Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about what’s really wrong with American infrastructure, the massacre in Parkland, FL, and new research on legislators’ irrational decision-making. Whitepaper! Bias in Perceptions of Public Opinion Among American Political Elites by David E. Broockman, Christopher Skovron Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Dara, and Andrew Prokop talk about the Senate's failed immigration push, and they parse through the many-layered Rob Porter scandal. DACA/Immigration ReferencesThe 8 Republican senators who voted for the bipartisan compromiseMoran, Thune, and Portman’s new DACA proposal statementTara Golshan’s piece about Grassley’s Secure and Succeed Act Rob Porter ReferencesThe ever-shifting White House story on Rob PorterThe Rob Porter scandal, explainedJane Coaston’s piece: The White House had to protect Rob Porter to save Donald Trump Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Ezra, Sarah, and Dylan Matthews try to explain Trump’s budget and Disability Insurance. For today's white paper: Move over Swedish administrative data, it’s Denmark’s turn. Trump’s budget references:Dylan's explainer on Trump's proposed budgetAirports Council International report on the ownership of European airportsCongressional Research Service report on airport privatizationMatt’s explainer on Trump’s infrastructure planDisability Insurance references:Dylan's defense of SSDITerrance McCoy’s pieces on SSDI for The Washington Post: 597 days. And still waiting & After the check is gonePlanet Money / This American Life report on SSDI A Fiscal Crisis UnfoldingStephen Goss’ perspective on SSDI: The Financing Challenges Facing the Social Security Disability Insurance Program Recessions only modestly increase actual awards of disability insuranceExpiring unemployment benefits don’t lead to an increase in disability applicationsWhat it’s like to apply for disability insuranceDemographics explain most of the rise in disability incidence, and it’s not in fiscal troubleDisability insurance explains at most 0.1 percentage points of the decline in male workGender pay gap references:Today’s white paper: Children and Gender Inequality: Evidence from DenmarkClaudia Goldin studyMarianne Bertrand studySarah’s illustrated version of the Claudia Goldin study Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Dara, and Tara Golshan, all weary from lack of sleep, try to make sense of the few hours on Thursday night/Friday morning when the government was shut down. Referenced Works Republicans laughing in Tara's face about addressing immigration: Immigration anxiety got Trump elected. Congress isn’t touching it. Further Reading House Democrats’ confusing, high-risk DACA government shutdown gamble, explained Congress just funded CHIP for a full decade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Ezra, and Sarah talk about the Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JP Morgan announcement about their joint healthcare venture, as well as the recent volatility in the stock market. White paper: From the Bargaining Table to the Ballot Box: Political Effects of Right to Work Laws Referenced Works: Ben Thompson's Stratechery piece: Amazon Health Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dara, Matt, and Zack Beauchamp talk about the policy failures that created the gang haunting Donald Trump's dreams. Referenced Works Are there more than 2,000 MS-13 gang members in Virginia’s wealthy Fairfax County? The Teens Trapped Between a Gang and the Law The 'one percent' statistic Dara mentioned: Why Trump is Wrong to Blame Migration for MS13 Expansion, Violence Further Reading 3 winners and 2 losers from Donald Trump’s first State of the Union Gangs in Central America Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt parse through Trump's State of the Union address and the response delivered by Rep. Joe Kennedy III. Referenced Works: Matt's piece on the State of the Union: Donald Trump has no solutions for America’s big problems German Lopez's piece that Ezra mentioned: Trump’s pathetic response to the opioid epidemic The Health Care Cost Institute report Sarah referenced: 2016 Health Care Cost and Utilization Report Further Reading: Dylan Scott's piece on the address: State of the Union: Trump’s abandoned promise to bring down drug prices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A DACA ransom note from the White House prompts Matt, Dara and Jane Coaston to muse on whose nation this is, anyway. Referenced Works The American Conservative piece Jane referenced: Of Sh*tholes And Second Thoughts Elizabeth Bruenig's op ed for The Washington Post: The antisocial politics of Trump The Passing of a Great Race Nations and Nationalism Imagined Communities Profile of Stephen Miller in high school: How a liberal Santa Monica high school produced a top Trump advisor and speechwriter Further Reading Explainer on the White House immigration framework: The immigration deal Trump’s White House is floating, explained Dara on framework pitting current immigrants against future immigrants: The White House is trying to force Democrats to choose between current immigrants and future ones Jane’s piece on white genocide: The scary ideology behind Trump’s immigration instincts Economic consensus on immigration: There's no evidence that immigrants hurt any American workers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dara, Sarah, and Ezra dig into the details of the new shutdown deal — and what it means for the future of shutdown politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A few hours before a looming shutdown, DC is a very postmodern place. Referenced works: Dara on the DACA situation Dylan Matthew on past shutdowns Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences by Julian Zelizer How the National Parks Became the Biggest Battleground in the Shutdown from The Atlantic, by Garance Franke-Ruta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Ezra, and Sarah talk about Mark Zuckerberg's recent announcement regarding what Facebook will focus on in 2018, and the state of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The mask slipped with Trump's "shithole" comments, and Matt and Dara take a hard look at what lies beneath it. Content warning: explicit policy discussions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

German Lopez joins Matt and Sarah to talk about Attorney General Jeff Sessions' most recent move on marijuana, how Trump spends his time, and child mortality in the US. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brian Resnick joins Dara and Matt to talk about the 'bomb cyclone' and how it relates to the climate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's only the second day of 2018, and Matt, Ezra, and Sarah are already talking about alarming statistics--this time, to do with average American life expectancy. White paper: Bias in Perceptions of Public Opinion Among American Political Elites The GOP is trying to pass a super-unpopular agenda — and that's a bad sign for democracy Impact Policy Submission URL: bit.ly/voximpact Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah returns from New Zealand in time to reflect with Matt on the year in policy. White paper: Uniform Pricing in US Retail Chains Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Ezra, and Sarah answer your questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Ezra talk about what the tax bill actually does, whether the deficit matters, and a white paper about rugged individualism. White paper: Frontier Culture: The Roots and Persistence of “Rugged Individualism” in the United States Other referenced works: Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America (America: a cultural history) American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America Dialect Diversity in America: The Politics of Language Change  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Dara, and Tara Golshan talk about how Congress does and doesn’t handle sexual harassment allegations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Ezra talk about the result of the Alabama senate race and the state of the GOP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Dara, and German Lopez discuss the (shallow, according to some) politics of pro-FBI liberals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Ezra, and Sarah talk through the argument around net neutrality, the possible CVS-Aetna merger, and a white paper about who becomes an inventor in America. Ben Thompson's defense of Ajit Pai Who Becomes an Inventor in America? The Importance of Exposure to Innovation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Dara Lind, and Vox contributor Mike Konczal talk tax reform and Democrats' sexual harassment problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Ezra parse through the many flaws of the tax bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about what they're thankful for this year — plus disturbing new research about gender bias in surgical referrals. White paper: Interpreting Signals in the Labor Market: Evidence from Medical Referrals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara Golshan and Dylan Scott join Matt to break down the two different GOP tax bills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Sarah discuss allegations against Roy Moore, Trump's new pick for Health and Human Services secretary, and a slightly better work week. White paper: Time as a Network Good: Evidence from Unemployment and the Standard Workweek Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dara Lind and Andrew Prokop join Matt to talk about this week’s election results and the implications for 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt, Ezra, and Sarah talk about the possibility of a Value-Added Tax, midterm elections, and acid rain. Mentioned works: A Fine Mess: A Global Quest for a Simpler, Fairer, and More Efficient Tax System by T. R. Reid Creating an American Value-Added Tax The People Left Behind When Only the ‘Deserving’ Poor Get Help Mortality and Access to Care among Adults after State Medicaid Expansions White paper: Long-Run Pollution Exposure and Adult Mortality: Evidence from the Acid Rain Program Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dylan Scott and Dylan Matthews join Matt to talk about House Republicans’ tax plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The gang talks about recent developments in the Russia investigation, and Sarah tells us what she learned visiting Canada with Bernie Sanders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrew Prokop joins Matt to talk about Steve Bannon’s war on the GOP establishment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk more tax reform, John Kelly's failure to fix the Trump administration, and new research on dental scams. White paper: Health Services as Credence Goods: A Field Experiment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dara Lind and Andrew Prokop join Matt to talk about the surprisingly interesting governor’s election in Virginia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introducing The Impact, a new show from Vox hosted by Sarah Kliff.  The Impact explores how policy affects real lives. This season, we’re focusing on healthcare, and the first episode tackles with one of thorniest questions in the American healthcare system: prices. Subscribe to The Impact wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt dig into the Harvey Weinstein story, talk a bit about tax reform, and cover new research on Medicaid expansion and savings. White paper: Medicaid and Household Savings Behavior: New Evidence from Tax Refunds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dylan Scott joins Sarah and Matt to dive into the newest forms of Obamacare sabotage, and to talk about heroin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about CHIP reauthorization, the Supreme Court's big gerrymandering case, and a seminal Richard Thaler paper (Mental Accounting and Consumer Choice). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dylan Matthews and Andrew Prokop join Matt to talk about Republicans hopes, dreams, and nightmares on tax reform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt talk about gun control in the wake of Las Vegas, the GOP tax reform blueprint, and job-sharing in Germany. White paper: The Employment and Output Effects of Short-Time Work in Germany Referenced articles: What Do We Know About the Association Between Firearm Legislation and Firearm-Related Injuries? A Dynamic Analysis of Permanent Extension of the President’s Tax Relief After a year of work, Republicans have decided nothing on corporate tax reform (Matt's piece) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eliza Barclay and Alexia Fernández Campbell join Matt to talk about Hurricane Maria and its aftermath. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt delve into Senate procedure arcana, break down the latest GOP repeal bill, and talk about a surprisingly easy way to reduce theft. White paper: SNAP Benefits and Crime: Evidence from Changing Disbursement Schedules Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dara Lind joins Matt and Sarah at the Now Hear This Festival to discuss the Canadian immigration system, and the audience chooses a white paper (https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9174.html) for them to talk about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ezra and Sarah parse through Graham-Cassidy, the latest Republican repeal bill. White paper: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3025749 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Congressional reporters Jeff Stein and Tara Golshan join Matt to talk about congressional Democrats' hopes and Republicans' fears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah, Ezra, and Matt discuss Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All bill and Hillary Clinton's musings on creating a national version of the Alaska Permanent Fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Atul Gawande is a surgeon and the author of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. Sarah interviewed him live, asking about the opioid epidemic, his work with end of life patients, and his terrible college rock band. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah and Matt discuss DACA, ACA implementation, and some game-changing new research on the real history of all-payer rate setting. White paper: Uncompensated care and the collapse of hospital payment regulation: An illustration of the Tinbergen Rule by Jeffrey Clemens and Benedic Ippolito Paper on Maryland and hospital rate setting: Tracking the demise of state hospital rate setting by John McDonough Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices