The autocrat's prison

You won’t wear those jeans again. Or use that pasta maker. So why can’t you get rid of them? This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru with Avishay Artsy, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill.  Photo by Arthur Pollock/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images.  If you have a question, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545 or email [email protected]. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s former Chief of Staff, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who's at the center of the Iran conflict, has isolated Israel like never before.  This episode was produced by Jesse Ash, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Shannon Mahoney and hosted by Astead Herndon. Rahm Emanuel appearing before Congress. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on video at youtube.com/vox. 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

It felt like everyone came together for a brief moment after the US men and women won gold in hockey, but not for long. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Members of the US Olympic hockey team receive a standing ovation as President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address. Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu 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

No one knows. But that isn't stopping the true crime influencers. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Andrea Lopez-Cruzado, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. A flyer that reads "Nancy Guthrie Desparecida" is taped to Nancy Guthrie's mailbox in Tucson, Arizona. Photo by Joe Raedle/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 US military is using AI to wage war while AI companies are fighting about how their tech is used. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Andrea López-Cruzado, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / 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