Vox

Why younger Americans can’t get ahead - October 30, 2026 - Vox

What does the country lose when one generation refuses to yield power?

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In this episode, Vox host Jonquilyn Hill talks with Idrees Kahloon, staff writer at the Atlantic, about why he believes America has become a gerontocracy – a government whose rulers are older than the rest of the population. There’s the age of political leaders in Congress and the White House. And there’s also the economic impact of having Americans over the age of 55 holding nearly three-quarters of the nation's wealth.

Jonquilyn and Idrees examine how this demographic and economic shift came to pass over the last several decades. They get into the political taboo over reforming Social Security and Medicare, the impact of housing market restrictions and zoning on younger home buyers, and the ways that government spending heavily favors older voters.

Guest Host: Jonquilyn Hill, host of Explain It To Me

Guest: Idrees Kahloon, Staff writer, The Atlantic

00:00 Intro

01:58 What is Gerontocracy

06:42 Economic Shifts and Boomer Fortune

11:36 Global Perspectives on Pensions

14:11 Political Power and Congressional Aging

24:36 Wealth Accumulation and Generational Equity

38:14 Policy Solutions and Aging in Place

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Elite universities are losing Black students - October 28, 2026 - Vox

HBCUs are having a moment.

Many historically Black colleges and universities have seen record-breaking enrollment numbers in their recent freshman classes. But on the flip side of that surge, Black freshman enrollment is actually down by 27 percent among the top 50 most selective institutions in the United States. And there are some big explanations behind these shifts.

As the landscape of higher education has evolved from the eras of segregation to the civil rights movement to Trump-era racial politics, Black students have had to adapt on college campuses nationwide as government mandates, school policies, and the dismantling of affirmative action have impacted their education over the years.

Hosted by Kahlil Greene, this video is part of our new series Kahlil Explains that unites Vox’s unique brand of explainer journalism with Greene’s expertise in how politics and culture shape society. This first episode traces the history of HBCUs and the experience of Black college students to unpack why Black student enrollment is growing at HBCUs yet declining at other elite institutions.

Read more about HBCUs and race in higher education:

A brief timeline of HBCU history: https://uncficb.org/about/timeline/

Marybeth Gasman and Levon T. Esters’s book HBCU: The Power of Historically Black Colleges and Universities: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12784/hbcu

Class Action’s report on the future of fair admissions: https://www.joinclassaction.us/post/a-first-look-at-college-enrollment-outcomes-after-the-end-of-affirmative-action

The Center for MSIs research brief on HBCU enrollment trends: https://cmsi.gse.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/AResponsetoRacism.pdf

The Associated Press’s analysis of Black enrollment at elite colleges:

https://apnews.com/article/affirmative-action-college-admissions-race-princeton-8d3c44eb6b01d0689f7c109041735aec

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Your world, explained by Vox: Download our new app - October 28, 2026 - Vox

We’re launching the Vox mobile app, the best way to get all of Vox’s journalism in one place. It 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. If you’re not already a Vox Member, you’ll also get a 14-day free trial when you sign up!

Our newsroom is on a mission to help you understand the world, so that you can help build a better one. Every story we publish will land in the Home tab, where you can navigate between Featured stories and the Latest published. For a quick take on what’s important today, check out our Start Here section.

The app’s Video tab is our new way to deliver short videos on the big topics shaping your life. Plus, you’ll find the best of Vox’s longer videos in the Featured Video section in the Home tab, including in-depth explainers and member-exclusive segments from our podcasts.

You can also listen to Sean Rameswaram and Noel King guide you through the most important stories of the day on Today, Explained, or Astead Herndon break down what really matters in politics on America, Actually, or the hosts of Unexplainable, The Gray Area, and Explain It to Me tackle some of the biggest questions about our world and our lives. All of our podcasts are available in-app in the Podcasts tab, ad-free for Vox Members.

Apple App Store: hhttps://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6760492732

Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.voxmedia.vox&referrer=utm_source%3Deditorial%26utm_campaign%3Darticle_androidversion

Become a Vox member: https://www.vox.com/support-membership

Have questions about the app or your membership? Check out our FAQs here, or reach out to [email protected].

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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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Pablo Torre on what sports reveal about Trump’s America | America, Actually - October 27, 2026 - Vox

In a special episode of America, Actually, Pablo Torre says sports reveal some of the biggest tensions shaping American politics: billionaire power, rising costs, and a growing sense that the system is rigged. In a conversation with Vox’s Astead Herndon ahead of the midterm election, the host of Pablo Torre Finds Out discusses Donald Trump’s relationship with sports fans, why athletes have grown quieter about politics, and how the rise of prediction markets in sports reflects a lack of trust many people have in the political system.

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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What The U.S. Quits Rate Means For Your Job | Best of Luck - October 27, 2026 - Vox

Kai Ryssdal is the host of Marketplace. But he was also once 34 years-old, making $7 an hour at a bookstore in Palo Alto at the height of the dot-com boom.

In the first episode of Best of Luck, Kyla Scanlon and Kai investigate the biggest turning points of his career for lessons that still apply, and discuss how to connect labor market data to your career decisions. Plus: Kai applies for a new job at Lighthouse Keeper Inc.

Our theme song is "Frolic" by Jake Xerxes Fussell. Discover more of his music: https://www.jakexerxesfussell.com/

00:00 The economy is turning against workers

02:40 Why Kai Ryssdal joined the Navy

04:03 34 making $7

07:18 Takeaway: What do you do for free?

11:03 Can you still bounce around in the modern economy?

15:18 What labor market data means for your job

18:16 Worst & best career advice

23:25 Advice for every age group & career level

28:57 Kai applies for a new job

32:02 Luck questionnaire

Follow Best of Luck on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestofluckpodcast

Follow Kyla Scanlon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylascan