The Weeds

By Vox

News & Politics Society & Culture Government & Organizations

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

Why everyone hates Big Tech...

07.19.2019

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 ...

The Weeds episodes:

07.19.2019 xWhy 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.” by Alex Ward“Trump’s ...
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 NovoaJoin the Weeds Facebook group!
07.09.2019 Ask Weeds Anything ProPublica reporter Dara Lind joins Jane and Matt to answer your questions.
07.05.2019 A progressive case for globalism Reed College economist Kimberly Clausing joins Matt to talk about trade and the middle class.
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
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 debateWinners and losers from night two of the debateMatt ...
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, explainedWhite paper
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.
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 ConsensusKyle Kashuv Becomes a Symbol to Conservatives Who Say the Left Can’t ForgiveAgainst David French-ismJane’s article about David French vs. Sohrab AhmariAgainst ...
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 ProposalsAmerican Family ActWorking Families Tax Relief ActLIFT ActLIFT+ ...
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.
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.
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” explainerTrump’s plan, explainedMexican president’s response to TrumpWhite 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.
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 lawyersThe shift at USCISWhite Paper
05.24.2019 Rethinking education reform Libby Nelson and Dylan Scott join Matt to talk about 2020 Democrats' K-12 policyBernie's charter school plan - linkHarris' teacher pay plan - linkElizabeth Warren's case against the neighborhood school - linkOnline charter schools are bad - linkJoin The Weeds' ...
05.21.2019 The loneliness of Justin Amash Jane, Dara, and Matt analyze the Michigan Republican's call to consider impeaching Trump.White paper
05.17.2019 America's two housing crises Brookings's Jenny Schuetz joins Matt to discuss subsidies, zoning reform, and much more.
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 explainerBiden/bankruptcy explainerMOVE bombing
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, explainedDavid Roberts on what’s in the ...
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 reportDylan’s article on a Medicare-for-all hearingDylan’s other article on the Medicare-for-all hearing Sarah and Dylan on ...
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
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 BeauchampResearch paper
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 celebrate ...
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 languageRick Hasen’s article on Mueller not prosecuting Donald Trump Jr.Full Mueller reportWhite ...
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 auditsWhite paper
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 CanadianFilibuster reform explainerSanders and reconciliation explainerDoctor strike explainerWhite paper
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 lawThe White House’s wish list for DHS actionsHomeland Security ...
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 articleArticle on 'ALEC'Research on model legislation 1Research on model legislation 2Research on model legislation 3
04.02.2019 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 aidExplainer on border closureCNN report on Trump’s border briefingsThe US policy of ...
03.29.2019 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 planKamala Harris's teacher-pay planHuffPost feature on Harris's truancy policy We are conducting an audience survey to ...
03.26.2019 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 articleZack Beauchamp's article on the reaction to William Barr's Mueller letterNew York Times article on Mueller reportWhite paperWe are ...
03.22.2019 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 ...
03.19.2019 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 PaperOriginal Ta-Nehisi Coates essay on reparationsWe are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more ...
03.15.2019 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 ...
03.13.2019 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 ...
03.12.2019 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 ...
03.08.2019 The long con Jane and Matt discuss Jacob Wohl and the intermingling of grift and conservative politics.Jane's article on Jacob WohlIraqi dinar on YouTubeCasey Newton's newsletter - The InterfaceWe are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than ...
03.05.2019 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 countriesDylan's interview with Matt BruenigSarah's interview with Rep. Jayapal on her billWhite paperWe ...
03.01.2019 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
02.26.2019 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 EffectBuzzfeed Klobuchar storyHuffington Post Klobuchar storyKelsey Piper story on the fake white paper
02.22.2019 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 explainerJonathan Cohn day care storyQuebec day care studyWarren's child care planThe Family Fun PackHead Start negative evaluationHead ...
02.19.2019 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 bookArticle on the redacted Manafort transcriptMarcy Wheeler articleSpecial counsel regulation textTrump Tower Moscow explainer
02.15.2019 Emergency Weeds Dara, Sarah, and Matt explain the border security deal and Trump’s plan to bypass Congress.Dara's articleMatt's article on non-legislative priorities
02.12.2019 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 ArticleSarah's Article on Childhood WealthElizabeth Warren's Housing BillCory Booker's HOME Act
02.08.2019 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 SystemJane's Article
02.05.2019 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

Older episodes

The Weeds

What's The Weeds about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Weeds episodes:

xWhy 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

Learning from Norway's lesbian mothers

Infrastructure Week (and Farm Week and Teacher Week)

Mueller's investigation is over. Obamacare repeal isn't.

Should presidential candidates get into the weeds?

The reparations primary

Live Weeds with Julián Castro

Introducing Switched on Pop

Live Weeds with Pete Buttigieg

The long con

But seriously, how are you going to pay for it?

The Weeds fixes racism

Amy Klobuchar and the Jill Robinson effect

Day care for all!

Collusion and the Mueller endgame

Emergency Weeds

What’s the best way to help the poor?

WTF, VA?

Do we need private insurance?

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