logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
27m 28s

Laura Loomered the NSA

Vox
About this episode

President Trump fired the head of the NSA — not because of a cyber attack, but because conservative activist Laura Loomer said so. How did she become so influential?


This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berber and Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Amanda Lewellyn, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.


Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members


Far-right activist Laura Loomer. Photo by Jacob M. Langston for The Washington Post via Getty Images.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
The future of vaccines
Trump 1.0 got us safe COVID vaccines in record time. Trump 2.0 is trying to take the vaccines away. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Denise Guerra, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Tatasciore and Andrea Kristinsdottir with ... Show More
25m 52s
Aug 25
AI took your job
Hundreds of job applications, but not one call. Young workers are frustrated, scared, and wondering where all the entry-level jobs went. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Rebeca Ibarra, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boy ... Show More
26m 14s
Aug 24
The golden age of exercise
Americans are flocking to gyms and fitness classes. It wasn't always that way. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy with help from Naureen Khan, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Phot ... Show More
30m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
Are the Democrats really inciting violence against Donald Trump?
Donald Trump has blamed Kamala Harris and Joe Biden's rhetoric for the latest assassination attempt, calling them 'Marxist communists'. So how is the rhetoric changing in American politics? And is political violence on the edge of tipping over again?Later, Keir Starmer is cosying ... Show More
28m 6s
Aug 16
Trump’s Political Theater Won’t Save D.C.
President Trump deployed the National Guard in Washington, D.C., and is threatening to do so in other American cities. On this episode of “The Opinions,” the Opinion national politics writer Michelle Cottle is joined by the columnists Jamelle Bouie and David French to debate what ... Show More
34m 11s
May 2022
Chris Dawson’s ‘sex slave’, and the Katherine Deves effect
Former babysitter ‘JC’ tells the Teacher’s Pet trial she accompanied Chris Dawson to hire a hitman to kill wife Lyn, and felt like his ‘sex slave’.   Plus, can Katherine Deves pull off a miracle in Warringah? We ask voters - and our political expert - about the Liberal’s views on ... Show More
14m 15s
Jun 18
Why US troops are concerned about Trump’s deployment
US President Donald Trump has deployed hundreds of troops to Los Angeles in response to protests against immigration raids. It’s been widely considered to be an illegal deployment. Meanwhile, hotlines to support service members have been seeing an uptick in complaints and questio ... Show More
22m 28s
Sep 2024
Will the assassination attempts decide the election?
How to make sense of not one but two assassination attempts in as many months on a former president? Donald Trump says it's all down to the language that Kamala Harris and the Democrats are using. JD Vance has just called her 'the most fraudulent person to run for president'. Is ... Show More
33 m
Feb 2025
Roundup: Kash Patel Confirmed As FBI Chief; China Sees Opportunity As USAID Gets Cut
Kash Patel was confirmed as the new FBI director yesterday despite questions about his qualifications. The vote was the narrowest in recent memory with two Republicans joining the Democrats in voting "no." Then, Donald Trump is undertaking efforts to slash federal government spen ... Show More
19m 18s
Jul 1
How is the US Supreme Court giving Trump more power?
The US Supreme Court has reshaped birthright citizenship – and the judiciary itself. US President Donald Trump is claiming victory after last week’s Supreme Court ruling that federal judges cannot issue nationwide injunctions. Has the ruling reshaped the power of the presidency? ... Show More
23m 15s
Aug 19
Twitch to politics: Hasan Piker on Gaza and the US right-wing
With nearly three million Twitch followers, Hasan Piker is one of the internet’s biggest political streamers. He blends humor, culture, and masculinity talk with sharp political commentary, drawing young men away from the US alt-right. And on Gaza, he has become one of the loudes ... Show More
23m 55s
Feb 2025
‘America is now an adversary’
The future of Ukraine and the defence of Europe will dominate when Keir Starmer jets out to the White House for talks with Donald Trump next week. Can the UK prime minister help save 80 years of Pax Americana? Or is the US on the verge of becoming an ‘adversary’ to Europe? Host L ... Show More
43m 31s
Apr 2025
Hegseth in turmoil, Trump’s sinking polls
Senior politics reporter Aaron Blake talks with The Washington Post’s chief correspondent covering national politics, Dan Balz, and national security reporter Abigail Hauslohner about new reporting this week about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth’s continued use of Signal, ... Show More
32m 52s