Vox

Chocolate is getting worse. So is everything else. | The Gray Area - November 9, 2026 - Vox

If even chocolate is getting worse, what does that tell us about our economy and the state of life’s small pleasures?

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In today’s episode, Vox host Jonquilyn Hill talks to New York Magazine writer Rachel Handler, who spent seven months investigating that question and uncovered a story that goes well beyond candy. Handler explains how manufacturing has changed, what chocolate reveals about corporate profits and inequality, and why even life’s smallest pleasures increasingly feel like luxuries.

They explore the hidden costs of convenience, whether we’ve learned to like inferior products, and the indignity of being told nothing has changed, even when we can taste the difference. What do we lose when we stop expecting everyday things to be good? And what would it take to make a decent chocolate bar an ordinary pleasure everyone can afford?

Host: Jonquilyn Hill, host of Explain It To Me

Guest: Rachel Handler, features writer for New York Magazine

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:24 Why does chocolate taste worse now?

11:15 What’s actually in your chocolate?

17:34 Who pays the price for cheap chocolate?

20:01 Is good chocolate becoming a luxury?

25:37 What’s the hidden cost of convenience?

31:21 Have we learned to like worse chocolate?

33:23 Why this is about more than chocolate

We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show.

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Wes Moore to Dems: Move fast on affordability | America, Actually - November 7, 2026 - Vox

Don’t call it a blue wave. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore sits down with Vox’s Astead Herndon to explain why the midterms proved that the party's future belongs to a mobilized multiracial coalition—and why moving fast on costs matters more than anything else.

Plus, we look back at America, Actually’s midterm study guide to unpack what lessons we can learn from the election results on the issues that matter most.

America, Actually publishes video episodes every Saturday tackling key issues in politics, culture, and the economy. Subscribe to Vox’s YouTube channel to get them. Listen to episodes of America, Actually on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app.

Vox just launched a new mobile app that brings together all of our work — our podcasts, videos, and written stories — into one experience, so you never have to look elsewhere. The app is free to download in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

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Is this the end of MAGA? - November 6, 2026 - Vox

Trump's chokehold on the Republican Party is over, according to many within the party. Today, Explained host Noel King sits down with Rod Dreher, a conservative author and friend of JD Vance to discuss the future of the GOP.

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Democrats won big. Now they have to deliver | America, Actually - November 6, 2026 - Vox

Democrats will usher in a new era in Washington, after having notched wins in reliably Republican territory. But can the party deliver the affordability relief voters need while facing President Trump?

Democratic strategist David Axelrod, the man behind President Obama’s two White House victories, joins Vox’s Astead Herndon to discuss whether Democrats can turn their midterm wins into a lasting coalition. Axelrod argues the party must work to lower costs and pursue accountability without letting it crowd out the work to improve people’s lives. He also weighs in on the early 2028 field, including JD Vance’s prospects and whether Kamala Harris should run again.

America, Actually publishes video episodes every Saturday, tackling key issues in politics, culture, and the economy. Subscribe to Vox’s YouTube channel to get them. Listen to episodes of America, Actually on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app.

Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vox-news-video-podcasts/id6760492732

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Why everyone is embracing populism | The Gray Area - November 6, 2026 - Vox

Today we’re bringing you an episode of the Vox daily news podcast Today, Explained. It’s a show that’s about the biggest stories of the day, and – like The Gray Area – it tries to make sense of what those stories tell us about our culture and our world.

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This week, voters delivered a sweeping rebuke to Trump and the Republican party, handing Democrats control of the House and Senate. So this is a good moment to take stock: How did Trump’s brand of politics change America? What has populism actually achieved, who are its new proponents, and are we ever going back?

Host: Noel King, co-host and editorial director, Today, Explained

Guests: Jonathan Chait, staff writer, The Atlantic and Eric Levitz, senior correspondent, Vox

00:28 The 2026 midterm elections and the rise of populism

01:59 Right-wing and left-wing populist movements

09:14 The economic limits of populism

14:41 The media environment and political upheaval

24:11 Future outlook: AI, tech oligarchy

And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube. New episodes drop every Monday and Friday.

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Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.

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