp" on chaos at the White House and how President Trump differs (and doesn't) from prior administrations.
As a note - this episode was recorded on February 26, 2020.
Resources:
"Too Many Trump Books Are Like Eagles Records. These Daily Beast Reporters Wanted Theirs to Feel Like a Mudhoney Album" by Andrew Beaujon, Washingtonian
Sinking in the Swamp by Asawin Suebsaeng and Lachlan Markay
Guests:
Lachlan Markay, (@lachlan) Reporter, Daily Beast
Asawin Suebsaeng, (@swin24) White House Reporter, Daily Beast
Host:
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/21/2020 • 59 minutes, 1 second
Devaluing black assets
Brookings’ Andre Perry explains his research on how racism cripples black entrepreneurs and homeowners
Guest:
Andre Perry, (@andreperryedu) Fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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3/20/2020 • 50 minutes, 56 seconds
Rescuing the economy from coronavirus
Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss President Trump’s new more serious tone and competing economic stimulus proposals.
Resources:
"Coronavirus’s threat to the global economy — and what to do about it" by Matt Yglesias, Vox
"Dear Congress: Send Americans cash. Send it now." by Dylan Matthews, Vox
"Mitt Romney’s coronavirus economic plan: $1,000 to each American adult" by Dylan Matthews, Vox
"Restaurants Are Fucked — Unless They Get a Bailout" by Hillary Dixler Canavan, Eater
"A family of 4 could get $18,000 this year under a cash bill by Senate Democrats" by Dylan Matthews, Vox
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/17/2020 • 53 minutes, 47 seconds
Weeds 2020: The coronavirus election
Ezra and Matt on dueling pandemic response plans from Sanders and Biden, and Trump's disastrous speech.
Resources:
President Trump's oval office address
Joe Biden's coronavirus address
Bernie Sanders' coronavirus address
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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3/14/2020 • 54 minutes, 42 seconds
Meet the YIMBYs
Conor Dougherty on his new book "Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America"
Guest:
Conor Dougherty, (@ConorDougherty) Economics reporter, New York Times
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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3/13/2020 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 31 seconds
Mayor Pete and the state of LGBTQ politics
Jane, Dara, and Matt on queer politics after marriage equality.
Resources:
"Before Stonewall" by Jane Coaston, MTV News
"My Mayor Pete Problem" by Dale Peck, New Republic
"Last Men Standing" by Erin Allday, SF Chronicle
"You Wanted Same-Sex Marriage? Now You Have Pete Buttigieg." by Shannon Keating, BuzzFeed
"The Struggle for Gay Rights Is Over" by James Kirchick, Atlantic
Census & LGBT Demographic Studies Archive, The Williams Institute
White paper
Hosts:
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior Correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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3/10/2020 • 51 minutes, 51 seconds
A "titan" of social conservatism on the courts and his battles ahead
Conservative thinker Robert George joins Jane to talk about abortion, marriage, the Supreme Court, and wielding the power of the federal government.
Guest:
Robert George, (@McCormickProf) Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University
Host:
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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3/7/2020 • 1 hour, 9 seconds
Behind the Covid-19 curve
The Kaiser Foundation's Josh Michaud explains what the US is — and should be — doing to fight coronavirus.
Guest:
Josh Michaud, (@joshmich) Associate Director, Global Health Policy, The Kaiser Foundation
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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3/6/2020 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 29 seconds
Coronavirus 101
Jane, Dara and Brian Resnick talk about COVID-19 -- how it started, its potential impact, and where we go from here.
Resources:
"11 questions about the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, answered" by Julia Belluz, Vox
"If the coronavirus hits America, who’s responsible for protecting you?" by Brian Resnick, Vox
"“This is not the bat’s fault”: A disease expert explains where the coronavirus likely comes from" by Brian Resnick, Vox
"The coronavirus diagnostic testing snafu, explained" by Julia Belluz and Brian Resnick, Vox
"Ebola will make Americans more likely to give up civil liberties" by Shana Gadarian and Bethany Albertson, WaPo
Hosts:
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Brian Resnick (@B_resnick), Science reporter, Vox
More to explore:
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3/3/2020 • 46 minutes, 1 second
Weeds 2020: The Bernie electability debate
Welcome to Weeds 2020! Every other Saturday Ezra and Matt will be exploring a wide range of topics related to the 2020 race.
Since the Nevada caucuses, Bernie Sanders has become the clear frontrunner in the 2020 Democratic primary, spurring lots of debate over whether he could win in the general election. We discuss where the electability conversation often goes off-the-rails, why discussing electability in 2020 is so different than 1964 or 1972, the case for and against Bernie’s electability prospects, and the strongest attacks that Trump could make against Sanders and Joe Biden.
Then, we discuss Ezra’s favorite topic of all time: the filibuster. Ezra gives a brief history of this weird procedural tool, and we discuss why so many current Senators are against eliminating it.
Resources:
"Bernie Sanders can unify Democrats and beat Trump in 2020" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"The case for Elizabeth Warren" by Ezra Klein, Vox
"How the filibuster broke the US Senate" by Alvin Chang, Vox
"Running Bernie Sanders Against Trump Would Be an Act of Insanity" by Jonathan Chait, Intelligencer
"The Sixty Trillion Dollar Man" by Ronald brownstein, Atlantic
"The Day One Agenda" by David Dayen, American Prospect
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large, Vox
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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2/29/2020 • 57 minutes, 39 seconds
Going nuclear
Jessica Lovering joins Matt to discuss nuclear power's role in combatting climate change.
Guest:
Jessica Lovering, (@J_Lovering) Fellow, Energy for Growth
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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2/28/2020 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 24 seconds
Black voters take the stage
The New Republic's Osita Nwanevu joins Jane and Matt to discuss black voting patterns and the South Carolina primary.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Osita Nwanevu (@OsitaNwanevu), Staff writer, New Republic
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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2/25/2020 • 57 minutes, 16 seconds
The year of housing reform
Mercatus' Emily Hamilton on what's working and what isn't to increase housing abundance.
Guest:
Emily Hamilton, (@ebwhamilton) Research Fellow, Mercatus
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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2/21/2020 • 59 minutes, 39 seconds
Mike can get what done?
Jane, Dara, and Matt on Michael Bloomberg’s record as mayor of New York City.
Related material:
"National education ratings show NYC student test scores stagnant since 2013, ranks them about average for big cities" by Michael Elsen-Rooney, New York Daily News
"Boost for Congestion Pricing in Manhattan as de Blasio Supports Cuomo Plan" by Emma G. Fitzsimmons and Jesse McKinley, NYT
"The quiet, massive rezoning of New York" by Sarah Laskow, Politico
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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2/18/2020 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 50 seconds
Private equity, explained
Vox business and politics reporter Emily Stewart on the mysteries of one of America's most powerful industries.
Guest:
Emily Stewart, (@EmilyStewartM) Reporter, Vox
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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2/14/2020 • 53 minutes, 13 seconds
After asylum
Jane and Matt join as Dara explains her reporting on the new reality at the border.
Related material:
"“Women to One Side, Men to the Other”: How the Border Patrol’s New Powers and Old Carelessness Separated a Family" by Dara Lind, ProPublica
"Two Gay Immigrants Left Everything For Safety In The US. Instead, They Were Sent To Guatemala." by Hamed Aleaziz, Buzzfeed
"The demise of America’s asylum system under Trump, explained" by Nicole Narea, Vox
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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2/11/2020 • 49 minutes, 7 seconds
How we pick a president
University of Maryland political scientist David Karol joins Matt to explain the consequences of presidential nomination reform.
Guest:
David Karol, (@DKarol) Government & Politics professor, University of Maryland
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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2/7/2020 • 1 hour, 29 minutes, 53 seconds
Iowapocalypse Now
Vox politics reporter Andrew Prokop joins Dara and Matt to explain Monday night's disaster.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Andrew Prokop (@awprokop), Senior politics correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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2/4/2020 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 24 seconds
Fix recessions by giving people money
Claudia Sahm from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth joins Matt to explain a surprisingly simple strategy to stabilize the economy.
Guest:
Claudia Sahm, (@Claudia_Sahm) Director of Macroeconomic Policy, Washington Center for Equitable Growth
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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1/31/2020 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 43 seconds
A conversation about anti-Semitism
Matt, Dara and Jane talk about the rise in anti-Semitic violence aimed at Hassidic communities, and what the political implications may be.
Related reading:
"The conspiracy theories behind the anti-Semitic violence in New York" Jane Coaston, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
More to explore:
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1/28/2020 • 52 minutes, 39 seconds
The road to polarization
Ezra Klein joins Matt to discuss his forthcoming book; Why We're Polarized.
Guest:
Ezra Klein, (@ezraklein) Co-founder and Editor-at-Large, Vox
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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Pre order Why We’re Polarized at ezraklein.com
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1/24/2020 • 1 hour, 23 minutes, 38 seconds
Green New Germany
Introducing season 3 of The Impact!
The 2020 candidates have some bold ideas to tackle some of our country's biggest problems, like climate change, the opioid crisis, and unaffordable health care. A lot of their proposals have been tried before, so, in a sense, the results are in.
This season, The Impact has those stories: how the big ideas from 2020 candidates succeeded — or failed — in other places, or at other times. What can Sen. Elizabeth Warren's proposal to fight the opioid crisis learn from what the US did to fight the AIDS epidemic? How did Germany — an industrial powerhouse that invented the automobile — manage to implement a Green New Deal? How did public health insurance change Taiwan?
In this bonus episode Jillian and team fly to Germany to investigate a law that looks a lot like part of the Green New Deal some Democrats are proposing in the US.
Subscribe to The Impact on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app to automatically get new episodes of the latest season each week.
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1/22/2020 • 29 minutes, 32 seconds
Three roads to universal coverage
Dylan Scott and special guest Sarah Kliff join Matt for a close look at health care in Taiwan, Australia, and the Netherlands.
Recommended reading:
"Everybody Covered" by Dylan Scott, Ezra Klein, and Tara Golshan, Vox
"Taiwan’s single-payer success story — and its lessons for America" by Dylan Scott, Vox
"Two sisters. Two different journeys through Australia’s health care system." by Dylan Scott, Vox
"The Netherlands has universal health insurance — and it’s all private" by Dylan Scott, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott), National security reporter, Vox
Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff), Investigations and health policy, New York Times
More to explore:
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About Vox
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Our project, Everybody Covered, was made possible by a grant from The Commonwealth Fund.
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1/21/2020 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 47 seconds
The way forward on family leave
New America's Vicki Shabo joins Matt to discuss universal paid leave and how to finance it.
Guest:
Vicki Shabo, (@VShabo) Senior Fellow, Paid Leave Policy and Strategy, New America
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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1/17/2020 • 58 minutes, 48 seconds
Ezra and Matt debate the debaters
Ezra and Matt break down the last debate before the Iowa caucuses, and explore the current state of the Democratic field.
Related reading:
"Joe Biden will never give up on the system" by Ezra Klein, Vox
"4 winners and 3 losers from the January Democratic debate" Vox Staff
"The case for Elizabeth Warren" by Ezra Klein, Vox
"Bernie Sanders can unify Democrats and beat Trump in 2020" by Matthew Yglesias
"Joe Biden skates by again" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"Elizabeth Warren’s new plan to reform bankruptcy law, explained" by Matthew Yglesias
"The Third Rail of Calling ‘Sexism’ Warren tried not to talk about it." by Rebecca Traister, The Cut
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large & co-founder, Vox
More to explore:
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1/15/2020 • 58 minutes, 19 seconds
Mission Accomplished?
Vox national security correspondent Alex Ward joins Jane and Matt to break down Trump's Iran policy.
Recommended reading:
"Trump’s team insists Soleimani was an “imminent” threat. Just don’t ask for details." by Alex Ward, Vox
"9 questions about the US-Iran crisis you were too embarrassed to ask" by Zack Beauchamp, Vox
"The US killed Soleimani. What will Iran do next?" by Alex Ward, Vox
"The Soleimani Strike Defied the U.S. Constitution" by Oona A. Hathaway, The Atlantic
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), National security reporter, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
More to explore:
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1/14/2020 • 57 minutes, 11 seconds
Why are we fighting Iran?
Cato’s Emma Ashford joins Matt to explain America’s larger (lack of) strategy in the Persian Gulf region.
Guest:
Emma Ashford, (@EmmaMAshford) Research Fellow in Defense and Foreign Policy, Cato Institute
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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1/10/2020 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 23 seconds
Midichlorian chili
Dara, Jane, and Matt kick the new year off by answering listeners' questions on everything under the sun.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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1/7/2020 • 1 hour, 19 minutes, 37 seconds
Neighborhood Defenders
Boston University's Katherine Levine Einstein explains the dysfunctional politics behind America's housing crisis.
Guest:
Katherine Levine Einstein, Boston University
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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1/3/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 42 seconds
2019 in review
Dara, Jane, and Matt talk about what surprised them in 2019, remember the last decade, and predict what 2020 might have in store.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/31/2019 • 49 minutes, 30 seconds
The next abortion debate
UC Berkley's Abigail Burman on the growing battles over self-managed abortion.
Guest:
Abigail Burman, UC Berkeley
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/27/2019 • 49 minutes, 26 seconds
No room at the inn (live!)
Dara, Jane, and Matt on the global crackdown on refugees. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the historic 6th and I synagogue in Washington, D.C.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/24/2019 • 1 hour, 29 minutes, 58 seconds
Wine cave cage match
Vox politics reporter Ella Nilsen joins Matt to break down this week's Democratic debate.
Guest:
Ella Nilsen (@ella_nilsen), Politics & Policy Reporter, Vox
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/20/2019 • 55 minutes, 57 seconds
Primary mooples
Dara, Jane, and Matt on America's odd system of choosing presidential nominees.
What to read:
"There is no single “black vote.” There are many." by P.R. Lockhart, Vox
"The extremely small number of votes it takes to win the Iowa caucuses, explained" by Tara Golshan and Ella Nilson, Vox
Latest polling averages from FiveThirtyEight.com
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/17/2019 • 48 minutes, 17 seconds
Policy by other means
Georgetown’s Don Moynihan and Pamela Herd explain administrative burdens and why they matter.
Guest:
Don Moynihan (@donmoyn), Professor at Georgetown, Visiting Professor at Oxford & Aarhus
Pamela Herd (@Pamela_Herd), Professor of Public Policy, Georgetown University
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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12/13/2019 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 1 second
The free college debate
Jane, Dara, and Matt on tuition, debt relief, and the role of major choice in the gender wage gap.
What to read:
"Democrats’ ongoing argument about free college, explained" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"‘Free’ College Is a Terrible Idea. Here’s a Better One." by David L. Bahnsen, National Review
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/10/2019 • 55 minutes, 15 seconds
Movement building in the Trump era
Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg joins Matt to talk about her new book and the path forward for democratic reform.
Guest:
Leah Greenberg (@Leahgreenb), Co-Executive Director of Invisible
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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12/6/2019 • 56 minutes, 48 seconds
You say "usmca," I say "U-S-M-C-A"
Dara and Matt on the congressional debate over Trump's trade deal.
What to read:
"USMCA, the new trade deal between the US, Canada, and Mexico, explained" by Jen Kirby, Vox
"How the Trans-Pacific Partnership could drive up the cost of medicine worldwide" by Julia Belluz, Vox
"How Canada's supply management system works" by John Paul Tasker, CBC
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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12/3/2019 • 59 minutes, 12 seconds
Build housing near transit
San Diego-area congressman Scott Peters joins Matt to talk about his plan to boost transit-oriented development.
Guest:
Rep. Scott Peters (@RepScottPeters), U.S. Representative from California's 52nd congressional district
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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11/29/2019 • 40 minutes, 43 seconds
Impeachment's policy roots
Andrew Prokop joins Dara and Matt to discuss the long shadow of Viktor Yanukovitch's downfall.
What to read:
"Top U.S. official visits protesters in Kiev as Obama admin. ups pressure on Ukraine president Yanukovich" NYT
"Paul Manafort has now been sentenced to a combined 7.5 years in prison" by Andrew Prokop, Vox
"Former CIA Director: We worried arming Ukraine would hand technology to Russian spies" by Ken Dilanian, NBC News
""Hillary is the worst option": How Moscow sees American politics" by Max Fisher, Vox
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Andrew Prokop (@awprokop), Senior Politics Correspondent, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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11/26/2019 • 1 hour, 15 minutes, 44 seconds
Single-payer federalism
Rep. Ro Khanna joins Matt to make the case for his legislation encouraging state-based Medicare for All programs.
What to read:
Rep. Khanna's proposed legislation
Guest:
Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna), U.S. Representative from California's 17th congressional district
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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11/22/2019 • 49 minutes, 45 seconds
Groypers vs. Conservatism Inc.
Jane, Dara, and Matt on white nationalists' campus battles, plus a major scandal in Swedish administrative data.
What to read:
"Why alt-right trolls shouted down Donald Trump Jr." by Jane Coaston, Vox
"Democrats want Stephen Miller to resign after report exposes emails promoting white nationalism" by Michael Brice-Saddler, The Washington Post
"The groypers are American fascists" by Dominic Green, Spectator
"Stephen Miller planted anti-Rubio stories in Breitbart during 2016 campaign, leaked emails show" by Ben Collins and Anna Schecter, NBC News
"Immigration, Not White Suburbs, Turning VA Blue. GOP Still Can Win With Sailer Strategy—But Ultimately Needs An Immigration Moratorium" Anonymous, Vdare
"The real reason SAT scores are falling" by Libby Nelson
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
About Vox
Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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11/19/2019 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 12 seconds
The case for subsidized jobs
Indi Dutta-Gupta of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality's big idea for turning Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) into an effective recession-fighting tool.
What to read:
"Recession ready: Fiscal policies to stabilize the American economy" by Heather Boushey, Ryan Nunn, and Jay Shambaugh, Brookings
"'If the goal was to get rid of poverty, we failed': the legacy of the 1996 welfare reform" by Dylan Matthews, Vox
"The Legacy of the TANF Emergency Fund" by LaDonna Pavetti, Ph.D.
"Why politicians should promise every American a job" by Matthews Yglesias, Vox
Guest:
Indi Dutta-Gupta (@IndivarD), Co-Executive Director at the Georgetown Center on Poverty & Inequality
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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11/15/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 57 seconds
Introducing Reset
Every story is a tech story. We live in a world where algorithms drive our interests, scientists are re-engineering our food supply, and a robot may be your next boss. Host Arielle Duhaime-Ross explores why–and how–tech is changing everything. Produced by Recode and Stitcher, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
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11/13/2019 • 46 minutes, 46 seconds
The billionaire backlash
Jane, Dara, and Matt on Michael Bloomberg’s presidential aspirations and the case against billionaires.
What to read:
"Bashing Bill Gates lets the rest of the billionaire class off the hook" by Dylan Matthews, Vox
"AOC’s policy adviser makes the case for abolishing billionaires" by Dylan Matthews, Vox
"Anand Giridharadas on the elite charade of changing the world" by Ezra Klein, Vox
"A Michael Bloomberg presidential run is unlikely to help moderate Democrats’ cause" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
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Facebook group: The Weeds
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11/12/2019 • 57 minutes, 17 seconds
The internet we lost
Function's Anil Dash joins Matt to discuss how Big Tech broke the web and how we can get it back.
Guest:
Anil Dash (@anildash), CEO of Glitch and host of Function with Anil Dash
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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11/8/2019 • 1 hour, 51 seconds
Paying for single-payer
Jane, Dara, and Matt on Elizabeth Warren's Medicare-for-all financing plan and its critics.
What to read:
"Elizabeth Warren’s plan to pay for Medicare-for-all, explained" by Ezra Klein, Vox
"The Sanders-Warren dispute about how to pay for Medicare-for-all, explained" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
"From Incremental to Comprehensive Health Reform: How Various Reform Options Compare on Coverage and Costs" Urban Institute (white paper)
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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11/5/2019 • 56 minutes, 32 seconds
Beyond the leaky bucket
Heather Boushey of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth makes the case that a rise in equality would stimulate the economy.
Guest:
Heather Boushey (@HBoushey), Executive Director and Chief Economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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11/1/2019 • 58 minutes, 28 seconds
The fall of Katie Hill
Jane, Dara, and Matt on the California representative’s resignation, power imbalances, and the problem of “revenge porn.”
Relevant links:
"Revenge porn, biphobia, and alleged relationships with staffers: The complicated story around Rep. Katie Hill, explained" by Anna North, Vox
"The Trauma of Revenge Porn" by Rebekah Wells, NYT
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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10/29/2019 • 47 minutes, 32 seconds
The scary truth about air pollution
Gretchen Goldman of the Union of Concerned Scientists on the science and politics of clean air.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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10/25/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 34 seconds
The electability debate
Jane, Dara, and Matt debate the idea of pundits trying to guess what the public thinks — plus research on what happens when doctors are patients.
Relevant links:
American Voter Bot (@american__voter)
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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10/22/2019 • 54 minutes, 3 seconds
The four words that will decide impeachment
This was the week of confessions. Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney admitted to a Trump administration quid quo pro with Ukraine, with cameras rolling. EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland confirmed that President Trump made Rudy Giuliani the hinge of America’s Ukraine policy. And then the administration announced that the location for the upcoming G7 summit: Trump’s own resort in Doral, Florida. We break down the three stories that mattered most in impeachment this week.
And then we dig into the four words that will shape the entire impeachment fight: “High Crimes and Misdemeanors.” What did they mean when they were added to the Constitution? How have they been interpreted through American history? And do Trump’s acts qualify?
Welcome to Impeachment, Explained. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
References:
"Indispensable Remedy: The Broad Scope of the Constitution’s Impeachment Power" by Gene Healy
"The case for normalizing impeachment" by Ezra Klein
Credits:
Producer and Editor - Jeff Geld
Researcher - Roge Karma
Engineers - Malachi Broadus & Jeremey Dalmas
Theme music composed by Jon Natchez
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10/19/2019 • 55 minutes, 32 seconds
Debating the robot takeover
Ezra and Matt break down some of the nerdier aspects of the fourth Democratic primary debate.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe to Impeachment, Explained on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or your favorite podcast app to get stay updated on this story every week.
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10/16/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 22 seconds
Understanding the student debt crisis
The Aspen Institute's Katherine Lucas McKay joins Matt to discuss the origins and consequences of America's ballooning student debt loan.
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10/15/2019 • 59 minutes, 35 seconds
Progressives' Supreme Court problem
Vox's judiciary reporter Ian Millhiser joins Matt to analyze the Supreme Court's new term and what the left gets wrong about the courts.
Guest:
Ian Millhiser, (@imillhiser) Senior Correspondent, Vox
Host:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
More to explore:
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10/11/2019 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 48 seconds
Mayor Pete explains his prescription drug plan
Pete Buttigieg joins Matt to discuss his latest prescription drug plan policy rollout and his broader thinking on health care.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
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10/9/2019 • 27 minutes, 26 seconds
What to expect when you’re impeaching
Dara, Jane, and Matt answer your questions on the impeachment inquiry.
Related pieces:
"What’s wrong with a President Pence?" by Jane Coaston, Vox
"9 scenarios for how the Trump-Ukraine impeachment process could end" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
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10/8/2019 • 54 minutes, 3 seconds
Homelessness and how to fix it
Mary Cunningham, vice president of Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy at the Urban Institute, joins Matt for part two of homelessness week to discuss the causes and potential solutions of homelessness. They dive deep into the data surrounding the issue, and take a look at President Trump's claim that homelessness is on the rise.
More to explore:
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10/4/2019 • 56 minutes, 27 seconds
Trump's war on the homeless
We’re live from the Texas Tribune Festival! Jane, Dara, and Matt take the stage to discuss the strange revival of interest in punitive approaches to the housing crisis and answer questions from the audience.
References:
"The New American Homeless" by Brian Goldstone, The New Rupublic
"The most cost-effective way to help the homeless is to give them homes" by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
White paper:
"Ideology Justifies Morality: Political Beliefs PredictMoral Foundations" by Peter K. Hatemi, Charles Crabtree, & Kevin B. Smith,
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
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10/1/2019 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 58 seconds
America's missing babies
Lyman Stone of the Institute for Family Studies joins Matt to discuss why Americans have fewer kids than they say they want.
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
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9/27/2019 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 37 seconds
The Kiev Caper
Jane, Dara, and Matt break down the scandal that seems to have set Trump on the road to impeachment.
Links to resources discussed:
“To beat Trump, try running an outsider” by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
“The timeline of Trump’s decision to withhold aid to Ukraine is increasingly suspicious” by Sean Collins, Vox
“A wave of moderate House Democrats are suddenly eager for an impeachment investigation” by Ella Nilson, Vox
“Segregation and Violence Reconsidered: Do Whites Benefit from Residential Segregation?” By Michael T. Light & Julia T. Thomas (white paper)
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
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9/24/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 29 seconds
Did economists break America?
The New York Times' Binyamin Appelbaum joins Matt to explain his new book, The Economists' Hour.
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
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9/20/2019 • 55 minutes, 5 seconds
Out of sight, out of mind
Dara, Jane, and Matt explore how Trump “fixed” the asylum crisis.
Links to resources discussed:
“Trump's Asylum Policies Sent Him Back to Mexico. He Was Kidnapped Five Hours Later By a Cartel.” by Emily Green, Vice
“Letter to the Orlando Sentinel” by Zora Neale Hurston
“Student-Teacher Racial Match and Its Association With Black Student Achievement: An Exploration Using Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling” by Lisa M. Yarnell & George W. Bohrnstedt (white paper Matt referenced toward the end)
“School Desegregation and Black Teacher Employment” by Owen Thompson (white paper)
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
About Vox:Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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9/17/2019 • 53 minutes, 49 seconds
ABCDebate
After Vox's Tara Golshan reviews the third Democratic debate, Matthew Yglesias explains how Joe Biden wins even when he loses.
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9/13/2019 • 28 minutes, 15 seconds
50 shades of Green New Deal
Vox climate reporter David Roberts joins Jane and Matt live in Seattle to break down the 2020 candidates' climate change plans.
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
David Roberts (@drvox), Writer, Vox
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
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9/13/2019 • 1 hour, 28 minutes, 35 seconds
A plan to revive American unions
SEIU President Mary Kay Henry joins Matt to explain her push for sectoral bargaining.
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Mary Kay Henry (@MaryKayHenry) , International President, Service Employees International Union (@SEIU)
More to explore:
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9/10/2019 • 58 minutes, 2 seconds
The left’s path to power
Data for Progress co-founder Sean McElwee explains his strategy for a left-wing takeover of American politics, and the data-driven path to winning elections.
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Sean McElwee (@SeanMcElwee) , Co-founder, Data for Progress
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
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9/6/2019 • 1 hour, 4 minutes
Trump's primary challengers
Jane, Dara, and Matt talk about Donald Trump’s potential 2020 presidential primary challengers — Joe Walsh, Bill Weld, Justin Amash, and others, and what their bids mean for the post-Trump future. We also ruminate on a white paper exploring potentially racist hiring practices.
Links to resources discussed:
“Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld explains why he’s primarying Donald Trump” by Jane Coaston, Vox
“The problem with primarying Trump” by Jane Coaston, Vox
“Former Rep. Joe Walsh, once a Trump supporter and conspiracy theorist, is running for president” by Jane Coaston and Sean Collins, Vox
“Decades before Trump, Marion Barry fooled D.C.” by Jane Coaston, MTV News
“Ex-Newark Mayor Is Accused of Misusing Campaign Funds” by Richard Pèrez-Peña, New York Times
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox
Ezra Klein (@ezraklein), Editor-at-large Vox
Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter, Vox
Dara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
About Vox:Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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9/3/2019 • 57 minutes, 1 second
The case for foreign policy restraint
Emma Ashford, a research fellow in defense and foreign policy at the Cato Institute, joins Matt for a wide-ranging discussion on China and the Middle East, the United States’ relationship with Russia since the Cold War, and the defense budget. They also explore the difference between restraint and realism, and whether or not President Donald Trump is an isolationist.
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
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8/30/2019 • 1 hour, 38 seconds
Trump's latest trade war
Ezra, Jane, and Matt talk about Trump's approach to China and what his critics get right and wrong.
Links to resources discussed:
“Making China Great Again” by Evan Osnos, The New Yorker
“The past 3 wild days in Trump’s trade war with China, explained” by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
“Trump’s puzzling trade war with China, sort of explained” by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
“Why Elizabeth Warren is declaring war on an obscure trade policy” by Danielle Kurtzleben, Vox
“Elizabeth Warren’s vision for changing America’s trade policy, explained” by Matthew Yglesias, Vox
“The progressive case for free trade” by Hilary Matfess, Vox
“The weak defenses of Elizabeth Warren’s trade plan” by Daniel W. Drezner, Washington Post
White paper
Hosts:
Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias),
Senior correspondent, Vox Ezra Klein (@ezraklein),
Editor-at-large Vox Jane Coaston (@cjane87), Senior politics reporter,
VoxDara Lind (@DLind), Immigration reporter, ProPublica
More to explore:
Subscribe for free to the Ezra Klein Show, a Vox podcast where Ezra brings you far-reaching conversations about hard problems, big ideas, illuminating theories, and cutting-edge research.
About Vox:Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.
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8/27/2019 • 59 minutes, 50 seconds
Does America need trade deals?
Yale's Hilary Matfess joins Matt to debate Elizabeth Warren's trade proposals, and the role of trade policy in progressive politics.
Recommended reading:
“The progressive case for free trade” by Hilary Matfess
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8/23/2019 • 58 minutes, 36 seconds
Slavery and its legacy
Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss the 1619 project and its critics
Related reading:
“The 1619 Project” New York Times Magazine
“Henry Clay, Edward Baptist, and the Whipping Machine” by Bradley A. Hansen
“Cotton, Slavery, and the New History of Capitalism” by Alan L. Olmstead and Paul W. Rhode
“Capitalism and Slavery” by John J. Clegg, New York University
“Slavery and Anglo-American capitalism revisited” by Gavin Wright, Stanford University
White paper
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8/20/2019 • 55 minutes, 55 seconds
Trump's war on Medicaid
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' Jessica Schubel explains how Medicaid works, and how the White House is trying to undermine it.
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8/16/2019 • 55 minutes, 47 seconds
Epstein conspiracy time
Jane, Dara, and Matt try to offer actual facts about prison suicide and new research on hot weather and crime.
Related reading:
“Jeffrey Epstein’s Death, in Context”’ by Ken White, the Atlantic
"Jeffrey Epstein’s Death Underlines A Nationwide Problem" by Jesselyn Cook, Huffington Post
White paper
**********************************
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
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8/13/2019 • 51 minutes, 25 seconds
The case for a Green New Deal
Julian Brave NoiseCat of Data for Progress joins Matt to discuss the vision of the Green New Deal, the need to link it to social justice, and whether or not it’s politically viable.
Recommended reading:
“No, climate action can’t be separated from social justice” by Julian Brave NoiseCat
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8/9/2019 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 33 seconds
Domestic terrorism after El Paso
ProPublica’s Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to talk about the mass shooting in El Paso and what it means to take white nationalist violence seriously.
Recommended reading:
“The top House Republican is blaming video games for the weekend’s mass shootings” by Jane Coaston, Vox
“A question for conservatives: what if the left was right on race?” by Jane Coaston, Vox
“Crush This Evil” by The Editors, National Review
“Who are the Trenchcoat Mafia?” BBC News
“Columbine: Whose Fault Is It?” by Marilyn Manson, Rolling Stone
“Network exposure and excessive use of force” by Marie Ouellet et al, Criminology & Public Policy (white paper)
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8/6/2019 • 52 minutes, 37 seconds
The second Democratic debate
Ezra and Matt dissect the six-hour, two-night July debate marathon.
Vox’s guide to where 2020 Democrats stand on policy
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8/2/2019 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 12 seconds
The many mysteries of Jeffrey Epstein
ProPublica’s Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to discuss the sexual assault case that’s also a political scandal and a financial puzzle.
**White paper starts at 45:20**
Recommended reading:
“Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who is friends with Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, explained” by Jane Coaston, Vox
“Who Was Jeffrey Epstein Calling?” by the editors of The Intelligence
“Jeffrey Epstein Burrowed Into the Lives of the Rich and Made a Fortune” by Khadeeja Safdar, Rebecca Davis O’Brien, Gregory Zuckerman, and Jenny Strasburg, Wall Street Journal
“How a future Trump Cabinet member gave a serial sex abuser the deal of a lifetime” by Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald
“Jeffrey Epstein Pitched a New Narrative. These Sites Published It.” by Tiffany Hsu, New York Times
“What’s next in the Jeffrey Epstein case? A former federal prosecutor explains.” by Jane Coaston, Vox
“Jeffrey Epstein's Accusers Are Finally in the Spotlight” by Lily Herman, Refinery29
“Too many men think teenage girls are fair game. That gave Jeffrey Epstein cover” by Moira Donegan, the Guardian
“Alan Dershowitz, Devil’s Advocate” by Connie Bruck, the New Yorker
“How a Predator Operated in Plain Sight” by Lisa Miller, the Cut
White Paper
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7/30/2019 • 56 minutes, 38 seconds
Dysfunctional federalism
Yale law professor David Schleicher joins Matt to talk about why state and local politics don’t work anymore.
Join the Weeds Facebook group!
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7/26/2019 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 55 seconds
Go back to Cincinnati
ProPublica reporter Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to discuss President Trump’s rhetoric around the small group of congresswomen known as “the Squad”: Reps. Ayanna Presley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib. They also dive into Trump's crackdown on refugee resettlement and a white paper about the connection between student debt and job satisfaction.
Recommended reading:
“The Trump racism spin cycle” by Jane Coaston
“Asylum Seekers That Followed Trump Rule Now Don’t Qualify Because of New Trump Rule” by Dara Lind
“‘Send her back!’: Trump’s attacks on Ilhan Omar — and the response to them — represent a new low” by Aaron Rupar
“Trump says he’s not concerned about being racist because ‘many people agree’ with him” by Aaron Rupar
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7/23/2019 • 51 minutes, 16 seconds
Why everyone hates Big Tech, with The Verge's Nilay Patel
Verge editor-in-chief and Vergecast host Nilay Patel joins Matt in this special crossover episode to explain what Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which allows platforms to circumnavigate liability for user content, really means. They also discuss Elizabeth Warren’s proposal to break up big tech platforms, and how it may or may not fix anything.
Recommended reading:
Why the internet's most important law exists and how people are still getting it wrong by Alex Castro
Facebook’s $5 billion FTC fine is an embarrassing joke by Nilay Patel
Subscribe to Vergecast!
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7/19/2019 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 13 seconds
Space Force all the way!
Worldly's Alex Ward joins Jane and Matt to explain Trump's more-tedious-than-it-sounds plan for military domination of the final frontier.
Recommended reading:
“Trump really, really wants troops in space” by Alex Ward
“Trump wants a ‘Space Force.’ We have many questions.” by Alex Ward
“Trump’s call for a Space Force, explained” by Alex Ward
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7/16/2019 • 48 minutes, 21 seconds
School’s out for summer
Cristina Novoa from the Center for American Progress joins Matt to talk about child care disruptions and possible solutions.
“When Parents Can’t Find Summer Child Care, Their Work Suffers” by Cristina Novoa
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7/12/2019 • 43 minutes, 36 seconds
Ask Weeds Anything
ProPublica reporter Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to answer your questions.
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7/9/2019 • 1 hour, 33 minutes, 57 seconds
A progressive case for globalism
Reed College economist Kimberly Clausing joins Matt to talk about trade and the middle class.
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7/5/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 17 seconds
Democracy's week in court
Jane, Dara, and Matt on two big Supreme Court cases on gerrymandering and the census.
White paper
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7/2/2019 • 50 minutes, 43 seconds
Debate Weeds: Ezra and Matt on the long-awaited Democratic presidential debate
Matt and Ezra weigh in on the first Democratic presidential debate of the 2020 cycle.
Read more of Vox's coverage of the debate here:
Winners and losers from night one of the debate
Winners and losers from night two of the debate
Matt on Warren's performance
Ezra on Harris' performance
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6/28/2019 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 42 seconds
What’s really going on with child detention?
Dara, Jane, and Matt on the breakdown of trust that’s driving the latest crisis at the border.
Related reading:
The horrifying conditions facing kids in border detention, explained
White paper
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6/25/2019 • 51 minutes, 42 seconds
What’s really happening in Central America
Adriana Beltrán of the Washington Office on Latin America joins Matt to explain the deep roots of the migration crisis.
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6/21/2019 • 56 minutes, 5 seconds
Jamestown: Utopia for Whom
Nice Try! is a new podcast from Curbed and the Vox Media Podcast Network that explores stories of people who have tried to design a better world, and what happens when those designs don't go according to plan. Season one, Utopian, follows Avery Trufelman on her quest to understand the perpetual search for the perfect place. Enjoy this special preview of the first episode, Jamestown: Utopian for Whom, and subscribe to Nice Try! for free in your favorite podcast app.
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6/19/2019 • 11 minutes, 33 seconds
The “illiberal” right
Jane and Ezra discuss the ongoing conservative crackup and the case of Parkland teen Kyle Kashuv.
Related reading:
A New Consensus
Kyle Kashuv Becomes a Symbol to Conservatives Who Say the Left Can’t Forgive
Against David French-ism
Jane’s article about David French vs. Sohrab Ahmari
Against the Dead Consensus
Kyle Kashuv on his Harvard crisis
The Illiberal Right Throws a Tantrum
Is the Religious Right Privileged? by Ross Douthat
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6/18/2019 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 5 seconds
5 big ideas to use tax credits to fight poverty
Meg Wiehe from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy explains the leading progressive tax plans in Congress and how they differ from Trump’s tax cuts.
Related reading:
Understanding Five Major Federal Tax Credit Proposals
American Family Act
Working Families Tax Relief Act
LIFT Act
LIFT+ Act
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6/14/2019 • 59 minutes, 59 seconds
Into the weeds with Elizabeth Warren
The Massachusetts senator joins Ezra Klein to explain her plans, and her plan to make the plans happen.
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6/11/2019 • 52 minutes, 43 seconds
A user's guide to antitrust
Matt sits down with Public Knowledge policy counsel Charlotte Slaiman to explain how US antitrust enforcement works and how it might better wrestle with Big Tech.
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6/7/2019 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 24 seconds
Trump’s tariff triple option
Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss Trump's efforts to halt unauthorized immigration through Mexico by threatening tariffs, and a white paper on private prisons.
Related reading:
Dara’s “remain in Mexico” explainer
Trump’s plan, explained
Mexican president’s response to Trump
White paper
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6/4/2019 • 58 minutes, 15 seconds
Monetary mysteries revealed
Bloomberg’s Karl Smith joins Matt to explain how the Federal Reserve’s errors discredited capitalism and how full employment can fix almost everything.
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5/31/2019 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 11 seconds
Building the Trump state
Jane, Dara, and Matt break down Trump's multi-front resistance to congressional oversight and increasing pressure on the civil service.
Related reading:
Trump vs. IRS lawyers
The shift at USCIS
White Paper
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5/28/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 4 seconds
Rethinking education reform
Libby Nelson and Dylan Scott join Matt to talk about 2020 Democrats' K-12 policy
Bernie's charter school plan - link
Harris' teacher pay plan - link
Elizabeth Warren's case against the neighborhood school - link
Online charter schools are bad - link
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5/24/2019 • 58 minutes, 52 seconds
The loneliness of Justin Amash
Jane, Dara, and Matt analyze the Michigan Republican's call to consider impeaching Trump.
White paper
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5/21/2019 • 59 minutes, 44 seconds
America's two housing crises
Brookings's Jenny Schuetz joins Matt to discuss subsidies, zoning reform, and much more.
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5/17/2019 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 31 seconds
Make America 2015 Again
Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss Joe Biden's claim that Trump is an aberration, plus some fresh research on the macroeconomics of bankruptcy.
Related reading:
Biden/aberration explainer
Biden/bankruptcy explainer
MOVE bombing
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5/14/2019 • 59 minutes, 37 seconds
Green New Weeds
David Roberts joins Ezra and Jane to explain the policy and politics of the Green New Deal. Plus: Which candidate has the better climate plan, Beto O’Rourke or Jay Inslee?
Related reading:
The Green New Deal, explained
David Roberts on what’s in the Green New Deal
The Green New Deal critics
The case against incremental climate policy
Gov. Jay Inslee’s climate policy
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5/10/2019 • 1 hour, 26 minutes, 11 seconds
Sarah's Last Stand
Dylan Scott joins Sarah and Matt to talk about single-payer's big day on Capitol Hill and some hot administrative data from Rhode Island.
Related reading:
CBO report
Dylan’s article on a Medicare-for-all hearing
Dylan’s other article on the Medicare-for-all hearing
Sarah and Dylan on the different Democratic health care plans
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5/7/2019 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 6 seconds
Mexico: America's waiting room
Dara, Jane, and Matt discuss Dara's fresh reporting on asylum officers' complaints about Trump's "wait in Mexico" policy initiative.
Related reading:
Dara’s piece on asylum officers
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5/3/2019 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 1 second
Incels and bullshitters
Senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp joins Jane and Matt to share his reporting on the origins and evolution of a troubling new internet community.
Related reading:
“Our incel problem” by Zack Beauchamp
Research paper
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4/30/2019 • 55 minutes, 52 seconds
Was The Weeds on the wrong side of history?
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt celebrate Vox's fifth anniversary with a look at the changing nature of the policy dialogue in Washington.
This special episode of The Weeds was taped in front of a live audience at The LINE DC to celebrate Vox’s fifth anniversary. If you enjoyed it, we think you’ll also enjoy this live taping of Recode Decode with Kara Swisher featuring Julia Angwin, and this special episode of The Ezra Klein Show with Vox’s co-founders Ezra Klein, Matt Yglesias, and Vox Media’s Publisher Melissa Bell.
The Weeds is a Vox Media Inc. Production
Produced by: Jeff Geld
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4/26/2019 • 37 minutes, 22 seconds
What to obstruct when you’re obstructing
Matt, Jane, and Andrew Prokop talk about the Mueller report — which one of them has actually read to the end.
Related reading:
Quinta Jurecic’s color-coded analysis of Mueller’s obstruction language
Rick Hasen’s article on Mueller not prosecuting Donald Trump Jr.
Full Mueller report
White paper
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Ezra Klein joins Zack, Jenn, and Alex in a crossover episode with Worldly on Robert Mueller’s just-released report. They explain the special counsel's main findings on collusion with Russian election interference and on obstruction of justice and why they aren’t good for Trump. Then they zoom out and talk about what this whole episode reveals about the health of American democracy and how this gives a green light for Russia and other authoritarian powers to intervene in future US elections. Given how important this report is, and how early they got up to cover it, your intrepid hosts were too tired for jokes this week — sorry.
The full text of the report, compiled by Alex for your reading pleasure
A refresher on who's who in the Trump-Russia universe
Here's a look at the collusion section of the report from Zack
Here's another take from Zack on Attorney General William Barr's worrying role in all of this
Ten examples of potential obstruction in Mueller's report
How 11 legal experts evaluate the claims of obstruction
Zack and Future Perfect's Dylan Matthews break down the big winners and losers from the report
The Big Vox Explainer on the Mueller report
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll like Worldly and The Ezra Klein Show. Tap to learn more and subscribe for free to get new episodes.
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4/18/2019 • 40 minutes, 31 seconds
Trump Family (Tax) Values
Dara, Sarah, and Matt talk about the suspiciously timed retirement of Trump's sister, IRS enforcement, and new research on how police stops can actually cause crime.
Related reading:
ProPublica study on the EITC audits
White paper
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4/16/2019 • 59 minutes, 41 seconds
How Canada got Medicare-for-all done
Ezra returns to discuss filibuster reform and the legacy of Tommy Douglas with Sarah and Matt.
Recommended reading:
Tommy Douglas named greatest Canadian
Filibuster reform explainer
Sanders and reconciliation explainer
Doctor strike explainer
White paper
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4/12/2019 • 58 minutes, 21 seconds
The Purge: DHS
Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss Trump's personnel shake-up at the Department of Homeland Security and what's next for immigration policy.
Recommended reading:
Jake Tapper on Trump telling border patrol agents to ignore the law
The White House’s wish list for DHS actions
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s resignation, explained
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4/9/2019 • 57 minutes, 21 seconds
Attack of the clone bills
Matt, Sarah, and Dara copied this discussion of model legislation from an asbestos lobbyist.
Recommended reading:
USA Today article
Article on 'ALEC'
Research on model legislation 1
Research on model legislation 2
Research on model legislation 3
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4/5/2019 • 54 minutes, 26 seconds
Learning from Norway's lesbian mothers
Dara, Jane, and Matt on President Donald Trump’s latest border moves and a new wrinkle in the story of the gender pay gap.
Recommended reading:
Explainer on Trump cutting off aid
Explainer on border closure
CNN report on Trump’s border briefings
The US policy of returning Central American asylum seekers to wait in Mexico
An optimistic take on aid and El Salvador
A pessimistic take on aid and El Salvador
White paper
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4/2/2019 • 51 minutes, 51 seconds
Infrastructure Week (and Farm Week and Teacher Week)
Dara, Jane, and Matt analyze three new policy proposals from Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris.
Recommended reading:
Amy Klobuchar's infrastructure plan
Elizabeth Warren's agriculture plan
Kamala Harris's teacher-pay plan
HuffPost feature on Harris's truancy policy
We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF
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3/29/2019 • 44 minutes, 4 seconds
Mueller's investigation is over. Obamacare repeal isn't.
Sarah, Dara, and Jane discuss the Hill's response to Mueller, the DOJ's siege of Obamacare, and the benefits of IUDs.
National Review article
Zack Beauchamp's article on the reaction to William Barr's Mueller letter
New York Times article on Mueller report
White paper
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3/26/2019 • 57 minutes, 18 seconds
Should presidential candidates get into the weeds?
Sarah, Jane, and Matt debate the value of policy details in the primary.
We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF
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3/22/2019 • 53 minutes, 41 seconds
The reparations primary
Dara, Jane, and Matt on the unexpected issue of the moment, plus Swedish administrative data on what makes a CEO.
Suggested reading:
White Paper
Original Ta-Nehisi Coates essay on reparations
We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF
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3/19/2019 • 57 minutes, 46 seconds
Live Weeds with Julián Castro
Dara, Jane, and Matt sit down with the former US secretary of housing and urban development and 2020 presidential candidate, live from South by Southwest.
We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF
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3/15/2019 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 10 seconds
Introducing Switched on Pop
Vox takes culture seriously. Our coverage seeks to understand how our cultural touchstones work — and what they reveal about who we are.
That's why we’re excited to introduce you to Switched on Pop. It's a podcast that digs into the cultural context and musical theory of pop music, and it's now part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
In this episode, you'll meet hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding. You'll hear some of their favorite interviews, as they pull back the curtain on how pop hits work their magic. You can subscribe to Switched on Pop wherever you get your favorite shows.
We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF
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3/13/2019 • 13 minutes, 31 seconds
Live Weeds with Pete Buttigieg
Dara, Jane, and Matt sit down with the South Bend, Indiana, mayor and presidential candidate, live from South by Southwest.
We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF
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3/12/2019 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 33 seconds
The long con
Jane and Matt discuss Jacob Wohl and the intermingling of grift and conservative politics.
Jane's article on Jacob Wohl
Iraqi dinar on YouTube
Casey Newton's newsletter - The Interface
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3/8/2019 • 47 minutes, 10 seconds
But seriously, how are you going to pay for it?
Sarah, Dylan, and Matt discuss Pramila Jayapal’s Medicare-for-all bill, its lack of pay-fors, and an interesting white paper on income transparency.
Sarah on private insurance in other countries
Dylan's interview with Matt Bruenig
Sarah's interview with Rep. Jayapal on her bill
White paper
We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3X6WMNF
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3/5/2019 • 57 minutes, 46 seconds
The Weeds fixes racism
Jane, Dara, and Matt excavate the most contentious moment in the Cohen hearing in a hunt for "racist bones."
Recommended reading:Dara on the Meadows/Tlaib standoff
Jane on Steve King
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3/1/2019 • 58 minutes, 31 seconds
Amy Klobuchar and the Jill Robinson effect
Sarah and Matt discuss the recent spate of stories about the Minnesota senator — and an announcement from Ezra!
Relevant articles:
Paper on the Jill Robinson Effect
Buzzfeed Klobuchar story
Huffington Post Klobuchar story
Kelsey Piper story on the fake white paper
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2/26/2019 • 55 minutes, 15 seconds
Day care for all!
Sarah, Dara, and Matt discuss Elizabeth Warren's universal child care plan — and the other options on the table.
Relevant articles:
Alvin Chang wealth tax explainer
Jonathan Cohn day care story
Quebec day care study
Warren's child care plan
The Family Fun Pack
Head Start negative evaluation
Head Start positive evaluation
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2/22/2019 • 1 hour, 56 seconds
Collusion and the Mueller endgame
Andrew Prokop joins Dara and Matt to explain what we've learned from the latest developments in the Russia investigation.
Andrew's article on Jerome Corsi's unreliable book
Article on the redacted Manafort transcript
Marcy Wheeler article
Special counsel regulation text
Trump Tower Moscow explainer
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2/19/2019 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 48 seconds
Emergency Weeds
Dara, Sarah, and Matt explain the border security deal and Trump’s plan to bypass Congress.
Dara's article
Matt's article on non-legislative priorities
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2/15/2019 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 37 seconds
What’s the best way to help the poor?
Dylan Matthews joins Sarah, Ezra, and Matt to discuss five new plans on poverty from leading Democrats.
Dylan's Article
Sarah's Article on Childhood Wealth
Elizabeth Warren's Housing Bill
Cory Booker's HOME Act
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2/12/2019 • 1 hour, 11 seconds
WTF, VA?
Virginia is embroiled in multiple blackface scandals — and Jane Coaston, Sarah Kliff, and Dylan Scott are here to talk about it.
Video about Slavery in the US Medical System
Jane's Article
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2/8/2019 • 47 minutes, 47 seconds
Do we need private insurance?
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt break down the latest twist in the Medicare-for-all debate — plus rigorous new research on Facebook.
White Paper
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2/5/2019 • 52 minutes, 32 seconds
House Democrats’ plan to save democracy
Jane, Dara, and Matt break down HR 1 — the first bill from the new Democratic majority.
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2/1/2019 • 1 hour, 30 seconds
Elizabeth Warren and the Two-Income Trap
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt analyze the presidential candidate’s first popular book and review new evidence on the dangers of opioid marketing.
Ezra's Article
Matt's Article
White Paper
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1/29/2019 • 1 hour, 9 seconds
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.
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1/25/2019 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 35 seconds
Investigating ER bills and SNAP fraud
Sarah, Dara, and Matt discuss Trump's latest proposal, suspicious ER billing practices, and SNAP investigations
Sarah's articles about hospital ER fees
White Paper
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1/22/2019 • 56 minutes, 43 seconds
You can't eat your principles for dinner
Sarah, Dara, and Matt analyze the prolonged shutdown's impact on the future of the federal workforce
Reference Articles:
The shutdown threatens the promise of government jobs — and a way of life
FBI, federal agents see cases hampered, lives rattled as shutdown continues
The American Action Forum explainer on the Anti-Deficiency Act
How the Border Patrol union became Trump’s closest shutdown alliesby Dara Lind
Why Don’t Unpaid Federal Workers Walk Off the Job?
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1/18/2019 • 59 minutes, 33 seconds
Taxing the rich
Jane, Ezra, and Matt consider the ethics and economics of a 70 percent top marginal rate
Americans misperceive racial economic equality
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1/15/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 11 seconds
Tucker Carlson vs the free market
Jane, Dara, and Matt explain the argument over economic populism that’s roiling the conservative world
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1/11/2019 • 59 minutes, 40 seconds
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
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1/8/2019 • 58 minutes, 20 seconds
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
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1/4/2019 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 54 seconds
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.
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1/1/2019 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 53 seconds
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
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12/28/2018 • 56 minutes, 21 seconds
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
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12/21/2018 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 31 seconds
Bernie and Biden and Beto, oh my!
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt decide it’s not too soon to start talking about the 2020 election. Plus — Obamacare litigation forever! References and further reading: Matt’s explainer on the Democratic field for 2020 Matt’s piece on Joe Biden’s policy ideas A previous episode of The Weeds on the Obamacare lawsuit Ezra’s piece on the Texas ruling against Obamacare
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12/18/2018 • 50 minutes, 37 seconds
A big, beautiful podcast about the border wall
Matt, Dara, and Jane discuss what happens when engineering crushes dreams. Links: For an in-depth read on the border wall, here's a great explainer. The GAO report Dara cited can be found here. And here's the Atlantic article that Matt mentioned about the ICE crackdown
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12/14/2018 • 59 minutes, 10 seconds
A Weeds farewell to Paul Ryan
Jane, Ezra, and Matt consider Paul Ryan’s legacy and new research on crime and the minimum wage. References and further reading: Ezra’s piece on House Speaker Paul Ryan’s legacy Matt’s essay following the announcement of Paul Ryan’s retirement Ted Cruz’s confusing tweet of Beto O’Rourke speaking on the shooting of Botham Jean A white paper examines the effects on criminal recidivism when states increase minimum wages Annie Lowrey’s piece in the Atlantic on a jobs guarantee
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12/11/2018 • 57 minutes, 53 seconds
Pod Save the US-Saudi alliance?
Special guest Tommy Vietor of Crooked Media’s Pod Save the World joins Dara and Matt to break down the anti-Saudi backlash sweeping Washington.
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12/7/2018 • 48 minutes, 49 seconds
Midwest Republicans lost in 2018 — but they’re not giving up power
Jane, Ezra, and Matt talk about state-level GOP power grabs and the curious case of Trump’s disappearing populism. References and further reading: Tara Golshan’s piece on the recent legislation proposed by GOP lawmakers David Frum’s book and Yascha Mounk’s book on populism and the threat to democracy Ezra’s conversation with Nate Silver Matt’s explainer on the Indiana Carrier factory Michael Brendan Dougherty’s essay on the support Trump needs after the 2018 elections A research paper on Americans’ misconceptions of the major political parties
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12/4/2018 • 54 minutes, 1 second
Mexico was the wall all along
Dara and Matt explain the situation at the border now that the caravan has finally arrived. References and further reading: Li Zhou explains the liberal blowback against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Vox’s piece on the shutdown negotiations The weird outlet mall at the border Dara’s article on the asylum bottleneck A New York Times piece on the current conditions in Tijuana The Washington Post breaks down the “Remain in Mexico” policy Dara outlines what we still don't know about “Remain in Mexico”
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11/30/2018 • 1 hour, 16 seconds
The many flavors of Medicare-for-all
Dylan Scott joins Sarah and Matt to break down eight different plans circulating to expand government health insurance programs. References and further reading: Sarah breaks down five competing health care plans from Democrats Dylan lays out the Urban Institute’s proposed health care plan A white paper finds ICE partnerships with local police led to a decline in elementary-school enrollment of Hispanic students Are you interested in more discussions around health care policy? Join our Facebook community for conversation and updates.
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11/27/2018 • 59 minutes, 57 seconds
The Impact: How do you make education funding fair?
Our Thanksgiving special is an episode of The Impact -- a show about how policy shapes our lives hosted by Sarah Kliff. This season, Sarah and her team are focusing on the most exciting, innovative ideas at the state and local level. This episode, they're in Vermont, looking at a radical law to equalize education funding. Like what you’re hearing? Find The Impact on Apple Podcasts|Google Podcasts|Spotify|Stitcher|Overcast|ART19
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11/23/2018 • 35 minutes, 11 seconds
The future of conservatism is being forged in California
Jane, Ezra, and Matt explain a new brand of right-wing politics rising under conditions of permanent opposition. References and further reading: Jane’s piece on the driving force that is California-style conservatism A white paper examining which voters supported Medicaid in Maine’s 2017 referendum John Sides, Michael Tesler, and Lynn Vavreck explain the 2016 presidential election through identity politics in their book Identity Crisis
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11/20/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 20 seconds
Facebook is bad, please join our Facebook group
Dara, Jane, and Matt analyze the social network that America loves to hate and can't escape. References and further reading: New York Times exposé on Facebook’s reaction to Russian interference on their site Michelle Goldberg tells Democrats to leave Facebook in a Times opinion piece An article from the New York Times on advertisers’ reactions to the Facebook report An interview with Sheryl Sandberg from CBS News Ask Weeds Anything is back! Sarah Kliff, Dara Lind, and Matt Yglesias will answer your questions about politics and policy on an upcoming episode of The Weeds. Got a question? Ask away in our Facebook group or send along to weeds@vox.com.
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11/16/2018 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 12 seconds
Jeff Sessions is gone but not forgotten
Dara, Jane, and Matt talk about the endgame for the attorney general Trump loved to hate. References and further reading: Dara reports on Trump’s asylum ban Dara defines Jeff Sessions’s legacy through immigration crackdowns and deportation Heather Mac Donald’s “The War on Cops” The Trump administration enters its Leeroy Jenkins phase A piece from Politico on the magical powers of Trump Jane’s essay from National Review on Trumpism McKay Coppins’s Atlantic article on the GOP’s adoption of Trumpism
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11/9/2018 • 55 minutes
About last night
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt break down seven key takeaways from Tuesday's election. References and further reading: Ezra’s piece on Trump’s failing political strategy Ezra’s essay on William Kristol’s 1993 health memo
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11/7/2018 • 57 minutes, 34 seconds
Seattle’s plan to save democracy
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt offer midterm predictions, look at democracy vouchers, and analyze the real impact of Daylight Savings Time. References and further reading: Sarah explores the effects of Seattle’s democracy vouchers on The Impact Nicholas Carnes’s piece on the representation of the working class in government A working paper presents evidence that Daylight Savings Time results in an increase in electricity demand An article in Quartz explains the lobbying behind Daylight Savings Time Matt’s case against time zones
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11/6/2018 • 56 minutes, 12 seconds
Bad for the Jews
Jane, Dara, and Matt dissect the rising currents of anti-Semitism in the Trump era. References and further reading: Adam Serwer’s piece on the Pittsburgh shooter Dara joins Today, Explained to discuss the migrant caravan Time analyzes Ted Nugent’s anti-Semitic Facebook post about gun control The Atlantic’s profile of a neo-Nazi who took Trump’s speech as an endorsement of anti-Semitism Michael Brendan Dougherty’s piece in National Review on why he’s disappointed Jane's essay on conspiracy theories and anti-Semitism Maureen Dowd's controversial opinion piece in the New York Times: A Bellingcat essay on how anti-Semites were "red-pilled"
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11/2/2018 • 1 hour
Operation Win the Midterms
Defense correspondent Alex Ward joins Dara and Matt to analyze Trump’s dispatch of thousands of US soldiers to the border. References and further reading: Alex’s piece on the role of troops at the US-Mexico border An article from Reuters on the clashes at the Mexico-Guatemala border Dara explains the migrant caravan Dara’s piece on the shrinking caravan Dara reports on a new “travel ban” that the Trump administration is considering
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10/31/2018 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 29 seconds
Republicans’ health care message: Lie a lot
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt break down rhetoric and reality on preexisting conditions. References and further reading: Sarah outlines the position of Republicans on preexisting conditions Sarah’s piece from 2016 on the future of Obamacare Robert Draper’s article on Priorities USA and its campaign against Mitt Romney Ezra makes the case that Trump is a moderate
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10/30/2018 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 21 seconds
Our elections are being hacked
In this episode, Ezra and Jane dig into the dismal state of election security, as well as the many, many ways that people’s votes are obstructed, distorted, and prevented. Isn’t democracy grand? References and further reading: Benjamin Wofford’s piece on our hacked election system Jamelle Bouie in the Daily Beast breaks down the motive behind voter ID laws Issie Lapowsky of Wired clarifies that you cannot cast a vote with a text message The Atlantic reports on black civic engagement versus voter turnout during the Trump era A report from the Brennan Center on democracy Ezra’s interview with Carol Anderson Carol Anderson’s timely book on a history of voter suppression Matt’s piece on the hack gap The Daily Kos explains that when more people vote, Republicans lose
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10/26/2018 • 50 minutes, 55 seconds
What's next for House Democrats?
Ella Nilsen and Dylan Scott join Matt Yglesias to talk about Democrats' midterm message and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's future. References and further reading: Ella’s piece on the priorities of House Democrats if they take the House in November. Ella breaks down the fight for leadership over House Democrats Dylan outlines the 2018 midterms using an ad from Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) Dylan explains the role of health care in the Missouri Senate race
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10/24/2018 • 48 minutes, 10 seconds
Cory Booker’s plan to close the racial wealth gap
Dara, Sarah, and Matt talk about a new "baby bonds" proposal and new research that explores perceptions of illegal immigrants. References and further reading: Sarah’s piece on Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) plan for baby bonds A report on the racial wealth gap An article on unclaimed cash from baby bonds in the United Kingdom Ira Katznelson on racial inequality in “When Affirmative Action Was White” A white paper on the social construction of illegality
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10/23/2018 • 56 minutes, 26 seconds
Trump versus the Caravan
Jane, Dara, and Matt explain the reality behind the migrant caravan fueling the latest MAGA conspiracy theories. References and further reading: Trump’s first campaign ad Rep. Matt Gaetz’s tweet claiming to share footage relating to the caravan
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10/19/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 53 seconds
Republicans run everything, and they’re mad as hell
Tara Golshan joins Jane and Matt to analyze the state of the GOP on the brink of the midterms. References and further reading: Ella Nilsen gives a rundown of the creative political ads from this midterm season. Tara’s piece on Rep. Duncan Hunter’s attacks on his opponent. Jane’s article in the National Review on “Trumpism.” Matt Schlapp’s tweet about Sens. Kamala Harris and Cory Booker.
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10/17/2018 • 46 minutes, 10 seconds
America’s moral failure on climate
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt debate the new IPCC report, William Nordhaus's Nobel Prize, and a hot new working paper about Medicaid contraction. References and further reading: The IPCC report on the impact of global warming David Roberts’s piece on the fight over the carbon tax in Washington state during 2016 Earl Swift tells of the disappearing Tangier Island in his book Chesapeake Requiem A white paper on the effects of disenrollment from Medicaid A contrasting paper on the effects of disenrollment led by Craig Garthwaite
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10/16/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 24 seconds
I’mma let you finish
Jane, Dara, and Matt talk about Kanye West, Taylor Swift, the black conservative political tradition, and the shifting politics of the Trump era. References and further reading: Jane dissects Trump’s meeting with Kanye West Jemele Hill’s article on black men and Brett Kavanaugh Hoteps, explained Jane’s piece on racism within the Republican Party Vann Newkirk’s piece on black civic engagement in the Trump era Vox's Constance Grady analyzes the Taylor Swift voter registration bump
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10/12/2018 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 21 seconds
As tough as Texas
Tara Golshan and Ella Nilsen join Matt to talk about the critical midterm races in the Lone Star State. References and further reading: Ella’s piece on Democrats running in Texas Tara outlines key themes in the race between Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke Tara’s piece on a potential blue wave in the state Tara details more on the battle between Cruz and O’Rourke
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10/10/2018 • 40 minutes, 34 seconds
The craziest Obamacare lawsuit yet
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about Obamacare (again!), waning democratic legitimacy, and why retaking the SAT drives class and racial gaps in college enrollment. References and further reading: Josh Blackman’s piece on the ACA lawsuit Amicus brief from the pro- and anti-ACA law professors Katie Keith’s article on oral arguments John Harris ’s piece on the ruthlessness of the Republican Party David Farris's book on fighting dirty Jennifer Victor's pinned tweet on the meaning of democracy A white paper on how retaking the SAT affects college admissions
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10/9/2018 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 38 seconds
Alexa, raise the minimum wage
Jane, Dara, and Matt talk about Amazon's pay raise, Sen. Bernie Sanders’s Stop BEZOS Act, and the new politics of big tech. References and further reading: Alexia Fernández Campbell’s piece on Vox about Amazon’s pay raises Sarah Butler of the Guardian lays out the pay raise versus bonus situation Matt’s piece in Slate on Jeff Bezos’s relationship with Wall Street Dylan Scott explains Medicare-for-all Kevin Roose’s daily Twitter updates on sources of the top-performing Facebook posts about Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh
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10/5/2018 • 55 minutes, 32 seconds
When women run
Congressional reporter Ella Nilsen joins Sarah and Matt to explain the unprecedented surge in women running for Congress this year. References and further reading: Michele Swers’s paper that highlights how women representatives bring back more funding to their district Sarah’s piece on how electing women changes the way the government functions Jennifer Palmieri’s book that examines the criticisms of Hillary Clinton
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10/3/2018 • 46 minutes, 24 seconds
Death to NAFTA! Long live USMCA!
Ezra, Sarah, and Matt dive into the latest on the Kavanaugh nomination — and why USMCA is great for Canadians who drink milk. References and further reading: Alvin Chang charts every question the Senate asked Kavanaugh Ezra’s piece on the Republicans’ strategy to save Kavanaugh Catherine Rampell compares Trump’s new trade deal to the old A white paper on “College Party Culture and Sexual Assault”
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10/2/2018 • 57 minutes, 51 seconds
Do Republicans even care if Kavanaugh is guilty?
Sarah, Jane, and Matt break down an excruciating day in American politics. References and further reading: Laura McGann’s piece on sexual harassment claims against Glenn Thrush of the New York Times Constance Grady explains rape culture of the 1980s A poll found evangelicals would support Kavanaugh even if allegations against him were true Eric Erickson argues Trump will escalate matters if Kavanaugh is rejected
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9/28/2018 • 49 minutes, 49 seconds
What Sarah learned on parental leave
Sarah, Matt, and Ezra dive into how other countries design parental leave policies — and what the US could do better. Plus: a white paper on subways, and outer space! References and further reading: RAND review on child care allowance Pew research finds birthrates are down while the desire to have kids is not ProPublica relates mothers to candy wrappers Henrik Levin charts attitudes toward working mothers with school-age children White paper on subways and pollution in urban centers
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9/25/2018 • 58 minutes, 44 seconds
What could stop the next Botham Jean?
Jane, Dara, and Matt discuss a tragic death in Dallas and the difficult politics of police reform. References and further reading: Adam Serwer’s piece in the Atlantic on the National Rifle Association’s Catch-22 Numbers on the NRA David French names this “the worst police shooting yet” Jane Esberg and Jonathan Mummolo paper explaining the misperceptions of crime Josh Sugarmann explains the ties between the firearm industry and the NRA Pew poll on how the police and the public view policing Justin Moore reacts to comments by Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall
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9/21/2018 • 58 minutes, 39 seconds
#MeToo goes to the Supreme Court
Dara, Ezra, and Matt discuss the allegations that could derail Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation References and further reading: Christine Blasey Ford speaks out to the Washington Post Malcolm Gladwell's episode of Revisionist History on Brian Williams Twitter thread from Sandra Newman on false accusations Report on binge drinking by high school students since the 70s Slate article on Judge Kozinski's inappropriate emails Caitlin Flanagan's piece on why she believes Ford Jian Ghomeshi reflects after becoming an outcast John Hockenberry's essay on exile
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9/18/2018 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 35 seconds
Can Elon Musk save Tesla from himself?
Jane, Dara, and Matt talk about the potential meltdown of one of America’s most important entrepreneurs. References and further reading: Emily Stewart's piece on Elon Musk smoking pot
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9/14/2018 • 55 minutes, 4 seconds
I am the Resistance inside The Weeds podcast
Dara, Ezra, and Matt talk about Bob Woodward’s book, that op-ed, and the two-track Trump presidency. References and further reading: The infamous NY Times op-ed written by a White House insider Andrew Prokop's explainer of Bob Woodward's new book White paper: Does Rape Culture Predict Rape?
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9/11/2018 • 1 hour, 19 minutes, 26 seconds
Colin Kaepernick, the most important election issue in the world
Jane, Dara, and Matt get ready for some football. References and further reading: Jane's explainer of the NFL protests Jane's piece on Nike's new "Just Do It" campaign Jane's piece "Nike has made billions selling rebellion to young people"
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9/7/2018 • 49 minutes, 33 seconds
What’s at stake in the midterms
Jane, Dara, and Matt kick off the unofficial beginning of campaign season by asking what happens if Democrats win in November and what if they lose? References and further reading: Matt's piece on the House Republican list of investigations that could happen if Dems win David Mayhew's Divided We Govern, mentioned by Matt Dara's piece on where DACA stands now
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9/4/2018 • 57 minutes, 1 second
America picked a lousy time to turn its back on refugees
In an unexpectedly globe-hopping episode of The Weeds, Dara and Worldly co-host Zack Beauchamp examine the ripple effects of Trump’s America First attitude toward the refugee crisis. References and further reading: Politico article about how the Trump administration is slow walking refugee resettlement for 2018 with rumors of even lower levels for 2019 Trump's turn away from global leadership on refugee issues The disqualifying comments of Trump's nominee to lead the International Organization for Migration BBC piece on the regional Venezuelan conflict Zack's Today, Explained episode about Hungary Washington Post piece about the dire situation in Syria right now NY Times piece on Trump ending funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency Dara's Worldly episode
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8/31/2018 • 53 minutes, 17 seconds
John McCain vs. the idea of John McCain
Vox politics editor Laura McGann joins Dara and Matt to talk about John McCain's legacy and Donald Trump's response to his death, then Dara and Matt tackle a white paper that looks at the connection between financial decisions and partisanship. References and further reading: Matt's piece about John McCain's death Laura's piece on John McCain's ties to Sarah Palin Ryan Lizza's piece on the 2013 immigration plan, mentioned by Dara White paper: Partisanship and Risky Financial Decisions
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8/28/2018 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 18 seconds
The art of the squeal
Jane, Dara, and Matt talk about Paul Manafort’s guilty verdict, Michael Cohen’s guilty plea, and what comes next for Donald Trump. References and further reading: Dara's piece about Donald Trump's tweets and what they say about his relationship with Manafort and Cohen Matt's piece about Trump's Fox & Friends interview Jane's piece on how the right is spinning the Cohen and Manafort news Ken White's tweet thread, mentioned by Dara
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8/24/2018 • 59 minutes, 1 second
Elizabeth Warren’s plan to save/destroy capitalism
Dara, Ezra, and Matt discuss a big idea to make the economy great again. References and further reading: Matt's piece on Elizabeth Warren's corporate accountability bill Matt's piece on Kevin Williamson's attack on Warren's accountability bill The Varieties of Capitalism, book mentioned by Matt David Ciepley's writing on corporations, mentioned by Dara Dylan Matthews' piece on co-determination , mentioned by Ezra Sam Hammond's piece on Warren's bill, mentioned by Ezra and Dara Aaron Klein's analysis of Warren's accountability plan, mentioned by Ezra
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8/21/2018 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 26 seconds
We’re not gonna pay rent
Jane Coaston joins Matt and Dara to talk about exploding housing costs in America’s coastal cities and what we can do about them. References and further reading: Jeff Stein's piece on rent and housing
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8/17/2018 • 57 minutes, 46 seconds
Lordy, Omarosa has tapes
Emily Stewart joins Dara and Matt to talk about the perhaps-unbelievable book everyone’s talking about, and the dysfunctional White House that spawned it. References and further reading: Emily's piece on Omarosa's recording of John Kelly Emily's highlights from Omarosa's book Unhinged Maggie Haberman tweet confirming that earlier secret White House tapings were not Omarosa, mentioned by Dara White paper "Unemployment, Temporary Work, and Subjective Well-Being: The Gendered Effect of Spousal Labor Market Insecurity"
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8/14/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 34 seconds
#FakeScience
Senior health correspondent Julia Belluz and science reporter Brian Resnick join Dara and Matt to discuss the replication crisis in scientific studies. References and further reading: Brian's piece on the marshmallow test John P. A. Ioannidis' "Most Published Research Findings Are False," mentioned by Julia Scientists tired to replicate 100 psychological studies, 40% passed, mentioned by Brian Scientists also tried to replicate 100 economic studies, 60% passed Vox's survey of 270 scientists about the biggest problems in science, mentioned by Brian Julia's piece on Amy Cuddy and power posing NY Times magazine feature on Amy Cuddy, mentioned by Dara Julia's piece on 'big paper towels' campaign against hand dryers Mars chocolate study, mentioned by Julia
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8/10/2018 • 48 minutes, 30 seconds
The Great Twitter Wars of 2018
Jane Coaston and Dylan Matthews join Ezra to discuss the Sarah Jeong fracas, the Ben Shapiro-Mark Duplass meltdown, the problems with Twitter, the ways partisan dehumanize each other, and more. References and further reading: The context for Sarah Jeong's "goblins" tweet The context for Sarah Jeong's "cut white people" tweet German Lopez's piece on what makes people less racist Brian Resnick's piece on reducing prejudice William F. Buckley supporting segregation Zack Beauchamp's piece in defense of Sarah Jeong Ezra's demographics piece David French's piece on Sarah Jeong W.E.B Du Bois' The Soul's of Black Folks Ashley Jardina's Washington Post piece on white identity Jamelle Bouie's newsletter Political Tribes by Amy Chua Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? by Dr. Martin Luther King White paper Party Animals? Party Identity and Dehumanization That time Dylan got owned on Twitter by Sen. Ben Sasse
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8/7/2018 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 11 seconds
Paul Manafort, alleged ostrich-collar criminal
Andrew Prokop joins Dara and Matt to talk about Paul Manafort’s trial and what it means for the larger Russia investigation. References and further reading: Andrew's piece on the trials of Paul Manafort Andrew's breakdown of the opening statements at Manafort's trial Franklin Foer's profile of Manafort, mentioned by Andrew
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8/3/2018 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 4 seconds
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
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7/31/2018 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 20 seconds
“Mission Accomplished,” trade war edition
Congressional reporter Tara Golshan joins Dara and Matt to break down Trump’s kinda sorta trade deal with the EU and ongoing trade tensions with China”
References and further reading:
Tara's piece on Trump's mischaracterization of the US trade deficit
Politico Europe rundown of the trade deal, mentioned by Matt
The Weeds has been nominated for this year's People's Choice Podcast Awards! Cast your vote for The Weeds for free before Tuesday, July 31st at podcastawards.com.
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7/27/2018 • 47 minutes, 59 seconds
What Republicans can do on Trump and Russia
Matt, Dara and Ezra talk about Republicans, Trump and Russia. Plus: A research paper reveals how Dara lost on College Jeopardy.
References and further reading:
Politico Playbook piece mentioned by Matt, "GOP to the world: What would you like us to do?"
Law Review paper "Separation of Parties, Not Powers"
The Weeds has been nominated for this year's People's Choice Podcast Awards! Cast your vote for The Weeds for free before Tuesday, July 31st at podcastawards.com.
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7/24/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 27 seconds
It’s surprisingly easy to get away with murder in America
Senior criminal justice reporter German Lopez joins Dara and Matt to talk about the high number of unsolved homicides in America.
References and further reading:
Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy
German's reporting on the violent crime clearance rate in America
Study referenced by Dara that looked at community cooperation from Secure Communities (a massive federal immigration enforcement program)
In-depth reporting on the low murder clearance rate across the US from The Washington Post
Anthony Braga study on Boston's approaches to solving homicides mentioned by German
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7/20/2018 • 49 minutes, 18 seconds
There’s collusion, and then there’s collusion
Dara, Ezra, and Matt discuss President Trump's remarkable performance in Helsinki and new research on employers colluding to hold down pay.
Links:
Dara mentioned Quinta Jurecic's piece tying Trump in Helsinki to Trump on Charlottesville.
Here's the Ari Fleischer tweet Ezra referenced.
Ezra walked through what we know about Trump's dealings with Russia. Here's that rundown (and more analysis) in text form.
Trump tweeted during recording — here's the full text Matt read.
Matt mentioned Adam Entous's New Yorker piece on Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Emirates.
The 2015 Morning Joe interview Ezra mentioned. Joe Scarborough says Putin has a record of killing journalists and political opponents, and invading countries. Trump responds, "At least he's a leader."
White paper: "Theory and Evidence on Employer Collusion in the Franchise Sector" (Alan B. Krueger, Orley Ashenfelter)
More on the news about the no-poaching agreement in Washington state.
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7/17/2018 • 59 minutes, 36 seconds
Republicans' plan for health care: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Dylan Scott joins Dara and Matt to talk about the Trump administration’s latest moves to destabilize health insurance markets.
Dylan's piece on risk adjustment payments, and another piece on the Trump administration’s latest steps to undermine the Affordable Care Act.
Dylan also specifically referenced Nicholas Bagley. Read him on risk adjustments here.
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7/13/2018 • 48 minutes, 55 seconds
Brett Kavanaugh and the future of the Supreme Court
Dara, Ezra, and Matt break down what we know about Trump’s pick for the Supreme Court
References and further reading:
Paper about Norwegian immigrants, mentioned by Matt
"Twice a Stranger: The Mass Expulsions that Forged Modern Greece and Turkey" good book with background on the refugee paper
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7/10/2018 • 56 minutes, 51 seconds
1,2,3,4 Trump declares a trade war
Staff writer Zeeshan Aleem joins Dara and Matt to break down what's really happening with Trump and trade, and how much it matters.
References and further reading:
Zeeshan's piece on the US-China trade war
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7/6/2018 • 49 minutes, 19 seconds
Family detention is the new family separation
Matt, Dara and Ezra talk about the Trump administration's use of family detention as an alternative to family separation. Then they turn to a white paper that looks at racial attitudes and white privilege.
References and further reading:
Tara Golshan's piece on the latest immigration bill
Politico piece on the Senate efforts to fix family separation
"Racial attitudes in response to thoughts of White privilege" white paper
Kate Manne's piece on Bernie Sanders' white male problem mentioned by Matt
Kate Manne's book "Down Girl" mentioned by Matt
Professor Ashley Jardina's dissertation on white identity and American politics mentioned by Ezra
Michael Tesler's book “Post-Racial or Most-Racial?" mentioned by Ezra
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7/3/2018 • 59 minutes, 26 seconds
America’s Next Top Supreme Court Justice
Vox senior politics reporter Jane Coaston joins Matt and Dara to talk about the future of the Supreme Court without Justice Kennedy.
References and further reading:
NYT piece on Justice Kennedy's son's connections to the Trump family
Dara's piece on the most likely picks for Kennedy's replacement
Jane's piece on Senator Mike Lee
Jane's piece on polling that show's Trump voters were motivated by the Supreme Court vacancy
Examiner piece on overturning Roe v. Wade
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6/29/2018 • 48 minutes, 5 seconds
With borders wide open
Ezra returns from the wilds of book leave to talk about open borders with Dara and Matt.
References and further reading:
Dara's piece on the 1996 immigration bill
"Trillion dollar bills on the sidewalk" white paper
Bryan Caplan paper on open borders
Ezra's interview with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti
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6/26/2018 • 46 minutes, 21 seconds
The messy drama queens of the Supreme Court
While Sarah, Matt and Ezra are away Dara is joined by Dylan Matthews and Andrew Prokop to talk about the friction between how the Supreme Court says it makes its decisions, and the way everyone assumes it really works. Is it time for the Court to stop getting polite and start getting (legal) real(ist)?
References and further reading:
Andrew’s explainer on the gerrymandering decision
The “efficiency gap,” explained by one of its creators
Dylan on the public-sector union case Janus v. AFSCME
Dara’s piece on Trump v. Hawaii, the travel ban case
Sonia Sotomayor endorsed legal realism before joining the Court
KENNEDYWATCH, 2018 Edition
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6/22/2018 • 55 minutes, 10 seconds
Which children matter?
Senior politics reporter Jane Coaston joins Dara and Matt to talk about the ideological roots of Donald Trump's family separation policy.
References and further reading:
Dara's piece on "operation wetback" the immigration policy Donald Trump loves
Jane's piece on Stephen Miller
Jamelle Bouie's piece on Stephen Miller
Politico piece about Trump possibly shutting down the government in September over border wall, mentioned by Jane
Dara's piece on the number of families separated at the border daily
Dara's piece on how asylum officers are being told to implement Sessions' new rule
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6/19/2018 • 48 minutes, 56 seconds
Ask Weeds Anything...Again!
Sarah, Dara and Matt answer your questions.
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6/15/2018 • 1 hour, 22 minutes, 11 seconds
Why 12-step programs work — and family separation doesn’t
While Sarah and Matt are away Dara is joined by Vox.com congressional reporters Tara Golshan and Ella Nilsen to talk about immigration and family separation. Then she's joined by Vox.com criminal justice reporter German Lopez to talk about a white paper that looks at the effectiveness of 12- step programs.
References and further reading:
Ella's piece on Democrats trying to stop family separation at the border
Tara's piece on the chaos in the House over immigration
Sarah's piece on the missing children and family separation
Miriam Jordan's NYT piece on transitional foster care placements for migrant children
White paper on the effectiveness of 12-step programs
German's piece on Alcoholics Anonymous
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6/12/2018 • 52 minutes, 13 seconds
Can we get tough on rapists without being “tough on crime”?
Sarah, Dara and Matt talk about the recent recall of Judge Aaron Persky, the California judge who sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to six months when he was convicted of sexual assault in 2016.
References and further reading:
Julia Ioffe's piece on the Stanford professor who led the charge against Persky
AP reporting on Persky's record as a judge
Rachel Marshall's Vox.com piece on why the recall isn't a progressive victory
John Pfaff Twitter thread on how elections impact judicial behavior
German Lopez's piece on incarceration rates from 1985-2010
Laura McGann's piece on men in #metoo exile
Wesley Lowery's piece on widespread unsolved murders in major American cities
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6/8/2018 • 42 minutes, 50 seconds
Cake Wars, Supreme Court edition
Dara, Sarah and Matt trace the Supreme Court Masterpiece Cakeshop ruling back to peyote and then discuss a Swedish study about lottery winners.
References and further reading:
Vox.com explainer on the Masterpiece Cakeshop ruling
Vox.com piece about religious liberty in American history
The Gallup poll on rates of support for gay marriage, mentioned by Sarah
White paper on Swedish lottery winners
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6/5/2018 • 43 minutes, 40 seconds
Trump isn’t losing immigrant kids, but he is taking them from their parents
Sarah and Matt are joined by Vox.com Congress reporter Tara Golshan to talk about missing children, separated families, and the latest immigration action on the Hill.
References and other reading:
Sarah's piece with an immigration expert explaining the 1,500 "missing" migrant children
Sarah explainer on family separations
Tara's piece on Republican moderates and immigration
Dara's explainer on the family separation policy
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6/1/2018 • 52 minutes, 23 seconds
The debate over “no excuses” charter schools, explained
Libby Nelson, Vox.com news editor and former education reporter, joins Matt and Sarah to talk about the discipline practices and educational outcomes at so-called "no excuses" charter schools. Then they turn to a white paper that looks at lead poisoning and fertility.
References and further reading:
Illinois Public Radio story on Noble Academy
Video of teacher at Success Academy ripping up student's homework
Research mentioned by Libby on outcomes at the Harlem Children's Zone
Upper West Side parents mad about school integration plan
White paper on lead poisoning and fertility
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5/29/2018 • 57 minutes, 44 seconds
Nobody has babies anymore (except Sarah)
Sarah and Matt talk about America’s rapidly falling birthrate, and a study on the long-term benefit of the 1980s Medicaid expansion.
References and further reading:
National Center for Health Statistics report on declining birth rates
Vox's Julia Belluz's piece on the low birthrate trend
NPR piece on the CDC report on declining fertility rates in the U.S.
Sarah's piece on why teen births are declining
Lyman Stone paper Sarah mentioned arguing that government interventions don't boost fertility
NY Times piece Matt referenced on American women having fewer children then they'd like
Dylan Matthew's piece explaining the child allowance plan
The white paper on Medicaid coverage and economic mobility
Converge with Casey Newton is a new conversational game show from The Verge. Listen to the first episode today, and subscribe wherever you're enjoying this podcast.
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5/22/2018 • 51 minutes, 38 seconds
Caught in the Intellectual Dark Web
Senior politics reporter Jane Coaston joins Dara and Matt to debate the “identity politics” backlash and the prospects for pluralism.
References and further reading:
Bari Weiss' piece on the 'intellectual dark web'
Conor Friedersdorf's piece on how the left fuels the right's bigotry
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5/18/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 53 seconds
Drugs! (But not the fun kind)
Sarah, Dara and Matt discuss the the exorbitant cost of prescription drugs and a white paper that looks at the correlation between counties that vote Republican and the number of low and high-skilled immigrants living in those communities.
References and further reading:
Dylan Scott's piece on the price of prescription drugs mentioned by Sarah
The white paper on 'The Political Impact of Immigration: Evidence from the United States'
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5/15/2018 • 1 hour, 48 seconds
The many scandals of Michael Cohen
Vox.com senior political reporter Andrew Prokop joins Dara and Matt to explain the strange tale of Donald Trump’s lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, who now seems to be in serious legal hot water.
References and further reading:
Andrew's piece on the corporations that hired Michael Cohen
Andrew's piece on the Cohen's ties to Russia
Andrew's Stormy Daniels explainer
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5/11/2018 • 1 hour, 19 minutes, 50 seconds
Did you read the memo about the TPS reports?
Sarah, Dara, and Matt analyze Trump’s drastic rollback of Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from Honduras, El Salvador, and Haiti and discuss new research on the never-ending “economic anxiety” debate.
References and further reading:
Dara's TPS explainer
White paper on attitudes toward social change
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5/8/2018 • 58 minutes, 8 seconds
Should psychiatrists diagnose Trump? Should journalists?
Vox's science reporter Brian Resnick joins Dara and Sarah to talk about psychiatry's Goldwater Rule, which has never met a test like Donald Trump.
References and further reading:
Brian's piece on why Trump's fitness for office is not a medical question
Brian's explainer on the Goldwater Rule
Sharon Begley's article Trump's mental health mentioned by Sarah
Sarah's piece on fax machines
Dara's piece on why the palace intrigue stuff matters to Trump
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5/4/2018 • 50 minutes, 52 seconds
What if the government guaranteed everyone a job?
Vox's Dylan Matthews joins Sarah and Matt to break down the jobs guarantee debate and discuss research on a promising school desegregation initiative undermined by racist police practices.
References and further reading
Dylan's jobs guarantee explainer (with links to Stephanie Kelton's writing)
Dylan's explainer of Sen. Cory Booker's jobs guarantee proposal (with links to Darrick Hamilton and Sandy Darity's writing)
Bryce Covert's piece on the case for a jobs guarantee
Gallup poll on workers getting a sense of identity from their jobs
White paper on school integration "risks and benefits"
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5/1/2018 • 54 minutes, 20 seconds
Ambien for all, Ronny Jackson and the VA, explained
Congressional reporter Ella Nilsen makes her Weeds debut joining Sarah and Matt to break down the botched nomination at the Veterans’ Administration, they also address the questions around the troubled agency’s future.
References and further reading:
Sarah's piece on the Ronny Jackson scandal
Ella's piece on the controversy surrounding Jackson's nomination
CNN piece on Ronny Jackson's alleged 'grab-and-go' clinic
NY Times piece on the concierge emergency room
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4/27/2018 • 51 minutes, 51 seconds
Speaker Ryan had a farm bill (E-I-E-I-O)
Sarah, Dara and Matt discuss a Republican farm bill that would impose work requirements on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) beneficiaries. Then they turn to a white paper on OxyContin and the heroin epidemic.
References and further reading:
Good Politico article summarizing the farm bill
Marion Nestle's piece on the farm bill
White paper on OxyContin's impact on the heroin epidemic
German Lopez's piece on the OxyContin white paper
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4/24/2018 • 59 minutes, 26 seconds
Boiling the frogs of war
Zack Beauchamp joins Dara and Matt to explain the ever-expanding 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and Trump's even more expansive legal rationale for bombing Syria.
References and further reading:
Vox's history of the AUMF
A primer on the legal dispute in Doe v. Mattis
Chesney primer on the Corker-Kaine Draft AUMF
Who is Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben?
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4/20/2018 • 55 minutes, 25 seconds
Honor cults in the FBI and Norwegian military
Matt, Sarah and Dara work backward from James Comey through FBI history and discover an 18th-century demon hidden in the Constitution. No, really.
References and further reading:
Dara's piece on the tension between the rule of law and political leadership
Recent PBS poll on how Americans view the FBI
Max Weber, explained
White paper on gender integration in the Norwegian military
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4/17/2018 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 2 seconds
All 👏 payer 👏 rate 👏 setting 👏
Dylan Scott joins Sarah and Matt to talk about Paul Ryan's retirement, his legacy, and the Weedsiest health reform of all.
References:
Sarah's all-payer rate setting explainer
Dylan's piece on Paul Ryan's legacy
Melanie Mason's piece on California's healthcare bill
RTI evaluation of all-payer rate setting
Health Affairs evaluation on changes in hospital use in Maryland
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4/13/2018 • 53 minutes, 39 seconds
The imprudent Scott Pruitt
Sirens galore, as the team races through Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt's many, many scandals and a white paper about unnecessary ambulance use.
References:
Trump's defense of Scott Pruitt
A good explainer on the Pruitt scandal
How EPA deregulations impact toxic air pollution
Michael Grunwald's piece on Pruitt's rollback of Obama era environmental regulations
Elaina Plott's pieces on Scott Pruitt and more
Working paper on ambulance usage in New York
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4/10/2018 • 53 minutes, 53 seconds
Sinclair’s alarming takeover of local TV news
Dylan Matthews joins Sarah and Matt to break down the history of Sinclair Broadcast Group, its politics, and the regulatory favors that fueled its growth.
References:
Dylan's piece on the Sinclair media takeover
Timothy Burke's Sinclair anchor mashup
Alving Chang's piece on Sinclair media, see if your local news station is owned by Sinclair
Martin and McCrain's paper on local news and national politics
Good Mother Jones piece on Sinclair's local news takeover
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4/6/2018 • 48 minutes, 36 seconds
Is Donald Trump ruining the Census?
Sarah, Dara, and Matt talk about the citizenship question, funding, and the potential consequences of a botched enumeration. Plus a weedsy dive into potential redistricting mischief, and research on Jose Canseco's malign influence on Major League Baseball.
References:
Dara's piece on the 2020 census
Carlos Waters' video on the 2020 census
The baseball white paper
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4/3/2018 • 53 minutes, 37 seconds
The optimistic take is things have always been bad (Worldly crossover)
The Weeds/Worldly crossover event continues: Jennifer Williams tries to persuade Dara and Matt they're wrong about an Islamophobic shift in Trump's new cabinet, and the old-fashioned democracy-promoting hawkery of George W. Bush.
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3/30/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 54 seconds
Is Facebook bad?
Matt, Sarah and Ezra on a new, blockbuster study on racial mobility — and whether Mark Zuckerberg should shut down Facebook.
References:
Race and Economic Opportunity in the United States
Dylan Matthews' piece
Income Mobility Charts for Girls, Asian-Americans and Other Groups. Or, Make Your Own
Extensive Data Shows Punishing Reach of Racism for Black Boys
Matt's case against Facebook
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3/27/2018 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 45 seconds
Cambridge Analytica: Scandal, hype, or both?
Andrew Prokop, senior politics reporter for Vox.com, joins Dara and Matt to break down the scandal that’s rocking the worlds of technology and politics.
References:
The Jane Mayer piece on the Mercers Dara mentioned
A study on Big Five personality attributes and voting behavior
SCIENCE! on the Cambridge Analytica model
A big five personality test you can do at home
Andrew's Cambridge Analytica explainer
Matt's good Facebook take
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3/23/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 3 seconds
The opioid debate: could reversing overdoses worsen the epidemic?
An economics working paper finds that access to Naloxone, a drug to reverse opioid overdoses, may increase opioid abuse. Sarah and Ezra explain the paper that started a social media firestorm — and what it means for combating the opioid epidemic.
References:
Doleac and Mukherjee working paper
A good summary of the debate from The Atlantic
Health Affairs blog post
Working paper from Daniel Rees
People are dying because we misunderstand how those with addiction think
A lifesaving drug for overdoses doesn’t reduce opioid deaths? Be skeptical
Trump’s opioid crisis plan: more death penalty, fewer prescriptions, more treatment
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3/20/2018 • 45 minutes, 59 seconds
Abolish ICE
Dara and Matt break down the history of Immigration & Customs Enforcement: how it got this way, and why some on the left want it to go away.
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3/16/2018 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 37 seconds
Trigger warning: Discussion of White House chaos and political correctness
Vox senior politics reporter Jane Coaston joins Ezra and Matt to talk about Trump turmoil, political correctness and the latest research on the state of the parties.
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3/13/2018 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 5 seconds
Nickname fights and wildcat strikes
Vox Politics & Policy reporter Alexia Fernandez-Campbell joins Dara and Matt to talk about the West Virginia teachers strike.
References:
Alexia’s article on teachers
Vox's Alvin Chang just published this amazing tool to see how teachers are paid in your state
An explainer on the Supreme Court’s Janus case
How public-sector unions are preparing for a post-Janus future
The original “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas”
Photographer evidence that he’s been called “Beto” since he was a toddler
A good primer on “Hispanic” as an identity constructed in the US
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3/9/2018 • 54 minutes, 43 seconds
Relief at last for America’s long-suffering banks
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about a bipartisan bank deregulation bill, Medicaid work requirements, and constitutional hardball.
References:
Mark Tushner’s original constitutional hardball article
Ron Chernow’s biography of Ulysses Grant
Why there are two Dakotas
Dylan Scott’s “Trump’s Hidden War on Medicaid”
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3/6/2018 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 4 seconds
Guns, Weeds, and Steel
Vox senior politics reporter Jane Coaston joins Dara and Matt to talk about a week of extremely erratic policymaking from an increasingly chaotic Trump White House.
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3/2/2018 • 51 minutes, 40 seconds
Medicare for Many More
Dylan Scott joins Sarah and Matt to talk about a new universal health care plan — plus some exciting administrative data from the good-old USA!
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2/27/2018 • 52 minutes, 6 seconds
The stupidest fucking idea I’ve ever heard
There are also some good ideas discussed. All of them are about guns. German Lopez joins Dara and Matt to talk about gun control in the wake of the Parkland shooting.
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2/23/2018 • 55 minutes, 10 seconds
It's finally infrastructure week
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about what’s really wrong with American infrastructure, the massacre in Parkland, FL, and new research on legislators’ irrational decision-making.
Whitepaper! Bias in Perceptions of Public Opinion Among American Political Elites by David E. Broockman, Christopher Skovron
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2/20/2018 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 2 seconds
DACApocalypse in the Senate
Matt, Dara, and Andrew Prokop talk about the Senate's failed immigration push, and they parse through the many-layered Rob Porter scandal.
DACA/Immigration ReferencesThe 8 Republican senators who voted for the bipartisan compromiseMoran, Thune, and Portman’s new DACA proposal statementTara Golshan’s piece about Grassley’s Secure and Succeed Act
Rob Porter ReferencesThe ever-shifting White House story on Rob PorterThe Rob Porter scandal, explainedJane Coaston’s piece: The White House had to protect Rob Porter to save Donald Trump
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2/16/2018 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 15 seconds
The gender pay gap is mostly about children
Matt, Ezra, Sarah, and Dylan Matthews try to explain Trump’s budget and Disability Insurance. For today's white paper: Move over Swedish administrative data, it’s Denmark’s turn.
Trump’s budget references:Dylan's explainer on Trump's proposed budgetAirports Council International report on the ownership of European airportsCongressional Research Service report on airport privatizationMatt’s explainer on Trump’s infrastructure planDisability Insurance references:Dylan's defense of SSDITerrance McCoy’s pieces on SSDI for The Washington Post: 597 days. And still waiting & After the check is gonePlanet Money / This American Life report on SSDI A Fiscal Crisis UnfoldingStephen Goss’ perspective on SSDI: The Financing Challenges Facing the Social Security Disability Insurance Program Recessions only modestly increase actual awards of disability insuranceExpiring unemployment benefits don’t lead to an increase in disability applicationsWhat it’s like to apply for disability insuranceDemographics explain most of the rise in disability incidence, and it’s not in fiscal troubleDisability insurance explains at most 0.1 percentage points of the decline in male workGender pay gap references:Today’s white paper: Children and Gender Inequality: Evidence from DenmarkClaudia Goldin studyMarianne Bertrand studySarah’s illustrated version of the Claudia Goldin study
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2/13/2018 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 9 seconds
The six-hour shutdown, explained
Matt, Dara, and Tara Golshan, all weary from lack of sleep, try to make sense of the few hours on Thursday night/Friday morning when the government was shut down.
Referenced Works
Republicans laughing in Tara's face about addressing immigration: Immigration anxiety got Trump elected. Congress isn’t touching it.
Further Reading
House Democrats’ confusing, high-risk DACA government shutdown gamble, explained
Congress just funded CHIP for a full decade
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2/9/2018 • 54 minutes, 50 seconds
What's up with Amazon's health venture — and the stock market
Matt, Ezra, and Sarah talk about the Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JP Morgan announcement about their joint healthcare venture, as well as the recent volatility in the stock market.
White paper: From the Bargaining Table to the Ballot Box: Political Effects of Right to Work Laws
Referenced Works:
Ben Thompson's Stratechery piece: Amazon Health
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2/6/2018 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 59 seconds
MS-13, explained
Dara, Matt, and Zack Beauchamp talk about the policy failures that created the gang haunting Donald Trump's dreams.
Referenced Works
Are there more than 2,000 MS-13 gang members in Virginia’s wealthy Fairfax County?
The Teens Trapped Between a Gang and the Law
The 'one percent' statistic Dara mentioned: Why Trump is Wrong to Blame Migration for MS13 Expansion, Violence
Further Reading
3 winners and 2 losers from Donald Trump’s first State of the Union
Gangs in Central America
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2/2/2018 • 56 minutes, 4 seconds
The state of our podcast is strong
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt parse through Trump's State of the Union address and the response delivered by Rep. Joe Kennedy III.
Referenced Works:
Matt's piece on the State of the Union: Donald Trump has no solutions for America’s big problems
German Lopez's piece that Ezra mentioned: Trump’s pathetic response to the opioid epidemic
The Health Care Cost Institute report Sarah referenced: 2016 Health Care Cost and Utilization Report
Further Reading:
Dylan Scott's piece on the address: State of the Union: Trump’s abandoned promise to bring down drug prices
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1/31/2018 • 50 minutes
The white genocide episode you’ve been waiting for
A DACA ransom note from the White House prompts Matt, Dara and Jane Coaston to muse on whose nation this is, anyway.
Referenced Works
The American Conservative piece Jane referenced: Of Sh*tholes And Second Thoughts
Elizabeth Bruenig's op ed for The Washington Post: The antisocial politics of Trump
The Passing of a Great Race
Nations and Nationalism
Imagined Communities
Profile of Stephen Miller in high school: How a liberal Santa Monica high school produced a top Trump advisor and speechwriter
Further Reading
Explainer on the White House immigration framework: The immigration deal Trump’s White House is floating, explained
Dara on framework pitting current immigrants against future immigrants: The White House is trying to force Democrats to choose between current immigrants and future ones
Jane’s piece on white genocide: The scary ideology behind Trump’s immigration instincts
Economic consensus on immigration: There's no evidence that immigrants hurt any American workers
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1/26/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 43 seconds
Shutdown deal special
Dara, Sarah, and Ezra dig into the details of the new shutdown deal — and what it means for the future of shutdown politics.
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1/22/2018 • 47 minutes, 29 seconds
The Shutdown Special
A few hours before a looming shutdown, DC is a very postmodern place.
Referenced works:
Dara on the DACA situation
Dylan Matthew on past shutdowns
Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard
On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences by Julian Zelizer
How the National Parks Became the Biggest Battleground in the Shutdown from The Atlantic, by Garance Franke-Ruta
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1/19/2018 • 55 minutes, 36 seconds
No one wants to take responsibility for sick kids or fake news
Matt, Ezra, and Sarah talk about Mark Zuckerberg's recent announcement regarding what Facebook will focus on in 2018, and the state of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
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1/16/2018 • 58 minutes, 37 seconds
Shithole special
The mask slipped with Trump's "shithole" comments, and Matt and Dara take a hard look at what lies beneath it. Content warning: explicit policy discussions.
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1/12/2018 • 58 minutes, 40 seconds
Lie back, light up, and enjoy some executive time
German Lopez joins Matt and Sarah to talk about Attorney General Jeff Sessions' most recent move on marijuana, how Trump spends his time, and child mortality in the US.
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1/9/2018 • 43 minutes, 39 seconds
Winter, explained
Brian Resnick joins Dara and Matt to talk about the 'bomb cyclone' and how it relates to the climate.
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1/5/2018 • 50 minutes, 11 seconds
Why is US life expectancy falling?
It's only the second day of 2018, and Matt, Ezra, and Sarah are already talking about alarming statistics--this time, to do with average American life expectancy.
White paper: Bias in Perceptions of Public Opinion Among American Political Elites
The GOP is trying to pass a super-unpopular agenda — and that's a bad sign for democracy
Impact Policy Submission URL: bit.ly/voximpact
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1/2/2018 • 51 minutes, 31 seconds
The most undercovered policy stories of 2017
Sarah returns from New Zealand in time to reflect with Matt on the year in policy.
White paper: Uniform Pricing in US Retail Chains
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12/29/2017 • 59 minutes, 6 seconds
Ask Weeds Anything!
Matt, Ezra, and Sarah answer your questions.
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12/22/2017 • 54 minutes, 49 seconds
Tax reforms and garbage factories
Matt and Ezra talk about what the tax bill actually does, whether the deficit matters, and a white paper about rugged individualism.
White paper: Frontier Culture: The Roots and Persistence of “Rugged Individualism” in the United States
Other referenced works:
Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America (America: a cultural history)
American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America
Dialect Diversity in America: The Politics of Language Change
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12/19/2017 • 56 minutes, 29 seconds
The Great Awokening comes to Congress
Matt, Dara, and Tara Golshan talk about how Congress does and doesn’t handle sexual harassment allegations.
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12/15/2017 • 57 minutes, 57 seconds
Alabama senate special
Matt and Ezra talk about the result of the Alabama senate race and the state of the GOP.
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12/13/2017 • 54 minutes, 35 seconds
Is the FBI good now?
Matt, Dara, and German Lopez discuss the (shallow, according to some) politics of pro-FBI liberals.
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12/8/2017 • 56 minutes, 30 seconds
Net neutrality, explained (Also! Why CVS is buying Aetna)
Matt, Ezra, and Sarah talk through the argument around net neutrality, the possible CVS-Aetna merger, and a white paper about who becomes an inventor in America.
Ben Thompson's defense of Ajit Pai
Who Becomes an Inventor in America? The Importance of Exposure to Innovation
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12/5/2017 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 10 seconds
How the GOP is weaponizing the tax code
Matt, Dara Lind, and Vox contributor Mike Konczal talk tax reform and Democrats' sexual harassment problem.
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12/1/2017 • 58 minutes, 43 seconds
Five big problems with the GOP tax plan
Matt and Ezra parse through the many flaws of the tax bill.
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11/28/2017 • 50 minutes, 13 seconds
A very Weeds Thanksgiving
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about what they're thankful for this year — plus disturbing new research about gender bias in surgical referrals.
White paper: Interpreting Signals in the Labor Market: Evidence from Medical Referrals
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11/21/2017 • 49 minutes, 22 seconds
Tax reform special
Tara Golshan and Dylan Scott join Matt to break down the two different GOP tax bills.
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11/17/2017 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 44 seconds
Republicans’ Roy Moore problem
Matt and Sarah discuss allegations against Roy Moore, Trump's new pick for Health and Human Services secretary, and a slightly better work week.
White paper: Time as a Network Good: Evidence from Unemployment and the Standard Workweek
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11/14/2017 • 1 hour, 12 seconds
Virginia is for Democrats
Dara Lind and Andrew Prokop join Matt to talk about this week’s election results and the implications for 2018.
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11/10/2017 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 58 seconds
The vaunted, versatile VAT
Matt, Ezra, and Sarah talk about the possibility of a Value-Added Tax, midterm elections, and acid rain.
Mentioned works:
A Fine Mess: A Global Quest for a Simpler, Fairer, and More Efficient Tax System by T. R. Reid
Creating an American Value-Added Tax
The People Left Behind When Only the ‘Deserving’ Poor Get Help
Mortality and Access to Care among Adults after State Medicaid Expansions
White paper: Long-Run Pollution Exposure and Adult Mortality: Evidence from the Acid Rain Program
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11/7/2017 • 1 hour, 8 seconds
The tax bill's winners and many, many losers
Dylan Scott and Dylan Matthews join Matt to talk about House Republicans’ tax plan.
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11/3/2017 • 57 minutes, 17 seconds
Indictment special! Plus: is Paul Ryan cowardly or courageous?
The gang talks about recent developments in the Russia investigation, and Sarah tells us what she learned visiting Canada with Bernie Sanders.
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10/31/2017 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 59 seconds
Purge 3: The Bannoning
Andrew Prokop joins Matt to talk about Steve Bannon’s war on the GOP establishment.
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10/27/2017 • 46 minutes, 28 seconds
Republicans: "Math" means you have to cut taxes on the rich. Weeds: Nope.
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk more tax reform, John Kelly's failure to fix the Trump administration, and new research on dental scams.
White paper: Health Services as Credence Goods: A Field Experiment
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10/24/2017 • 59 minutes, 36 seconds
How immigration took over Virginia’s governor race
Dara Lind and Andrew Prokop join Matt to talk about the surprisingly interesting governor’s election in Virginia.
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10/20/2017 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 44 seconds
The Impact: The curious case of the $629 Band Aid
Introducing The Impact, a new show from Vox hosted by Sarah Kliff.
The Impact explores how policy affects real lives. This season, we’re focusing on healthcare, and the first episode tackles with one of thorniest questions in the American healthcare system: prices.
Subscribe to The Impact wherever you get your podcasts.
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10/18/2017 • 8 minutes, 31 seconds
How do you solve a problem like Harvey Weinstein?
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt dig into the Harvey Weinstein story, talk a bit about tax reform, and cover new research on Medicaid expansion and savings.
White paper: Medicaid and Household Savings Behavior: New Evidence from Tax Refunds
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10/17/2017 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 32 seconds
Trump couldn't repeal Obamacare, so he's making it worse
Dylan Scott joins Sarah and Matt to dive into the newest forms of Obamacare sabotage, and to talk about heroin.
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10/13/2017 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 8 seconds
CHIPping away at gerrymandering
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about CHIP reauthorization, the Supreme Court's big gerrymandering case, and a seminal Richard Thaler paper (Mental Accounting and Consumer Choice).
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10/10/2017 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 22 seconds
Republicans have big dreams and big problems on tax reform
Dylan Matthews and Andrew Prokop join Matt to talk about Republicans hopes, dreams, and nightmares on tax reform.
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10/6/2017 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 57 seconds
Australia solved its gun problem. Could America?
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about gun control in the wake of Las Vegas, the GOP tax reform blueprint, and job-sharing in Germany.
White paper: The Employment and Output Effects of Short-Time Work in Germany
Referenced articles:
What Do We Know About the Association Between Firearm Legislation and Firearm-Related Injuries?
A Dynamic Analysis of Permanent Extension of the President’s Tax Relief
After a year of work, Republicans have decided nothing on corporate tax reform (Matt's piece)
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10/3/2017 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 23 seconds
The Puerto Rico disaster and Trump's inadequate response
Eliza Barclay and Alexia Fernández Campbell join Matt to talk about Hurricane Maria and its aftermath.
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9/29/2017 • 54 minutes, 33 seconds
What's budget reconciliation, and how did it eat the Senate?
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt delve into Senate procedure arcana, break down the latest GOP repeal bill, and talk about a surprisingly easy way to reduce theft.
White paper: SNAP Benefits and Crime: Evidence from Changing Disbursement Schedules
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9/26/2017 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 9 seconds
Weeds Live: Canadian immigration and a health insurance experiment
Dara Lind joins Matt and Sarah at the Now Hear This Festival to discuss the Canadian immigration system, and the audience chooses a white paper (https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9174.html) for them to talk about.
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9/22/2017 • 1 hour, 22 minutes, 38 seconds
The worst GOP healthcare bill yet
Ezra and Sarah parse through Graham-Cassidy, the latest Republican repeal bill.
White paper: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3025749
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9/20/2017 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 54 seconds
White House Chinese food summit leads to congressional chaos
Congressional reporters Jeff Stein and Tara Golshan join Matt to talk about congressional Democrats' hopes and Republicans' fears.
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9/15/2017 • 52 minutes, 55 seconds
BernieCare and Hillary's abandoned UBI
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt discuss Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All bill and Hillary Clinton's musings on creating a national version of the Alaska Permanent Fund.
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9/13/2017 • 1 hour, 15 minutes, 25 seconds
Weeds Live: Atul Gawande on opioids, end of life care, and rock and roll
Atul Gawande is a surgeon and the author of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. Sarah interviewed him live, asking about the opioid epidemic, his work with end of life patients, and his terrible college rock band.
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9/8/2017 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 50 seconds
Trump's art of the sabotage
Sarah and Matt discuss DACA, ACA implementation, and some game-changing new research on the real history of all-payer rate setting.
White paper:
Uncompensated care and the collapse of hospital payment regulation: An illustration of the Tinbergen Rule by Jeffrey Clemens and Benedic Ippolito
Paper on Maryland and hospital rate setting:
Tracking the demise of state hospital rate setting by John McDonough
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9/6/2017 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 56 seconds
Deferred action podcasting
Dara Lind joins Matt to talk about the past, present, and future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
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9/1/2017 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 42 seconds
The policy origins of America's most expensive natural disaster
Sarah and Matt talk about the policy errors behind Hurricane Harvey's devastation, the single-payer wonk gap, and new research on kindergarten red shirting.
White paper: School Starting Age and Cognitive Development
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8/30/2017 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 27 seconds
Donald Trump vs the congressional GOP
Tara Golshan and Andrew Prokop join Matt to talk about the bad blood between Trump and Mitch McConnell.
Links!
Andrew's interview with Dave Hopkins
Now Hear This registration (Promo code Weeds)
Weeds Facebook group
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8/25/2017 • 50 minutes, 16 seconds
How the rich ate all the growth
Ezra and Matt discuss two big papers that help explain America's economic malaise:
Income and Wealth Inequality: Evidence and Policy Implications
The Rise of Market Power and the Macroeconomic Implications
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8/23/2017 • 49 minutes, 6 seconds
Statue limitations
Libby Nelson and German Lopez join Matt to discuss the politics and history of Confederate monuments.
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8/18/2017 • 56 minutes, 34 seconds
A very meritorious podcast
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt break down Trump's plan to slash legal immigration, a new way to sabotage Obamacare, and research on ER scams.
Got a bill from an emergency room? We want to hear about it.
The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills from The New York Times
Surprise! Out-of-Network Billing for Emergency Care in the United States from NBER
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8/16/2017 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 50 seconds
Can John Kelly fix the Trump administration? Can anyone?
Dara Lind and Andrew Prokop join Matt to talk about Kelly's record as DHS Secretary and Trump's bizarre Twitter feud with Mitch McConnell.
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8/11/2017 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 25 seconds
Is Google in an "ideological echo chamber"?
Matt, Ezra, and Sarah talk about the now-infamous Google memo, the Democrats' plan for prescription drug pricing, and a study on opioid prescriptions and medical schools.
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8/9/2017 • 1 hour, 18 minutes, 9 seconds
The bacon fat theory of school segregation, and some White House chaos
Ezra, Sarah and Alvin Chang talk about the quiet return of segregation in schools, chaos in the Trump White House, and taxing marijuana.
Links!The Washington Post article on school desegregation and the Supreme Court.Alvin's piece on school desegregation and gerrymanderingAlvin's article on living in poor neighborhoodsAlvin's article on white America self-segregatingAlvin's piece on Obamacare repeal splitting neighborhoods
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8/2/2017 • 54 minutes, 58 seconds
ACA repeal is finally dead (maybe)
Sarah, Matt, and Dylan Scott analyze the night Trumpcare died and what's next for health care.
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7/28/2017 • 50 minutes, 32 seconds
Skinny repeal and Trump's management by tweet
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about yet another Obamacare repeal plan, Trump's feud with Jeff Sessions, and new research on retail health clinics.
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7/26/2017 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 28 seconds
A deep dive on basic income
Dylan Matthews joins Matt to discuss the three different version of universal basic income, and why only one of them is good.
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7/21/2017 • 55 minutes, 36 seconds
At last, a Weeds about weed (also Obamacare)
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about Democrats' plans to improve Obamacare and new evidence that smoking pot makes you bad at math.
Links!
White paper: ‘High’ Achievers? Cannabis Access and Academic Performance
Ezra's conversation with Dr. Nneka Jones Tapia
Latest Worldly episode
Tell us (and other Weeds fans) what you thought about the episode in our Facebook group!
Subscribe to VoxCare for healthcare news in your inbox daily!
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7/19/2017 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 8 seconds
McConnellCare II: Cruz Control
Matt and Sarah sit down with Dylan Scott to talk through all the nitty gritty details of the Senate's latest health care plan.
Links!
Ezra debates the Senate health care bill with Avik Roy
Dylan Scott's reporting leading up to this latest iteration of the bill
McConnell talking to moderates about tax cuts
How the Trump administration saved Obamacare in Alaska
Tell us (and other Weeds fans) what you thought about the episode in our Facebook group!
Subscribe to VoxCare for healthcare news in your inbox daily!
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7/14/2017 • 53 minutes, 20 seconds
Minimum wage research showdown (also Russia)
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt wonk out on the latest minimum wage research and Ted Cruz's new health plan — plus some Russia stuff, too.
White Paper: Minimum Wage Increases, Wages, and Low-Wage Employment: Evidence from Seattle
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7/12/2017 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 15 seconds
Understanding the opioid epidemic
Drug policy reporter German Lopez joins Matt for a close look at the biggest drug overdose crisis in American history.
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7/7/2017 • 47 minutes, 5 seconds
Trumpism and travel bans
Dara Lind and Dylan Matthews join Ezra to talk about the updated travel ban, how Trumpism has translated into policy, and the impact that increasingly awesome video games have had on young men's work habits.
Links!
White Paper: Leisure Luxuries and the Labor Supply of Young Men
Peter Suderman's piece about young men playing video games instead of getting jobs
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7/5/2017 • 1 hour, 51 seconds
Meanwhile, House Republicans are trying to write a budget
Jim Tankersley and Tara Golshan join Matt to talk about House Republicans' struggles to write a budget resolution and get their tax reform agenda on track.
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6/30/2017 • 45 minutes, 5 seconds
CB--Oh no this health care bill is terrible too
A new CBO score on the latest Obamacare repeal bill pushes Sarah to the breaking point!Links:Follow along as Matt, Ezra, and Sarah read through the CBO reportGraphs comparing silver insurance plan costs under different health care bills for different income brackets White Paper: Health Insurance Coverage and Health — What the Recent Evidence Tells Us
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6/28/2017 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 33 seconds
Senate Republicans' health care idea: Make the poor pay more for less
The Senate health care bill is out — and Sarah, Ezra, and Matt are back in the studio to dive into the details of what it means for the marketplaces, Medicaid, and very rich people.
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6/23/2017 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 39 seconds
Georgia (and Obamacare repeal) on our minds
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about Tuesday's special elections and the soon-to-be-released Senate health care bill.
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Foreign editors Yochi Dreazen and Jennifer Williams join Matt to talk about the diplomatic crisis in Qatar and the never-ending war in Afghanistan.
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6/16/2017 • 51 minutes, 30 seconds
Legends of the secret health care bill
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt take the deepest look they can at Senate Republicans' secret health care bill, plus a quick look at Jeff Sessions’s non-answers on Russia and new research on the long-term impact of lead exposure.Links!White paper of the week from the Brookings Institution: New evidence that lead exposure increases crimeCaitlin Owens in Axios on the Senate GOP not releasing their healthcare billDylan Scott on what it would look like it Senate Republicans voted to repeal ObamacareDavid Leonhardt's New York Times piece on the half-hearted opposition to the GOP’s health care planJeff Stein's piece on the left's game plan for beating the GOP health bill9 legal experts weigh on whether or not Sessions can discuss his conversations with the presidentKevin Drum on lead's connection to violent crime and lower IQs in Mother Jones
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6/14/2017 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 1 second
Infrastructure week (jk it's about Comey)
Dara Lind and Yochi Dreazen join Matt to talk about Comey's testimony and the larger consequences of the Russia investigation.
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6/9/2017 • 52 minutes, 37 seconds
Meet Sprinklecare
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about competing single-payer bills in Nevada and California, plus research on the value of access to the Obama White House.
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6/8/2017 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 56 seconds
Jared Kushner: International man of mystery
Dylan Matthews and politics reporter Andrew Prokop join Matt to talk about the Paris Accords and the mysterious role of the First Son-in-Law.
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6/2/2017 • 59 minutes, 21 seconds
A platinum get out of jail free card
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about the real causes of mass incarceration, Trump's move to roll back contraceptive coverage, and the mysterious world of high-end credit cards.Links!German Lopez’s piece about John Pfaff’s “Locked in” Mark A.R. Kleiman, Angela Hawken, and Ross Halperin on graduated reentry as prison reform.Today’s white paper, "Status Goods: Experimental Evidence from Platinum Credit Cards" Our Weeds in the Wild Episode about birth control Ezra Klein’s conversation with Chris Hayes about “A Colony in a Nation” Jon Bois excellent video, The Dumbest Boy in the WorldBooks!"Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration" by John Pfaff"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander"A Colony in a Nation" by Chris Hayes
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5/31/2017 • 57 minutes, 47 seconds
Weeds in the Wild: Tennessee's Healthcare Bald Spot
Sarah Kliff travels to Tennessee to see what it looks like when Obamacare explodes.Links!Sarah's piece about her trip to Tennessee More details about the Missouri bald spotAn interactive map of the counties most at risk of losing all their insurers Our lovely Weeds Facebook groupEmail us at weeds@vox.com
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5/29/2017 • 19 minutes, 21 seconds
CB--Oh, this bill stinks
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about the new CBO score of Trumpcare and the results of this week's special election in Montana.
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5/26/2017 • 53 minutes, 38 seconds
Trump's budget has landed, and it's terrible
A tanned and rested Ezra joins Matt and Sarah to talk budget, auto-enrollment in health care, and some eye-popping research on zoning.Links:Sarah's piece on auto-enrollmentJeff Stein's piece on reactions to Paul Ryan's agenda The wonderful Weeds Facebook group
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5/24/2017 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 5 seconds
All the Trump scandal drama you've been craving
Yochi Dreazen and Jennifer Williams join Matt to talk about the new Trump/Russia special counsel and the latest scandal swirling around Michael Flynn.
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5/19/2017 • 48 minutes, 46 seconds
Trump chaos, UBI, and the fracking baby boom
Dylan Matthews joins Sarah and Matt to talk about Trump's latest problems, his reporting on basic income in Kenya, and new research on fracking's impact on marriage and childbearing.
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5/17/2017 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 55 seconds
Weeds in the Wild: Free Money... For Everyone!
One of the world’s first universal basic income experiments is happening right now in a small Kenyan village. Dylan Matthews went there to investigate.Links!Dylan Matthew's piece about his Kenya tripTwo economists make the case for and against an American UBIA longer UBI explainerPlease send us feedback! Post your thoughts in our Facebook group or email us at weeds@vox.com
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5/12/2017 • 15 minutes, 18 seconds
The wall in our hearts
Vox's Dara Lind joins Sarah and Matt to talk about James Comey's firing, the border wall, and whether incomes have really been as stagnant as they seem.
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5/10/2017 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 29 seconds
AHCApocalypse III
Dylan Scott joins Sarah and Matt to discuss the surprisingly swift passage of a revised and reanimated version of Paul Ryan's repeal bill.
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5/5/2017 • 58 minutes, 33 seconds
High-Risk Podcasting
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about Congress's big spending deal, Republicans' newest Obamacare repeal idea, and research on what happens when abortion providers shut down.
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5/3/2017 • 59 minutes, 36 seconds
AHCApocalypse II
Live at Vox Conversations, Sarah, Ezra, and Matt discuss the GOP's doomed effort to reboot Obamacare repeal and the White House's "new" tax reform "plan."
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4/28/2017 • 59 minutes, 25 seconds
French elections, national service, and Queens at war
Libby Nelson and Dylan Matthews join Matt to talk about the global nationalist tide, forcing integration across class and ethnic lines, and research on gender and foreign policy dynamics.
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4/26/2017 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 30 seconds
Weeds Live!
In front of their first-ever live audience, Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about Trump surprises, Singapore's health care system, and the impact of longevity inequality on retirement programs.
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4/19/2017 • 1 hour, 30 minutes, 43 seconds
Weeds in the Wild: Meet Joan, the Robotic Pelvis
Sarah and Byrd take a look at some policy experiments working to drive down teen pregnancy and abortion rates. They're showing promising results — but they're also under threat.
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4/14/2017 • 23 minutes, 1 second
The World's Worst Club
Sarah and Matt are joined by Dara Lind for a discussion of the United fiasco, Trump-era immigration enforcement, and pre-K's surprising health benefits.
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4/12/2017 • 55 minutes, 17 seconds
Nuclear Winter
Jim Tankersley joins Sarah and Matt to talk tax reform, senate procedure, and the most exciting Swedish administrative data yet.
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4/5/2017 • 57 minutes, 1 second
A cheery discussion of global warming, Obamacare repeal, and death
Ezra, Sarah, and Matt pick apart Trump's next executive order on climate, exhume the AHCA's corpse, and read a white paper about death.
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3/31/2017 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 26 seconds
Weeds in the Wild: Postville
It was the biggest workplace immigration raid the U.S. had seen to date. 389 workers, almost all of them Hispanic, were detained at a kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa on May 12, 2008.On this episode of Weeds in the Wild, we look at the effects that this raid had across the state of Iowa, and then take a step back to understand how our immigration policies made this kind of raid possible.
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3/24/2017 • 27 minutes, 29 seconds
Mad Dogs and Obamacare Repealers
Ezra and Matt are joined by Yochi Dreazen to talk about national security policy in the Trump era, the latest on ACA repeal, and research indicating the internet's not to blame for political polarization.
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3/21/2017 • 1 hour, 20 minutes, 15 seconds
CB-uh oh!
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about Donald Trump's taxes, the disastrous CBO score of the GOP health care bill, and a study on how Chinese imports reduce Americans' marriage rates.
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3/15/2017 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 16 seconds
AHCApalooza
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt discuss how to pronounce the big new Republican health law, plus analyze its content and the puzzling politics surrounding its introduction.
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3/8/2017 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 27 seconds
Don't Call It a State of the Union
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt try to discuss Donald Trump's address to a joint session of congress through the lens of actual policy.
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3/1/2017 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 28 seconds
Death Panel If You Do, Death Panel If You Don't
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk fake news, town hall protests, and research on why your cell phone bill is so high.
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2/22/2017 • 1 hour, 15 minutes, 6 seconds
Weeds in the Wild: Sarah Goes to Kentucky
In another episode of their new podcast, Sarah and Vox's Liz Scheltens explore why Obamacare enrollees in Kentucky voted for Trump.
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2/17/2017 • 14 minutes, 21 seconds
Privet, Amerika!
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about the latest Russia-related scandal engulfing the Trump administration, the White House's lack of progress on policy, and new research on how Medicaid expansion reduced the divorce rate.
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2/15/2017 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 19 seconds
The Time Traveling Emanuel Brothers
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about anti-Trump protests, cabinet confirmations, and health insurance age rating (exciting!)
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2/9/2017 • 1 hour, 21 minutes, 42 seconds
SCOTUS, DBCFT, and Hitler's Highways
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about Neil Gorsuch, a controversial tax reform idea, and Nazi infrastructure building.
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2/1/2017 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 38 seconds
The Don't-Call-It-A-Muslim-Ban
Dara Lind joins Ezra and Matt to discuss Donald Trump's latest crackdown on immigrants and refugees.
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1/30/2017 • 41 minutes, 50 seconds
Gag Order and Infrastructure
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about widely-misunderstood Trump administration efforts to shut up career civil servants, talk about infrastructure, and ask journalism's most pressing question: What's up with eggs?
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1/26/2017 • 1 hour, 23 seconds
Inauguration Special
Shortly after the inauguration ceremonies ended, Ezra, Matt, and Sarah gathered to analyze what it all means in the first Trump-era Weeds episode.
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1/21/2017 • 43 minutes, 17 seconds
DeVos, Rigged Polls, and Quitting Bureaucrats
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt are joined by Libby Nelson to discuss Trump's not-so-great hires, not-so-great polls, and new research into how career staff act during presidential transitions.
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1/18/2017 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 50 seconds
Trump Cabinet, Obamacare Update, and Heroin
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about the rush to hold hearings on Trump's cabinet appointees, the sudden emergence of trouble in repeal paradise, and an effort to cut down on pill abuse that backfired massively.
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1/10/2017 • 59 minutes, 48 seconds
Sarah and Ezra Interview Obama About Obamacare
Two weeks before he leaves office, President Obama sits down for a lengthy conversation about the lessons of the Affordable Care Act and the law's uncertain future.
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1/6/2017 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 3 seconds
Happy New Year
Sarah and Matt offer predictions for 2017, and offer tax wonk tips about when to time your child's birth.
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1/4/2017 • 50 minutes, 49 seconds
Year-End Spectacular
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt each review one big thing they learned in a tumultuous year for policy and politics.
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12/28/2016 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 46 seconds
Kentucky, the Rust Belt, and the Big Picture on Trade
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about what Obamacare-using Trump voters are hoping for, which regions really need help, and a massive overview of the evidence on globalization and inequality.
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12/21/2016 • 52 minutes, 56 seconds
Russia and the American Dream
Ezra and Matt discuss Russian hacking, Rex Tillerson, and inequality's role in reducing social mobility.
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12/14/2016 • 57 minutes, 47 seconds
Trump's Surprisingly Ambitious Education Agenda
Matt is joined by Libby Nelson to discuss Donald Trump's big plans for K-12 education and his massive financial conflicts of interest.
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12/7/2016 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 8 seconds
Assessing the Trump Cabinet — and Exploring How Recessions Affect Health
Sarah and Matt take a deep dive into what Trump's cabinet picks say about how he will govern, with a particular focus on HHS Secretary-designate Tom Price. Also: an exciting white paper on recessions and health outcomes!
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11/30/2016 • 54 minutes, 59 seconds
Conflicts of Interest, Trump and the Media, and Rethinking Teen Pregnancy
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt consider the extraordinary possibility of corruption during the Trump administration, the president-elect's unusual relationship with the media, and a new study debunking the old study about 16 and Pregnant.
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11/23/2016 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 26 seconds
Sneak peak: a new Vox podcast, about how policy effects real people
This is a pilot episode of a new show Sarah has been working on, looking at the real-life stakes of policymaking. The show's name? That's for you to help us decide.
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11/21/2016 • 22 minutes, 32 seconds
The Trump Agenda
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about Obamacare repeal, deportations, and the House Democrats leadership fight.
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11/16/2016 • 55 minutes, 41 seconds
Trumpocalypse Now
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt look at the causes and consequences of Donald Trump's shocking win.
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11/9/2016 • 53 minutes, 8 seconds
The Massive Policy Stakes of 2016
You may not know it from watching cable news — but both Trump and Clinton have very clear and very different policy visions for America. Ezra, Matt, and Sarah dive into their plans to change the country in the last pre-election episode.
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11/4/2016 • 50 minutes, 54 seconds
Is Obamacare Failing?
Ezra, Matt and Sarah go deep into what's going wrong with Obamacare's rising premiums — and take on a research paper that helps explain a lot about Gilmore Girls (really!)
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10/26/2016 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 51 seconds
Final Debate Special
Ezra, Sarah, and Matt rally after a late night to talk about the third and mercifully last presidential debate.
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10/20/2016 • 55 minutes, 17 seconds
Second Presidential Debate Special
The morning after Clinton and Trump's debate in St. Louis, Ezra, Sarah, and Matt head to the studio to talk about internal Republican divisions, Trump's threat to throw Clinton in jail, and the surprising amount of policy the two candidates covered.
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10/10/2016 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 52 seconds
Veep Debate and Cranky Judges
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt debate Mike Pence's puzzling performance at the vice presidential debate and highlight new research on the surprising link between college football and prison sentences.
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10/5/2016 • 52 minutes, 34 seconds
The First Debate and Pet Health Care
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt try to take the policy content of the Trump-Clinton debate seriously and discuss important new research into out of control health care spending -- on pets.
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9/29/2016 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 37 seconds
An Interview with Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell
The Weeds' Sarah Kliff heads to Capitol Hill to interview Secretary Burwell on all things health care. They talked about how to pay doctors to provide better care, the current state of the Obamacare marketplaces, and what she's learned about management running the federal government's largest agency.
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9/21/2016 • 45 minutes, 27 seconds
Best Census Ever, the Trump Foundation, and Class Discrimination
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt get deep into the weeds of the latest Census report on income and poverty, briefly consider Donald Trump's ridiculous charity, and discuss new research into class-based employment discrimination.
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9/14/2016 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 13 seconds
Gender Wage Gap and the Mystery of State Legislatures
Reunited after many summer vacations, Sarah, Ezra, and Matt take a deep dive into Claudia Goldin's theory of the gender pay gap and possible remedies. Plus hot new research that proves nobody cares about state government.
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9/8/2016 • 54 minutes, 37 seconds
EpiPen Prices, the Clinton Foundation, and Lead Exposure
Why did EpiPen's price skyrocket 400 percent over the past decade? Sarah and Matt dive into the complex world of American drug pricing to find out. Also on this episode: understanding why the Clinton Foundation gets so much scrutiny, and a white paper of the week that shows how problematic a small level of lead exposure can be.
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8/31/2016 • 55 minutes, 31 seconds
Obamacare Update and Aging America
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt are all together for a gloriously in-the-weeds discussion of the success and failure of the Affordable Care Act plus some hot new research with bad news for the future of economic growth.
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8/24/2016 • 56 minutes, 38 seconds
Think Tanks, Transition, and What Drives Trumpkins
Ezra and Matt talk about conflicts of interest in think tank funding, Hillary Clinton's transition team, and the biggest study yet of who supports Donald Trump and why.
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8/18/2016 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 33 seconds
Trump's tax plan, democratic legitimacy, and the Freakonomics of decisionmaking
Ezra is joined by Dara Lind and Libby Nelson to talk about Donald Trump's new tax plan — how it shows the difference between Trump and reform conservatives, between the Donald and Ivanka, between Democrats and Republicans, and the similarities between Trump and Paul Ryan. The trio also talks about what happens when elections lose legitimacy, and mull over a fascinating new paper by Steven Levitt — yes, the Freakonomics economist — that could change how you make decisions.
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8/12/2016 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 37 seconds
Interview with Atul Gawande
With Ezra and Matt on summer vacation, Sarah is left to her own devices — and decides to share a fantastic interview from the Ezra Klein Show with surgeon and writer Atul Gawande. Atul talks about the fascinating academic work he has in progress, attempting to improve end-of-life care and make hospitals safer, and how he became a writer in the first place.
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8/3/2016 • 1 hour, 35 minutes, 21 seconds
DNC-Palooza
With Matt dispatched to Philadelphia, Sarah and Ezra are left to make sense of the Democratic National Convention. They discuss why it feels so different from the Republican National Convention last week, why it matters that a woman was just nominated for president, and whether Sanders could inspire a Tea Party of the left.
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7/28/2016 • 58 minutes, 10 seconds
Republican Convention Special
Matt, Sarah, and Ezra take a deep dive into the many detailed policies proposals discussed at the RNC in Cleveland.
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7/22/2016 • 54 minutes, 3 seconds
Basic Income and Police Shootings
Andy Stern joins Ezra, Sarah, and Matt to talk about his new book, Raising the Floor: How a Universal Basic Income Can Renew Our Economy and Rebuild the American Dream. Then, the regular cast considers new research on police use of force.
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7/15/2016 • 58 minutes, 4 seconds
Hillary Clinton. Yes, that Hillary Clinton.
A special presentation from the Ezra Klein Show: My interview this week is with Hillary Clinton. You may have heard of her.I won't bore you with Clinton's bio. Instead, I want to say a few words about what this interview is, as it's a bit different than the EK Show's normal fare (though I do ask her for book recommendations!).I got about 40 minutes with Hillary Clinton. I wanted to use that time to try to answer a question I've had about Clinton for years: why is the candidate I see on the campaign trail so different from the person described to me by her staff, colleagues, friends, and even foes? I wanted, in other words, to try to see what Clinton is like when she's working her way through policy and governance issues. And so that's what we talk about. Among the topics we covered are:- Extreme poverty, welfare reform, and the working poor- Is it time for more deficit spending?- Would more immigration be good for the economy?- The difficulties of free college and universal health care- What skills does a president need that campaigns don't test?- What's on her bookshelf?- Why America stopped trusting elites — and what elites should do about itIf you want more on this discussion, I also reported out a long piece on how Clinton governs — you can find it on Vox.com.
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7/14/2016 • 43 minutes, 3 seconds
Free College, Email Extravaganza, and the China Shock
Matt, Ezra, and Sarah talk about proposals to eliminate college tuition, the real issues behind Hillary's email server, and a new paper on a small policy change with huge consequences.
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7/8/2016 • 1 hour, 38 seconds
Brexit 2, SCOTUS on abortion, and the missing male workers
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt discuss the United Kingdom's descent into political chaos, a big win for abortion rights at the high court, and a big labor market mystery.
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7/1/2016 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 37 seconds
Welfare reform, SCOTUS deadlock, and health care jerk
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt consider the alarming rise in deep poverty over the past 15 years, a fresh Supreme Court non-decision that imperils Obama's immigration policy, and what to make of the slowing rate of growth of health care spending.
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6/25/2016 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 17 seconds
Guns, Brexit, and Free Condoms
Sarah and Matt discuss the nexus of terrorism and gun control, Britain's upcoming referendum, and an unintended consequence of school condom giveaways.
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6/17/2016 • 57 minutes, 44 seconds
5uper Tue5day
Hillary Clinton's clinch of the Democratic nomination gives Sarah, Ezra, and Matt a chance to go deep on what we know about women in electoral politics.
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6/10/2016 • 55 minutes, 59 seconds
Accountable Care Organizations, more Swedish administrative data, and the big city recovery
With Ezra in sunny California, Matt and Sarah gets weedsier than ever as she attempts to explain to Matt the mysteries of ACOs before they discuss a brewing controversy over economic journal citations.
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6/3/2016 • 57 minutes, 30 seconds
Health care innovation, did Dems rig the primary, and fetal stress
Health care innovation, did Dems rig the primary, and fetal stress: Sarah, Ezra, and Matt look at a specific case in America's great productivity slowdown, assess Bernie Sanders' complaints, and examine some exciting Swedish administrative data.
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5/27/2016 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 30 seconds
90s nostalgia, Obamacare lawsuits, and the truth about abortion
Ezra, Sarah, and Matt look back at whether Bill Clinton deserves credit for the booming economy of the 1990s, survey the ongoing legal challenges to Obamacare, and dissect new research revealing some surprising facts about abortion rates around the world.
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5/20/2016 • 55 minutes, 31 seconds
Competition in Obamacare marketplaces and how low-income housing can boost poor neighborhoods
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about which companies are succeeding and failure in the Affordable Care Act's new individual market and why, and delve deep into the weeds of some new research on the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
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5/13/2016 • 49 minutes, 52 seconds
Trump is the Republican nominee. What happens next?
Trump is the last man standing in the Republican nominating contest — so Ezra, Matt, and Sarah spend this week's entire episode taking stock of what that means. How did the rise of Trump happen? What does it mean for the Republican party? And how much potential does this have to reshape America's political parties?This episode is brought to you by Texture, an app to help you binge-read your favorite magazines. get a free trial right now when you visit Texture.com/Weeds.This episode is also brought to you by Club W, which will give you $20 off your first order when you go to ClubW.com/Weeds, and will pay your shipping on orders of four bottles or more.And by Goldman Sachs. To learn about developments currently shaping markets, industries, and the global economy, subscribe to the firm’s podcast, ‘Exchanges at Goldman Sachs,’ available on iTunes.
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5/6/2016 • 1 hour, 43 seconds
Interview with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter
Max Fisher sits down with Defense Secretary Ash Carter to talk about the modern international environment, why Carter thinks great power rivalry is making a comeback, and for some deep weedsy talk about nuclear weapons.
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5/2/2016 • 47 minutes, 35 seconds
Land value taxes, soda taxes, and carbon taxes — oh my!
Every policy nerd has their favorite tax proposal — and today on the Weeds, Sarah, Matt, and Ezra talk about a few of theirs. What would happen if we abolished all taxes and replaced them with a land tax? Is it a good idea to tax sugary sodas? And how did the carbon tax become the default option in the environmental debate?This episode is brought to you by Texture, an app to help you binge-read your favorite magazines. get a free trial right now when you visit Texture.com/Weeds.This episode is also brought to you by Club W, which will give you $20 off your first order when you go to ClubW.com/Weeds, and will pay your shipping on orders of four bottles or more.And by Goldman Sachs. To learn about developments currently shaping markets, industries, and the global economy, subscribe to the firm’s podcast, ‘Exchanges at Goldman Sachs,’ available on iTunes.
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4/29/2016 • 1 hour, 9 minutes
Our undemocratic primaries, Obama's new fiduciary rule, and the challenge of information polarization
With Sarah still on vacation Ezra and Matt ask what we want out of our presidential nominating system, explain a new regulatory initiative that could save the middle class billions, and look at some new research on media consumption and polarization.The Weeds is supported by Goldman Sachs. To learn about developments currently shaping markets, industries, and the global economy, subscribe to the firm’s podcast, ‘Exchanges at Goldman Sachs,’ available on iTunes.The Weeds is also brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/Weeds to stream Understanding Investments and hundreds of other courses for free!And by Harry’s Razors. Visit Harrys.com right now and get $5 off your first purchase with promo code WEEDS.
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4/22/2016 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 24 seconds
Interview with Jason Furman
The Obama administration's top economist talks to Vox's Dylan Matthews about the challenges facing the American economy.
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4/18/2016 • 30 minutes, 49 seconds
Why inequality matters, Trump's delegate problem, and the geography of life expectancy
With Sarah on vacation, Matt and Ezra talk about the philosophical underpinnings of worries about inequality, take a look at Donald Trump's difficulty grappling with the delegate selection process, and discuss a blockbuster new paper that reveals huge city-to-city variation in how long poor people live. The Weeds is supported by Goldman Sachs. To learn about developments currently shaping markets, industries, and the global economy, subscribe to the firm’s podcast, ‘Exchanges at Goldman Sachs,’ available on iTunes.The Weeds is also brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/Weeds to stream Understanding Investments and hundreds of other courses for free!
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4/15/2016 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 29 seconds
What the hell is going on with tax havens, explained
Ezra, Matt and Sarah use the Panama Papers to discuss how tax havens and shell corporations became such a big deal, and why America has done so little to stop them. Matt and Ezra argue a bit about the effectiveness of global governance. Economist Gabriel Zucman gets name-checked quite a bit. Sarah runs through some really surprising new Obamacare data (Medicaid fans — you know who you are — won't want to miss this!). Today’s episode is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/Weeds to stream Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries and hundreds of other courses for free!This episode is also brought to you by Re:Dream, a documentary series on Youtube taking a look at the idea of the American Dream. Watch the videos, find local events, and join the conversation at ReDreamProject.org.
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4/8/2016 • 59 minutes, 54 seconds
A medical struggle to digitize, a tax calculator, and a paper that explains Trump
It would be really weird to walk into a bank and have the teller take down your information on pen and paper. But it happens all the time in medicine — and we try to explain why. Also in this episode: a new tax calculator reveals how the candidates want to change your taxes, and a political science paper from 2014 helps predict the rise of Trumpism.This episode is brought to you by Club W, offering The Weeds listeners fifty percent off your first wine order when you go to ClubW.com/Weeds.This episode is also brought to you by Re:Dream, a documentary series on Youtube taking a look at the idea of the American Dream. Watch the videos, find local events, and join the conversation at ReDreamProject.org.
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4/1/2016 • 1 hour, 18 minutes, 7 seconds
Replacing No Child Left Behind, wonky March Madness, and Uber's productivity
Special guest star Libby Nelson joins Sarah and Matt to explain the Every Student Succeeds Act, examine the strange history and economics behind the NCAA's non-payment of athletes, and break down some new research on why Uber works. Today’s episode is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/Weeds to stream Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries and hundreds of other courses for free!This episode is also brought to you by Re:Dream, a documentary series on Youtube taking a look at the idea of the American Dream. Watch the videos, find local events, and join the conversation at ReDreamProject.org.
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3/25/2016 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 14 seconds
Super(b) Tuesday special
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt discuss the results of the March 15 primaries and the state of the 2016 presidential election.Today’s episode is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/Weeds to stream Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries and hundreds of other courses for free!This episode is also brought to you by Club W, offering The Weeds listeners fifty percent off your first wine order when you go to ClubW.com/Weeds.
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3/16/2016 • 51 minutes, 57 seconds
The productivity slowdown, TrumpCare, and better textbooks
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about why Silicon Valley's technical marvels aren't visible in economic statistics, dive into the details of Donald Trump's surprisingly banal health plan, and tackle some new research on improving teaching by improving textbooks.This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start building your website today atSquarespace.com. Enter offer code WEEDS at checkout to get 10% off.This episode is also brought to you by Harry’s razors. Visit Harrys.com and enter WEEDS at checkout to receive $5 off your first purchase.
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3/11/2016 • 1 hour, 24 minutes, 2 seconds
Super Tuesday/Exhausted Wednesday special!
In this episode of the Weeds, Ezra, Matt and Sarah discuss the results of Super Tuesday. Everyone is tired, so it gets a bit weird. Topics include whether Donald Trump is actually a moderate, how the election shows American politics is either polarizing or de-polarizing, and whether Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton would be a stronger general-election candidate. Oh, and Bernie Sanders has finally convinced Matt that free college —including for rich kids — is a good idea! This week’s episode of The Weeds is sponsored by Warby Parker. Warby Parker brings you a new concept in eyewear: Contemporary eyeglasses that are extremely affordable and fashion forward. Visit WarbyParker.com/Weeds to begin your free home try-on experience today!This episode is also brought to you by Club W, offering The Weeds listeners fifty percent off your first wine order when you go to ClubW.com/Weeds.
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3/2/2016 • 1 hour, 23 minutes, 47 seconds
TPP, the Nevada Caucus, and the Great Texas Abortion clinic shutdown.
By popular demand, Sarah, Matt, and Ezra finally address the Trans Pacific Partnership before contemplating the GOP's ongoing self-immolation, and the real consequences of the war on Planned Parenthood.Today’s episode is brought to you by Harry’s razors. Visit Harrys.com and enter WEEDS at checkout to receive $5 off your first order.Today’s episode is also brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/Weeds to stream Inexplicable Universe: Unsolved Mysteries and hundreds of other courses for free!Today’s episode is also sponsored by CNN’s new original series “Race for the White House.” Uncover the reasons some campaigns became powerful while others failed. The series premieres Sunday, March 6th, at 10pm Eastern on CNN.
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2/26/2016 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 9 seconds
The Supreme Court vacancy and the possible collapse of American democracy
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt consider the case for reforming America's current practice of granting life tenure to Supreme Court Justices, discuss the political fight over replacing the late Justice Scalia, and ponder a 25 year-old work of political science that implies the United States is heading for a coup.Today’s episode is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Go to TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/Weeds for a special limited-time offer to stream hundreds of courses for free!This episode is also brought to you by Club W. Visit ClubW.com/weeds and get fifty percent off your first order today, and don’t ever come home to a wine-free house again.
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2/19/2016 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 9 seconds
Could more corruption fix American politics?
Sarah, Ezra, and Matt use the New Hampshire primary results as a lens through which to discuss Jonathan Rauch's case for "political realism" as a governing philosophy.This episode of The Weeds is brought to you by Squarespace. Start Building your website today at Squarespace.com. Enter offer code WEEDS at checkout to get 10% off.This episode is also brought to you by Harry’s razors. Go to Harrys.com right now to get $5 off your first order with the promo code WEEDS.
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2/12/2016 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 35 seconds
The Iowa Caucuses
Who wins the 2016 election will hugely influence what type of policies Washington passes — and that's why Ezra, Sarah, and Matt devote this entire episode of The Weeds to dissecting the results of the Iowa caucus. We look at Bernie's surprising success, the declining strength of political parties, and how a Cruz administration would govern.For a limited time, The Great Courses Plus is offering The Weeds listeners a chance to stream The Fundamentals of Photography and hundreds of other courses for free! Go to TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/WEEDS to take advantage of this special offer.Club W is a revolutionary new wine club that sends you wine directly to yourdoor -- saving you all those trips to the grocery store. Not only does Club W send you wine, they send you wine that you'll LOVE drinking. Visit ClubW.com/WEEDs to get fifty percent off your first order.
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2/2/2016 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 22 seconds
Will taxing the rich hurt growth – and will third parties save politics?
It’s one of the most fundamental disputes in Washington: what effect do taxes have on the economy? On this week's episode of the Weeds, Ezra, Matt, and Sarah work through some of the top papers to explain. Also on this episode: why a third party won't save American politics, and a new working paper that shows a surprising way to encourage students to attend high school.This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start building your website today atSquarespace.com. Enter offer code WEEDS at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.For a limited time, The Great Courses Plus is offering The Weeds listeners a chance to stream The Fundamentals of Photography and hundreds of other courses for free! Go to TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/WEEDS to take advantage of this special offer.
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1/29/2016 • 1 hour, 24 minutes, 55 seconds
Ross Douthat on campus conservatism, being thankful for Donald Trump, and how to write so liberals will read you
In this preview of Ezra's coming interview podcast, he interviews New York Times op-ed columnist Ross Douthat. Douthat is the author of Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class, Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save Themselves, and Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics. He's also a fascinating political thinker with a skill that's rare in these polarized times: he's a conservative writing for an overwhelmingly liberal audience, and he's able to regularly disagree with his readers without alienating them. In this discussion, he tells Ezra about his winding path to the Times op-ed page, as well as his appreciation for Donald Trump, and his predictions for what could split both the Democratic and Republican parties.
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1/26/2016 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 20 seconds
Campaign finance and global inequality — with lead poisoning in between
On this episode of the Weeds, Ezra, Matt, and Sarah dive into one of Bernie Sanders' favorite campaign trail arguments: that money causes more Congressional dysfunction than partisanship. Also on this episode: why the lead poisoning crisis in Flint matters, and a discussion of a (not so great) paper of the week on global inequality. This episode is sponsored by The Great Courses Plus. Just for a limited time The Great Courses Plus is offering our listeners a chance to stream this course: The Fundamentals of Photography - a $235 value- and hundreds of other courses for FREE! Visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/WEEDS for this limited-time offer.This episode is also sponsored by Ballotcraft, a fantasy politics game. Think fantasy football, but for politics. Win in Ballotcraft by best predicting who's going to win the Iowa Caucuses, New Hampshire Primaries, and other upcoming elections. It's 100% free. Check it out at ballotcraft.com
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1/22/2016 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 52 seconds
Obama's Legacy, debating single payer, and Obamacare's jobs impact
Matt, Sarah, and Ezra reflect on Obama's successes and failures, take a look at Hillary Clinton's new attack on Bernie Sanders, and consider some research on the new health law's surprising lack of impact on the labor market.This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start building your website today atSquarespace.com. Enter offer code WEEDS at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.
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1/15/2016 • 1 hour, 19 minutes, 36 seconds
Immigration and the minimum wage — with an armed stand-off in between
America's immigration debate is peppered with terms like "path to citizenship" and "amnesty." Those catch phrases can mean vastly different things to different people — and on this week's episode of the Weeds, Vox's Dara Lind joins Sarah and Matt to explain. Also on this episode: understanding the family behind the armed stand-off in Oregon, and a new white paper that argues against increasing the minimum wage.
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1/8/2016 • 1 hour, 17 minutes, 46 seconds
Teen births are plummeting — and economists are judging your Christmas gifts
In a very merry Christmas day episode of the Weeds, Ezra and Matt talk to Sarah about how why teen birth rate fell in half since the mid-2000s — and whether MTV's 16 and Pregnant might have anything to do with it. Also in this episode: an economic critique of Christmas presents and a deep dive into Hillary Clinton's pledge not to tax the middle class.
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12/25/2015 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 1 second
Gentrification, a budget deal, and the decline of floating voters
Matt, Sarah, and Ezra lay out what is and isn't troubling about gentrification, break down congress' latest fiscal deal, and discuss a paper that explores why swing voting has become rare.
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12/18/2015 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 18 seconds
Ezra interviews Ben Bernanke
In this special episode of The Weeds, Ezra interviews former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke about what it's like to manage the most powerful economic policymaking institution in the world during a financial crisis. They also talk about Bernanke's views on the Republican party, what he learned from George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and what happened when he went to Texas.
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12/15/2015 • 40 minutes, 56 seconds
Why health premiums rise, and how partisans discriminate
Ezra, Sarah, and Matt are reunited at last for a deep dive into why patients in and out of Obamacare are paying more for health insurance, the rising tide of Islamophobia in the presidential campaign, and a look at fascinating new research on the psychological depths of contemporary partisanship.
Have you heard The Message? It’s an original science fiction podcast from Panoply and GE Podcast Theater. All of Season 1 is available now, so listen and find out why a 70-year-old alien recording seems to be killing people. Search for The Message on iTunes.
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12/11/2015 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 57 seconds
Dietary fat and climate change
Matt is joined by special guest stars Julia Belluz and Brad Plumer to discuss the science of eating fat, the Paris climate conference, and the public health implications of climate change.
The Weeds is brought to you by Squarespace. Start building your website today at Squarespace.com. Enter offer code WEEDS at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.
Have you heard The Message? It’s an original science fiction podcast from Panoply and GE Podcast Theater. All of Season 1 is available now, so listen and find out why a 70-year-old alien recording seems to be killing people. Search for The Message on iTunes.
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12/4/2015 • 57 minutes, 44 seconds
Childbirth, retirement, and terror in between
This week, Ezra, Sarah, and Matt discuss the flaws in the DC elite's favorite idea: raising the retirement age, consider how to respond to terrorist attacks (with a bonus digression about 19th century anarchist assassins), and debate a striking new data set that shows the baffling variation in how frequently different hospitals perform c-sections rather than traditional childbirths.
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11/20/2015 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 4 seconds
We know how to eliminate poverty. So why don't we?
On this week's episode of the Weeds, fellow Vox editor Dylan Matthews joins Sarah and Matt for what is certainly the most in-depth discussion of basic income ever broadcast. Would it really just work to give every American a base salary, regardless of whether they worked or not? Also on this episode: a recap of the best policy tussles in the Republican debate, and a fascinating white paper on why colleges don't punish cheaters — even when they get caught.
This podcast is brought to you by Spotless, a sexy and bold drama laced with dark humor from Esquire Network. Learn more about Spotless by downloading ‘Coming Clean’ a roundtable podcast that goes behind the scenes of TV’s best dark dramas, and tune into the Spotless series premiere November 14 at 10/9c on Esquire Network.
Today’s episode of The Weeds is sponsored by the American Heart Association, which is urging lawmakers to save physical education. The average school gets just $764 every year for physical education. Go to heart.org/LetThemPlay to learn more and take action.
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11/13/2015 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 45 seconds
How politics is making us stupid
Facts rarely seem to win any political debate — and on this episode of the Weeds, Matt, Ezra, and Sarah use political science research to explain why. Also: the case for softball debate questions and a troubling new study on rising death rates among white, middle-aged men.
This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start building your website today at Squarespace.com. Enter offer code WEEDS at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace: Build it Beautiful. This episode is also brought to you by Audible, with over 180,000 audiobooks and spoken-word audio products. Get a free audiobook of your choice at www.audible.com/weeds
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11/6/2015 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 13 seconds
Are we counting poverty all wrong?
This week, Ezra, Sarah, and Matt finally deliver the equivocal takes on gerrymandering that America has been waiting for, dive into the weeds of the big budget compromise, and tackle what may be the dorkiest policy issue of all time — the use of survey vs administrative data to measure household level poverty.
Today’s episode of The Weeds is sponsored by the American Heart Association, which is urging lawmakers to save physical education. The average school gets just $764 every year for physical education. Go to heart.org/LetThemPlay to learn more and take action.
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10/30/2015 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 10 seconds
Want to fix inequality by taxing the rich? Good luck.
In this week's episode of the Weeds, Ezra, Matt, and Sarah dive head first into a new Brookings white paper about income inequality (and how to not to fix it). We also imagine what a Joe Biden administration could have been, with a commander-in-chief who considers Republicans friends rather than enemies.
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10/23/2015 • 51 minutes, 51 seconds
The Weeds: Can the government trick you into dieting?
On this week's episode, Ezra, Sarah, and Matt debate a little known Obamacare program, learn all about Nordic economies, and take on a new white paper forcing health economists to rethink deductibles.
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10/16/2015 • 1 hour, 21 minutes, 51 seconds
Arthur Brooks on think tanks, happiness, and management
In a special edition of The Weeds, Ezra interviews Arthur Brooks —head of the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, a New York Times columnist, a major influence on Jeb Bush, and a surprisingly snappy dresser. Really.
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10/15/2015 • 54 minutes, 26 seconds
Would single payer health care work in America?
In the second episode of the Weeds, Ezra, Sarah, and Matt debate whether nationalized health care could work in America, what solutions are really needed to solve the country's mass shooting issue — and introduce an exciting new, regular segment: white paper of the week!
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10/9/2015 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 21 seconds
Ezra, Matt and Sarah Try to Podcast
In this first episode of the new Vox.com podcast the weeds, Ezra Klein, Sarah Kliff, and Matthew Yglesias look at why Hillary Clinton is trying to gut a major part of Obamacare, how Donald Trump's tax plan made Matt sad, and whether American politics is becoming structurally biased towards outsiders like Trump and away from insiders like Bush. It gets real nerdy, real fast.
This episode was sponsored by Audible.com. For a free audio book and a 30 day free trial, head to Audible.com/WEEDS
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