John McWhorter joins Matt to discuss the changing way we talk about racism in America.

Resources:

"“Latinx” is growing in popularity. I made a comic to help you understand why." by Terry Blas, Vox

"Racist Police Violence Reconsidered" by John McWhorter, Quillette

"The Virtue Signalers Won’t Change the World" by John McWhorter, The Atlantic

"The Dehumanizing Condescension of White Fragility" by John McWhorter, The Atlantic

"‘This Is How We Lost to the White Man’" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic

"The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic

Ibram X. Kendi wants to redefine racism, The Ezra Klein Show, VMPN

Guest:

John McWhorter (@JohnHMcWhorter), Professor at Columbia University / Host of the Lexicon Valley podcast, Slate

Hosts:

Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Senior correspondent, Vox

Credits:

Jeff Geld, (@jeff_geld), Editor and Producer

The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production

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About Vox

Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.

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Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Robinson Meyer (@robinsonmeyer), a staff writer at the Atlantic, to talk about the illusion of US energy independence. They discuss how the US produces its oil; the fracking boom and bust; and the country’s position in the global market. Plus, a white paper about carbon taxes and CO2 emissions in Sweden.

References:

Robinson’s piece about America’s “independence” from Russian oil

He was also on Today, Explained to talk about the US banning Russian oil imports

And, you can sign up for Rob’s newsletter here

Vox reporter Rebecca Leber busted a few myths about oil and gas prices

Biden’s administrative authority to lower gas prices

Russell Gold’s The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World

White Paper: “Carbon Taxes and CO2 Emissions: Sweden as a Case Study”

Hosts:

Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox

Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox

Credits:

Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer

Libby Nelson, editorial adviser

Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts

Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

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Matt is joined by Atlantic staff writer Adam Serwer, author of the new book The Cruelty Is the Point. They discuss the racial politics of the Trump-era, how these tactics persist in the GOP today, and how the dynamics of the present moment have led us to relitigate Reconstruction-era problems that go against the fundamental understanding of American equity. They also have a few things to say in there about Die Hard and Indiana Jones.

Resources:

"The Cruelty Is the Point" by Adam Serwer (The Atlantic; Oct. 3, 2018)

The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America by Adam Serwer (Penguin Random House, June 2021)

"The Flight 93 Election" by Michael Anton (Claremont Review of Books; Sept. 5, 2016)

"The Great Awokening" by Matthew Yglesias (Vox; Apr. 1, 2019)

"The Case for Reparations" by Ta-Nehisi Coates (The Atlantic; June 2014)

Steadfast Democrats: How Social Forces Shape Black Political Behavior by Ismail K. White and Chryl N. Laird (Princeton' Oct. 2021)

Schoolbook Nation: Conflicts over American History Textbooks from the Civil War to the Present by Joseph Moreau (U. Michigan; 2004)

Guest:

Adam Serwer (@AdamSerwer), staff writer, The Atlantic; author, The Cruelty Is the Point

Host:

Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com

Credits:

Erikk Geannikis, Producer

Ness Smith-Savedoff, Engineer

As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter.

The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production.

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

About Vox

Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.

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Facebook group: The Weeds

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Dylan Matthews and Dara Lind are joined by Washington Post reporter Toluse Olorunnipa (@ToluseO) to talk more taxes for our hot! tax! policy! episodes this month. Today’s topic: Sen. Rick Scott’s 11-point plan to rescue America. Dylan, Dara, and Tolu get into the specifics of Scott’s policy proposal and speculate if the culture wars have seeped into tax policy. Plus, a white paper about unemployment benefits and opioid overdose mortality rates.

References:

Preorder His Name Is George Floyd by Toluse Olorunnipa and Robert Samuels

The Tax Policy Center’s analysis of the Rick Scott plan

How many people don’t pay income tax?

The original 47% remarks

The folk Republican morality behind the plan

White paper: “Unemployment Insurance and Opioid Overdose Mortality in the United States”

Medicaid expansion reduced opioid deaths too

The relationship between the economy and the opioid epidemic

Hosts:

Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox

Dara Lind (@dlind), Weeds co-host, Vox

Credits:

Sofi LaLonde, producer and engineer

Libby Nelson, editorial adviser

Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts

Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts

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When it gets cold outside, we get colds inside. We also get the flu. And RSV. And — lately — norovirus. We all know that washing our hands helps defend against illness. But with what? There’s too many kinds of soap, and not all of them will keep you healthy in every situation. Should you up the ante with antibacterial or does bar soap set the bar? This week on Explain It to Me, host Jonquilyn Hill breaks down the suds and bubbles with Vox senior reporter Keren Landman, MD.

Read more:

Wait, should I bother using antibacterial soap?

You’ve never heard of the Covid booster with the fewest side effects

Put down that cough medicine

We want to answer your questions in future episodes. Call us at 1-800-618-8545, fill out this form, or send us an email at [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Credits:

Jonquilyn Hill, host

Sofi LaLonde, producer

Andrea Kristinsdottir, engineer

Caitlin PenzeyMoog, fact-checker

Carla Javier, supervising producer

Jorge Just, editor

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