Today, Explained

This week California passed what some call the toughest law on police use of deadly force in the country. It hinges on one word: necessary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hong Kong ramped up its protests and China ramped up its propaganda machine. But the conflict may have finally reached a turning point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a train full of coal sitting on the tracks in eastern Kentucky. It’s being blocked by a group of laid-off miners who want what they're owed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This weekend in Afghanistan was one of the deadliest this year. Vox’s Jenn Williams explains whether America can end its longest war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration is ramping up sanctions on Venezuela, but it may end up hurting the people they're meant to help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reporter Barbara Bradley Hagerty set out to investigate why police across the country often fail to catch serial rapists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vox’s Matthew Yglesias explains why everyone's whispering about a recession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration is about to make it a lot harder for poor people to get a green card. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide is unexpectedly shining a light on the conditions in America’s jails. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vox's Tara Golshan spent the weekend at the Iowa State Fair trying to figure out what eating deep fried Oreos has to do with running the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the wake of Saturday’s shooting, Latinos across the United States are questioning their safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

India is escalating its 70-year fight for Kashmir. The winner gets the water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What started as a push to increase mining in the rainforest led to a murder. Ernesto Londoño, Brazil bureau chief for The New York Times, explains how President Jair Bolsonaro is speeding the destruction of the Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This summer’s hottest college admissions scam is parents disowning their children. The Wall Street Journal’s Doug Belkin explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vox’s German Lopez explains why Democrats need a bold new plan for gun control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After 16 years, the Trump administration is bringing back the federal death penalty. Reverend Sharon Risher, who lost her mother, two cousins, and a childhood friend in the Emanuel AME Church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, explains how she feels about the possibility of Dylann Roof being executed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bernie yelled at Ryan. Biden defended Obama. Warren destroyed Delaney. Vox's Tara Golshan explains the "fight for the heart of the party" and Ezra Klein says the frontrunners missed the mark. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Capital One got hacked. Equifax is trying to make up for its hack. And The Verge’s Russell Brandom explains why you should definitely prepare yourself for more hacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Coats is resigning, leaving a vacancy at the top of US intelligence. The Washington Post’s Shane Harris explains how his replacement may be a Trump loyalist who believes in a “deep state” conspiracy against the president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four of the world’s biggest carmakers have secretly negotiated an emissions deal with California, circumventing the Trump administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A school district in Pennsylvania apologized this week for saying students with unpaid lunch debt might end up in foster care. The scandal is part of a nationwide crisis that has resulted in low-income students cleaning cafeterias or missing graduation ceremonies because of lunch debts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boris Johnson wanted a Brexit and now he’ll have to figure out how to make it happen. The Atlantic’s Tom McTague explains how a self-proclaimed “blithering idiot” became prime minister. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At long last, former special counsel Robert Mueller testified before Congress today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans are demanding Governor Ricardo Roselló resign. David Begnaud from CBS News reports from San Juan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After five years, a decision on the death of Eric Garner, who was put in a chokehold by an NYPD officer, creates further questions. The Washington Post's Wesley Lowery tries to answer them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices