Today, Explained

Rebecca Jennings, a New York Magazine writer on internet culture, unpacks porn-quitting apps, manosphere energy, and the backlash aimed at OnlyFans. Amelia Gentleman, a Guardian investigative reporter, traces Leonid Radvinsky’s rise and the platform’s risky business history. They dig into shame-based self-improvement, online resentment, AI threats, and why the company’s future looks shaky.

Tucker Carlson, conservative commentator and longtime TV personality, lays out his case against US war with Iran. He argues Trump broke with his own agenda and points blame at Netanyahu. The conversation also turns to fractures on the right, criticism of Israel versus antisemitism, Nick Fuentes, and why some young men are drifting toward Nazi rhetoric.

Lauren Gardner, a Politico reporter on FDA and drug policy, breaks down why regulators tightened peptide access and why RFK Jr. wants that reversed. Ezra Marcus, an investigative reporter for New York Magazine, traces peptides from influencers and wellness clinics to Reddit, Bitcoin, and shipments from China. They explore hype, gray markets, contamination fears, and telehealth’s role in the next boom.

Phil Stewart, Reuters national security correspondent, and Jerry Doyle, Bloomberg defense editor, unpack why the Strait of Hormuz gives Iran huge leverage. They get into mines, missiles, and illegal transit fees. They also explore oil shocks, food and fuel ripple effects, Karg Island’s role, and how US military planning could quickly spiral.

Daryl Campbell, The Verge aviation writer and author, joins Tatiana Finley, a TSA officer and union representative. They dig into shutdown-fueled airport chaos. Finley talks about unpaid screeners, burnout, and shaky job security. Campbell explores private screening at some airports, the push to privatize, post-9/11 security standards, and why the debate is more complicated than it sounds.

Nicole Holliday, a Berkeley sociophonetician, and Valerie Fridland, a linguist and accent author, dive into how American accents formed, why Southern speech arrived later, and why the West can sound accentless. They explore how accents signal identity, why old speech patterns resurface, and the tug-of-war between fitting in and sounding like yourself.

John Bolton, former UN ambassador and Trump national security adviser, joins to dissect Trump’s sudden turn on Iran. He talks about why he wanted regime change, but not this version. The conversation digs into shaky war planning, a wounded but dangerous Tehran, fractures needed for collapse, and why Trump’s chaotic decision-making worries even longtime hawks.

Ashley Rae Harris, a culture critic and TV writer, and Sachi Cole, a senior writer at Slate, dig into the backlash around Lindy West’s memoir and her move toward polyamory. They explore feminism, consent, coercion, public judgment, dating app baggage, and why polyamory sparks such intense debate.

Philip Kennicott, a Washington Post architecture critic, and Jonathan L. Fisher, a senior editor at The Atlantic, dig into Trump’s bid to remake Washington. They track the Kennedy Center takeover, the backlash from artists and audiences, and the shift in programming. They also explore how monuments, design rules, and a proposed victory arch could change the capital’s civic meaning.

Catherine Bracey, tech policy advocate and TechEquity founder, joins Sarah Hershander, a journalist covering philanthropy and institutions. They dig into OpenAI’s nonprofit beginnings, its awkward split with a for profit arm, and the strange idea of a $180 billion charity. They also examine legal challenges, shaky governance, and whether future giving could serve the public or the company.