Today, Explained

A supporter of President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis was just appointed to lead the historically Black college Florida A&M University. Students and alumni are not happy. WFSU's Lynn Hatter and Tuskegee University's President Mark Brown explain how Black colleges are currently navigating red states. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Victoria Chamberlin, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Graduates during the Florida A&M University Commencement Ceremony in Tallahassee, Florida. Photo by Glenn Beil/Florida A&M University via Getty Images. Help us plan for the future of Today, Explained by filling out a brief survey: ⁠voxmedia.com/survey⁠ [http://voxmedia.com/survey]. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

President Trump wants to build a "Golden Dome" to protect the US from the threat of nuclear weapons. It’s a sign we’re in a new nuclear era. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Devan Schwartz, edited by Jollie Myers, fact-checked by Miles Bryan, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Further reading: The return of the nucleat threat [https://www.vox.com/world-politics/414233/new-nuclear-age-india-pakistan-ukraine-russia-trump]. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. President Trump announcing plans for the national defense system, the "Golden Dome," in the Oval Office. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. Help us plan for the future of Today, Explained by filling out a brief survey: ⁠voxmedia.com/survey⁠ [http://voxmedia.com/survey]. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The US has enormous deposits of critical minerals like lithium right here at home. So why are we looking at mining the ocean floor and asteroids? This episode was made in partnership with Vox’s Future Perfect team. It was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. A lithium recovery demonstration plant at the Salton Sea. Photo by Darco Productions. Help us plan for the future of Today, Explained by filling out a brief survey: ⁠⁠voxmedia.com/survey⁠⁠ [http://voxmedia.com/survey]. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

For the first time in decades, American Christianity is not in decline. What are young people looking for–and finding–at church? Further reading: The surprising chasm splitting Americans along religious lines [https://www.vox.com/life/413227/gen-z-men-women-religion-spiritual-christianity-politics] by Christian Paz. Pew report: Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off [https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/decline-of-christianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off/].  This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berbey, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Matthew Billy, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo of a parishioner praying at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral by Scott Olson/Getty Images. If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545. Or send us a note ⁠here⁠ [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoQe_YRwSSqUgd9fK57E1ypFbHd8B8bbah5Sx0T66ZLpTFgw/viewform].  Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members [http://vox.com/members]. Help us plan for the future of Explain It to Me by filling out a brief survey: ⁠voxmedia.com/survey⁠ [http://voxmedia.com/survey]. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The legendary coach is getting more attention for his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson than football these days. It’s a reminder that we should probably retire the term “gold digger.” This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson pose for a photo backstage at the 14th Annual NFL Honors. Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images. Help us plan for the future of Today, Explained by filling out a brief survey: ⁠voxmedia.com/survey⁠ [http://voxmedia.com/survey]. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]