Why is the U.S. defense bill so large? No one seems to know.

About this episode

<p><a href="https://apple.news/Az3n7AO7BRy6lQOoSp6vgFQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Slate</a> columnist Fred Kaplan, a longtime observer of military spending, asks whether anyone actually looked at the $778 billion U.S. defense budget before passing it.</p> <p>The January 6 panel recommended holding Trump&rsquo;s former chief of staff in contempt, on a day of big revelations about the Capitol attack. <a href="https://apple.news/A9SoqKPSfSdu1YiwuVOKX4g?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">CNBC</a> has the key details.</p> <p>California plans to use a measure modeled on Texas&rsquo;s controversial anti-abortion law to try to get guns off the streets. <a href="https://apple.news/A-jrMl4CJQEKH7gCJF2IqiQ?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Vox</a> explains.</p> <p>When it comes to gift giving, is it really the thought that counts? Not quite, psychologists tell the <a href="https://apple.news/AhWOMF49HT9af2XphsTFHXA?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Washington Post</a>.</p> <p>In the <a href="https://apple.news/ADdLA71rXRgKz0Ju9CagnUg?campaign_id=applenewstoday_shownotes">Players&rsquo; Tribune</a>, WNBA star A&rsquo;ja Wilson shares a powerful message for young Black women.</p>