DOGE-y behavior

Football is by far the most popular sport in the US, but that isn’t stopping the NFL from investing in one of the least popular sports in the US. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jolie Myers and Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Sarah Schweppe and Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Bridger Dunnagan and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. USA Women’s flag football quarterback Vanita Krouch looks to pass during halftime at Highmark Stadium on October 5, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The case of a California couple who had more than 20 kids via surrogacy before being charged with child abuse illustrates how a lack of regulation can lead to chaos. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. A group of babies sitting on the floor. Photo by Tom Merton via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank — largely perpetrated by young militant Jewish settlers — have drawn international condemnation, but to little effect. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Bridger Dunnagan and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. A Palestinian inspects burnt cars at a scrapyard following an attack allegedly carried out by Israeli settlers in the village of Ayn Yabrud, northeast of Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on October 4, 2026. Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A surge of hate against Indian immigrants and Indian Americans has broken out of the far-right influencer sphere and into mainstream Republican politics. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Noel King. Tarrant County, Texas former GOP Chair Bo French speaks during a rally in honor of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 20, 2025, in downtown Fort Worth. Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images. Further reading: Frisco Was a Welcoming Place for Indian Immigrants. Then Came the Influencers. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hakeem Jeffries will almost certainly be the next Democratic speaker of the House. What will he and his party do with all that power? This episode was produced by Danielle Hewitt, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks to the press on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on September 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices