<p>Trapped on a boat during the War of 1812, lawyer Francis Scott Key was inspired to write a poem...</p>

Ep. 4: Nobody reads party platforms. They're still really important.

Your audio guide to everything you need to know about compelling and complex topics, from a variety of The Week's smart and witty writers, editors, and thinkers. Concise and entertaining, Seven-Minute Explainers packs a lot of information in a short amount of time.