Today, Explained · Vox

Make credit cards work for you

February 22, 2026·30 min·2 clips
Americans owe $1.3 trillion in credit card debt, but how did we get here and can we make cards work for us?
This episode explores America's $1.3 trillion credit card debt crisis through personal stories and expert analysis. It covers how easy access to credit leads to debt, the historical and regulatory factors behind high interest rates, and strategies for using credit cards wisely, including when to avoid rewards programs.

As heard by us

Credit cards feel modern, but this episode shows how credit itself has a long history.

The episode treats credit card debt less like a personal failing and more like the result of a system built around cards, stores, and lending.

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Why you'd press play

You want the story behind your card debt before you change anything.

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