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Explainers

We live in a world of too much information and too little context. Too much noise and too little insight. That’s where Vox’s explainers come in.

Israel has launched a major operation in the West Bank. Here’s what to know.
Palestine

The raids come amid escalating violence in the Palestinian territory.

By Ellen Ioanes
Israel has launched a major operation in the West Bank. Here’s what to know.
Palestine

The raids come amid escalating violence in the Palestinian territory.

By Ellen Ioanes
SpaceX’s risky mission will go farther into space than we’ve been in 50 yearsSpaceX’s risky mission will go farther into space than we’ve been in 50 years
Science

The privately funded venture will test out new aerospace technology.

By Ellen Ioanes
All the nonsense you need to know about Sabrina CarpenterAll the nonsense you need to know about Sabrina Carpenter
Culture

The singer’s new album, Short n’ Sweet, is full of the sexy clown wordplay she’s known for.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Canada’s railway lockout saga, briefly explainedCanada’s railway lockout saga, briefly explained
Policy

Canadian railways locked out union workers Thursday after months of contract disputes.

By Ellen Ioanes

The latest in Explainers

Does RFK Jr. dropping out of the presidential race help Trump?Does RFK Jr. dropping out of the presidential race help Trump?
Politics

The weirdest 2024 candidate endorsed Trump.

By Nicole Narea
Pumpkin spice lattes — and the backlash, and the backlash to the backlash — explainedPumpkin spice lattes — and the backlash, and the backlash to the backlash — explained
Money

Pumpkin spice is America’s most hatable seasonal flavor. But Starbucks is leaning in even more heavily this year.

By Rebecca Jennings
Why Indian doctors are protesting after the rape and death of a colleagueWhy Indian doctors are protesting after the rape and death of a colleague
Culture

India has systemic problems with sexual violence.

By Ellen Ioanes
How Raygun earned her spot — fair and square — as an Olympics breakerHow Raygun earned her spot — fair and square — as an Olympics breaker
Culture

The truth behind the ongoing controversy over the highly memeable dancer.

By Aja Romano
What we know about Trump’s claim that Iran hacked his campaignWhat we know about Trump’s claim that Iran hacked his campaign
Politics

The FBI is now investigating the former president’s claim of Iranian interference with his campaign.

By Ellen Ioanes
How the UK’s far right used a local tragedy to spur chaosHow the UK’s far right used a local tragedy to spur chaos
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Rumors and disinformation have fueled violence across the country.

By Amanda Lewellyn and Victoria Chamberlin
The attack on US troops in Iraq, explainedThe attack on US troops in Iraq, explained
World Politics

What the attack on US troops in Iraq says about a wider Middle East war.

By Ellen Ioanes
Bangladesh’s prime minister just fled the country in a helicopter. Why?Bangladesh’s prime minister just fled the country in a helicopter. Why?
World Politics

Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina is out. What comes next?

By Ellen Ioanes
Intel was once a Silicon Valley leader. How did it fall so far?Intel was once a Silicon Valley leader. How did it fall so far?
Technology

The semiconductor manufacturer announced huge job cuts and a dividend pause after losing out on AI.

By Ellen Ioanes
J.K. Rowling’s transphobia: A history
Culture

An exhausting — if not exhaustive — timeline of J.K. Rowling’s transphobia.

By Aja Romano
Why the 9/11 plea agreements are such a big dealWhy the 9/11 plea agreements are such a big deal
Politics

It’s the end of a drawn-out legal process, haunted by the failure of the war on terror.

By Ellen Ioanes
Why two astronauts are stuck in spaceWhy two astronauts are stuck in space
Science

The Starliner test mission is just one of Boeing’s many woes.

By Ellen Ioanes
From Sabrina Carpenter to “blush blindness,” why’s everyone wearing blush?From Sabrina Carpenter to “blush blindness,” why’s everyone wearing blush?
Culture

The blush craze is more than a TikTok beauty trend — it’s a statement.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Venezuela’s Maduro just tightened his grip on power. What comes next?Venezuela’s Maduro just tightened his grip on power. What comes next?
World Politics

Nicolás Maduro has presided over Venezuela’s economic decline — while increasing his authoritarian tendencies.

By Ellen Ioanes
So what does Joe Biden do now?So what does Joe Biden do now?
Politics

In an Oval Office speech, Biden said his farewells. But his job isn’t done yet.

By Nicole Narea
Could a short campaign be exactly what Kamala Harris needs?Could a short campaign be exactly what Kamala Harris needs?
Politics

Dozens of other democracies have short election cycles. Can the Democrats learn something from them?

By Ellen Ioanes
Will Harris automatically replace Biden? Plus six other questions about the next steps, answered.Will Harris automatically replace Biden? Plus six other questions about the next steps, answered.
Politics

Does Harris automatically replace Biden now? Your questions about the process, answered.

By Nicole Narea
Biden is out of the 2024 race. What happens to his campaign donations?Biden is out of the 2024 race. What happens to his campaign donations?
Joe Biden

Kamala Harris is the only Democrat who could seamlessly access Biden’s hundreds of millions in campaign cash.

By Nicole Narea
Kamala Harris’s strengths — and vulnerabilities — explainedKamala Harris’s strengths — and vulnerabilities — explained
Politics

Harris would be a strong nominee. She also has to overcome some challenges.

By Li Zhou
Can Glen Powell be a movie star in a post-movie-star era?Can Glen Powell be a movie star in a post-movie-star era?
Culture

The Twisters actor’s career explains a lot about the state of the industry.

By Constance Grady
Vox, explain it to meVox, explain it to me
Explainers

Want to inspire a Vox story? Share your ideas with us.

By Gabriela Fernandez
5 causes — and accelerants — of political violence5 causes — and accelerants — of political violence
Politics

While we can’t always predict public political violence, Vox spoke to four experts who can help us understand it.

By Ellen Ioanes
A right-wing judge just threw out a case against Trump in a brazen abuse of powerA right-wing judge just threw out a case against Trump in a brazen abuse of power
Politics

The classified documents case against Trump hits another major setback before the 2024 election.

By Nicole Narea
How computers made poker a game for nerds
Culture

Algorithms changed the classic card game for good — but is it for the better?

By Nicole Narea
What the assassination attempt on President Reagan reveals about the Trump shootingWhat the assassination attempt on President Reagan reveals about the Trump shooting
Explainers

In 1981, Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. and, like Trump, survived.

By Nicole Narea
Iran’s new president can only change the country so muchIran’s new president can only change the country so much
Iran

Elite clerics still hold ultimate power.

By Ellen Ioanes
France’s elections showed a polarized countryFrance’s elections showed a polarized country
Explainers

France held back the far right. No one knows what’s next.

By Ellen Ioanes
What the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually meanWhat the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually mean
World Politics

The UK is getting a new government. What is it promising to do?

By Ellen Ioanes
What Kenya’s deadly protests are really aboutWhat Kenya’s deadly protests are really about
World Politics

A proposed tax hike sparked unrest, but Kenya’s real problem is a debt crisis.

By Ellen Ioanes
The Democrats who could replace Biden if he steps asideThe Democrats who could replace Biden if he steps aside
Politics

Kamala Harris? Gavin Newsom? Pete Buttigieg?!?

By Nicole Narea
Is Nvidia stock overvalued? It depends on the future of AI.Is Nvidia stock overvalued? It depends on the future of AI.
Business & Finance

It has been a wild few days for Nvidia stock. But the hype isn’t dying down anytime soon.

By Nicole Narea
Julian Assange’s release is still a lose-lose for press freedomJulian Assange’s release is still a lose-lose for press freedom
Media

The Wikileaks founder will plead guilty to violating the Espionage Act for publishing leaks about the Iraq War.

By Ellen Ioanes
What two years without Roe looks like, in 8 charts
Explainers

Americans are confronting a whole new reality of patchwork abortion access after the Dobbs decision.

By Nicole Narea
Mysterious monoliths are appearing across the world. Here’s what we know.Mysterious monoliths are appearing across the world. Here’s what we know.
Culture

We don’t know where the mysterious monoliths come from. But we do know they’re art.

By Constance Grady
What to know about Biden’s new plan to legalize US citizens’ undocumented family membersWhat to know about Biden’s new plan to legalize US citizens’ undocumented family members
Politics

Who’s eligible, is it legal, and other key questions, answered.

By Nicole Narea
House of the Dragon and the Targaryen family, explained
Culture

HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel reveals a period of turbulence and upheaval for Daenerys’s formidable family.

By Aja Romano
Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis, explainedKate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis, explained
Culture

Three months after she disclosed her illness, the Princess of Wales is making a return to public life.

By Constance Grady
Biden’s overlooked campaign to protect Americans from Big BusinessBiden’s overlooked campaign to protect Americans from Big Business
Politics

Many Americans are focused on inflation, but from Big Tech to junk fees, Biden is advancing a pro-consumer agenda.

By Nicole Narea
The surprisingly subtle recipe making heat waves worseThe surprisingly subtle recipe making heat waves worse
The Vox guide to extreme heat

The anatomy of a heat wave, from “heat domes” to megadroughts.

By Umair Irfan
America’s misunderstood border crisis, in 8 chartsAmerica’s misunderstood border crisis, in 8 charts
Politics

For all the attention on the border, the root causes of migration and the most promising solutions to the US’s broken immigration system are often overlooked.

By Nicole Narea