Vox

The GOP’s midterm advantage | America, Actually - October 17, 2026 - Vox

The Republican Party is entering the midterm home stretch with a staggering $1 billion campaign war chest — nearly double that of comparable Democratic groups. But with President Donald Trump’s approval ratings falling and voters feeling the hit to their wallets, can cash counter a blue wave?

New York Times national political correspondent Shane Goldmacher joins Vox’s Astead Herndon to break down the GOP’s massive financial edge. Plus, why Republicans are spending millions of dollars to defend deep-red states like Kansas and South Carolina, how small-dollar Democratic donors are reshaping races in Texas, and whether the GOP’s small-donor model can survive in a post-Trump era.

00:00 Can GOP cash stop a blue wave?

02:21 The GOP’s historic fundraising edge

04:50 Who’s bankrolling Trump and Republicans?

08:25 What GOP spending reveals about the Senate map

11:20 Why the GOP’s 2024 ad strategy may not land in 2026

14:51 How campaigns spend to reach voters

17:51 Why Dem governor races struggle to attract money

24:18 How donors shape the AI debate

26:17 What role will AIPAC play in November?

28:49 Who can raise money after Trump?

30:38 Takeaways

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.

If you enjoy our reporting and want to learn more, sign up for Astead’s weekly newsletter, Midterms, Actually. Just go to www.vox.com/midtermsactually to learn more, and get in-depth analysis about this year’s election right to your inbox.

Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO

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.

Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE

Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o

Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H

Can we end campus sexual assault? - October 16, 2026 - Vox

Are college campuses safe? The alleged sexual assault at Cornell has really struck a chord. And it’s sparked a lot of anger and discourse among women of all ages. Vox’s Jonquilyn Hill speaks to World Without Exploitation’s Vice President of Policy & Programs, Rebecca Zipkin.

Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO

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.

Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE

Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o

Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H

Can prediction markets be good for society? | The Gray Area - October 16, 2026 - Vox

Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO

In today’s episode, guest host Miles Bryan speaks with professor Finn Brunton in a conversation based on his recent Harper’s article, “The Chaos Machine: Prediction Markets and the Triumph of Crypto-Anarchy.” The two explore alternative visions for prediction markets: as tools for gathering collective knowledge, or as a way to undermine the institutions we rely on. They discuss whether putting money on the line brings us closer to the truth, how betting can create incentives to manipulate events, and what we risk when more of our shared reality becomes something to wager on.

Host: Miles Bryan, Vox Senior Producer and Reporter

Guest: Finn Brunton, Professor at the University of California, Davis

00:00 Intro

03:45 The potential of prediction markets vs the reality

08:57 Who uses prediction markets?

13:51 A utopic vision of prediction markets

17:56 The inspiration for Polymarket

21:57 A darker vision for prediction markets

39:34 How could prediction markets work in the future?

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.

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

Listen to The Gray Area ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members

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.

Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE

Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o

Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H

Are young men and women giving up on each other? | The Gray Area - October 12, 2026 - Vox

What happens to a society when its members become increasingly wary of one another, and relationships break down based on gender lines?

Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO

In today’s episode, guest host Christine Emba speaks with pollster and writer Dan Cox about his new book Generation Uncoupled: America's New Gender Divide and the Crisis of Human Connection. They consider how and why men and women in America are growing apart, rising safety concerns among young women, and the widening political divide on gender lines.

Host: Christine Emba, columnist and author

Guest: Dan Cox, Director of the Survey Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute and author of Generation Uncoupled.

00:00 Intro

04:34 Smartphones and the crisis of connection

09:38 When the gap between men and women opened

26:25 The erosion of our social connections

35:52 Our changing social awareness

40:21 How to make a change

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

Listen to The Gray Area ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members

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.

Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE

Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o

Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H