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
Alex Abad-Santos

Alex Abad-Santos

Senior Correspondent

    Latest articles by Alex Abad-Santos

    Culture
    What loving Barbie says about usWhat loving Barbie says about us
    Culture

    A Barbie aficionado and certified doll expert explains why life in plastic has suddenly become so fantastic.

    By Alex Abad-Santos
    Your guide to the 2024 Oscars
    What does it mean to be “just Ken”?What does it mean to be “just Ken”?
    Your guide to the 2024 Oscars

    The exisKENtial crisis of Barbie.

    By Alex Abad-Santos
    Culture
    And Just Like That finally remembers Steve doesn’t deserve thisAnd Just Like That finally remembers Steve doesn’t deserve this
    Culture

    A vindication of the rights of Steve Brady.

    By Alex Abad-Santos
    Culture
    The Bear’s second season is about the people it takes to make you greatThe Bear’s second season is about the people it takes to make you great
    Culture

    The Bear is a show about opening a restaurant. It’s also a fantasy about nourishing talent.

    By Alex Abad-Santos
    Culture
    The Idol’s not-shortened season, explained in less than 500 wordsThe Idol’s not-shortened season, explained in less than 500 words
    Culture

    HBO knows you don’t like The Idol. But it didn’t shorten the season because of it.

    By Alex Abad-Santos
    Culture
    And Just Like That finally remembers what made Sex and the City greatAnd Just Like That finally remembers what made Sex and the City great
    Culture

    In season two, the Max series learns to laugh at itself, and at Charlotte.

    By Alex Abad-Santos
    Culture
    The “edgy” sex at the center of HBO’s The Idol is the least interesting partThe “edgy” sex at the center of HBO’s The Idol is the least interesting part
    Culture

    A sharp, canny dark comedy is hiding in this new show from Euphoria’s Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye.

    By Alex Abad-Santos
    2023’s big summer movie season, explained
    The Flash’s post-credits scene gives us a superhero reunionThe Flash’s post-credits scene gives us a superhero reunion
    2023’s big summer movie season, explained

    Welcome back, [redacted]!

    By Alex Abad-Santos
    2023’s big summer movie season, explained
    In The Flash, Warner Bros. hopes you forget Ezra Miller’s troublesIn The Flash, Warner Bros. hopes you forget Ezra Miller’s troubles
    2023’s big summer movie season, explained

    The Flash is really about bad decisions.

    By Alex Abad-Santos
    Your guide to the 2024 Oscars
    Why Spider-Verse fans see Gwen Stacy as a transgender allegoryWhy Spider-Verse fans see Gwen Stacy as a transgender allegory
    Your guide to the 2024 Oscars

    In Across the Spider-Verse, Gwen Stacy has a “protect trans kids” flag in her room and her dad has a trans flag on his uniform.

    By Alex Abad-Santos