logo
episode-header-image
Apr 10
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
I was told there would be deals
After pressing pause on the steepest tariffs, the Trump Administration promised 90 tariff deals in 90 days. That deadline is nearly here but the deals are not. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kri ... Show More
27m 52s
Jul 8
Trump's Nobel Peace Prize
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Donald Trump he has nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize for his Middle East efforts. We hear what he's done to deserve it. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fac ... Show More
27m 51s
Jul 7
Texas blame game
Dozens of people were swept away by flash floods in Texas this weekend. The finger-pointing has already begun. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Peter Balanon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabrielle Berbey and Miles Bryan, engineered by Andrea Kristin ... Show More
27m 57s
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
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
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 25
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
Apr 16
Traveling to the US? Here's what you should know
From scientists to students, travellers to the US are being stopped, searched and sometimes sent home for what is on their phones. What is the new reality at US borders under President Donald Trump – and how should you navigate it? In this episode: Albert Mokhiber (@albertmokhibe ... Show More
24m 31s
Jan 2025
Rachel Maddow on Surviving Trump 2.0
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow joins Jon to talk about Trump's breathtaking first week in office, how she decides what to cover—and what to ignore—in an an ultra-chaotic news environment, and the power of embarrassment as a political tool. Then, Maddow shares her strategies for staying sa ... Show More
1h 1m