Explore every episode of the podcast America, Actually with Astead Herndon

America, Actually is a new podcast from Vox where host Astead Herndon explores what US politics looks like without Donald Trump at the center. It’s been a one-man show for more than a decade, but now, the US is heading towards the first open presidential election since 2016. It will play out in a country that feels inherently different. Every Saturday, America, Actually will be in your feed with interesting interviews on politics, culture, and the economy. Watch at Youtube.com/Vox or listen in your favorite podcast app for new episodes starting April 11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does US politics look like when Donald Trump is no longer at the center of it? In 2028, voters will get to decide. But for now, we explore. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact-checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney and hosted by Astead Herndon. Christopher Snyder is our video editor, and Koon Nguy is our senior art director. Our executive producer is Christina Vallice. Additional support from Miranda Kennedy, David Tatasciore, and Nisha Chittal. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump step on an escalator as they arrive for the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly. Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on video at youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Immigration might be President Donald Trump’s signature issue, but what do Americans actually think about border security and enforcement? This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. A migrant climbs over the border fence into the US after fetching groceries for other migrants waiting to be processed by authorities on the US-Mexico border. Photo by GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP via Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We were set to talk to Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego about solving our immigration crisis. Then Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Rep. Eric Swalwell and Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America at 250 years old may need a new founding document. Historian Heather Cox Richardson drafts a new social contract. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. In this episode, Richardson references a tweet of Boebert's, not a text. A protester holds a copy of the Declaration of Independence and a US flag at a rally. Photo by ANDREW HOLBROOKE/Corbis via Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do buzzwords like “progressive” and “affordability” mean to voters? We went to one of the most Democratic congressional districts to find out. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) rolling out out a new affordability strategy along with other House Democrats from the Progressive Caucus. Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a growing disconnect between a local community that says it’s being treated as the "guinea pigs" in a new industrial revolution, and Washington politicians. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder and Shelby Smith, and hosted by Astead Herndon. A massive new data center in Vineland, New Jersey. Photo by Alex Peterson. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What skills will matter most in the AI era, and how can workers avoid being left behind? We look at one big bet aimed at supporting the US workforce. This episode is presented by The Rockefeller Foundation.  This show was produced by Dustin DeSoto, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Photo by Getty Images/Kindamorphic. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: ⁠vox.com/members⁠. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democrats talk a lot about protecting democracy, but for most Americans, the system was written to exclude them a long time ago. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Photo by Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hasan Piker has become one of the most prominent leftist voices in the US. But his rapid rise has sparked a furious backlash from establishment Democrats -- specifically the Third Way think tank. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Further reading: Third Way’s critique of Hasan Piker in the Wall Street Journal. The streamer Hasan Piker speaking at a conference in Vancouver. Photo By Florencia Tan Jun/Web Summit via Sportsfile via Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We went to Virginia to report on redistricting. What we found was a potential new message for Democrats to win over voters.  This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Voters attending a candidate forum hosted by RVA indivisible at the Libby Mill Library in Richmond, VA. Photo credit Alex Peterson. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AI, policing and generational change are among the issues influencing two primary races in New York that reflect the broader 2026 midterms. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Voting signage at a polling location for the primary election in New York. Photo by Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The group of men that famously helped propel Trump to the White House in 2024 is having second thoughts. Here’s what that means for Republicans in the future. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Fans at the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on the South Lawn of the White House where President Trump hosted Ultimate Fighting Championship matches. Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can the country’s founding ideals still unite a divided nation? This episode is presented by the Rockefeller Foundation.   This show was produced by Dustin DeSoto, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What should the progressive left take away from the collapse of Graham Platner’s campaign?  This show was edited by Christina Vallice, fact checked by Sarah Schweppe, video edited by Frank Posillico, and hosted by Astead Herndon.  Special thanks to Kasia Broussalian.  You can also watch this episode on ⁠youtube.com/vox⁠. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: ⁠vox.com/members⁠. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The former vice president’s loyal base seems ready for another go, but Democratic donors are wary.  This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Sarah Schweppe, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. You can also watch this episode on ⁠youtube.com/vox⁠. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: ⁠vox.com/members⁠. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First there was New York, then Colorado. But can a progressive candidate win in the Rust Belt? This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder and Benjamin Stephen, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) with Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during the "Fighting Oligarchy" tour. Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democratic Congressman James Clyburn turned 86 years old this week. He has no plans to retire. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) announcing he is running for a 18th term. Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on ⁠youtube.com/vox⁠. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: ⁠vox.com/members⁠. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Journalists Astead Herndon, Don Lemon, and Kara Swisher hold a fantasy draft to find out who has the best shot at becoming president in 2028.  This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Sarah Schweppe, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Flags are displayed on the lawn of the National Mall with the U.S. Capitol Building in the background. Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will high gas prices actually change how people vote? We went to Pennsylvania to find out.  This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. A customer refuels his van at a gas station in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania in July. Photo by Matthew Hatcher / AFP via Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now.  Read more about gas prices:  Why Gas Prices Hit Differenthttps://julianzelizer.substack.com/p/why-gas-prices-hit-different  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Progressives are racking up primary wins. Is the Democratic establishment getting the message? This show was edited by Christina Vallice, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by David Tatasciore, video edited by Frank Posillico, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Special thanks to Kasia Broussalian.  You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to America, Actually ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democrats have been duking it out all summer. He’s at the center of it all. This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Hasan Piker at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada in 2026. Photo By Florencia Tan Jun/Web Summit via Sportsfile via Getty Images. You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to America, Actually ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices