Today, Explained

Nancy Pelosi is now officially the nominee for Speaker of the House. Time's Molly Ball explains who's happy and who's mad about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump and both parties actually agree on something: mandatory minimum sentences are too harsh. Can they fix them? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia rammed one of its ships into a Ukrainian tug boat, further straining an already strung-out relationship. Vox’s Alex Ward takes us on a voyage to the Black Sea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

U.S. Border Patrol tear-gassed asylum seekers who rushed the border yesterday. Maya Averbuch was there reporting for the New York Times. Vox’s Dara Lind explains how the Trump administration might deal with its asylum problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Airlines are getting tough on emotional support animals. Some people think they're a scam. Science isn’t sure. An expert weighs in, as does an emotional support dog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration is punishing Cuba in response to mysterious attacks on U.S. diplomats in Havana. ProPublica's Sebastian Rotella explains what we know and what we don't. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Camp Fire is the most destructive fire in California history, surpassing a record set just a few months ago. Vox’s Umair Irfan heads to Paradise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Massive news: Scientists in France voted to officially redefine the kilogram today. They’ve been weighing their options for centuries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

California has the strictest gun laws in the country, but they didn't prevent last week’s mass shooting in Thousand Oaks. Vox’s German Lopez explains the flaws in California’s laws, and points to a far-away state doing a better job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration would very much like to know if you’re a citizen come the 2020 census. NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang explains how that might break the census. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

South Carolina used to be one of the most dangerous places in America to have a baby. But now, it’s reducing infant mortality with an unconventional approach: having pregnant women talk to each other. Listen and subscribe to The Impact: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Almost a week after the midterm elections, several key races remain undecided and recounts are coming. The president calls shenanigans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder has put the spotlight on an unlikely place: Yemen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is out. His replacement has criticized the Mueller probe. Is the investigation safe? Vox’s Andrew Prokop isn’t so sure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The results are in! Vox’s Libby Nelson provides a rundown. Matthew Yglesias predicts the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For answers, we head to Australia where it isn't. Turnout surpasses 90% and elections are celebrated with democracy sausages on the barbie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In case you’ve been living under a rock, the midterm elections are tomorrow. A pair of Vox’s congressional reporters take a tour of key races before Ezra Klein takes a deep breath and talks stakes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hacking our elections is so easy, a 7-year-old can do it. (Really.) How we got here and why the best solution is one you might not expect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if the government just gave everyone money? No strings attached. Crazier things have happened. Nixon even tried to implement such a program once. The Atlantic's Annie Lowrey explains how universal basic income could work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colorado's Proposition 112 is dividing the state. The ballot measure could severely limit oil and gas production, including fracking. Sean Rameswaram speaks with Cody Doane, who's Team Fracking, even though there was a lethal natural gas explosion near his kids' pre-school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices