Today, Explained

War with Iran?

The United States killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq last week. Vox's Alex Ward explains what might happen next. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should we burn our recycling?

The vast majority of our plastic isn’t being recycled. It might be time to consider lighting it on fire. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The other TV president

Before stumbling into the biggest American political scandal in a generation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was best known for playing the president on TV. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump of the Year

On the cusp of a big election year, Vox’s Matthew Yglesias reviews President Trump’s accomplishments thus far. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Song of the Year

“Old Town Road” is unlike anything that’s ever happened in American popular music. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Person of the Year

Time named Greta Thunberg its ‘Person of the Year.’ David Wallace-Wells from New York Magazine explains why. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Queen of Christmas

A quarter-century after its release, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has claimed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Call it a "Christmas Mariahcle." (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Debate 6: Enter the Wine Cave

The sixth and final Democratic debate of the year was less diverse, more substantive, and also featured a fight about a wine cave. Vox's Emily Stewart explains. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aging in America

By 2035, there will be more elderly people than children in America. The country isn’t ready. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Impeachment Day

The House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump today. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains what comes next. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump v. Taxes

The Supreme Court will decide whether President Trump has to turn over his tax returns, but WNYC's Andrea Bernstein says the Court is really deciding whether Trump can literally get away with murder. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Big Bezos is watching you

In under 20 years, Amazon grew from an online bookstore to the eyes and ears in our homes. OneZero's Will Oremus says we should be concerned about what comes next. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Space Farce

The Democrats gave President Trump his Space Force this week. But what is it? (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

India's Muslim ban

The second-largest Muslim nation in the world just got closer to becoming a Hindu state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The cost of PrEP

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Trump administration agree on one thing: the cost of HIV drugs is too high. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Articles of impeachment

House Democrats made history today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rudolph the former mayor

How Rudy Giuliani went from "America's mayor" to the inadvertent architect of Donald Trump's pending impeachment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“This will end when one of us dies”

ProPublica’s Lizzie Presser explains why Americans are being jailed for their medical debt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giving justice an extension

This week New Jersey joined a growing number of states that are extending statutes of limitations, making it easier to report childhood sexual abuse decades after it occurs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Impeachment TV: Law & Disorder

Four law professors walked into a room and the next phase of the impeachment began. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don't curl your lashes and talk about Uighurs on TikTok

TikTok, the video sharing app that has taken the tweens and 2019 by storm, is now facing stiff competition, concerns over censorship, and a federal investigation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ICE University

Immigration and Customs Enforcement created a fake university with no teachers and no classes. Then they arrested the students who signed up. Vox’s Nicole Narea explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon's preppers

A good number of Amazon packages make a pitstop in Roundup, Montana. Vox's Reset podcast explains why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A tribe called keto

Some say the Kardashian-endorsed keto diet craze that’s sweeping the nation could help fight epilepsy and cancer, too. Vox’s Julia Belluz separates fat from fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can a billionaire buy the presidency?

Former New York City mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg thinks he can beat Donald Trump in 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Showdown at High Nunes

California Republican Devin Nunes spent much of the last two weeks mocking the impeachment inquiry. After allegations surfaced that he may have been involved with Ukraine, he now finds himself caught up in it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ok boomer

TikTok's hottest meme is pitting the Youngs against the Olds, but the truth about this generational standoff can be found in its shades of gray. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dems Went Down to Georgia

We’re taking a break from impeachment to talk about the fifth Democratic debate and the Buttigieg Bump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Impeachment TV: Mr. Sondland Goes to Washington

The most-anticipated testimony of the House impeachment inquiry was held today on Capitol Hill. It did not disappoint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Impeachment TV (Part 2 of 2)

The House impeachment inquiry just had its biggest day yet. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains how things changed when Republicans called witnesses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices