Today, Explained

The House Intelligence Committee released the whistleblower complaint minutes before Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire began his testimony before Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The White House released a record of President Trump’s conversation with President Zelensky, then went on the defensive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This evening Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the House will begin an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains how everything changed in 24 hours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A whistleblower in the intelligence community has sparked a political scandal involving President Trump and a pair of Bidens. Vox’s Andrew Prokop explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The vast majority of your plastic isn’t being recycled. It might be time to consider lighting it on fire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Residents in the District of Columbia have been living with "taxation without representation" from Day 1. Today, they take their call for statehood to Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s decade-long hold on power may be coming to an end. Anyone up for peace? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Maine joins several states allowing terminally ill patients to end their lives with medication. Cyndie Rogers explains why she eventually wants to take advantage of Maine’s Death with Dignity Act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some say that’s how hard it is to remove the UK from the EU. Boris Johnson's Brexit strategy heads to the United Kingdom's highest court Tuesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Vox's Tara Golshan reviews the third Democratic debate, Matthew Yglesias explains how Joe Biden wins even when he loses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I’d be happy to slaughter them,” President Rodrigo Duterte said about three million drug users in the Philippines. It appears he is following through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Facebook and Instagram are thinking about ditching the thumbs and hearts. What would life be like without "Likes"? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Bolton is out. Vox’s Alex Ward explains why he was at odds with his boss from Day 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maybe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A historic court decision erased some of the most gerrymandered maps in the country this week. North Carolina now has two weeks to redraw them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We watched seven straight hours of Democrats discussing climate policy so you wouldn't have to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rapper Meek Mill was arrested on drug and weapons charges as a teen in 2007, but the case didn't close until last week. NPR's Bobby Allyn explains how a police officer and a judge helped keep Meek Mill in the criminal justice system for over a decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kids in school don’t learn much about American slavery. Professor Hasan Kwame Jeffries says students deserve the real story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First it was Flint, now it's Newark. Why do American cities keep contaminating their water? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Koch was one of the biggest and most influential donors in American politics. Mother Jones' Daniel Schulman explains his complicated legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices