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The global baby bust | The Gray Area - July 20, 2026 - Vox

Birth rates are dropping and global population growth is slowing. Why? We’re heard all the different speculation: It’s the economy. It’s housing costs. It’s the feminists. But what if the biggest driver is that thing we all carry in our pockets?

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In today’s episode, guest host Christine Emba speaks with data journalist John Burn-Murdoch about declining fertility rates across vastly different cultures and economies. They discuss the role smartphones might play in this phenomenon, why governments have struggled to reverse the trend, and how dropping birthrates could change our economy and culture.

Guest Host Christine Emba, columnist and author

Guest: John Burn-Murdoch, Chief Data Reporter for The Financial Times

00:00 Intro

01:49 What is the replacement rate?

07:43 Why are birth rates dropping?

12:48 Why governments cannot reserve the trend

25:13 Why are birthrates dropping in developing countries?

33:02 Can birthrates recover?

42:40 How can we change our relationship to our phones?

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Dems are in the middle of a civil war. He’s at the heart of it | America, Actually - July 18, 2026 - Vox

First there was New York, then Colorado. But can a progressive candidate win a primary in the Rust Belt? And if so, what does that mean for the general election? Michigan has become the ultimate battleground for the future of the Democratic Party.

This week on America, Actually, host Astead Herndon dives into the party’s civil war by speaking to Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate running in a must-watch Senate race in Michigan.

00:00 What does it mean to be “electable?”

07:22 The Democratic Party's internal ideological war

14:54 Why Trump won Michigan in 2024

16:16 The story that Democrats need to sell to voters

18:47 Financial transparency

19:45 Rethinking America’s relationship with Israel

25:50 The stakes beyond Michigan

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.

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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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Why public opinion turned on AI | The Gray Area - July 17, 2026 - Vox

AI was supposed to make our lives better. Instead, it’s made many of us scared and angry. Communities are protesting data centers across the country, and polling shows most Americans think AI is moving too fast.

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In today's episode, guest host Miles Bryan talks with independent journalist Jasmine Sun, who argues that public attitudes toward AI are undergoing a fundamental shift. Jasmine argues that AI is seen not simply as a technology to adopt, but as an elite political project to resist. The two discuss “AI populism,” the parallels with the Industrial Revolution, how public opinion about AI may affect US politics, and how the leaders of Silicon Valley are unprepared for the growing backlash against AI.

Guest Host: Miles Bryan, Vox reporter and senior producer

Guest:Jasmine Sun, journalist

Find Jasmine’s Substack here: https://jasmi.news/

00:00 Intro

02:33 What is AI populism?

05:29 Why people are protesting data centers

09:11 Incidents of violence

12:11 What industrial revolution can teach us

22:14 Why people are anxious about AI

29:04 Social contracts in the AI era

34:41 China’s approach to AI

40:12 AI populism and American politics

And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube.

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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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How F1 drivers survive their own cars - July 16, 2026 - Vox

F1 races are exhilarating. While racing alongside 21 other cars, an F1 driver can reach speeds of up to 231 mph, making it one of the world's most dangerous sports.

And F1 drivers need to be physically prepared to prevent disaster. Over the course of a single race, they experience hundreds of pounds of force, temperatures up to 130°F, and risk extreme dehydration which can lead to lowered brain function. In order to stay on the road and not pass out, F1 drivers have to be in peak physical condition.

In order to find out how F1 drivers can survive a sport that is so physically demanding, Vox producer Nate Krieger hit the gym. Since F1 is such an international sport, there aren’t many specialized trainers in the US. So with the help of an F1 performance expert currently based in the United Arab Emirates, Nate worked out with David Dunlop, a strength and conditioning coach who works with NFL players. And it turns out that training for F1 is surprisingly similar to training to be a linebacker.

Read more about the fitness required to drive in an F1 race:

Mercedes has an excellent breakdown of G-force on a turn: https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/news/g-force-and-formula-one-explained

This article from The Drive breaks down the physics of an F1 race: https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/28189/modern-formula-1-cars-braking-forces-so-brutal-itll-extract-tears-from-your-eyes-report-says

Motorsport Industry Association on how F1 simulators help drivers train for the mental side of races: https://www.schoolofraceengineering.co.uk/blog/post/15044/what-are-formula-1-simulators-used-for/

New York Times article about the history of F1 in the US (and why people in the States are talking about it now): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6552909/2025/08/15/f1-history-in-america/

This video is presented by the Ford Motor Company. Ford doesn’t have a say in our editorial decisions, but they make videos like this one possible.

https://www.ford.com/new-performance-vehicles/

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