Join Shumita Basu every weekday morning as she guides you through some of the most fascinating stories in the news — and how the world’s best journalists are covering them.
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From Apple News In Conversation : Bad Bunny is one of the most popular artists in the world. He’s won six Grammys — including Album of the Year for his latest record, Debí Tirar Más Fotos , the first Spanish-language album to take home the award — and this weekend, he’ll headline the Super Bowl halftime show. Suzy Exposito, an editor at De Los , has followed Bad Bunny’s rise for years and interviewed him several times. She joins Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to talk about his upbr...
Mass layoffs at the Washington Post have shocked the media industry. Semafor ’s Max Tani discusses the cuts and explains why the paper has struggled financially. Major U.S. trade partners are increasingly turning elsewhere as a result of unpredictable relations with President Trump. The Wall Street Journal ’s Kim Mackrael joins to discuss how China benefits from the uncertainty. Plus, the Super Bowl is on Sunday, and it’s a rematch of what many consider one of the best Super Bowls in recent hist...
Democrats have laid out their demands as lawmakers in Washington negotiate a deal on ICE accountability. Sahil Kapur of NBC News explains the breadth of those demands and the tight timeline Congress is on. A recent drone attack by Russia left more than 1,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv without power. Politico ’s Veronika Melkozerova joins to discuss how Ukrainians are surviving winter after continued attacks on their electricity grid. A warming climate is putting future Winter Olympic sites at r...
The podcast examines the heightened US-Iran tensions following a drone incident, just ahead of crucial diplomatic talks, questioning US objectives. It also delves into the significant increase in child detentions by ICE, highlighted by a controversial case, and discusses the various ways children are affected by immigration policies. Additionally, the episode explores Venezuela's complex political landscape, focusing on its interim leader's strategy to navigate US relations and potential oil market openings, while concluding with updates on the government shutdown and an Olympic figure skater's music copyright win.
ICE is using biometric tracers, cellphone-hacking tools, and other surveillance methods to track protesters and suspects. The Washington Post ’s Eva Dou explains what the technologies do and how they affect the broader population in more ways than expected. The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt opened in a limited capacity this week after two years. Sam Metz of the Associated Press joins to discuss logistical questions over who and what can cross the border. The latest Epstein files r...
The partial government shutdown isn’t likely to end until at least Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal ’s Natalie Andrews breaks down the sticking points lawmakers are negotiating. A new batch of documents from the Epstein files were released. The Associated Press reports on how the Department of Justice isn’t expected to file any new charges as a result. Some Olympic athletes don’t make enough money to afford basic living expenses. Fortune reports on how that could change starting this year after ...
From Apple News In Conversation : Since President Trump took office just over a year ago, federal immigration enforcement has substantially expanded — nowhere more visibly than in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where federal officers have killed two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Widespread protests, scrutiny of ICE operations, and questions about accountability have intensified in recent weeks. Caitlin Dickerson, staff writer for The Atlantic , sat down with Apple News In Conversation ...
Senate Democrats and Republicans struck a deal to avert a government shutdown over DHS funding, although a short lapse is still expected before the House returns on Monday. In this week’s Apple News In Conversation , The Atlantic’s Caitlin Dickerson explores what deadly clashes between protesters and ICE could mean for the agency. President Trump said he is nominating Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve. The AP has the details. During a national uprising in Iran, the government ...
The Federal Reserve voted to keep rates steady on Wednesday. Bloomberg looks into the decision. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about Venezuela. NPR reports on how Rubio faced intense scrutiny over U.S. involvement in the country. Some of the people convicted then pardoned for their part in the Jan. 6 attack want financial penalties they paid to the government returned. The Washington Post ’s Beth Reinhard joins to discuss what emboldened th...
U.S. Border Patrol “commander at large” Gregory Bovino was removed from his position following the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The Atlantic ’s Nick Miroff joins to unpack Bovino’s demotion and ICE’s larger recruiting push. A man from Cuba recently became the third detainee at a single Texas facility to die in ICE custody. Michael Biesecker of the Associated Press discusses the case. TikTok experienced serious technical difficulties just as its new ownership group took control. The Ver...
Changes are coming to immigration operations in Minnesota after President Trump said he and Governor Tim Walz had a productive phone conversation. Politico reports that border czar Tom Homan will take over operations, while the top Border Patrol commander is being demoted . As calls for accountability for the immigration agents who shot and killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good grow, prosecutions might be hard to come by. Jack Queen of Reuters breaks down the longstanding protections in place that s...
Immigration agents shot and killed a second person in Minneapolis on Saturday. The Wall Street Journal ’s Mariah Timms joins to discuss what’s happening on the ground as tensions escalate. Congressional leaders are reacting to the latest shooting in Minneapolis. CNBC reports on how a government shutdown is now more likely as a result. The Associated Press reports a growing number of Republicans are also calling for a larger investigation into the incident. A brutal winter storm has left several ...
From Apple News In Conversation : New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert has been reporting on climate and the environment for more than 25 years. In her work, she captures both the awe-inspiring beauty of the natural world and the unsettling truth about what humans are doing to it. Her latest book, Life on a Little-Known Planet: Dispatches From a Changing World , is a collection of essays from her decades-long career. Kolbert spoke with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu about the ...
ICE detained a 5-year-old boy at a school in suburban Minneapolis, prompting outrage from the community. Minnesota Public Radio ’s Elizabeth Shockman joins to talk about the apprehension, and how the Trump administration is defending it. Crime across the country seems to be dropping at fast pace. Henry Grabar of The Atlantic discusses why. On Oscar-nomination day, the vampire film ‘Sinners’ broke the record for most nominations by a single movie. Variety ’s Clayton Davis breaks down this year’s ...
There are signs of a possible deal on Greenland, after a dizzying 24 hours at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Wall Street Journal details how it happened, and Fox News gets reaction from NATO’s secretary general. Record-breaking cold and messy winter weather is expected to hit a large swath of the country in the coming days. Bloomberg ’s Lauren Rosenthal joins to discuss what’s in store and how to prepare. After protests that killed more than 3,000 people, some Iranians say t...
The Supreme Court hears oral arguments today in a case involving President Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Chris Rugaber of the Associated Press joins to discuss how it could affect the central bank’s future. A jury in Texas will decide if an officer who responded to the mass school shooting in Uvalde can be held responsible for his alleged inaction. The Wall Street Journal ’s Elizabeth Findell breaks down the case. Gen Z is having a tough time breaking into the job m...
President Trump said his renewed efforts on taking over Greenland are partially tied to him not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. The Wall Street Journal ’s Kim Mackrael joins to discuss how European leaders are responding. Polls show Democrats with a lead over Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. Patrick Marley of the Washington Post explains how Trump is attempting to alter how the midterms are conducted. A proposal for a one-time tax on California’s billionaires has spurred infightin...
From Apple News In Conversation : In January 2025, catastrophic wildfires tore through Los Angeles, destroying entire neighborhoods and leaving devastation that continues today. MS NOW senior reporter Jacob Soboroff reported live from the blaze in his hometown of Pacific Palisades — and is now out with a new book, Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster , a deeply reported account of the chaos and enduring fallout. Soboroff sat down with Apple News In Conversatio...
President Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House. The Wall Street Journa l’s Vera Bergengruen breaks down what happened at the meeting. As ICE enforcement continues in Minnesota, residents have taken to the streets in community patrols to track the movement of agents. Madison McVan of the Minnesota Reformer explains how efforts to deter ICE have grown since the shooting of Renee Good. Ticket prices for the upcoming men’s World Cup have reached exorbit...
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot caused global outrage after it flooded X with sexually explicit images. Raphael Satter of Reuters joins to discuss how the photos proliferated so quickly — and what governments are doing about it. The Trump administration is halting all immigrant visas from 75 countries. The Washington Post ’s David Nakamura explains how the move fits into Trump’s larger immigration crackdown. After two years of no formal education, the children of Gaza City have returned to makeshift clas...
President Trump said help is on the way to Iran as protesters face a brutal government crackdown. The Atlantic ’s Arash Azizi explains what might come next for the Islamic Republic. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are set to meet with representatives from Greenland and Denmark in Washington. The Wall Street Journal ’s Max Colchester breaks down what’s at stake for both sides. AI data centers have brought together a diverse set of opposition. Evan Halper of the Washingt...
After the shooting of Renee Good, officials and the public have called for greater accountability for ICE agents. Julia Ainsley of NBC News explains how changes at DHS have made that difficult. The Supreme Court hears oral arguments today that could have big implications for transgender athletes. USA Today ’s Maureen Groppe breaks down the case. Starter homes used to be a cornerstone of the real-estate market, but no longer. The Washington Post ’s Julie Weil joins to discuss how would-be first-t...
Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. In response, Powell issued an extraordinary public rebuke. The Wall Street Journal has the latest. As many as 500 people have died in Iran during two weeks of protests and unrest. Jon Gambrell of the Associated Press joins to discuss the crackdown on demonstrators and why Trump has opened the door on taking action against Tehran. Tens of thousands took to the streets of Minneapolis to protest the p...
From Apple News In Conversation : The recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela has raised many questions about what’s actually driving the Trump administration’s aims in the region. To break down what’s known — and unknown — about this unprecedented action, Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu talked with New Yorker staff writer Jonathan Blitzer, who has been reporting on immigration and foreign policy for years. They discuss how Venezuela became a target of the current administration...
Federal agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection shot two people in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday. ABC News has the latest. Meanwhile, Minnesota officials say they were shut out of the investigation into the killing of a woman by ICE. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller usually sticks to domestic policy issues. In this week’s Apple News In Conversation , Jonathan Blitzer of the New Yorker discusses why Miller is wading into Trump’s plans in Venezuela. In the aftermath of the k...
An ICE officer shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday. The Minnesota Star Tribune ’s Sofia Barnett explains why local and federal authorities have conflicting views of what happened. The White House is continuing to assert control over Venezuela’s oil resources. Bloomberg ’s Kevin Crowley joins to discuss why pulling oil out of the country might be harder than expected. The federal government issued new dietary guidelines and an updated food pyramid. Stat ’s Sarah Todd breaks down t...
Health-care subsidies that millions of Americans depend on for insurance have officially expired. The Washington Post ’s Peter Whoriskey joins to discuss how some families are dealing with the sudden rise in costs. A person on the crypto-betting site Polymarket won $400,000 wagering that Nicolás Maduro would soon be out as Venezuela’s leader. Alexander Osipovich of The Wall Street Journal explains why the timing of the bets might be suspicious. Doctors are seeing a surge of patients with serious...
Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife appeared in a Manhattan courtroom Monday. Eric Tucker of the Associated Press breaks down the charges and how the case compares with that of another deposed Latin American leader. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani immediately turned to signing executive orders to kick off his term. The City ’s Katie Honan joins to discuss how he’s managing his first days in office. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says he will not seek a third term. The Minnesota St...
President Trump said the U.S. is in charge in Venezuela after American forces carried out strikes in the country and captured President Nicolás Maduro. ABC News reports on big questions that remain over how the U.S. will carry out its agenda. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of interim president over the weekend. The New Yorker ’s Jon Lee Anderson joins to discuss why opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado is being sidelined. Secretary of St...
From Apple News In Conversation : This is an episode from our archives. Martinus Evans did not have an easy start to running. Weighing over 300 pounds, he set out to finish a marathon after a doctor told him to “lose weight or die.” He writes about his running journey in his book, Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run . In this week’s episode of Apple News In Conversation , Evans talks with host Shumita Basu about the lessons he’s learned from being a “back-of-the-pack...
