Apple News In Conversation

How RFK Jr.’s tumultuous past has shaped his convictions

<p>Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is one of the most influential &mdash; and controversial &mdash; figures in American public health. And some of the changes he&rsquo;s pushing, especially around vaccines, have drawn sharp criticism and resistance from many scientific experts. In a recent <a href="https://apple.news/AWoElVDRST3KLOvZt3IkG-Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Atlantic</em></a> profile, staff writer Michael Scherer examined how Kennedy&rsquo;s background, including immense privilege and trauma, has shaped the perspective he now brings to his role at HHS. Scherer interviewed and traveled with Kennedy to report his piece. He sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to discuss Kennedy&rsquo;s worldview and what it could mean for federal public-health policy.</p>

‘The Rest Is History’ hosts on their top moments from America’s past

<p>At a time when interest in history is surging, millions of listeners are tuning in to hear historians Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland dive into the past on their hit podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rest-is-history/id1537788786" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Rest Is History</em></a>. Known for sharp banter, vivid details, and engaging narratives, the show has become the world&rsquo;s most popular history podcast and was named Apple Podcasts&rsquo;s Podcast of the Year. Sandbrook and Holland join <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to reflect on their favorite moments in American history &mdash; from Abraham Lincoln&rsquo;s presidency to the upheavals of 1968.</p>

Rebroadcast: Should you cut ties with a family member? A therapist offers advice.

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em><br /><br />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 <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/rules-of-estrangement/id1499290626" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties &amp; How to Heal the Conflict</em></a>, talks to <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about how to navigate strained relationships and what steps you can take to bridge divides.</p>

Samin Nosrat doesn’t love Thanksgiving food. Here’s what she says will improve it.

<p>With the release of her James Beard Award&ndash;winning cookbook, <em>Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, </em>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, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/good-things/id6739514181" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Good Things</em></a>, Nosrat is back with a fresh approach to preparing food &mdash; one that&rsquo;s centered on spending precious time with loved ones. She sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> 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.</p>

She documents war’s darkest truths — then returns home to her family

<p>Pulitzer Prize&ndash;winning photojournalist <a href="https://www.lynseyaddario.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lynsey Addario</a> has spent the past two decades on the front lines of many of the world&rsquo;s defining conflicts and humanitarian crises &mdash; from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Arab Spring, the Libyan civil war, and Russia&rsquo;s invasion of Ukraine. A new documentary from National Geographic, <a href="https://www.hulu.com/movie/lovewar-176fc769-62bc-4232-876f-eb83294e30a2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Love+War</em></a>, 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 <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu to talk about her high-risk work, motherhood, and what the film reveals about the complexity of both.</p>

The hidden dangers of being pregnant in America

<p>The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income nations &mdash; and, according to the CDC, more than 80% of maternal deaths are preventable. In her new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/unbearable/id6741073822" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America</em></a>, journalist Irin Carmon follows families as they navigate fertility struggles, pregnancy, birth, and loss within a health-care system that too often fails them. Carmon sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to talk about how the history of maternal health care in the U.S. continues to shape the lives of pregnant people today.</p>

The little-known official quietly driving Trump’s second term

<p>Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, has become one of the most influential figures shaping Trump&rsquo;s second term. He&rsquo;s the main driver of efforts to weaken federal agencies and push through sweeping government layoffs. In a recent piece copublished by <a href="https://apple.news/A6B1FaYmQQx6B_IvJIDbWeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>ProPublica</em></a> and the<em> New Yorker</em>, reporter Andy Kroll reveals how Vought&rsquo;s ideas about federal bureaucracy are being put into action. Kroll joins <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to explain why some in Washington call Vought the &ldquo;shadow president.&rdquo;</p>

How Zohran Mamdani is already changing politics

<p>Zohran Mamdani is leading New York City&rsquo;s mayoral race by double digits. But not long ago, the democratic socialist was a relatively unknown state assemblyman. <a href="https://apple.news/A3k5ti0wVTDqHy1ET5RgPvg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>New Yorker</em></a> staff writer Eric Lach recently profiled Mamdani, tracing his unique biography to his surprise primary win against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Lach joins <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to talk about Mamdani&rsquo;s sweeping campaign promises, the challenges of governing New York, and why this race matters for the rest of the country. Listen to the full interview on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-in-conversation/id1577591053?i=1000733209270" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a>.<br /><br /><em>This episode was published on Thursday, Oct. 23, when&nbsp;House Minority Leader&nbsp;Hakeem Jeffries had not yet endorsed Zohran Mamdani. Jeffries did so on Friday, Oct. 24.</em></p>

The dirty secret behind the hobby costing young men thousands of dollars

<p>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 <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/losing-big/id6683306493" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Losing Big: America&rsquo;s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling</em></a>, author Jonathan D. Cohen unpacks how this industry got so big and what its rise says about American culture. He spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about the draw and dangers of sports gambling.</p>

What happens when MAHA and public-health experts talk to one another?

<p>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, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-should-i-trust-you/id1788335471" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Why Should I Trust You?</em></a>, bring MAHA supporters and health experts together in a rare forum to foster understanding and explore solutions. <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu sat down with two of the hosts, Brinda Adhikari and Maggie Bartlett, to talk about what they&rsquo;re learning from these conversations, and the surprising partnerships emerging along the way.</p>

Schools blocked ChatGPT. Now they embrace it. What changed?

<p>In just a few years, U.S. school districts have gone from blocking AI tools to welcoming them into classrooms. In a recent story for <a href="https://apple.news/A2Lu6vY0QS--zENvbdmuERA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg Businessweek</em></a>, contributing writer <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/searches/id6526465450" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vauhini Vara</a> reports on how these tools are being used &mdash; and what they mean for students, teachers, and the future of learning. Vara joins <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to discuss the companies pushing AI into schools, the risks and promises of their products, and what might be lost &mdash; or gained &mdash; as classrooms adapt.</p>

What we get wrong about political violence in the U.S.

<p>Earlier this month, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University. The public response has amplified political divisions, leaving many people feeling anxious about the state of the country. <a href="https://apple.news/AvFp0cunFRqGtkaFBbjsd8A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sean Westwood</a>, director of Dartmouth&rsquo;s <a href="https://polarizationresearchlab.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Polarization Research Lab</a>, explains that while a few voices are stoking tensions, most Americans reject violence and want calmer politics. Westwood spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about what the data reveals about polarization and political violence in the U.S. &mdash; and what it might take to turn the temperature down.</p>

Is the U.S. Constitution too hard to change?

<p>The Constitution has been amended 27 times, but the last meaningful change was over half a century ago. In her new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/we-the-people/id6741485295" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution</em></a>, historian Jill Lepore argues that the near impossibility of amendment in recent decades underlies many of today&rsquo;s political crises, from polarization to battles over the courts. Lepore spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about the history of constitutional revision and why the amendment process matters for the future of American democracy.</p>

She had schizophrenia for decades — then suddenly she didn’t

<p>When Christine was 9, her mother began having delusions that upended their family&rsquo;s life. Her mother was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, but treatments had no effect. Nearly two decades later, after she started medication for cancer, her psychosis suddenly vanished. In the <a href="https://apple.news/A2Ins4MUySuCgfcBalXzT_g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>New Yorker</em></a>, staff writer Rachel Aviv tells this remarkable story &mdash; and what it reveals about how schizophrenia is diagnosed and treated. The piece was selected as an Apple News Story of the Month. Aviv spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about how evolving science is challenging long-held beliefs about schizophrenia and its causes.</p>

Why recovering from addiction is so hard in America

<p>Hundreds of thousands of Americans seek help for opioid addiction each year, but too often, they&rsquo;re met with a rehab system that fails them. Many programs operate with little oversight, prioritizing profit over care, while proven medications remain out of reach. Shoshana Walter, author of <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/rehab/id6736621430" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Rehab: An American Scandal</em></a>, spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about what actually works in treating addiction &mdash; and why even well-intentioned programs so often fall short.</p>

Rebroadcast: How “real” is reality TV?

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em><br /><br />Reality shows &mdash; like <em>Survivor</em>, <em>The Bachelor</em>, and <em>Love Is Blind</em> &mdash; are some of the most-watched TV series in the U.S. But how much &ldquo;reality&rdquo; is actually being shown? In her book <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/cue-the-sun/id6473575370" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV</em></a>, <em>New Yorker </em>staff writer Emily Nussbaum reveals how this industry came to be and takes people behind the scenes of some of the top reality series. Nussbaum speaks with guest host Sam Sanders about the most surprising aspects of this divisive genre.</p>

How Sudan’s collapse exposes America’s fading global power

<p>When Sudan&rsquo;s civil war broke out in 2023, two military factions violently dismantled the country&rsquo;s infrastructure, causing devastation for civilians. Now millions face famine, sexual violence, and mass displacement as international aid has dwindled after U.S. funding cuts. <a href="https://apple.news/AaZefClF6SGa579nvHDuVcg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Atlantic</em></a> staff writer Anne Applebaum and photojournalist Lynsey Addario traveled to Sudan to report on the crisis. Applebaum sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to talk about what she saw on the ground, and what Sudan&rsquo;s war reveals about the collapse of the liberal world order.</p>

The hidden agenda behind “no tax on tips”

<p>&ldquo;No tax on tips&rdquo; is a provision in President Trump&rsquo;s new tax-and-spending bill that promises a tax break for tipped workers. But nearly 40% of these workers don&rsquo;t earn enough to pay federal income tax and won&rsquo;t directly benefit from the policy. In his latest piece for the <a href="https://apple.news/Amj-DKRXlTq-XyPNgeYNrMw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>New Yorker</em></a>, contributing writer Eyal Press explains how the &ldquo;no tax on tips&rdquo; proposal originally came from the National Restaurant Association &mdash; known to some labor advocates as &ldquo;the other NRA&rdquo; &mdash; a powerful industry lobby that has long fought against raising wages. Press spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about how the association has shaped labor laws behind the scenes, and why a policy that looks like a win for workers might actually serve their bosses instead.</p>

How one state became a blueprint for Trump’s immigration crackdown

<p>The immigration landscape in the U.S. has shifted dramatically since President Trump began his second term. ICE raids and arrests have surged&nbsp;&mdash; including among migrants without criminal records &mdash; leaving detention facilities overflowing and families in crisis. NPR senior immigration correspondent <a href="https://apple.news/AvIWl55-uT9iRptBHd6GZSA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jasmine Garsd</a> has been reporting from Florida, a state that has taken the lead in advancing Trump&rsquo;s agenda. She sat down with<em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to share what she&rsquo;s seeing on the ground &mdash; and why Florida offers clues of what&rsquo;s to come for the rest of country.</p>

She wanted to be a mother. She was forced to put her son up for adoption.

<p>Maternity homes are resurging in the post-<em>Roe</em> era. These facilities are meant to provide temporary housing and other services to pregnant people in need. But many are rooted in restrictive Christian ideology &mdash; and some former residents say they were coerced into placing their babies for adoption. In the new Wondery podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liberty-lost/id1815337795" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Liberty Lost</em></a>, journalist T.J. Raphael investigates this system through the story of one teenager, Abbi Johnson. Raphael joins <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to share what she uncovered and what Johnson&rsquo;s experience reveals about adoption and reproductive choice in America.</p>

“There’s no good way to kill somebody”: what the death penalty looks like in America

<p>Public support for the death penalty has been slowly declining in America. But under President Trump, executions have spiked. In her recent piece, &ldquo;<a href="https://apple.news/Av9jDG-vZTamozsbIhEqRXQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Inside America&rsquo;s Death Chambers</a>,&rdquo; <em>Atlantic</em> staff writer Elizabeth Bruenig describes witnessing five executions &mdash; including two failed attempts &mdash; and what those experiences taught her about justice, mercy, and redemption. Bruenig spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about her reporting and her own experience as the relative of a murder victim.&nbsp;</p>

How tech is transforming parenthood (for better or worse)

<p><em>New York Times</em> critic Amanda Hess has spent years writing about the internet, technology, and culture. But when she became pregnant, and then a new parent, she was surprised by how much tech infiltrated &mdash; and tried to optimize &mdash; every aspect of her life. In her book <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/second-life/id6618121954" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age</em></a>, Hess chronicles that experience. She sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to talk about the promises and pitfalls of parenting technology, and the tools that actually helped her family.</p>

“We are living in a new Gilded Age”: how the billionaire class came to power

<p>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&nbsp;is bigger than ever as the billionaire class has ascended to new heights. In his new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-haves-and-have-yachts/id6741071687" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Haves and Have-Yachts</em></a>, <em>New Yorker</em> staff writer Evan Osnos explores the extravagant lifestyles of the wealthy and their outsize influence on politics. He sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to talk about this unique moment &mdash;&nbsp;when billionaires are both resented and envied by the public &mdash;&nbsp;and what it means for the rest of us.</p>

Rebroadcast: “There is a government cover-up around UFOs. It’s just not the one that you think.”

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives. Since we published this episode, the </em>Wall Street Journal<em> released a </em><a href="https://apple.news/A3wQu62yETEuzhMtfzntGiQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>report</em></a><em> that the Pentagon purposely spread disinformation about UFOs, at times to protect secret military operations.</em></p> <p>Have we been visited by extraterrestrial life? And how much does the government really know when it comes to UFOs? Garrett Graff&rsquo;s latest book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/ufo/id6445638086" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government&rsquo;s Search for Alien Life Here &mdash; and Out There</em></a>, investigates these questions and more. The national-security reporter recently sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to share his findings.</p>

What happens when private equity takes over your hospital, your house, and your job

<p>Private equity has become one of the most powerful &mdash; and least understood &mdash; forces in the American economy. In recent decades, firms have taken over everything from retail chains to hospitals to housing &mdash; often with little risk to themselves and with real consequences for workers and communities. In her new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/bad-company/id6670789017" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream</em></a>, journalist Megan Greenwell breaks down how this industry is quietly reshaping American life. Greenwell sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to share the stories of people pushing back against these entities to protect their jobs, their families, and their homes.</p>

Inside the high-speed production of ‘F1 The Movie’

<p>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 <a href="https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/f1-the-movie/umc.cmc.3t6dvnnr87zwd4wmvpdx5came" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>F1 The Movie</em></a>, 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 <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu to talk about bringing the world of F1 to life.</p>

An FBI agent went undercover in America’s extremist groups. Here’s what he learned.

<p>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, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/code-name-pale-horse/id6469529888" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Code Name: Pale Horse; How I Went Undercover to Expose America&rsquo;s Nazis</em></a><em>. </em>His story is also featured on the latest season of the <em>Slate</em> podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-hot-hate-agent-pale-horse/id1591461032" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>White Hot Hate</em></a>. Payne sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> 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.</p>

Rebroadcast: How Taylor Swift changed the music industry forever

<p><em>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&rsquo;re bringing you an episode from our archives about Swift&rsquo;s career, megastardom, and legacy.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>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. <a href="https://apple.news/A3nFtjqN1QrmVlEeAzKSCCA"><em>Rolling Stone</em></a>&rsquo;s Rob Sheffield, who has been covering Swift since the beginning of her career, is out with a new book on the star, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/heartbreak-is-the-national-anthem/id6472271953"><em>Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music</em></a>. Sheffield talks with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about Swift&rsquo;s gift for storytelling, her expansive fan base, and how she&rsquo;s empowered a whole new generation of artists.</p>

Why a 25-cent pill is being sold to cancer patients for nearly $1,000

<p>When <em>ProPublica</em> 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 <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to talk about his <a href="https://apple.news/ATKPlgJFmSV6qNJCo0bjbVA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">investigation</a> into Revlimid&rsquo;s origins and what it reveals about prescription-drug pricing in America.</p>

How Joe Biden’s inner circle hid his cognitive decline

<p>Throughout his presidency, Joe Biden faced questions about his age and his health, so much so that he ultimately ended his 2024 reelection campaign. In a new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/original-sin/id6742062691" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Original Sin: President Biden&rsquo;s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again</em></a>, journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson reveal the true extent of Biden&rsquo;s declining cognitive health, and the lengths his inner circle took to conceal it from the public. Tapper and Thompson spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about their reporting and what it means for Biden&rsquo;s legacy.</p>