Lonely fans

Lonely fans

No friends, no kids, no partner. You might think their lives are sad, but loneliness influencers are attracting huge followings. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Noel King. Screenshot from Lana Isa's Instagram account in which she charts her life as a single girl with no friends, no partner and no kids. 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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Reflecting Pool fiasco

Donald Trump famously came to Washington, DC to “drain the swamp,” but he may have inadvertently created one. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and algae this morning. Photo by Sean Rameswaram/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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The world’s stingiest trillionaire

Ten ways Elon Musk could use his money to make the world a better place... and why he probably won’t. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Patrick Boyd and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. A poster critical of Elon Musk's wealth from the "Everyone Hates Elon" activist group in England. Photo by Leon Neal/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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Trump phone grift

President Trump's ongoing efforts to become a mobile mogul and to run a bank suggest Trump grift is alive and well. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edited by Amina Al-Sadi and Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Trump Mobile offers both a cellular plan and a smartphone that will provide the same coverage as the three nationwide phone service carriers. Photo illustration 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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

North Korea's girl dad dictator

North Korea has been led by a string of vicious dictators — all men. But Kim Jong Un seems to be auditioning his daughter for the job. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. A TV screenshot of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un's daughter attending a parade for North Korea's 75th anniversary. Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]