Apple News Today
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.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s shock exit shakes Washington and Wall Street
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stepped down after admitting to an affair with a suspected Chinese spy. The Wall Street Journal’s Amrith Ramkumar joins to discuss the fallout and why Congress is demanding answers.
DHS reported record deportation numbers over 12 months, just as midterm losses have Republicans questioning their immigration strategy. The Atlantic’s Nick Miroff tells Apple News In Conversation what the election results may mean for ICE.
President Trump announced plans to cut billions in military aid to Israel. NPR’s Lauren Frayer breaks down why that money may not actually be going away.<...
Jensen Huang built a tech empire. Now scandal could bring him down.
Nvidia’s board has been meeting to discuss ousting CEO Jensen Huang after reports of a second affair, this time with an executive who reported to him. The Wall Street Journal reports on the implications for the company and Washington.
Democrat Scott Colom won Mississippi’s Senate race, becoming the first Black senator to represent the state since Reconstruction. The Washington Post’s Robert Samuels breaks down the campaign behind Colum’s victory.
California voters have rejected Prop 40, a proposed one-time 5% tax on the state’s billionaires. NPR’s Greg Rosalsky explains why.
Plus, former...
How Jensen Huang’s affair became a national-security concern
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is facing investigations on multiple fronts after admitting to an affair with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy. The Guardian’s Johana Bhuiyan looks at his importance to the company.
In the wake of last week’s midterms result, The Wall Street Journal’s Philip Wegmann looks at Vice President Vance’s chances of a 2028 presidential run — and who might emerge as a competitor.
Americans are eating more imported fruits and vegetables but very few of the facilities that account for shipments are getting inspected, as the Washington Post’s Caitlin Gi...
Hegseth faces impeachment charges. Here’s what could happen next.
Outgoing Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, setting up a possible House vote. Republican leaders have rallied behind Hegseth.
The U.S. could lose its measles-elimination status as cases rise nationwide. Politico’s Sophie Gardner discusses the pressure this puts on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Cornell University faces a new lawsuit alleging it failed to protect two women from sexual assault. The Washington Post’s Todd Wallack explains what research shows about the effectiveness of banning fraternities as a way of dealing with the problem of a...
Nvidia’s CEO admits to affair with a suspected Chinese spy
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to an affair with a woman suspected of working for Chinese intelligence. The Washington Post’s Gerrit De Vynck discusses what comes next for the company.
President Trump has replaced his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, with loyalist Stephen Miller following the midterms. The Wall Street Journal’s Michelle Hackman breaks down Miller’s expanded role.
Hakeem Jeffries is poised to become the next speaker of the House. Alex Rouhandeh of Newsweek explains the challenges Jeffries faces in leading a broad Democratic caucus.
Plus, Poland is mourning after...
The brutal reality check awaiting Democrats
From Apple News In Conversation: Democrats pulled off stunning victories in this year’s midterms, flipping control of Congress and winning in deep-red strongholds like Texas and Kansas. But as Republicans face a historic reckoning and an uncertain post-Trump future, veteran political journalist Molly Ball warns that Democrats shouldn’t get comfortable either. Ball, whose forthcoming book explores America’s political realignment, joins Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to unpack the fractures forming inside the GOP, what fueled this massive blue wave, and the governing challenges facing Democrats next year.
How Trump’s electoral coalition fell apart
Democrats secured sweeping victories in the midterms on Tuesday as key voter groups shifted away from Republicans. Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report explains how President Trump’s coalition fell apart.
Democrats had a big night across Texas, flipping the statehouse and winning major statewide offices. Eleanor Klibanoff of the Texas Tribune discusses what drove the party’s historic gains.
Vice President Vance pointed to the war with Iran as a driving factor in GOP losses. Jon Gambrell of the Wall Street Journal reports on where the conflict stands right now.
Plus, Isra...
Democrats deliver a seismic election win — and a stunning rebuke to Trump
Democrats won control of both the House and Senate in a historic election night. We’ll catch you up on how it unfolded and look at the key races.
Plus, NBC News’s Sahil Kapur explains what it all means for Democrats, Republicans, and the White House.
Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.
Inside the decision team the country relies on for election results
Voters head to the polls today to decide all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, and dozens of governor’s races. Anna Johnson of the Associated Press explains how the results will be tallied and the races called.
President Trump made his final pitch to voters at the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Washington Post’s Katherine Doyle discusses what could be his last rallies.
The Supreme Court hears arguments today in a challenge by two Catholic preschools to the antidiscrimination requirements of Colorado’s state-funded pre-K program. Chalkbeat’s Ann Schimke breaks down the case.
A shock endorsement shakes up Michigan’s pivotal Senate race
Michigan’s Democratic Party is in turmoil after moderate Rep. Haley Stevens crossed party lines to endorse Republican Mike Rogers in the Senate race over progressive Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Bipartisan consensus on national security is breaking down in Congress as lawmakers face a $1.5 trillion defense-budget request. The Washington Post’s Noah Robertson explains why relations between Capitol Hill and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have soured.
The Wall Street Journal’s Paul Kiernan takes us inside the Los Angeles mayoral race, where Democratic socialist Nithya Raman is in a close race with incumbent Karen Bass as fru...
Have chocolate companies quietly changed their recipes?
From Apple News In Converation: Earlier this year, Brad Reese — the grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups — accused Hershey of secretly changing its recipes and making this beloved treat taste worse. New York magazine features writer Rachel Handler had also noticed a decline in the quality of mass-market chocolate, and Reese’s viral post inspired her to investigate just what has happened to these classic candies in the U.S. Handler joins Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to break down how candy companies have changed their formulas, the labeling loopholes letting them cut costs, a...
Inside the allegations that Democrats stacked Alaska’s ballot
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered an investigation into Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola following a New York Times report alleging her campaign secretly stacked the ballot with the goal of peeling votes from her Republican opponent. Alaska Public Media’s Liz Ruskin explains how the allegations are shaking a key race.
With nearly all votes tallied, Israel’s first national election since the Oct. 7 attacks is at a stalemate. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot’s center-right bloc both fell short of a 61-seat majority to secure control of parliame...
The midterms are days away. These are the races to watch.
With less than a week until midterm Election Day, the battle for control of Congress is entering the final stretch. In Alaska, a key battleground state, the New York Times reports that Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit spoiler candidates in an effort to boost her odds of winning, which her campaign denies. And RealClearPolitics senior elections analyst Sean Trende breaks down other critical races to watch.
The Federal Reserve held benchmark interest rates steady in its final meeting before Election Day. Politico economics correspondent Victoria Guida explains why inflation has been so st...
Government corruption is animating voters. Texas shows why.
Ahead of next week’s midterms, voters rank government corruption as a top concern alongside the economy. The Washington Post’s Liz Goodwin explains how Democrat James Talarico is using the issue against Republican Ken Paxton in a close Texas Senate race.
Then, the Wall Street Journal’s Ian Lovett breaks down how Melania Trump and Pope Leo helped broker a narrow humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky.
The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Megan Zahneis reports on how Cornell faculty are holding a no-confidence vote over leadership’s handling of sexual misconduct...
Anthropic warned that AI could end humanity. Now it’s racing to go public.
Anthropic filed for what could be the largest IPO in history, even as its filing warns that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity. Axios’s Dan Primack breaks down the numbers.
Then, Anat Peled at the Wall Street Journal reports from Tel Aviv as Israeli voters head to the polls in a pivotal election that may serve as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
NPR’s Carrie Kahn discusses Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s dramatic election comeback.
Plus, new federal charges were brought against James Comey, France...
Trump’s and Obama’s dueling rallies in a crucial swing state
President Trump and former President Barack Obama campaigned in Michigan this weekend, where Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed are in a close Senate race. Reuters’s Bo Erickson breaks down the contest.
Ukraine has regained full access to Elon Musk’s Starlink and Starshield satellite systems after a slowdown. Alex Ward of the Wall Street Journal discusses the dispute over who ordered it.
Anthropic and OpenAI are drawing up plans to give away part of the wealth expected from their public offerings. James Pollard of the Associated Press explains the questions over...
The strange new politics of the death penalty
From Apple News In Conversation: In the span of a month, Christa Pike survived a botched lethal-injection execution in Tennessee and the Pentagon announced plans to livestream the firing-squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan. President Trump later walked back the livestream, although the execution is still scheduled; it will be the first military firing-squad execution in the country since World War II. Maurice Chammah, a staff writer at the Marshall Project, joins Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to unpack this moment in America, how politicians and the public are responding, and what these two stories...
The scramble to save the internet from a catastrophic threat
The Guardian’s Robert Booth takes us inside the global scramble to fix a code vulnerability threatening 70% of websites.
Minnesota hasn’t elected a Republican statewide in decades, but an open Senate seat there is looking surprisingly competitive. Minnesota Public Radio’s Dana Ferguson breaks down the forces reshaping the race.
Wall Street Journal baseball writer Jared Diamond previews the World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays — and explains why a gold-ticket offer has left some Brewers fans stewing.
Plus, the U.S. and Israel are preparing possible strikes on Iran aft...
The billionaires behind the record midterm ad blitz
More than $10 billion is expected to be spent on advertising in this midterm cycle. New York Times reporter Teddy Schleifer joins to explain where the money comes from, how a recent Supreme Court ruling has shifted power back toward party committees, and what voters should watch for in the final two weeks.
Russia freed a retired American schoolteacher, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff called Putin a “humanitarian” — drawing swift bipartisan criticism. Francesca Ebel, Ukraine correspondent for the Washington Post, explains what the prisoner release and a fresh promise of peace talks actually signal about where negoti...
What’s behind the youth protests sweeping Europe?
The Guardian’s Ashifa Kassam takes us inside Europe’s “autumn of discontent.”
The Justice Department has charged 28 people in California with election crimes and is seeking to block roughly 20,000 ballots from being counted in the midterm elections despite experts saying noncitizen voting is extremely rare. NPR’s Miles Parks discusses the implications of the move.
Federal judges in Washington are being asked to weigh in on details of President Trump’s attempt to make over the capital, and they’re getting increasingly frustrated. Associated Press reporter Gary Fields explains why.
Plus, Trump’s $8 billion bai...
Three world powers could decide Ukraine’s future. Kyiv won’t be in the room.
President Trump says he is open to a trilateral summit with Russia’s Putin and China’s Xi to discuss Ukraine without Zelenskyy present. The Wall Street Journal’s Lingling Wei explains what the talks signal to smaller nations.
French cities imposed curfews after violent rioting over school conditions and living costs, the BBC reports. President Emmanuel Macron is facing disapproval across the political spectrum.
The NBA season tips off today as the champion New York Knicks face LeBron James and the 76ers. The Athletic’s Fred Katz previews the title race.
Plus, Mahmoud...
What’s really driving a long-shot push to break up Canada
Voters in Alberta today decide if the province should pursue secession. Leyland Cecco from The Guardian breaks down the long-shot independence referendum.
New polls found President Trump’s approval rating hitting new lows just weeks before the midterm elections. Politico’s Alex Gangitano explains why Republicans are shifting campaign funds away from key battlegrounds.
Pope Leo made his first public appearance following lung-cancer surgery. Joshua McElwee, Vatican correspondent for Reuters, joins to discuss the pontiff’s recovery and his planned international travel.
Plus, violence erupted in France amid widespread cost-of-living protests, President Trump endors...
Inside the trust crisis shaping this year’s midterms
From Apple News In Conversation: With the 2026 midterms just two weeks away, many Americans are paying close attention not only to races and candidates but to the election process itself. Cook Political Report editor in chief Amy Walter and veteran GOP pollster Patrick Ruffini join Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to answer questions from our listeners — including why polling has become so hard to trust, how redistricting fights are reshaping races, and what guardrails are in place after results start coming in.
Iran’s plan to sway the U.S. elections
Iranian officials told Reuters they are intentionally ramping up attacks on commercial ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz to drive up energy prices and hurt Republicans ahead of the midterms. Senior correspondent Jonathan Saul breaks down the strategy and how the Trump administration is weighing its response.
With less than three weeks until Election Day, Cook Political Report editor-in-chief Amy Walter and veteran Republican pollster Patrick Ruffini join Apple News In Conversation to answer your big questions about the midterms.
The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant previews the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Golden State Va...
Prices keep climbing. Frustrated voters may take it out on Republicans.
A new inflation report shows that prices rose again last month ahead of the midterms, driven by energy costs from the war in Iran. The Wall Street Journal’s Eliza Collins explains why voters are blaming Republicans and what it means for Congress.
Russia pounded oil, gas, and electricity facilities in Ukraine yesterday, cutting off power to roughly 600,000 people. The strikes came as Kyiv worries Washington could restrict its access to vital intelligence and a military tracking system. NPR’s Joanna Kakissis discusses the situation.
Prediction markets are letting users wager on criminal jury trials and...
The scandals that forced Trump to oust Ambassador Guilfoyle
Kimberly Guilfoyle has resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece after the White House asked her to step down. The Washington Post’s Michael Birnbaum breaks down the misconduct allegations that led to her departure.
The Associated Press reports on how newly released 911 calls show care was delayed for Christa Pike following her failed execution due to confusion between Tennessee prison officials and emergency responders.
McDonald’s is facing a federal antitrust lawsuit over its AI pricing tool. Reuters’s Waylon Cunningham explains how the tool sets prices and why some franchise owners say they feel p...
DHS agents search Ilhan Omar’s home — weeks before an election
DHS agents searched the Washington home of Rep. Ilhan Omar on Monday. The Washington Post’s Perry Stein explains what’s known about the investigation.
South Carolina’s Senate race to fill the seat of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham looks tighter than usual, as his sister, Darline Graham, faces Democrat Annie Andrews. The Associated Press’s Meg Kinnard discusses the race.
After a pilot attempted to hijack a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel, aviation experts are raising concerns about rogue pilots. The Wall Street Journal’s Andrew Tangel explains the concerns.
Plus, the U.K. s...
Trump’s surprise deal with Putin sparks Republican outrage
President Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel and said Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an energy ceasefire. The Wall Street Journal’s Robbie Gramer discusses the reaction from lawmakers and allies.
Houthi militants struck Saudi Arabia’s main airport in Riyadh, killing at least 13 people. Reuters reports.
Democrat Adam Hamilton is challenging Sen. Roger Marshall in Kansas, hoping to become the first Democratic senator there for nearly a hundred years. Bloomberg’s Amanda Albright reports on the race.
Plus, the Justice Department said it will investigate TV networks over their withdr...
The Cornell case exposes a dark reality about college culture
From Apple News In Conversation: A lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student that alleges she was sexually assaulted by seven fraternity members in 2024 has sparked an outpouring of women sharing their own stories of campus assault. While the case reflects dynamics that researchers have tracked since the 1980s, it also reveals something distinctly modern: how fraternity culture and online misogyny now collide in unchecked digital spaces. Sophie Gilbert, a staff writer at The Atlantic, joins Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to talk about why reports of campus assault keep rising, what we know about the role...
Why some Republicans are getting worried about Texas
Republicans are growing concerned about how Texas will vote in next month’s midterms. The Washington Post’s Teo Armus explains how labor shortages tied to immigration arrests could affect three House races along the border.
Israel will this month hold its first elections since the Oct. 7 attacks. Josef Federman of the Associated Press breaks down how the campaign.
Rape allegations at Cornell University have prompted protests and a debate over fraternity culture. The Atlantic’s Sophie Gilbert joins Apple News In Conversation to discuss campus sexual assault and online misogyny.
Plus, the Pentag...
Lawyers share Christa Pike’s first words since waking — and make her case in court
Lawyers have shared the first words of Christa Pike since she woke up after surviving a botched execution. Reuters reports on the latest courtroom hearings.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins faces the toughest fight of her career in Maine. The Bangor Daily News’s Michael Shepherd explains why.
ProPublica’s Nicole Foy discusses her work investigating the number of American citizens getting detained by ICE.
Plus, the Democratic National Committee sued the Trump administration over taxpayer-funded television ads, the FBI said it thwarted a planned terror attack on the Mall of America, and how home...
Tennessee failed to execute Christa Pike. Now she’s conscious.
Christa Pike, who survived a failed execution by lethal injection in Tennessee, is conscious and speaking, her attorneys say. Kelly Puente of The Tennessean explains what could happen next.
Hundreds of thousands of people in France have joined protests over education funding and the condition of the country’s schools. France 24 reports.
Survivors of an Iranian drone strike that killed six U.S. soldiers in Kuwait in March are demanding answers from the Army. Jack Brook of the Associated Press discusses the warnings commanders received before the attack.
Plus, the World Health Organization sa...
The Cornell case puts New York’s consent laws in the spotlight
As New York investigates an alleged rape at Cornell University, the state’s legal statutes on consent and intoxication are coming under scrutiny. The Washington Post’s Joanna Slater explains what the law says.
The Supreme Court has heard arguments over whether local governments can use state law to make oil companies pay for climate-related damage. Michael Booth of the Colorado Sun breaks down the case.
A lab technician at a plague research center in Siberia has died. U.S. officials say they are monitoring the case. The Washington Post’s Lena Sun explains what is kno...
How a Boeing jet survived a nosedive at extreme speed
A copilot’s attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv sent a Boeing 737 Max into a dive near the speed of sound. Benjamin Katz of the Wall Street Journal explains how the jet survived.
Oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz again, with shipments starting to approach prewar levels. The Washington Post’s Evan Halper explains why gas prices remain high.
The Supreme Court is beginning a new term with cases on climate change, immigration, and the Second Amendment. Reuters’s Jan Wolfe breaks down the docket.
Plus, the U.S. r...
Americans want more kids. Here’s what’s stopping them.
From Apple News In Conversation: Fewer people around the world are having kids — the global birth rate has been falling steadily since the 1970s — but, for many, it’s not because they don’t want to become parents. A deep sense of uncertainty about money, relationships, and the future has made starting a family feel harder than ever. Anna Louie Sussman, author of the new book Inconceivable: The Impossibility of Family in an Age of Uncertainty, joins Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to discuss what’s really standing in the way and what it would take to close that
New revelations over rape allegations put pressure on Cornell
New details have emerged about Cornell University’s handling of a 2024 sexual-assault allegation against seven men. The BBC’s Madeline Halpert explains how campus and criminal investigations into such accusations work.
Nate Silver of Silver Bulletin discusses what the polls are showing a month out from the midterms, and their margins of error.
Diesel prices have topped $6 a gallon, and some Republican lawmakers are calling for a ban on diesel exports. The Washington Post’s Rachel Lerman explains why experts warn a ban could backfire.
Plus, Renee Good’s family filed federal lawsuits over her...
A pilot stabbed his captain midflight. Then came the rescue.
A copilot stabbed the captain of a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv before passengers and crew subdued him and stabilized the plane. The Washington Post’s Gerry Shih explains what investigators are examining.
A Tennessee woman on death row survived two doses of lethal injection last night, prompting the state to halt the execution. The Associated Press has the details.
U.S. troops have formally withdrawn from Iraq, ending a military operation that lasted more than a decade. Reuters reports on what the withdrawal means for Iran and ISIS.
Plus, Defense Secretary Pete He...
The big bet that could make or break the U.S. economy
Investment in the AI build-out is on track to become the biggest economic bet in U.S. history. The Wall Street Journal’s Konrad Putzier explains the risks to jobs and the stock market.
New York prosecutors are reopening an investigation into an alleged 2024 rape at a Cornell University fraternity house. NPR’s Jaclyn Diaz explains how a lawsuit influenced the decision.
The Senate passed a bill to regulate college sports at the federal level. Justin Williams of The Athletic breaks down what it would change for players, coaches, and conferences.
Plus, the Supr...
The Republicans breaking with Trump to save their campaigns
President Trump is moving to cancel $810 million in spending approved by Congress. NPR’s Eric McDaniel explains the process, known as a pocket rescission.
Some Republican Senate candidates are distancing themselves from the White House over the war with Iran ahead of November. Semafor’s Burgess Everett breaks down why.
The Associated Press reports on how the White House is defending taxpayer-funded pro-Trump TV ads that ethics experts and lawmakers from both parties say break federal law.
Plus, Justice Samuel Alito is recusing himself from a major Supreme Court climate case, Lindsay Clancy retu...
How a farmer stumbled upon terror suspects near a military base
British police arrested five men near RAF Fairford, an air base used by U.S. forces, on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. The BBC reports on how authorities responded to a late-night tip from a resident.
A nor’easter flooded parts of the East Coast over the weekend, and Hurricane Polo is expected to make landfall in Mexico’s Baja California. USA Today reports.
President Trump has cited national security to justify many of his moves, from tariffs to the White House ballroom. Reuters’s Nandita Bose describes how he’s using the justific...
