Today, Explained

Love Island or Lust Island?

Love Island has some lessons to teach us about modern dating. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Love Island USA season 8 cast members Caleb McDaniel and Jaiden Bacciocco. Photo by Ben Symons/Peacock 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

Pope Leo excommunicates

The recent excommunication of a conservative Catholic group and a sharp stance on AI means that Pope Leo XIV is dealing with the same problems as the rest of us. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Pope Leo XIV delivers a blessing in front of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto 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

Smart glasses are officially here

There's a race to get smart glasses on your face. But privacy and security concerns are freaking people out. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Victoria Song, senior reviewer for The Verge, models several pairs of smart glasses. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge. 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

A white, male military

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has been blocking military promotions — especially if you're a woman, Black, or perceived as disloyal. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC. Photo by Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on his election night. Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis 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

Trump’s secret war

America's longest ongoing conflict isn't with Iran. It's in Somalia. But almost no one is talking about it. 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 Sean Rameswaram. Officers from Somalia's security agencies perform prayers on top of their jeeps at a security checkpoint in the outskirts of Mogadishu. Photo by Tony Karumba/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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices