Apple News Today

President Trump suggested that a land strike in Venezuela may be imminent. Politico’s Megan Messerly joins to discuss how the MAGA camp is getting used to the idea of regime change in Caracas.

The World Cup draw is today, when fans learn who the nation they are rooting for will match up against in next year’s tournament. The Athletic’s Adam Crafton explains how the event came to be at the Kennedy Center, and what that says about the way Trump has shaped the institution.

The effects of budget cuts on clinical trials are beginning to be felt. Washington Post reporter Allyson Chiu breaks down why the loss of funding could make it more difficult to develop treatments in years to come.

Plus, the Supreme Court clears the way for Texas’s gerrymandered congressional map, why some countries are skipping next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, and the duo behind ‘The Rest Is History’ — Apple Podcasts’s Show of the Year — share their favorite moments from America’s past.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

A Pentagon inspector general reportedly concluded that Pete Hegseth violated regulations when he shared sensitive information over Signal. The Wall Street Journal’s Michael Gordon explains why the White House has so far stuck by the defense secretary.

Texas’s “bathroom bill” goes into effect today. Texas Tribune reporter Ayden Runnels joins to discuss why enforcement might prove tricky.

Trump pardoned sitting Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar, who was facing bribery charges. USA Today reports on how Cuellar intends to remain with his party and run for reelection.

Plus, why Trump is rolling back vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, a doctor who supplied ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry with ketamine was sentenced to prison, and why ChatGPT finds it so hard to tell time.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Pressure is mounting for transparency on a “double tap” boat strike in the Caribbean that critics say may constitute a war crime. NBC News reports on how Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is defending the administration’s actions.

Trump pardoned the former Honduran president who was convicted of taking bribes from cartels that flooded the U.S. with cocaine. BBC News reports that the clemency comes as Hondurans are electing a new president.

Services like 23andMe have revealed the existence of “surprise heirs” asking for a piece of the family inheritance. The Wall Street Journal’s Ashlea Ebeling explains how the development is throwing estate planning into chaos.

Plus, ICE is set to crack down on Somali immigrants in Minnesota, a Republican win in Tennessee but Democrats gained ground, and why ‘Mad Men’ fans are catching some unexpected mistakes on streaming.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

People in Tennessee are voting to fill a vacant seat in the U.S. House. The BBC’s Anthony Zurcher explains why the GOP-leaning district is competitive this year.

More than 150 people are confirmed dead after a fire ripped through a Hong Kong apartment building. The Washington Post’s Christian Shepherd joins to discuss the major questions facing authorities.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan’s racing team is suing NASCAR. The Athletic reports on how the case could alter NASCAR in big ways.

Plus, an appeals court upheld the disqualification of one of the White House’s judicial nominees, Costco is suing the Trump administration, and the angry meaning behind the 2025 Oxford Word of the Year.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

A strike against a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean has prompted bipartisan scrutiny. The Washington Post’s Alex Horton details why lawmakers on both sides are seeking greater transparency.

The suspected shooter of two National Guard troops in Washington D.C. arrived in the U.S. via a program meant for Afghans to resettle after the war. The Wall Street Journal’s Michelle Hackman joins to discuss how Trump is now expanding his immigration crackdown.

Americans return a lot of purchases. As we emerge from Black Friday, Wirecutter’s Annemarie Conte explains where it all ends up.

Plus, bad winter weather is snarling post-Thanksgiving travel and more is on the way, why U.S. officials say there’s still work to be done on a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, and how three octogenarian nuns became Instagram darlings.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

From Apple News In Conversation: This is an episode from our archives.

Even before the divisive presidential election, family estrangement was on the rise. Now, as holiday gatherings approach, many people are grappling with difficult family dynamics. Psychologist Joshua Coleman, the author of Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties & How to Heal the Conflict, talks to Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu about how to navigate strained relationships and what steps you can take to bridge divides.

From Apple News In Conversation: With the release of her James Beard Award–winning cookbook, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, Samin Nosrat catapulted to international fame. But amid big life changes and loss in the years that followed, she struggled to redefine her connection to cooking. With her second book, Good Things, Nosrat is back with a fresh approach to preparing food — one that’s centered on spending precious time with loved ones. She sat down with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to talk about what makes a good recipe, her weekly dinner-party group, and how to alleviate the stress of cooking a high-stakes holiday meal.

A proposed peace plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine would require major concessions from Kyiv. The Wall Street Journal’s Alexander Ward joins to discuss how the plan will likely face opposition from Ukraine and other European countries.

The Las Vegas economy is grappling with a decline in visitor numbers. The Athletic’s Luke Smith explains how the city hopes this weekend’s Formula 1 race will save an otherwise bleak year.

Renowned cook Samin Nosrat says that to her, Thanksgiving food can be a little bland. On this week’s Apple News In Conversation, Nosrat gives her top tips for making your Thanksgiving feast a little more flavorful.

Plus, the NTSB released its initial report on the UPS plane crash in Louisville, a Florida congresswoman could face more than 50 years in prison, and how the next men’s World Cup is shaping up to be a tournament of underdogs.

Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.

Nvidia reported record revenue in its latest earnings report. Greg Ip of the Wall Street Journal breaks down how the chipmaker is driving the U.S. economy.

The Trump administration has deviated from the conventional clemency and pardon process. ProPublica’s Jeremy Kohler details how allies of the president are benefiting.

It’s nearly two years since the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed. Baltimore Banner reporter Hayes Gardner explains why some of the crew of the ship that struck the bridge is still stuck in the U.S.

Plus, Trump puts his signature to releasing the Epstein files, a newly proposed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine would require big concessions from Kyiv, and a unique way farmers are making up for falling dairy prices.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Lawmakers in Washington voted overwhelmingly to release the Epstein files. USA Today reports on what comes next.

President Trump says he opposes extending Affordable Care Act subsides that are set to expire at the end of the year. Dan Diamond, reporter at the Washington Post, explains the alternatives on the table.

Iran’s drought crisis has led many to say the country is now water bankrupt. Vox reports on why the situation in Tehran should be a warning to other dry cities.

Plus, why Trump waved off questions about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi during the Saudi crown prince’s visit, a panel of federal judges blocked Texas’s gerrymandered congressional map, and how interaction with humans is changing raccoons.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

President Trump is set to meet with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. Semafor’s Matthew Martin explains how the meeting is a significant development in U.S.-Saudi relations.

The acting head of FEMA resigned after just six months on the job. Brianna Sacks, reporter for the Washington Post, joins to discuss what comes next for the beleaguered agency.

The Louvre heist highlighted how unequipped many French museums are to safeguard irreplaceable historical artifacts. The Wall Street Journal’s Stacy Meichtry examines why they’re so vulnerable.

Plus, the U.N. Security Council delivered its judgment on Trump’s Gaza plan, Larry Summers responded to pressure over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and why turkeys cost so much more this Thanksgiving.

Late on Sunday, President Trump reversed course and is now backing a vote compelling the DOJ to release more documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. The issue has led to a split between Trump and one of his biggest supporters, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Bulwark’s Will Sommer explains.

Pope Leo recently criticized Trump’s immigration policies. Reuters reporter Joshua McElwee joins to discuss how the pontiff’s words led the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to take action.

Startups funded by powerful billionaires in Silicon Valley are pushing the boundaries of reproductive genetics. The Wall Street Journal’s Emily Glazer breaks down some of the controversial practices.

Plus, the Trump administration began an immigration crackdown in Charlotte, Tehran might be evacuated because of Iran’s water crisis, and why Academy officials are telling members to actually watch Oscar-contending movies this year if they want to vote.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

From Apple News In Conversation: Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario has spent the past two decades on the front lines of many of the world’s defining conflicts and humanitarian crises — from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Arab Spring, the Libyan civil war, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A new documentary from National Geographic, Love+War, explores not only her extraordinary career in conflict zones but also her life at home in London with her husband and their two young sons. Addario sat down with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to talk about her high-risk work, motherhood, and what the film reveals about the complexity of both.