Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, has become one of the most influential figures shaping Trump’s second term. He’s the main driver of efforts to weaken federal agencies and push through sweeping government layoffs. In a recent piece copublished by ProPublica and the New Yorker, reporter Andy Kroll reveals how Vought’s ideas about federal bureaucracy are being put into action. Kroll joins Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to explain why some in Washington call Vought the “shadow president.”

Zohran Mamdani is leading New York City’s mayoral race by double digits. But not long ago, the democratic socialist was a relatively unknown state assemblyman. New Yorker staff writer Eric Lach recently profiled Mamdani, tracing his unique biography to his surprise primary win against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Lach joins Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to talk about Mamdani’s sweeping campaign promises, the challenges of governing New York, and why this race matters for the rest of the country. Listen to the full interview on Apple Podcasts.

This episode was published on Thursday, Oct. 23, when House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had not yet endorsed Zohran Mamdani. Jeffries did so on Friday, Oct. 24.

Sports betting has exploded in the U.S.: The Supreme Court gave states the power to legalize it in 2018, and, by the end of this year, it will be allowed in 39 states and Washington, D.C. In his book Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling, author Jonathan D. Cohen unpacks how this industry got so big and what its rise says about American culture. He spoke with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu about the draw and dangers of sports gambling.

The rise of the Make America Healthy Again movement reflects a larger trend: declining trust in public-health institutions in the U.S. In response, the creators of a new podcast, Why Should I Trust You?, bring MAHA supporters and health experts together in a rare forum to foster understanding and explore solutions. Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu sat down with two of the hosts, Brinda Adhikari and Maggie Bartlett, to talk about what they’re learning from these conversations, and the surprising partnerships emerging along the way.

In just a few years, U.S. school districts have gone from blocking AI tools to welcoming them into classrooms. In a recent story for Bloomberg Businessweek, contributing writer Vauhini Vara reports on how these tools are being used — and what they mean for students, teachers, and the future of learning. Vara joins Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to discuss the companies pushing AI into schools, the risks and promises of their products, and what might be lost — or gained — as classrooms adapt.

Earlier this month, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University. The public response has amplified political divisions, leaving many people feeling anxious about the state of the country. Sean Westwood, director of Dartmouth’s Polarization Research Lab, explains that while a few voices are stoking tensions, most Americans reject violence and want calmer politics. Westwood spoke with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu about what the data reveals about polarization and political violence in the U.S. — and what it might take to turn the temperature down.

The Constitution has been amended 27 times, but the last meaningful change was over half a century ago. In her new book, We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution, historian Jill Lepore argues that the near impossibility of amendment in recent decades underlies many of today’s political crises, from polarization to battles over the courts. Lepore spoke with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu about the history of constitutional revision and why the amendment process matters for the future of American democracy.

When Christine was 9, her mother began having delusions that upended their family’s life. Her mother was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, but treatments had no effect. Nearly two decades later, after she started medication for cancer, her psychosis suddenly vanished. In the New Yorker, staff writer Rachel Aviv tells this remarkable story — and what it reveals about how schizophrenia is diagnosed and treated. The piece was selected as an Apple News Story of the Month. Aviv spoke with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu about how evolving science is challenging long-held beliefs about schizophrenia and its causes.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans seek help for opioid addiction each year, but too often, they’re met with a rehab system that fails them. Many programs operate with little oversight, prioritizing profit over care, while proven medications remain out of reach. Shoshana Walter, author of Rehab: An American Scandal, spoke with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu about what actually works in treating addiction — and why even well-intentioned programs so often fall short.

This is an episode from our archives.

Reality shows — like Survivor, The Bachelor, and Love Is Blind — are some of the most-watched TV series in the U.S. But how much “reality” is actually being shown? In her book Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV, New Yorker staff writer Emily Nussbaum reveals how this industry came to be and takes people behind the scenes of some of the top reality series. Nussbaum speaks with guest host Sam Sanders about the most surprising aspects of this divisive genre.