Today, Explained

R. Kelly is facing new criminal charges, as well as investigations that involve the IRS, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security. Jim DeRogatis went from reviewing his music to documenting his alleged misdeeds against minors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 9/11 first responders and Jon Stewart are fighting Congress for what they hope is the last time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iran kicked off the day by blowing up a very expensive US surveillance drone. Vox's Alex Ward explains why tensions keep getting more tense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Doctored videos of Nancy Pelosi and Mark Zuckerberg have Congress worried about the nation’s grasp on reality. Drew Harwell from the Washington Post explains how “deepfakes” might corrupt upcoming elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Washington gears up for the 2020 elections, it's fighting over who should be on the $20 bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sudanese protesters pulled off the impossible: ousting dictator Omar al-Bashir. Now, the protestors face a new adversary: al-Bashir's military. Reem Abbas reports on the latest from Khartoum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

California is the most populous state in the country, but people increasingly can’t afford to live there. Single family zoning is partly to blame, but state legislators haven’t been able to dump the housing policy. Minneapolis has. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hundreds of thousands of people are protesting in Hong Kong. CNN’s Matt Rivers is on the scene and the BBC's Helier Cheung explains how British colonialism complicated everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are nearly twenty candidates vying to be president of Guatemala. Some are being investigated for corruption by the country’s watchdog court, the CICIG. But corruption isn’t the only problem facing Guatemala right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erica Alfaro just got her master’s degree. But underneath the cap and gown is the story of migrant farm workers, a teen pregnancy, and domestic abuse. Wil Del Pilar explains why it’s time for colleges to do more to cater to first-generation college students like Erica and himself. (Daniel Alarcón of Radio Ambulante guest hosts.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Denver and Oakland have become the first US cities to effectively decriminalize magic mushrooms. Michael Pollan, author of “How to Change Your Mind,” explains how taking a trip could help treat depression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Right-wing politicians in the UK are under attack. Delicious, sticky attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iraq’s Christian population has been fleeing the country en masse. The United States wants to help, so long as they don’t come here. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wealthy white residents are trying to secede from East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The Atlantic’s Adam Harris says they’re part of a growing trend of school resegregation. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump wants his NAFTA replacement deal ratified. But President Trump appears to be standing in the way. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nxivm: sounds like a drug, looks like a cult. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julian Assange was already in heaps of trouble when the United States indicted him under the Espionage Act last week. Now he (and journalism) might be put on trial. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Special counsel Robert Mueller made his first public statement about his investigation today. No questions. (Transcript here.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Baltimore is under attack. Hackers have hijacked the city’s online services and are demanding $100,000 worth of bitcoin. ProPublica’s Renee Dudley explains how ransomware is threatening cities across the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dylan Matthews, host of Vox's Future Perfect podcast, gave away his kidney because it felt like the right thing to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump is reportedly considering issuing a series of pardons for alleged war crimes in time for Memorial Day. Some see parallels to Nixon’s handling of the My Lai massacre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stem cell clinics are popping up all over the United States. They're profitable and full of promises, but almost totally unregulated. ProPublica's Caroline Chen explores the shadier side of a booming business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you have 900 million eligible voters, elections take a little longer. After 39 days of polling, India’s will be over this week. Journalist Ashish Malhotra explains what’s at stake from New Delhi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, a new definition of the kilogram officially takes effect. But it's just one piece in the massively complicated history of weight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do we say to the God of Death? Not today. Explained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices