Podcast appearances and mentions of shumita basu

The executive director of Camp Mystic, the all-girls camp in Texas, received a severe flood warning on his phone in the early-morning hours of July 4. According to an investigation by Annie Gowen and her colleagues at the Washington Post, it took more than an hour after that for a frantic evacuation to begin. The Trump administration is leaving Congress in the dark about critical spending decisions. Reuters’s Bo Erickson joins to explain the dynamic and its consequences. For years, women told medical providers that IUD procedures were painful. Allie Volpe, a senior reporter with Vox, joins to discuss why their voices are finally being taken seriously. Plus, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pulling some of the National Guard from LA, unreleased music was stolen from Beyoncé, and a chunk of Mars is going to auction. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

New reporting from the Miami Herald reveals that a significant portion of detainees held at an immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades do not have criminal charges. Reporter Ana Ceballos joins to discuss that story and another highlighting conditions inside. Some Trump supporters inside and outside of the White House are disappointed with how the administration handled the Jeffrey Epstein case. The Washington Post’s Natalie Allison reports on how the broader MAGA movement is reacting. Anas Baba, NPR’s producer in Gaza, took the harrowing journey to get food through the new Israeli- and U.S.-backed aid distribution system. He shares what the experience was like. Plus, the Supreme Court ruled on Trump’s plans to dismantle the Department of Education, a new weapons deal for Ukraine, and the strange secret to picking the perfect watermelon. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

It’s one year since the assassination attempt against Trump, and a damning Senate committee report just described the event as a “preventable tragedy.” Carol Leonnig at the Washington Post explains what went wrong and what we know about the shooter’s motives. New reporting from CNN indicates that recently implemented cost controls may have delayed FEMA’s response to the deadly floods in Texas. Scott Peterson was convicted of killing his wife in 2002. He always professed his innocence, and now the Innocence Project is taking on his case. Harriet Ryan at the Los Angeles Times tells us why. Plus, more details emerged about what went wrong in the India air crash, and one man died amid the chaos of an immigration raid. And at the Wimbledon finals, one star delivered demolition, and another was dethroned. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Trump is expected to visit Texas today, amid longer-term questions over the future of FEMA. Zack Colman from Politico takes us through them. The president has recently expressed frustration with Russia’s Putin. The Wall Street Journal’s Matthew Luxmoore explains why, and explores what could come next in the war in Ukraine. Federal immigration agents are increasingly wearing masks. Jenny Jarvie of the Los Angeles Times describes how that’s affecting targeted communities. Plus, student activist Mahmoud Khalil is seeking $20 million in damages after being detained, and the young American Amanda Anisimova is heading to the Wimbledon final. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Why were the Texas floods so deadly, and could more have been done to warn victims? Emily Foxhall at the Texas Tribune explores the issue. Today, a federal judge will hear new legal arguments against the Trump administration’s birthright-citizenship order. Tom Hals of Reuters tells us about the legal landscape and what to expect. Lily Hay Newman, a senior writer for Wired, takes us behind the scenes of a group of young cybercriminals called the Scattered Spider. Plus, measles has hit record levels in the U.S., Elon Musk lost his CEO at X, and the AI music going viral. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

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 new 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 Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to talk about this unique moment — when billionaires are both resented and envied by the public — and what it means for the rest of us.

Trump extended his deadline for countries to make tariff deals, and sent a host of letters threatening new measures. Brian Schwartz at the Wall Street Journal brings us up to speed. Mary Ilyushina with the Washington Post discusses Putin’s “anti-woke” visa, and how U.S. citizens are using it to migrate to Russia. Cuts are coming for the federal SNAP program, which provides food assistance to more than 40 million Americans. Marcia Brown with Politico explains how the move will leave food banks scrambling to make up the difference. Plus, a Marco Rubio imposter has been using AI to contact foreign ministers, the soccer governing body FIFA turned to Trump Tower for office space, and we say goodbye to a hated airport-security measure. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

The death toll from the Texas floods climbed above 100, as stories of tragedy and heroics continue to emerge. Keri Heath at the Austin American-Statesman gives us the latest from the scene. The Trump administration’s funding freezes are teeing up a budgetary challenge between the White House and Congress. Jeff Stein with the Washington Post explains how how it could reshape the balance of power between them. Kavitha Surana with ProPublica unpacks how abortion bans have made first-trimester miscarriages more life-threatening. Plus, the Department of Justice delivered a conclusion on the rumored “client list” of Jeffrey Epstein, a Russian minister was found dead after being sacked by Putin, and a near upset turned into a painful exit at Wimbledon. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Catastrophic flooding in Texas killed at least 80 people, and more rainfall is expected. The Texas Tribune has the latest. Congressional Republicans passed a sprawling bill that cuts Medicaid, clean-energy funding, and taxes. NBC’s Sahil Kapur unpacks the details. Jobs in meatpacking plants are notorious for being dangerous and physically taxing. Scott Calvert with the Wall Street Journal reports on how a slaughterhouse in Nebraska wants to change that. Plus, Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks began in Doha, France ended its ban on swimming in the River Seine after 102 years, and a time capsule once called the world’s largest was found in Nebraska. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

This is an episode from our archives. Since we published this episode, the Wall Street Journal released a report that the Pentagon purposely spread disinformation about UFOs, at times to protect secret military operations. Have we been visited by extraterrestrial life? And how much does the government really know when it comes to UFOs? Garrett Graff’s latest book, UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government’s Search for Alien Life Here — and Out There, investigates these questions and more. The national-security reporter recently sat down with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to share his findings.

The Trump administration is building a national citizenship-data system. NPR’s Jude Joffe-Block joins to discuss her exclusive reporting behind the project. The Senate narrowly passed Trump’s tax-and-spending bill. Next comes the challenge to get it through the House before July 4. Politico looks at what might happen next. California has rolled back a landmark environmental law. Liam Dillon from the Los Angeles Times explains. Plus, the University of Pennsylvania bans transgender athletes from women's sports teams following a federal investigation, France tries to break its smoking habit, and a real-life Disney miracle rescue. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Senate Republicans are racing to get their sprawling bill to the House. The Wall Street Journal’s Richard Rubin joins to explain the financial maneuver Republicans are using to say that their tax-cut extensions will not impact the federal budget. As USAID is absorbed into the State Department, the Washington Post’s Katharine Houreld tells us funding how cuts are hurting people in Sudan. The Trump administration has repurposed an app from the previous administration to encourage migrants to self-deport. The Atlantic’s Nick Miroff has more. Plus, a victim of the attacks in Boulder died, why roads buckle in extreme heat, and how the WNBA is poised to expand. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Republicans are grappling with their big tax-and-spending bill, which the independent Congressional Budget Office estimates will add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. As they debate Medicaid cuts and work requirements at the federal level, Jeanne Whalen with the Wall Street Journal explains why Medicaid work requirements at the state level have not worked out. Following the Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship, Politico reporter and former prosecutor Ankush Khardori tells us what comes next. Florida is seizing Everglades land with plans to open a migrant-detention center in a swamp as soon as the first week of July. Ana Ceballos with the Miami Herald has more. Plus, what to know about the ambush attack on Idaho firefighters, the U.N.’s assessment of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and Beyoncé’s scare during her hometown Texas show. Today’s show was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman — along with her husband, Mark, and their golden retriever, Gilbert — will lie in the Minnesota state Capitol on Friday ahead of a private funeral on Saturday. Patrick Coolican with the Minnesota Reformer tells us about her political legacy. Alicia Victoria Lozano from NBC lays out what to know about the detention of Iranians in the U.S. Plus, how a larger turnout might have affected the 2024 election, Anna Wintour gives up the editor’s chair at Vogue, and we speak to the creators of ‘F1 The Movie.' Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Israel tasked private contractors with distributing aid in Gaza. Nabih Bulos with the Los Angeles Times explains how those sites have descended into chaos. Arian Campo-Flores with the Wall Street Journal unpacks the economic implications of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policy. More than 100 million Americans have faced sweltering weather this week. NPR asks, how hot is too hot for kids? Plus, the NATO summit concluded with new spending targets, the readout from the first meeting of RFK Jr.’s new vaccine panel, and inside the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Private equity has become one of the most powerful — and least understood — forces in the American economy. In recent decades, firms have taken over everything from retail chains to hospitals to housing — often with little risk to themselves and with real consequences for workers and communities. In her new book, Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream, journalist Megan Greenwell breaks down how this industry is quietly reshaping American life. Greenwell sat down with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to share the stories of people pushing back against these entities to protect their jobs, their families, and their homes.

The Iran-Israel ceasefire is tentatively holding, as questions emerge over the scale of Iran’s nuclear setbacks. Reuters reports. Megan Messerly at Politico tells us how it all unfolded. In a shock result, 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is set to win the Democrat mayoral primary in New York City. Axios has been following the result. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has changed who makes vaccine recommendations to the CDC. Helen Branswell with Stat unpacks what’s at stake. Plus, the prosecution rested its case against Sean Combs, the oppressive heat wave continues, and the woman hoping to become the first to run a four-minute mile. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Formula 1 is the highest level of motorsport, with cars hitting speeds of over 200 miles per hour and teams making split-second, high-stakes decisions behind the scenes. Now the drama of this sport is coming to the big screen, with the new Apple Original film F1 The Movie, starring actors Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, in theaters June 27. Director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer wanted to make it the most authentic car-racing movie possible, and they shot real F1 races, incorporating those scenes into the film. They sat down with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to talk about bringing the world of F1 to life.

In his 22-year career in the FBI, undercover agent Scott Payne infiltrated some of the most dangerous criminal and extremist groups in America, from a motorcycle gang called the Outlaws to a white-supremacist group known as the Base. Payne shares his firsthand case accounts of gathering intelligence and stopping illegal activity in his memoir, Code Name: Pale Horse; How I Went Undercover to Expose America’s Nazis. His story is also featured on the latest season of the Slate podcast White Hot Hate. Payne sat down with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to talk about some of his most harrowing moments on the job and the growing threat of extremism in the U.S.

Trump announced a new travel ban. The Wall Street Journal breaks it down. As Canada’s wildfires continue to rage, dangerous air is sweeping across the U.S. PBS explores conditions in the worst-hit states. The NBA Finals begin tonight between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. The Ringer’s Michael Pina tells us what to watch for. Plus, how Columbia University could lose its accreditation, the small Republican town that rallied to help an ICE detainee, and a mass evacuation after unexploded World War II bombs were found. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Taylor Swift recently announced that she bought back the master recordings of her first six albums, ending a yearslong ownership battle. In light of this news, we’re bringing you an episode from our archives about Swift’s career, megastardom, and legacy. Taylor Swift requires no introduction. She recently became the first artist to win the Grammy for Album of the Year four times. Her Eras Tour, the highest-grossing music tour ever, ends this month. Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield, who has been covering Swift since the beginning of her career, is out with a new book on the star, Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music. Sheffield talks with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu about Swift’s gift for storytelling, her expansive fan base, and how she’s empowered a whole new generation of artists.

Elon Musk attacked the GOP tax bill, calling it an “abomination.” As he leaves government, the Wall Street Journal’s Becky Peterson explains how he is returning to an uncertain future for Tesla. Israel announced that its controversial aid center will be closed for a day, after death and chaos continued to surround the distribution sites. Amid the confusion, the BBC explores what we know and don’t know. The Trump administration is increasingly turning to a specific tactic for deporting migrants whose home country won’t accept them. NPR’s Ximena Bustillo joins to discuss it. Plus, Saudi Arabia is balancing safety with tourism as the mass pilgrimage to Mecca begins, ICE officials detained the family of the man charged with the Colorado attacks, and how Canada is hoping to end a 32-year Stanley Cup drought. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

There is unlikely bipartisan support in Congress around an effort to make childbirth free in America. Vox’s Rachel Cohen discusses the plan and how it would work. The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is in its fourth week. CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister, who’s been reporting from the courtroom, tells us the latest. There’s been an international series of brazen, violent crimes against crypto executives and their families. The Wall Street Journal’s Sam Schechner explains what's been happening. Plus, what we know about the man charged with the Colorado attack, a reparations package for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was announced, and confusion at FEMA after the acting head said he had no idea the U.S. has a hurricane season. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

A man in Colorado has been arrested after setting fire to people marching for the release of Israeli hostages. The FBI are treating it as a terror attack. The Colorado Sun has the latest. Dozens were reported dead or severely injured in southern Gaza, reportedly near the controversial U.S.-Israeli aid sites. CNN has been following the conflicting reports. With Russia-Ukraine talks set to begin, a Ukraine drone attack took Putin by surprise. The Wall Street Journal’s Thomas Grove explains how Russia revamped its economy to be focused solely on efforts to advance the war. Plus, an ICE raid caused chaos in San Diego, Canada’s wildfires continue as the Midwest faces air-quality warnings, and beekeepers swarmed to the rescue after millions of honeybees escaped in Washington. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Elon Musk has left the government building, but DOGE remains. The Washington Post’s William Wan reports on what he learned speaking to federal-government employees who lost their jobs amid cuts. Some Republican senators have concerns about elements of the GOP megabill, such as what cuts to Medicaid could mean for election prospects in 2026. NBC’s Sahil Kapur breaks their objections down. David Armstrong with ProPublica speaks to In Conversation about how a life-saving pill’s eye-popping price tag tells the story of prescription-drug pricing in America — and why it’s so difficult to change. Plus, how a glacier broke off and engulfed an Alpine village, Texas legislators passed a bill defining what it means to be a man or woman, and a new Scripps National Spelling Bee winner was crowned. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

A court struck down the bulk of Trump’s tariffs, in a major setback to his economic agenda. Bloomberg has the latest. Harvard has its university-wide commencement today, as it faces more funding threats. Its president speaks out in an interview with NPR. Trump has recently issued a number of pardons. Reporting from the Wall Street Journal provides a look at how politics factored into those decisions. Plus, Elon Musk announced that he’s leaving government, Israel said it has killed the leader of Hamas, and how an airline is fighting back against bad passenger etiquette. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

When ProPublica health-care reporter David Armstrong was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, he began taking a lifesaving drug called Revlimid. When he learned that each pill of this medication is sold for nearly $1,000 but costs drug companies only cents to make, he went on a quest to uncover the reasons behind its shocking price tag. Armstrong sat down with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to talk about his investigation into Revlimid’s origins and what it reveals about prescription-drug pricing in America.

Trump’s family empire is dramatically expanding its wealth during his presidency. Bloomberg News’s Max Abelson joins to discuss the deals that are powering this growth and the questions they spark. The controversial U.S.- and Israeli-backed aid effort got off to a tumultuous start. CBS reports. The Assad regime’s surveillance state relied on civilians to inform on their neighbors and colleagues. Now Syrians are reckoning with who among them quietly contributed to the tyranny. The Washington Post’s Salwan Georges has more. Plus, Robert F. Kennedy Jr announced changes to COVID vaccine guidance, Marco Rubio ordered a halt to student-visa interviews, and why Trump pardoned a reality-TV couple. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Trump said in a social-media post that Putin has “gone absolutely CRAZY,” after Russia's latest attack on Ukraine. Reuters reports. Police in New Orleans relied for years upon a live-facial-recognition program, an unprecedented surveillance method in the United States. The Washington Post’s Doug MacMillan explains how it worked and the controversy around it. For some 2025 grads, commencement ceremonies have become a place to protest the war in Gaza. CNN and The Guardian have the story. Plus, a car drove into a parade marking Liverpool’s Premier League soccer title, why the head of a U.S.-supported Gaza aid program resigned, and the older film titles breaking new holiday records. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

The Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. Reuters breaks down the impact of the move. Trump held a behind-closed-doors gala for top investors of his cryptocurrency coin. Declan Harty from Politico discusses the ethical ramifications. It’s nearly five years since the murder of George Floyd. The Marshall Project’s Jamiles Lartey joins to assess where police reform is in the country. Plus, the Supreme Court in a split decision blocked an effort to establish the first taxpayer-funded religious charter school, another major ruling against Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, more details emerged about the suspect in the Israeli Embassy staffer shootings, and the U.S. is getting rid of the penny. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy were shot and killed outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., last night. The man and woman — a couple — had been attending a reception for young diplomats. CBS has the latest.The FDA announced a change in its framework for approving new COVID vaccines for healthy individuals under 65. Usha Lee McFarling, a national science correspondent with Stat, discusses the impact of the move, while NPR reports on how some of the CDC's main channels for communicating health information to the public have gone silent.Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson join this week's Apple News In Conversation to talk about their book ‘Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.’Plus, the House passed Trump's massive tax-and-spending-bill, what to know about his contentious meeting with South Africa's president, and the Defense Department officially accepted a Qatari jet to serve as Air Force One. Also, how the 10 richest Americans got significantly richer in the past year — and how they stand to gain more from the GOP tax bill. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu. Correction: A previous version of this episode cited comments the U.N. humanitarian chief made to the BBC that 14,000 babies in Gaza would die in the next 48 hours if they do not receive aid. The BBC has since updated that reporting to reflect that a report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification estimates that 14,100 severe cases of acute malnutrition could occur among children in Gaza ages 6 to 59 months between April 2025 and March 2026.

Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy were shot and killed outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., last night. The man and woman — a couple — had been attending a reception for young diplomats. CBS has the latest.The FDA announced a change in its framework for approving new COVID vaccines for healthy individuals under 65. Usha Lee McFarling, a national science correspondent with Stat, discusses the impact of the move, while NPR reports on how some of the CDC's main channels for communicating health information to the public have gone silent.Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson join this week's Apple News In Conversation to talk about their book ‘Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.’Plus, the House passed Trump's massive tax-and-spending-bill, what to know about his contentious meeting with South Africa's president, and the Defense Department officially accepted a Qatari jet to serve as Air Force One. Also, how the 10 richest Americans got significantly richer in the past year — and how they stand to gain more from the GOP tax bill. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

A pregnant woman in Georgia is being kept alive as a hospital navigates the state’s abortion laws. The family is speaking out. The Guardian has the story. Kentucky is still grappling with the aftermath of intense tornadoes, as well as dealing with more storm systems. USA Today reports on how cuts to the National Weather Service have led to scrambles to cover important shifts. And PBS Newshour also highlights the impact of cuts on the service. New Oklahoma school standards include a requirement to teach students misinformation about the 2020 presidential election. Beth Wallis, education reporter with StateImpact Oklahoma, joins to discuss how and why this happened. Plus, France, the U.K., and Canada united to condemn Israel, lawyers accused Trump administration of defying courts to send migrants to South Sudan, and the NBA conference finals are set to begin. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Mark Chiusano writes for New York magazine about a mother who took her sons to a routine ICE check-in. They were scheduled for deportation and she hasn’t seen them since. House Republicans want to extend tax cuts and lower the deficit. The Wall Street Journal’s Richard Rubin describes why doing both at the same time might be impossible. Are incidents involving air-traffic-controller communications happening more frequently? USA Today’s Zach Wichter explains what might be causing them and how we should contextualize the issue. Plus, Trump spoke to Putin and claims peace talks will begin “immediately,” another news executive quit CBS News, and what to know about the new Take It Down Act. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Former President Joe Biden announced that he has prostate cancer. CNN has the latest news and reaction. Israel agreed to allow a basic amount of aid into Gaza, as it launches a new ground offensive. Meanwhile, the New Yorker’s Ruth Margalit reports that fewer Israeli reservists are showing up for service, because they are exhausted and increasingly skeptical of the government’s claims for continuing the war. There are nearly half a million open manufacturing jobs right now. Greg Rosalsky with NPR explains why the industry is having a hard time filling them. Plus, a tornado devastated Kentucky, what we know about a fertility-clinic bombing in Palm Springs, and how a Mexican navy ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

A look at where things are on the GOP's tax bill, and who stands to benefit and lose. Tax-policy reporter Richard Rubin with the Wall Street Journal has the details.After oral arguments, the Supreme Court appeared divided over how much power lower courts should have to issue nationwide injunctions. The Washington Post unpacks the issue.The Trump administration is rolling back some protections against forever chemicals. Mariah Blake tells Apple News In Conversation why there's still optimism on the state level, and suggests some ways to protect yourself.Plus, a Milwaukee judge pleaded not guilty to attempting to block immigration arrest, a landmark moment in gene editing, and what to know about the WNBA’s new team. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

A case before the Supreme Court about birthright citizenship could have larger ramifications for the limits of judicial power. Maureen Groppe with USA Today has the story.Trump says he's getting a free luxury aircraft from Qatar's royal family — but it's actually far from it. And the announcement has prompted political backlash from both sides of the aisle.The Washington Post's Hannah Knowles unpacks how a Pennsylvania manufacturing hub is responding to Trump's tariff policy.Plus, highly anticipated Russia-Ukraine talks are happening today but Putin is nowhere to be seen. Healthy and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Congress "I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me." And how alcohol can harm women's bodies. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

President Trump is making the first extended foreign trip of his term in the Middle East. The Wall Street Journal’s Eliot Brown discusses how parts of his personal business empire are also striking deals in the region. USA Today looks at opening statements in the criminal trial for Sean “Diddy” Combs, and the legal arguments expected from the defense and the prosecution. Using batteries for grid-scale energy storage will improve how Americans get their power. Vox’s Umair Irfan tells us about the benefits. Plus, what to know about Republicans’ proposed Medicaid cuts, Trump’s executive order instructing drug companies to lower prices, and the unlikely winner of the NBA draft lottery. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

The U.S. and China reached an agreement to temporarily lower tariffs on each other's products. After another radar outage affecting Newark airport, the secretary transportation warned that flight disruptions could spread to other U.S. airports. NBC News reports. Also, a roundup of recent immigration news, as the Trump administration welcomes a group of white South Africans to the U.S. Plus, Hamas is releasing its last living American hostage, Trump is planning to accept a $400 million jet from Qatar, and what the pope said in his first Sunday sermon as pontiff. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

It’s a busy month for college graduations. USA Today’s Rachel Barber joins to discuss what graduates are looking for in the job market and how they’re feeling about it. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected pope yesterday, becoming the first American leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Joshua McElwee, Vatican correspondent for Reuters, discusses the new Pope Leo XIV’s biography and positions. A decades-old Soviet-era spacecraft is set to crash-land on Earth any day now. ABC News has more. Eric Roston, sustainability editor for Bloomberg News, talks about the potential environmental impacts of decommissioned satellites that burn up in the atmosphere. Plus, why the head of FEMA was fired, major U.S. cities are sinking, and a mom and her son who plan to graduate together. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell held interest rates steady on Wednesday, and said the economic path ahead is unclear. The Washington Post reports on how economists are trying to sort through the warning signs they're seeing. The Wall Street Journal’s Drew Hinshaw joins to discuss a complicated problem the next pope will inherit: how to handle the Vatican’s messy finances. Yesterday Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water. The Utah News Dispatch has more, while the Tallahassee Democrat details a similar ban set to take effect in Florida. Vox breaks down the science about fluoride's benefits and risks. Plus, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a new autism database, why the Trump administration is spying on Greenland, a unique use of AI in the courtroom, and some cardinals are in fact watching the movie ‘Conclave.’ Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

The Wall Street Journal’s Andrew Tangel discusses a troubling recent communication loss for air-traffic controllers, and how it has served as a wake-up call. India struck sites in Pakistan, causing global concern. The Washington Post has more. Today the conclave to elect a new pope begins. NPR’s Bill Chappell takes us inside the secretive process. Plus, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people in the military to take effect, Canada’s new prime minister met with Trump, and another update about Real IDs. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Aria Bendix, health reporter for NBC News, discusses the impact of cuts and changes at the Department of Health and Human Services. The Washington Post examines the overall impact on public health of Trump’s first 100 days in office. Gerry Shih, Jerusalem bureau chief for the Washington Post, joins to talk about Israel’s plans to occupy more of Gaza and fully control distribution of aid there. Trump has threatened massive tariffs on movies produced overseas. Meg James, senior entertainment-industry reporter for the Los Angeles Times, discusses the studios’ response. Plus, the winners of this year’s Pulitzer Prizes, the issues plaguing Newark’s airport, and what to know about the Real ID deadline. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

The Trump administration wants a baby boom, but many of its policies are making it harder for American families to expand. Vox's Rachel Cohen explains. The trial of Sean Combs, the music mogul known as Diddy, starts today. He faces federal charges including sex trafficking and racketeering. Charles Bethea, a staff writer with the New Yorker, spent several months profiling one of the lead attorneys defending him. Warren Buffet is stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway as he warns of economic hardship ahead under President Trump’s tariff agenda. The Wall Street Journal has the details of his announcement and argues there will never be another investor like him. Plus, Israel’s security cabinet approves a new ground operation that includes occupying the Gaza Strip, the president told NBC "I don’t know" when asked if he’s required to uphold the Constitution, and the Met Gala celebrates Black dandyism. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

The Democratic Party is strategizing over how to respond to Trump. Perry Bacon Jr. with the Washington Post walks us through how that’s going. Mike Waltz is out as national-security adviser. ABC has the story. Generative AI is making nonconsensual deepfake porn incredibly easy to make and much more difficult to prevent and prosecute. Reporters Olivia Carville and Margi Murphy speak to In Conversation about the scale of the problem. Plus, a judge struck down Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, a Haitian woman died in ICE custody, and the names of imprisoned journalists to know for World Press Freedom Day. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

A look at the first 100 days of DOGE. Wired’s Makena Kelly has the details. Israel has prevented almost all aid from reaching Gaza for close to two months. This week, the International Court of Justice began to weigh in. The Washington Post reports. Reuters also finds that community kitchens in Gaza may close due to dwindling supplies. The Trump administration’s deportations and detainments have left families shattered. Time looks at some of the more prominent cases. Plus, Trump scales back auto tariffs, a detained Columbia University student speaks, and Bob Ross gets his own museum exhibition. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Reuters speaks to voters about their views on Trump’s second term so far. The Wall Street Journal’s Nick Timiraos discusses the state of the economy and how businesses are coping with turbulence. This week the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case expected to have considerable implications on both education and the separation of church and state. USA Today’s Maureen Groppe has the details. Plus, Canada’s Liberal party won national elections, why lawyers are departing the DOJ’s civil-rights division en masse, and a massive power outage hit Spain and Portugal. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten joins to discuss recent polling and why Trump’s honeymoon period didn’t last long. NPR reports that 114 immigrants were arrested in a raid at a Colorado nightclub on Sunday. Meanwhile, a judge in Milwaukee was arrested for allegedly helping a man evade immigration authorities at a courthouse. Toronto Star columnist Althia Raj breaks down what’s at stake as Canadians head to the polls for federal elections today. Plus, an SUV rammed into crowds at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, Trump and Zelenskyy met at the Vatican before Pope Francis’s funeral, and Wrexham AFC moved one step closer to the Premier League. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

In a recent pulse-check on the health of our democracy by Bright Line Watch, hundreds of scholars warned that the U.S. is heading swiftly toward authoritarianism. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history at New York University who specializes in the subject, explains how we got here. Plus, setbacks for Trump in court, pregnant people in states with abortion bans are almost twice as likely to die during pregnancy or soon after giving birth, and the hidden costs of being polite to a chatbot. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Travel to the United States is a multibillion-dollar industry. The Washington Post examines how and why it is decreasing. Pope Francis kept up a routine of near daily calls to a church in Gaza throughout the Israel-Hamas war. The Wall Street Journal has more. And CNN details what to expect at his funeral. The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov joins to discuss an investigation into a sprawling sports-gambling scheme. Plus, peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are at a standstill, big-box CEOs raise concerns about tariffs, and the ultrarich have been getting richer. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.