Today, Explained

The seafood chain found itself deep in the red after a disastrous unlimited shrimp promotion. Wall Street Journal restaurant reporter Heather Haddon explains what sunk Red Lobster — and the troubled waters facing other casual dining chains.

This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Haleema Shah, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Herman and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by David Pierce.

Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

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Big Tech companies have rolled out a new batch of AI-powered products, improving upon what came before. But as Wired's Will Knight and investigative journalist Julia Angwin explain, they’re not even close to living up to the world-changing technology the Big Tech CEOs promised.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Herman with help from Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by David Pierce.

Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

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The federal government has moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous controlled substance. Politico cannabis policy reporter Natalie Fertig explains why it is and isn’t a big deal.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

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It sure seems like it. The Wall Street Journal’s Matthew Luxmoore reports from Ukraine on why $60 billion of your tax money isn’t making much of a difference.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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The Netflix show Baby Reindeer is a hit. It's been viewed 56 million times. The writer claims it's a true story. Others call it slanderous fiction. The Ringer's Meecham Whitson Meriweather and Vox culture editor Meredith Haggerty on what we know for certain.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Matt Collette and Amanda Lewellyn, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.

Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

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