Apple News Today

A power struggle is going on at NASA as it struggles to keep one of its most ambitious projects on schedule. Emily Glazer, enterprise reporter at the Wall Street Journal, discusses the back-and-forth over who should lead the agency — and how Elon Musk is involved.

In Israel, Vice President JD Vance this week said he is optimistic about the Gaza ceasefire. NPR reports on how his visit comes as Israel changes rules over aid groups working in the region.

Around 200,000 Afghan refugees have come to the U.S. since the war in their country ended. The Washington Post’s John Woodrow Cox tells the story of one man who supported the U.S. during the war but now faces deportation as Trump ends programs created to help Afghans.

Plus, a Trump nominee withdraws after incendiary texts were revealed, the trick to reducing the chances of a peanut allergy, and how one of the NBA’s biggest young stars is getting even bigger.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

A massive outage of Amazon Web Services downed hundreds of popular websites and apps around the world. Ben Goggin from NBC News breaks down how the incident illustrates the interconnected nature of the modern internet.

As authorities continue the search for the thieves who stole crown jewels from the Louvre, details on the brazen heist are coming to light. The Times reports.

The Supreme Court heard arguments over whether drug users should be allowed to legally own guns. Maureen Groppe, Supreme Court reporter for USA Today, joins to discuss the case — and why the Trump administration is not on the side of gun owners in this time around.

Plus, a federal court allowed Trump to send National Guard troops to Portland, how a new minerals deal between the U.S. and Australia relates to China, and the way new retinal-implant technology is helping some patients recover parts of their vision.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

In the Caribbean, U.S. forces struck a seventh boat alleged to have been involved in illegal drug-trafficking. CNN reports on rising tensions in the region, and The Atlantic’s Gisela Salim-Peyer talks about how the Trump administration is attempting to tie Venezuelan leadership directly to these boats.

Israeli forces carried out airstrikes in Gaza over the weekend, placing further strain on the fragile ceasefire with Hamas. Enforcement of the ceasefire is now back on, according to AFP, while Axios reports that a U.S. delegation including Vice President JD Vance will be in Israel this week to try to move the deal into the next phase.

A growing number of autistic children are dying after wandering away from their homes or other places. The Washington Post’s Jasmine Golden joins to discuss how some incidents are prompting change at local and state levels.

Plus, mass demonstrations protested President Trump, former Rep. George Santos was released from prison early and says he has a new mission in life, and how thieves made off with priceless jewels from the Louvre.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

From Apple News In Conversation: 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.

As the government shutdown continues, Republicans and Democrats both say the American public is on their side. The Wall Street Journal’s Siobhan Hughes joins to discuss the politics keeping the government closed.

Candidates in the New York City mayoral race faced off in a debate Thursday night. Vanity Fair’s James Pogue breaks down the rise of leading candidate Zohran Mamdani.

Sports betting has exploded in popularity since the Supreme Court paved the way for states to legalize it in 2018. On this week’s Apple News In Conversation, Jonathan D. Cohen, author of ‘Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling,’ unpacks what sports betting’s widespread acceptance says about our culture.

Plus, former national-security adviser John Bolton was indicted for allegedly mishandling classified information, why Trump issued a strong warning to Hamas, and the German museum Taylor Swift fans are flocking to.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Justices heard arguments Wednesday over a case concerning a key provision of the Voting Rights Act related to congressional district maps in Louisiana. Lawrence Hurley with NBC News discusses how the pending decision could drastically change voting maps in the South.

Journalists from major news outlets refused to sign onto a new policy restricting who they can talk to and what type of information they can report on at the Pentagon. Melissa Korn with the Wall Street Journal explains how the move upends decades of standard practice at the Department of Defense.

An investigation by the Washington Post reveals that the Department of Veterans Affairs’ disability program is fraught with shady and sometimes fraudulent claims. Reporter Craig Whitlock breaks down how the program became a target for fraud.

Plus, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration’s firing of federal workers during the shutdown, why Trump authorized CIA operations in Venezuela, and a legal battle over Uncrustables.

President Trump met with President Javier Milei of Argentina at the White House to discuss the details of a $20 billion bailout for the financially ailing country. Bloomberg reports that the lifeline hinges on upcoming elections there. Buenos Aires–based journalist Natalie Alcoba joins to discuss the deal and Milei's waning support at home.

New tariffs on timber and furniture took effect this week. CNN’s Matt Egan breaks down how the industry is reacting and what it could all ultimately mean for consumers.

A California man who won a massive Powerball jackpot is using his winnings to buy burned real estate in fire-ravaged Altadena. The Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Picciotto explains his plans for helping rebuild the community.

Plus, why tensions are rising days into the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, U.S. forces destroyed another boat off the Venezuelan coast, and how the world’s worst men’s soccer team might make the World Cup.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is underway as Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners were released Monday. PBS News has stories of the freed hostages. ABC News reports on the big unanswered questions about what comes next.

President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping sparked concerns in financial markets with their latest back-and-forth over tariffs and export restrictions. Politico’s Phelim Kine explains what’s at stake.

Local lawmakers across the country are having trouble passing ethics rules to boost public trust. ProPublica’s Tina Griego joins to discuss how politicians on both sides of the aisle have blocked hundreds of ethics-related bills.

Plus, why some airports are refusing to air a video featuring DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the latest area to face a potential measles outbreak, and the reason Halloween might be less chocolaty this year.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

The 20 living hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas were released after two years in captivity. President Trump arrived in Israel on Monday to meet with their families. The Wall Street Journal’s Anat Peled joins to discuss what comes next.

Thousands of federal workers received layoff notices over the weekend, as the government shutdown continues. The Washington Post reports on how the closure’s impact will start this week to affect the general public in a more significant way.

Trump has described Portland, Oregon, as a war zone as he seeks to deploy National Guard troops there to quell protests against ICE. Zusha Elinson, national reporter for the Wall Street Journal, describes how police reports paint a different picture of what’s going on in the city.

Plus, four people are dead after a mass shooting in South Carolina, the grassroots movement that was built by this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, and remembering Diane Keaton.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

From Apple News In Conversation: 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.