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Will I ever want to have kids? | The Gray Area - September 14, 2026 - Vox
Why does it feel so hard to start a family today? How much of that is truly a personal choice?
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In this episode of The Gray Area, guest host Christine Emba sits down with journalist Anna Louise Sussman to discuss her new book, Inconceivable: The Impossibility of Family in an Age of Uncertainty. Together, they look past the surface-level "cost of living" arguments to explore how economic volatility, climate anxiety, and the commodification of reproduction are reshaping the way millennials and Gen Z think about parenthood.
00:00 Intro
01:43 Generational uncertainty
03:34 Empowerment of choosing to parent
08:54 “Project me” and parenting
15:36 Structural infertility and climate anxieties
30:18 Financialization of fertility care
39:39 Is uncertainty pushing more people away from parenthood?
Guest Host Christine Emba, columnist and author
Guest: Anna Luise Sussman, author Inconceivable: The Impossibility of Family in an Age of Uncertainty
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Five things you need to know for the 2026 midterms | America, Actually - September 12, 2026 - Vox
With the 2026 midterms fast approaching, we’re asking a simple question: What actually matters to voters right now?
In this midterm study guide, Vox’s Astead Herndon breaks down five forces shaping the election cycle. He examines the shifting foundations of both major parties—from Donald Trump’s rising unpopularity over inflation and foreign policy, to the ideological civil war within the Democratic base. Plus, Astead answers your questions about the growing influence of AIPAC funding, why "affordability" has become the central message for both parties, how data centers are triggering mass voter anxiety over the future of AI, and what Trump’s executive orders mean for the future of mail-in voting and election integrity.
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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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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