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Today, Explained

The Americans with their bags packed

Today, Explained

Vox

Daily News, Politics, News

4.49.5K Ratings

🗓️ 20 October 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Trump administration is making an effort to systematically exclude trans people from public life. For many trans Americans, it feels like an existential threat. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Adriene Lilly, and hosted by Noel King. Photo courtesy of Carma Bell Marshall, a Louisville-based transgender activist. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

It's today explained from Vox.

0:03.8

In the second Trump administration, transgender Americans have been subjected to a lot of scrutiny

0:09.1

and some new laws and restrictions that President Trump made clear we're coming on his first day in office.

0:15.6

It will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.

0:24.6

On today's show, we're going to look at how life has changed for trans people since Trump was elected

0:28.8

and how they're trying to understand the people who've aligned against them.

0:33.9

It is being, but to his base, that's what they want to see.

0:38.9

They want to see a fighter.

0:40.6

They want to see a hero.

0:42.0

They want to see the quote-unquote Christian warrior.

0:46.4

And me, a black trans woman, I am an enemy.

0:51.2

I am that monster that you see in those commercials.

1:00.0

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1:04.6

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1:09.8

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1:10.8

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1:15.5

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1:20.5

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1:25.0

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1:31.6

Support for today explained comes from Dell. Dell would like to introduce the new Dell AIPC,

1:38.0

powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor. They say it can help you do your busy work for you,

1:44.0

so you can fast forward

...

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