Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Explainers Archive

Archives for October 2022

What aren’t we doing to fix inflation?
Money

Seven experts weigh in on how to tackle inflation beyond interest rate hikes from the Fed.

By Emily Stewart
Science
Consumers, not corporations, saved the power grid. What else can we do?Consumers, not corporations, saved the power grid. What else can we do?
Science

Individual decisions can be a powerful force against climate change, but only if they’re pointed in the same direction.

By Umair Irfan
Politics
We’re in a new era of attacks on political leadersWe’re in a new era of attacks on political leaders
Politics

Experts say political violence could “get a lot worse” around November’s elections.

By Ellen Ioanes
Technology
Where do restaurant “service fees” really go?Where do restaurant “service fees” really go?
Technology

Service charges are making dining out more expensive, but that doesn’t mean your server sees that cash.

By Rani Molla
Politics
Pennsylvania Republicans’ attempt to impeach Larry Krasner, explainedPennsylvania Republicans’ attempt to impeach Larry Krasner, explained
Politics

Philadelphia elected a progressive prosecutor twice. The state government wants to fire him anyway.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Politics
Is the cure for inflation worse than the disease?Is the cure for inflation worse than the disease?
Politics

Higher prices are painful. A recession could be worse.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
The future of the office is a lab
Explainers

What’s going to happen to the office space we no longer need?

By Rani Molla
Our buildings are making us sick
Explainers

Here’s how to fix them — and what’s getting in the way.

By Keren Landman, MD
World Politics
How Xi Jinping secured his third term in power — and quashed dissentHow Xi Jinping secured his third term in power — and quashed dissent
World Politics

China’s 20th Communist Party Congress broke precedent and promoted loyalists.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
How does the UK come back from crisis?How does the UK come back from crisis?
World Politics

What’s next for the Conservative Party leadership contest, and the country, explained.

By Ellen Ioanes
Culture
Every song on Taylor Swift’s Midnights, explainedEvery song on Taylor Swift’s Midnights, explained
Culture

Joe Alwyn! John Mayer! Karlie Kloss?

By Rebecca Jennings, Gabriela Fernandez and 1 more
Unexplainable
The mysterious rise of food allergiesThe mysterious rise of food allergies
Podcast
Unexplainable

More kids and adults are finding out that they can’t eat their favorite foods. Why?

By Umair Irfan
World Politics
The secret history of America’s tactical nukesThe secret history of America’s tactical nukes
World Politics

Would Russia launch a small nuke? Look to the US’s own troubled nuclear history.

By Jonathan Guyer
World Politics
Why Liz Truss was UK prime minister for only six weeksWhy Liz Truss was UK prime minister for only six weeks
World Politics

Truss abandoned her signature tax proposal, but it wasn’t enough to help her stay in power.

By Ellen Ioanes
The Chinese government’s unlikeliest standoff is with … fandom
Culture

Xi Jinping versus the stans.

By Aja Romano