Apple News Today is off for Memorial Day. In place of our usual show, we’re bringing you something special: a story from Los Angeles Times staff writer Christopher Reynolds about the epic road trip he took on Route 66 — driving all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica — and the people he met along the way. Narrated by Dan Bittner for Apple News+.
This episode originally aired on July 5, 2025. From Apple News In Conversation : Americans have a long history of obsession with the ultrarich, from Carnegie and Rockefeller to Bezos and Musk. And today, the gap between the rich and the poor is bigger than ever as the billionaire class has ascended to new heights. In his book, The Haves and Have-Yachts , New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos explores the extravagant lifestyles of the wealthy and their outsize influence on politics. He sat down with...
A number of Republicans have come out against Trump’s DOJ “anti-weaponization” fund. Mary Clare Jalonick of the Associated Press explains the backlash. A 3-year-old boy was killed after ICE detained his mother. The Washington Post ’s Maria Sacchetti explores the absence of standards to protect the children of detainees. Millions of Americans are driving out of town for the Memorial Day weekend. USA Today ’s Keith Laing joins to discuss how the high gas prices are changing some travelers’ plans. ...
The U.S. indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro 30 years after two civilian planes were shot down near the island nation. Luc Cohen of Reuters breaks down what the charges signal about U.S.-Cuban relations. China’s President Xi hosted Putin a week after Trump’s visit to Beijing. The Wall Street Journal ’s Lingling Wei explains why Xi hosted the U.S. and Russian leaders so close together. ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ ends this week. CNN ’s Brian Stelter joins to discuss the show’s le...
House Republican Thomas Massie is paying the price for defying the White House after he lost his Kentucky primary to a Trump-backed candidate. The Wall Street Journal has analysis for last night’s result. As part of a lawsuit settlement, the IRS is “forever barred” from investigating past tax claims against Trump. Eric Tucker of The Associated Press joins to discuss how the settlement is tied to a compensation fund for people who believe they’ve been wronged by the Justice Department. Fractures ...
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican critic of Trump, faces a primary challenge today. Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report joins to discuss how the president’s falling approval ratings are affecting some primary races. In response to an Ebola outbreak, the U.S. has temporarily barred foreign travelers from entry if they’ve been to Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan recently. Helen Branswell of Stat breaks down the international response to the outbreak. Elon Musk lost his lawsuit against OpenAI’s Sam...
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy is the latest Republican targeted by Trump to lose in a primary. Bloomberg ’s Rachel Cohrs Zhang explains how Cassidy lost his bid for reelection. Judges across the country have ruled against the Trump administration more than 10,000 times in immigration cases. Politico ’s Kyle Cheney breaks down the losses. Iran’s internet blackout is putting an immense strain on the everyday lives of Iranian citizens. Golnar Motevalli of Bloomberg joins to discuss the toll the outag...
From Apple News In Conversation : At the end of April, the Supreme Court’s ruling on Louisiana v. Callais significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act. The decision made it easier for states to legally draw districts that reduce the voting power of Black voters and other minority groups. In response, several Republican-controlled Southern states have moved to redraw their congressional maps. Adam Serwer, a staff writer at The Atlantic , joins Apple News In Conversation guest host Sam Sanders to ...
Two ships were hit in a fresh round of strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. The Wall Street Journal ’s Joe Parkinson joins to discuss the dire conditions faced by sailors stuck in the region. The Supreme Court’s recent decision on redistricting could shift political power for decades. On this week’s Apple News In Conversation , The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer explains how the battle over electoral maps is reshaping American democracy. The mayor of Arcadia, California, will plead guilty to being an unregi...
President Trump arrived in Beijing for a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Aamer Madhani from the Associated Press is there. Trump said he wants to suspend the federal gas tax but it will take an act of Congress to make that happen. Politico ’s Andy Picon joins to discuss why some lawmakers are hesitant. Meteorologists say a super El Niño could hit the globe this year. Ben Noll of The Washington Post explains what scientist have learned from past El Niño events. Plus, the Se...
Inflation hit its highest rate in close to three years, driven by the war with Iran. Andrew Ackerman of the Washington Post breaks down how rising costs are squeezing consumers. Many of the American passengers who were aboard the cruise ship struck by hantavirus are now in a specialized quarantine facility in Nebraska. The Washington Post ’s Lauren Weber explains what life is like on the inside. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under intense pressure to step down. Reuters reports on how hi...
President Trump is set to visit Beijing this week for a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trevor Hunnicutt of Reuters joins to discuss what to expect from the summit. The war with Iran is hitting U.S. farmers in especially hard. Kayla Steinberg of NBC News breaks down how the rising costs of fuel and fertilizer are presenting them with big challenges. After drastically shortening its training program for new recruits, ICE will now restore previous standards. The Washington P...
President Trump firmly turned down Iran’s counter proposal to restart negotiations with the U.S. to end the war. The Wall Street Journal reports Iran’s nuclear program is a main sticking point. Virginia’s Supreme Court rejects a referendum result to redraw the electoral map in Democrats favor, as USAToday reports. And Politico ’s Alec Hernandez explains how wins for Trump-backed candidates in Indiana is putting pressure on Republicans elsewhere to redraw their maps. Health Security Robert F. Ken...
From Apple News In Conversation : This week, Brian Goldstone was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his book, There Is No Place for Us , which is featured in this episode from our archives. Millions of Americans cannot afford housing despite working full-time jobs. They live in cars, shelters, or extended-stay hotels and often don’t qualify for assistance programs. Journalist and anthropologist Brian Goldstone follows five Atlanta families who are stuck in this cycle in his new book, There Is No Place...
Health officials are rushing to complete contract tracing of passengers onboard the cruise ship struck with an outbreak of hantavirus. Stat ’s Helen Branswell joins to discuss what experts are looking out for. After Trump launched Project Freedom, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait barred the U.S. from using their bases and airspace. The Wall Street Journal ’s Shelby Holliday explains why the two Gulf countries have since reversed course. Many thought the Sphere in Las Vegas would be a failure after huge b...
The U.S. and Iran are working on a memorandum of understanding to begin negotiations on ending the war. The Wall Street Journal ’s Benoit Faucon breaks down the details. Victory Day, Russia’s celebration of the defeat of Nazi Germany, takes place on Saturday. Samya Kullab of the Associated Press joins to discuss why Russia is worried about how Ukraine might disrupt its most important secular holiday. Travel forecasts for 2026 indicated that demand would be high for air travel. The The Wall Stree...
President Trump said his recently announced plan to help ships cross the Strait of Hormuz is now on pause. The Hill reports that the move came hours after U.S. officials said combat operations in Iran have concluded. Three people died on a cruise ship after an outbreak of deadly hantavirus. Tim Cocks of Reuters joins to discuss what went on aboard the ship. A vast array of American schools use YouTube for educational purposes. The Wall Street Journal ’s Shalini Ramachandran explains how the Goog...
Tensions flared in the Gulf as Trump’s efforts to guide stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz began. The Guardian ’s Julian Borger breaks down how the operation has raised the stakes in the region. Indiana Republicans who defied Trump on redistricting face primary challenges today. NPR ’s Tamara Keith joins to discuss why voters are fed up with the negativity surrounding the campaigns. New clinical trials showed promising results in the fight against pancreatic cancer. The Washington Post ...
Spirit Airlines suddenly shut down over the weekend after a failed bailout attempt by the U.S. government. CNBC ’s Leslie Josephs breaks down the factors that led to the budget airline’s closure. Trump says the U.S. will guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz as the competing blockades continue. Meanwhile, the president is withdrawing troops from Germany as he criticizes Europe’s response to the war. The Washington Post ’s Noah Robertson explains. Several Republican states could move to change...
From Apple News In Conversation : The headlines say that American men are in crisis. But what does that actually mean — and what does it look like up close? Journalist Jordan Ritter Conn spent five years inside the lives of four different men to find out. His new book, American Men , explores the gap between masculine ideals and the reality of men’s lived experience. Apple News In Conversation guest host Sam Sanders sat down with Ritter Conn to talk about what those four lives reveal about mascu...
Today is the 60-day deadline for Trump to seek congressional approval for the war in Iran. Semafo r’s Burgess Everett breaks down how Trump might skirt that deadline and whether lawmakers will intervene. The House passed a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security Thursday, ending the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history. Bloomberg ’s Erik Wasson joins to discuss the winners and the losers. Maine Governor Jane Mills ended her Senate campaign saying she lacked the campaign f...
The Supreme Court dealt a significant blow to the Voting Rights Act. The Wall Street Journal ’s James Romoser breaks down how the decision could affect redistricting efforts and upcoming elections. Former FBI Director James Comey appeared in court after being indicted for a second time. Eric Tucker of the Associated Press unpacks the charges against him. Jerome Powell will stay on at the Federal Reserve board after his term as chair expires next month. NPR reports that Powell says his decision w...
A blockbuster trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is underway. David Ingram of NBC News breaks down the first day in court. The Federal Reserve will convene today and share its third rate decision for the year. It will also likely mark Jerome Powell’s final meeting in charge. Chris Rugaber of the Associated Press joins to discuss from the central bank. The United Arab Emirates says it is leaving the oil cartel OPEC just as gas prices in the U.S. spike as a result of the blockades a...
The armed man who charged past a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was charged with attempting to assassinate Trump. Will Weissert of the Associated Press joins to discuss potential changes to security protocols surrounding the president as he prepares for upcoming large events. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a new congressional voting map that heavily favors Republicans. Politico ’s Gary Fineout explains why it could be the GOP’s last chance to gain an edge befor...
Authorities arrested an armed man as he attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ dinner while President Trump was onstage. Aamer Madhani of the Associated Press details how events unfolded inside the ballroom. How the would-be attacker got so close to Trump has raised serious questions about security at the venue. Politico reports on authorities’ efforts to understand the protocols that allowed the suspect to approach so closely and how he brought firearms inside. News of the incident ...
From Apple News In Conversation : Nearly a year ago, Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the first pope in history from the U.S. His papacy so far has been relatively calm — until recent weeks, when a sharp public conflict with President Trump over the Iran war thrust him onto the political stage. Scott Detrow, host of NPR’s All Things Considered and coauthor of the upcoming American Pope: Leo XIV’s Road From the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City , joins guest host Sam Sanders to explore wha...
Iran’s new supreme leader hasn’t been seen or heard since being named his father’s successor. Lee Keath of the Associated Press explains why it’s difficult to know who exactly in the regime is in charge. Candidates for California governor squared off in a debate this week. Politico ’s Melanie Mason joins to discuss why the departure of Eric Swalwell following allegations of sexual assault still lingers over the race. Pope Leo wrapped his tour of Africa and urged the U.S. and Iran to go back to t...
The U.S. could unfreeze $20 billion in Iranian assets as part of a deal to end the war. The Washington Post ’s Michael Birnbaum breaks down why Trump is considering certain concessions he previously denounced. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been on a marathon run of appearances before lawmakers. Ali Swenson of The Associated Press explains the relations between Kennedy and one Republican Senator walking a tightrope over support of his The UN has begun the process to select its next S...
President Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Aamer Madhani of the Associated Press details what may come next. Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nominee to be the next Federal Reserve chair, appeared before the Senate Banking Committee. Politico ’s Victoria Guida dissects his testimony. Some estimates say immigrants pay up to $60 billion in taxes to the government. The Washington Post ’s Marissa Lang joins to discuss how Trump’s immigration crackdown might aff...
Voters in Virginia head to the polls today to decide whether to redraw the state’s congressional voting map. VPM ’s Jahd Kahlil explains where the campaigns stand. Following multiple hostile comments by President Trump about NATO, European nations are working on a fallback plan should the U.S. leave the alliance. The Wall Street Journal ’s Bojan Pancevski joins to discuss what it might look like. FIFA and transportation officials in New Jersey are in a standoff over who should foot the bill for ...
