Vox

Democrats need a stronger message on abortion | America, Actually - October 6, 2026 - Vox
Jessica Valenti says Democrats are playing it too safe on abortion. As the founder of Abortion, Every Day on Substack, she said the party should treat abortion rights as a matter of affordability, healthcare, and personal freedom, and make a stronger case for keeping the government out of decisions about pregnancy.
In this special episode of America, Actually, Valenti joins Vox’s Astead Herndon for a conversation about why support for abortion rights hasn’t always translated into Democratic victories, the consequences of abortion bans, and how Republicans are changing their rhetoric while continuing to pursue restrictions. They also discuss threats to birth control, the stakes of the midterms, and why Valenti wants Democrats to go beyond promising to “restore Roe” in 2028.
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.
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Why it’s okay to want more money | The Gray Area - October 5, 2026 - Vox
Is wanting to be rich selfish? Does making money require exploiting other people? Or can the pursuit of wealth actually benefit society?
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In this episode, guest host Sally Herships speaks with philosopher Jason Brennan about his book, "Why It's OK to Want to Be Rich." Jason makes the case that both wanting money and earning money are signs that we’re creating value for society. In this conversation, they explore why society believes money corrupts relationships, what wealthy individuals owe to society, and the cultural differences around money and wealth.
This episode was produced in partnership with Vox's Future Perfect.
00:00 Intro
03:19 Wanting to be rich is good for society
14:27 Capitalism, winners, and losers
24:43 Wealth, taxes, and banking
34:25 Does capitalism require exploitation?
39:57 What do the rich owe society?
Host: Sally Herships, journalist and director of the audio program at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. (Find Sally’s work here).
Guest: Jason Brennan, professor of philosophy and public affairs at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
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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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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The GOP strategy: Ignore Trump | America, Actually - October 3, 2026 - Vox
The Republican Party is in chaos ahead of the midterms, largely thanks to Donald Trump’s dwindling popularity. So GOP candidates across the country are laying low and staying silent about the president. But will that strategy work?
In this episode of America, Actually, Vox’s Astead Herndon heads to a town hall in Ohio for Vivek Ramaswamy. The former presidential candidate, who recently helped lead Trump's efforts to gut the federal bureaucracy through DOGE, is now running for governor. Are Trump’s loyal voters sticking with the party, or is economic frustration starting to break the base ahead of November?
00:00 GOP midterm meltdown
02:09 On the ground in Ohio
02:49 Voters talk about the Republican message
09:23 Vivek Ramaswamy takes the stage
12:54 Audience questions
17:20 Astead’s 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
The ethics of killing bugs | The Gray Area - October 2, 2026 - Vox
The Gray Area is taking a break today — but we’ve got something special for you.
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We’re dropping an episode from one of our favorite podcasts, Unexplainable from Vox. In it, host Sally Helm considers whether or not it’s ethical to kill lantern flies, an invasive species that has gained a foothold on the East Coast of the US.
In the episode Sally explores what we owe other living creatures, how squishing bugs changes us, and what we should do when there is not a single clear moral path.
00:00 Intro
00:55 Sally’s encounter with a spotted lantern fly
05:28 How the lantern fly arrived in the US
22:06 Weighing moral dilemmas
29:35 Moral residue
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