What the right gets wrong about Tolkien

Many far-right conservatives think The Lord of the Rings is about them. They may love Tolkien, but it's very possible Tolkien would not have loved them back. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen with help from Ariana Aspuru, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Ian McKellen as Gandalf with Elijah Wood as Frodo in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." Photo by New Line/WireImage. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast.

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What the right gets wrong about Tolkien

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Speaking to Politics Mike Politics shape our world. The issues being decided in the halls of government every day have real and lasting impact on all our lives, but discussing politics is extremely unpleasant. It is very difficult today to have a calm, adult conversation about politics. Are the people screaming on TV, the radio, and online really who “we” are? Are they really representative of mainstream America or are they just really aggressive and loud? I believe the adults just got tired of it and walked away, but their silence is not consent. This podcast is the test of that theory. If you see fit to tune in, I will present news of the day, analysis and commentary while doing my best to check my feelings at the door and let you, the listeners, decide what it means to you. No ominous music, no angry rants, just a relaxed conversation and positive vibe. Politics, for reasonable people.

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This episode is 25 minutes long.

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This episode was published on September 12, 2025.

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