On the campaign trail, President Trump voiced support for stop-and-frisk as way to drive down crime. In this explainer for KQED's The Lowdown, we explore the long history of this policing tactic and the legal battles that have surrounded it.

Written and designed by Josh Kalven

First Published: 9/10/2017

Tens of thousands of license plate readers have been deployed across the country. But what's happening to all the location data they collect on innocent Americans? This is the question the ACLU posed to over 600 government agencies. Here's what they found out.

Designed by Tabriz Ghazi and Katie Tonkovich // Photographs courtesy of the Associated Press

First Published: 7/17/2013

The ocean is experiencing its third major coral bleaching event in the past 20 years. This one is the most devastating and destructive yet. Find out why it matters.

Written and designed by Josh Kalven

First Published: 3/29/2016

Ever wondered why the Bay Area fog is so intense in the summer? In this original explainer, Newsbound lays out the science behind this fantastic (and frigid) natural phenomenon.

Written by Josh Kalven // Designed by Tim Gruneisen and Tabriz Ghazi // Photographs courtesy of the Associated Press and Getty Images

First Published: 5/13/2014

Amazing things happen when women have control over the size of their family. Get a brief history of the global family planning revolution in this explainer and learn more via Bill and Melinda Gates' 2014 annual letter.

Designed by Tabriz Ghazi and Katie Tonkovich // Photographs courtesy of the Gates Foundation

First Published: 1/29/2014

In 2014, President Obama made raising the minimum wage one of his top priorities. But who earns the minimum wage anyway? And why is the idea of hiking it so controversial? KQED's The Lowdown explains.

Designed by Tabriz Ghazi and Betsy Kalven // Photographs courtesy of the Associated Press and Getty Images

First Published: 3/13/2014

Hundreds of feet underground lies a massive and mysterious natural resource that we depend on greatly — but barely ever think about. Explore the depths in this original explainer from the Newsbound team.

Written by Josh Kalven // Design by Tim Gruneisen and Tabriz Ghazi

First Published: 3/9/2015

This list from the Gates Foundation shows how Africa is always growing, changing, and advancing.

Designed by Tim Gruneisen // Photographs courtesy of the Gates Foundation, the Associated Press, Bob Caputo, Tunde Kelani, Bethlehem Tilahun, and Thulisile Volwana

First Published: 8/15/2014

If you're a student today, chances are your parents or grandparents got their college education at a much more affordable price. The Century Foundation explains why.

Designed by Abby Grimshaw (TCF) and Tabriz Ghazi (Newsbound)

First Published: 12/2/2013

Now that college football and basketball have become multi-billion-dollar industries, shouldn't the athletes be paid? Get the background from this brief explainer, then check out the solution proposed by David Drummond, chief legal officer at Google.

Designed by Tabriz Ghazi and Katie Tonkovich // Photographs courtesy of the Associated Press

First Published: 9/21/2013

Stellar is building a new type of financial system. Learn how it works in this brief explainer.

Designed by Tim Gruneisen // Photographs courtesy of Thinkstock

First Published: 8/11/2014

In his new book, Unlock Congress, Michael Golden takes readers on an easy-to-understand historical expedition and investigation into the ways congressional failure leads to a harmful product. Get a taste in this brief explainer.

Design by Tim Gruneisen and Josh Kalven

First Published: 3/9/2015

Immigration reform has again taken center stage in the U.S. as huge numbers of unaccompanied children from Central America have recently attempted to cross the southern border. KQED’s The Lowdown demystifies this important debate.

Designed by Tabriz Ghazi and Tim Gruneisen // Photographs courtesy of the Associated Press and the Library of Congress

First Published: 7/24/2014

It happens quietly at the beginning of each decade, in back rooms and behind closed doors. In this explainer, Change Illinois lays out what’s wrong with our current redistricting process.

Designed by Tabriz Ghazi and Betsy Kalven // Photographs courtesy of Getty Images and the Associated Press

First Published: 6/24/2014

Scientists are only just wrapping their heads around the long-term effects of concussions and their findings could change the game of football as we know it. This explainer breaks down the history of the concussion crisis in the NFL.

Written by Adam Doster // Designed by Tabriz Ghazi and Katie Tonkovich // Images courtesy of the Associated Press, Xenith, Poc