Semafor’s Tim McDonnell says what made COP28 successful was the same thing that made climate activists skeptical about the conference: its host was an oil executive.
This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin and Isabel Angell, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Herman, 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

An oily climate deal

Today, Explained is Vox's daily news explainer podcast. Hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King will guide you through the most important stories of the day.

Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

News

Politics

Daily News

Vox senior correspondent Constance Grady went inside the seedy underbelly of online self-publishing and lived to tell the tale.
This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn with help from Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Rob Byers with help from Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast
Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! vox.com/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amazon’s garbage book factory

The last time these exact cicada broods emerged from the ground at the same time, Thomas Jefferson was president. The red-eyed bugs come out looking for love and change forest ecosystems forever. Vox’s Benji Jones thinks it’s magical.
This show was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Herman, and hosted by Rebeca Ibarra.
Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast
Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! vox.com/givepodcasts 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cicada time

The hush money trial has exposed the ecosystem that once protected former president Donald Trump. Journalist Andrea Bernstein tells us what its like inside the courtroom, and Washington Post reporter Derek Hawkins helps us understand Trump's mindset from his Truth Social account.
This show was produced by Haleema Shah with help from Avishay Artsy and Denise Guerra, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Herman, and hosted by Rebeca Ibarra. 
Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast
Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! vox.com/givepodcasts 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Florida man’s unhushed money

It's gotten so bad in America, people are crowdfunding their doctor bills. Vox's Dylan Scott and associate professor Nora Kenworthy explain an imperfect solution and offer a better one.
This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Matt Collette and Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast
Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! vox.com/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What fixes medical debt

Leaders of the United Methodist Church, one of the largest Christian denominations in the US, gathered in North Carolina to hash out a disagreement that’s dividing the church. Today, Explained’s Laura Bullard and church historian Ashley Boggan explain what the Methodist split tells us about America.
This episode reported by Laura Bullard, produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Amina Al-Sadi, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast
Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! vox.com/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An oily climate deal

Download our free app to listen on your phone