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Today, Explained

Is smoking back?

5/8/202627 min

Gen Z is making smoking — or at least posing with cigarettes — cool again. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Noel King. Smoking two cigarettes at once in Washington Square Park in New York City. Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images. 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

Clips

Vibes Meet The Data
Everything’s Bad, So Why Not?
Cigarettes As Social Glue
A Smoke-Free Generation Law
Smoking As Aesthetic Trend

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Noel King· Host0:01

    All right. I'm gonna be honest about something. [lighter flicks] [exhales] I smoke sometimes. [upbeat music] I know I shouldn't. It's a disgusting habit. It will kill me. But on occasion, when life gets stressful, and right now life is a little stressful. I am not alone. If you've been paying attention, it feels like cigarettes are everywhere all of a sudden.

  2. Marnie Rose McFall· Guest0:27

    Sabrina Carpenter was posed with a cigarette for Interview magazine. Chappell Roan did a sort of cig in the wig when she did her Tiny Desk performance.

  3. Speaker 2· Soundbite0:37

    Though it looks like it's all my hair- [laughs] ... it's a wig, so.

  4. Marnie Rose McFall· Guest0:41

    [laughs] We also had Lady Gaga referencing smoking and posing with a cigarette when she did her- So today we will be asking, is smoking back?

  5. Noel King· Host0:50

    Coming up on Today Explained [inhales] [exhales] from Vox.

  6. Kelly Clarkson0:55

    [upbeat music] Hey y'all. It's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder, "What if? Like, what if it doesn't hold up?" [furniture clatters] That sofa was four days old. You should've ordered from Wayfair. With Wayfair, there's no what if. Just style you love and quality you can trust. Visit wayfair.ca.

  7. Speaker 4· Soundbite1:12

    Wayfair. Every style. Every home.

  8. Skylar Diggins1:14

    What's up, y'all? I'm Skylar Diggins, seven-time WNBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, and mom.

  9. Noel King· Host1:21

    And I'm Cassidy Hubbarth, host and reporter for nearly 20 years covering the biggest names and stories in sports, and mom.

  10. Skylar Diggins1:28

    And this is And Mom,

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