Vox

You’re not awkward — the world is | The Gray Area - November 18, 2025 - Vox
We all know what awkwardness feels like. It's that jolt of discomfort when the social script breaks down, and no one knows what to do next. But what if awkwardness isn’t a flaw to fix but a window into how we live together?
Sean’s guest today is Alexandra Plakias, associate professor of philosophy at Hamilton College and author of Awkwardness: A Theory. They talk about why awkwardness isn’t a personal problem but a social one, how power and privilege shape who gets to be awkward, and why our fear of discomfort often keeps us from saying what really matters.
This episode originally aired in November of 2024.
Host: Sean Illing (@SeanIlling)
Guest: Alexandra Plakias, associate professor of philosophy and author of Awkwardness: A Theory
0:00 Intro
11:59 It's okay to be uncertain
14:07 What is the difference between awkward and cringey?
19:46 What are the most common awkward experiences?
22:40 Awkwardness and self-deprication
28:04 What is the role of small talk?
31:02 Social life really is a performance
35:32 Death and money
39:50 We're social creatures and we want to belong
41:26 Who's responsible for alleviating awkwardness?
47:17 How to decrease awkwardness
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Friendsgiving, explained - November 17, 2025 - Vox
Thanksgiving is arguably one of the yummiest celebrations in the US and one where you’re expected to be home for the holidays. But, what are your options when going home isn’t one? In recent decades, Friendsgiving has emerged as the go-to choice as an additional event or complete alternative to Thanksgiving.
It can be tough during the holidays with the pressures of trying to get everything just right to present yourself as a well-adjusted adult hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, or to be present with family that may think they know what’s best for you. Friendsgiving has opened the door to do things a little bit differently. The intention is to have a laid-back, low-pressure (or over-the-top, totally up to the host) potluck-style dinner with friends and other people in your chosen community — because as cheesy as it sounds, friends are the new family.
Friendsgiving was seemingly plucked from obscurity in the 2010s. While its exact origins are debated, it was likely widely practiced prior to its fame on The Real Housewives of New Jersey in 2011. Even then it took a few more years for it to pick up steam in the media.
Watch this video to learn how Friendsgiving went from a friendly potluck dinner to a cultural mainstay.
This video is presented by T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. T-Mobile doesn’t have a say in our editorial decisions, but their support does make our reporting possible.
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The case that could set us back 60 years (Preview of new exclusive series) - November 17, 2025 - Vox
We’re excited to share with you a preview of the first episode of The Docket, a Patreon-exclusive Vox video series covering Supreme Court cases that could alter the fabric of American life. Head over to patreon.com/vox to subscribe and watch the first episode of The Docket, available now.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 transformed America, marking the end of the Jim Crow era and effectively banning racial discrimination in elections. We’ll explain how, 60 years later, a redistricting case out of Louisiana called Louisiana v. Callais has the potential to upend the Voting Rights Act and political representation for a generation.
You’ll continue to find our work here on YouTube, but by supporting us on patreon.com/vox, you get more of the in-depth video storytelling we’re passionate about making.
We’re using Patreon’s tools to introduce great new benefits to Vox Members and give you even more insights into our journalism and the people who make it.
What to expect on Patreon
- Two original video series: In addition to The Docket, our new series What’s Working will highlight the policies that are actually improving people’s lives. The first episode will be published exclusively on Patreon in December.
- Livestreamed conversations and community chats: Each month, Vox journalists will host a live conversation for members, a 30- to 60-minute discussion that dives into major stories in the news or shines a light on overlooked topics that deserve more attention.
- Reporter Extras: Vox journalists will step in front of the camera to share something they uncovered in their reporting that they can’t stop thinking about. These behind-the-scenes videos will pull back the curtain of how our stories come together.
Vox Members make our work possible. It’s because of their support that we’re able to focus on the issues that actually matter in the world. If you believe in our mission, join our community on Patreon. Already a Vox Member? Good news: Patreon access is included with your membership. Head to vox.com/patreon-redeem to set up your account.
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From Terrorist to President: Former Al-Qaeda Commander Welcomed to the White House | The Long Game - November 14, 2025 - Vox
Syria’s new president — once an al-Qaeda commander — visits the White House. Saudi Prince Mohammed Bin Salan (MBS) heads to Washington with chips and security on the agenda. And Trump calls for renewed nuclear testing. Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer break down a week of shifting alliances and rising risks in From Terrorist to President, Episode 2 of The Long Game.
New episodes drop on Fridays, subscribe to The Long Game on it's official YouTube channel for all future episode: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame?sub_confirmation=1
00:00 Intro
02:42 Trump Meets Syria’s New President
06:11 The Rise of Ahmed al-Shara
10:04 Can Syria Stabilize?
17:02 Saudi Crown Prince in Washington
28:51 Trump Instructs U.S. Nuclear Tests
45:37 Red Team/Blue Team: Should Israel Strike Iran Again?
01:04:22 The Wrap: What Jake & Jon Got Wrong
01:11:24 Outro
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The salmon dilemma - November 13, 2025 - Vox
Earth’s population is growing. We’re expected to have 2 billion more mouths to feed by 2050. But how can we feed all those people in a way that is still sustainable and ethical? Many have argued that aquaculture (or fish farming) is one of the most sustainable ways we can consume animal protein, since it requires less land use. It’s currently the quickest-growing form of food production in the world. But how exactly does it work? And is it really the best path forward?
To find out more, Vox video producer Nate Krieger went down the rabbit hole on salmon aquaculture. Salmon is currently the most popular fish in the US: The average American consumes 3.2 pounds of salmon annually. And over 70% of that salmon comes from farms, totalling 3 million tons of salmon a year.
To understand the impact that the salmon industry is having on our planet and our future, and on the salmon themselves, we spoke to industry insiders, marine biologists, and fish welfare experts.
This is a complicated issue, full of lots of caveats and trade-offs. But the more we know about the food we eat and where it comes from, the more responsible we can be.
Sources and further reading:
Read more of Vox's reporting on salmon farming: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/468348/atlantic-salmon-farm-cruelty-pollution
Vox's Future Perfect team reports on what it takes to feed the fish involved in aquaculture, which turns out to be one of the most important impacts to consider:
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/464898/trump-tariffs-china-trade-war-soybeans-exports
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/379564/fish-farming-sustainable-wild-caught
The website for the Global Salmon Initiative, a collaboration between some of the world’s biggest salmon farming companies, whose CEO we spoke with for this piece. Its handbook is a great resource for information on salmon aquaculture:
https://globalsalmoninitiative.org/en/about-salmon-farming/gsi-handbook/
The World Wildlife Fund’s page on the tradeoffs involved in salmon farming: https://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/oceans/sustainable-seafood/farmed-seafood/farmed-salmon/
This video is part of a series supported by Animal Charity Evaluators, which received a grant from EarthShare.
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What 'Orwellian' really means | The Gray Area - November 10, 2025 - Vox
We use “Orwellian” to describe everything from campus dust-ups to authoritarian crackdowns. But what did George Orwell actually stand for, what did he get wrong, and what can we learn from him about our age of surveillance capitalism and distraction?
Sean’s guest is Laura Beers, historian at American University and author of Orwell’s Ghosts: Wisdom and Warnings for the 21st Century. They dig into Orwell’s defense of truth over ideology, his crusade against euphemism, his experience with propaganda and persecution in Spain, and why 1984 and Animal Farm only capture part of his project.
Host: Sean Illing (@SeanIlling)
Guest: Laura Beers, historian and author of Orwell’s Ghosts
00:00 Intro
05:52 Truth in political speech
11:01 Doublethink: holding two mutually contradictory ideas in your head
12:35 Orwell did not support the women's movement
17:27 Colonialism and Orwell's essay: Shooting an Elephant
22:00 What is the value of reading Orwell today?
27:23 Uses and abuses of language
35:58 Why did Orwell understand totalitarian societies?
42:05 What did Orwell get wrong?
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China Just Learned Exactly How to Play Trump | The Long Game with Jake Sullivan & Jon Finer - November 7, 2025 - Vox
In their first episode, Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer tackle three flashpoints central to U.S. national security interests right now: U.S. / China relations, the Russian - Ukraine War and the situation unfolding in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. They close with a discussion about the new Netflix film A House of Dynamite, a story about crisis decision-making that, for two people who’ve lived those moments, hits uncomfortably close to home.
Vox will be sharing the first four episodes of "The Long Game" with our audience. You can continue watching by subscribing to the show’s official YouTube channel: youtube.com/@podlonggame
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0:00 - US / China The Literal Long Game
04:46 - Trump’s Playbook
06:22 - Export Controls
09:17 - Supreme Court Case on Tariffs
10:00 - Uncertainty and Ambiguity
12:48 - Continuing Russian War Against Ukraine
13:54 - Is an End Closer Now?
23:03 - Finally the Battlefield
27:35 - Possibility of Hybrid Warfare?
32:01 - Trump’s Backpeddling
35:40 - Approach to our own Hemisphere
37:15 - What is the Objective with Venezuela?
39:53 - What are the Targets?
42:42 - Post Intervention Risks
43:40 - A House of Dynamite
50:15 - Portrayal of Three Dimensional Characters
52:00 - Analogy to Missile Hitting Poland
57:15 - Uncertainty Over Attribution and Reaction
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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