The Weeds

By Vox

Science & Medicine Social Sciences

What's The Weeds about?

Everyone is always warning you not to get lost in the weeds. But not Vox's Ezra Klein, Sarah Kliff, and Matthew Yglesias. They love the weeds. That's where all the policy is. This is the podcast for people who follow politics because they love thinking about health care, economics, and zoning. It is not podcast for people who like hearing talk about gaffes.

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LAST EPISODE

Out of sight, out of mind

09.17.2019

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 ...

The Weeds episodes:

09.17.2019 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 ...
09.13.2019 ABCDebate After Vox's Tara Golshan reviews the third Democratic debate, Matthew Yglesias explains how Joe Biden wins even when he loses. News comes at you fast. Join us at the end of your day to understand it. Subscribe to Today, Explained ...
09.13.2019 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 ...
09.10.2019 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: Subscribe for free to the ...
09.06.2019 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: ...
09.03.2019 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 ...
08.30.2019 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. ...
08.27.2019 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 ...
08.23.2019 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 ------------------------------------------------------- Join the Weeds Facebook group! News comes at ...
08.20.2019 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” ...
08.16.2019 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. Join the Weeds Facebook group! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
08.13.2019 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 ...
08.09.2019 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 ...
08.06.2019 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 ...
08.02.2019 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 Join the Weeds Facebook group! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
07.30.2019 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 ...
07.26.2019 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
07.23.2019 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 ...
07.19.2019 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 ...
07.16.2019 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.” ...
07.12.2019 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 Join the Weeds Facebook group! Learn more about ...
07.09.2019 Ask Weeds Anything ProPublica reporter Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to answer your questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
07.05.2019 A progressive case for globalism Reed College economist Kimberly Clausing joins Matt to talk about trade and the middle class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
07.02.2019 Democracy's week in court Jane, Dara, and Matt on two big Supreme Court cases on gerrymandering and the census. White paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
06.28.2019 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 ...
06.25.2019 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
06.21.2019 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
06.19.2019 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, ...
06.18.2019 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 ...
06.14.2019 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 ...
06.11.2019 Into the weeds with Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator joins Ezra Klein to explain her plans, and her plan to make the plans happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
06.07.2019 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
06.04.2019 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 ...
05.31.2019 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
05.28.2019 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
05.24.2019 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 ...
05.21.2019 The loneliness of Justin Amash Jane, Dara, and Matt analyze the Michigan Republican's call to consider impeaching Trump. White paper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
05.17.2019 America's two housing crises Brookings's Jenny Schuetz joins Matt to discuss subsidies, zoning reform, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
05.14.2019 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
05.10.2019 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 ...
05.07.2019 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 ...
05.03.2019 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
04.30.2019 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
04.26.2019 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 ...
04.23.2019 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 ...
04.18.2019 Maybe collusion, probably obstruction [Special Crossover Edition] 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 ...
04.16.2019 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 Learn more about your ...
04.12.2019 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 Learn more about your ad ...
04.09.2019 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 ...
04.05.2019 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 Learn more about ...

Older episodes

The Weeds

What's The Weeds about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Weeds episodes:

Out of sight, out of mind

ABCDebate

50 shades of Green New Deal

A plan to revive American unions

The left’s path to power

Trump's primary challengers

The case for foreign policy restraint

Trump's latest trade war

Does America need trade deals?

Slavery and its legacy

Trump's war on Medicaid

Epstein conspiracy time

The case for a Green New Deal

Domestic terrorism after El Paso

The second Democratic debate

The many mysteries of Jeffrey Epstein

Dysfunctional federalism

Go back to Cincinnati

Why everyone hates Big Tech, with The Verge's Nilay Patel

Space Force all the way!

School’s out for summer

Ask Weeds Anything

A progressive case for globalism

Democracy's week in court

Debate Weeds: Ezra and Matt on the long-awaited Democratic presidential debate

What’s really going on with child detention?

What’s really happening in Central America

Jamestown: Utopia for Whom

The “illiberal” right

5 big ideas to use tax credits to fight poverty

Into the weeds with Elizabeth Warren

A user's guide to antitrust

Trump’s tariff triple option

Monetary mysteries revealed

Building the Trump state

Rethinking education reform

The loneliness of Justin Amash

America's two housing crises

Make America 2015 Again

Green New Weeds

Sarah's Last Stand

Mexico: America's waiting room

Incels and bullshitters

Was The Weeds on the wrong side of history?

What to obstruct when you’re obstructing

Maybe collusion, probably obstruction [Special Crossover Edition]

Trump Family (Tax) Values

How Canada got Medicare-for-all done

The Purge: DHS

Attack of the clone bills

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