Apple News In Conversation

“It’s like the Hunger Games”: Behind the scenes at ‘Saturday Night Live’

<p><em>Saturday Night Live</em> has churned out dozens of unforgettable stars &mdash; from Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy to Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig &mdash; but the biggest force behind the show is executive producer Lorne Michaels. Ahead of <em>SNL</em>&rsquo;s 50th anniversary, Susan Morrison, author of <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/lorne/id6584515207" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live</em></a>, talks to <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about Michaels&rsquo;s unique management style and singular eye for comedy.&nbsp;</p>

The dark side of the global human-egg trade

<p>In at least 6% of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cases, the eggs come from donors &mdash; and that number is growing. The scarcity and value of human eggs have given rise to a flourishing global industry already worth billions of dollars. A new investigation in <a href="https://apple.news/AaAxjmxE1QS-dUEym6TOCtA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bloomberg Businessweek</em></a> reveals how this sprawling and largely unregulated market is ripe for exploitation. <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu spoke with senior reporters Susan Berfield and Natalie Obiko Pearson about the stories of the women behind this booming business. And to hear more on this story, listen to the three-part series&nbsp;<em data-stringify-type="italic"><a class="c-link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-human-egg-trade-episode-1-the-lie/id1578096201?i=1000680313945" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-human-egg-trade-episode-1-the-lie/id1578096201?i=1000680313945" data-sk="tooltip_parent">The Human Egg Trade</a></em>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<em data-stringify-type="italic">Bloomberg</em>&rsquo;s<em data-stringify-type="italic">&nbsp;Big Take</em>.<span class="c-message__edited_label" dir="ltr" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-15103">&nbsp;</span></p>

Social media was supposed to be a force for good. What happened?

<p>The social-media grounds are shifting. In recent weeks, there have been major developments at platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Meanwhile, more and more experts are raising alarm bells about the harms of social media on society and our mental health. To understand how we got here and what might come next, <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu spoke with Nicholas Carr, author of the book <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/superbloom-how-technologies-of-connection-tear-us-apart/id6510973098" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart</em></a>, who has been writing about the human consequences of technology for decades<em>.</em></p>

He infiltrated America’s militias — and then spilled their secrets

<p>The militia movement in America has a long, embattled history &mdash; and President Trump ushered in a new chapter with his sweeping grant of clemency to the more than 1,500 people charged for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. <a href="https://apple.news/AsaPyU8UsQjmmCKrVUAb7zQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>ProPublica</em></a> reporter Joshua Kaplan sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to talk about the message these pardons send and the insights of a unique source who secretly infiltrated and climbed the ranks of militia groups in America.</p>

Behind the scenes of ‘Severance’ with Ben Stiller and Adam Scott

<p>The Apple Original series<em> Severance </em>takes place in a world where people can split their memories in two &mdash; and create completely separate selves for inside and outside the workplace. It was a hit when it debuted in 2022, and in the season finale the characters&rsquo; &ldquo;innies&rdquo; and &ldquo;outies&rdquo; collide in a shocking cliff-hanger. In the three years since, fans have been waiting for &mdash; and sharing their theories about &mdash;&nbsp;what might happen next. <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu sat down with executive producer and director Ben Stiller and star and executive producer Adam Scott to talk about the new season, out on <a href="https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/umc.cmc.1srk2goyh2q2zdxcx605w8vtx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple TV+</a> Jan. 17.</p> <p class="p1"><p>Check out Apple News&rsquo;s &lsquo;Severance&rsquo;-themed <a href="https://apple.news/J-GSQfUuhQBOCEHC9H5HyOQ">crossword</a>.</p>

How America’s student-debt problem got so big

<p>Forty-five million people in the U.S. &mdash; about one in six adults &mdash; owe a total of $1.7 trillion in student-loan debt. Canceling some of these federal loans has become a flash point in modern American politics. In a new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/burdened/id6460080155" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Burdened: Student Debt and the Making of an American Crisis</em></a>, Ryann Liebenthal traces the origins of the student-loan system and breaks down how it works today. Liebenthal spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about ways to address this trillion-dollar problem.</p>

Rebroadcast: Esther Perel on the real reasons couples fight

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em><a href="https://www.estherperel.com/courses/turning-conflict-into-connection" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><br /><br />Esther Perel</a> is the relationship expert many couples dream of scheduling a session with. Her podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-should-we-begin-with-esther-perel/id1237931798" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Where Should We Begin? With Esther Perel</em></a>, offers the next best thing. In it, she helps couples work through their issues, often providing insights that are relevant to other relationships. <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu spoke with Perel about how she approaches her work, the challenges of modern love, and how to resolve conflict.</p>

Rebroadcast: How to unlock your family’s history

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em></p> <p>Elizabeth Keating didn&rsquo;t realize how little she knew about her mother&rsquo;s life until after she had died. A trained anthropologist, Keating decided to develop a guide for interviewing and recording loved ones&rsquo; histories before it&rsquo;s too late. Her book <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-essential-questions/id1610899966" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Essential Questions: Interview Your Family to Uncover Stories and Bridge Generations</em></a> offers a blueprint for these conversations along with thought-provoking questions. On <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, Keating shares what this process can teach us about ourselves and our families with host Shumita Basu.</p>

Malala Yousafzai on women’s resistance under Taliban rule in Afghanistan

<p>After the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban came to power and quickly began stripping women and girls of their rights. With the support of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and actor Jennifer Lawrence, Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani gathered footage from women activists fighting against this oppressive regime. The resulting documentary, <a href="https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/bread--roses/umc.cmc.76dp605jvw9didum9xrra5hvc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Bread &amp; Roses</em></a>, is now available on Apple TV+. Mani and Yousafzai joined <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to talk about the bravery of the women in the face of Taliban rule and the urgent need for the international community to act.</p>

How one of Trump’s harshest policies started out under the radar

<p>The separation of migrant families by the Trump administration is one of the most controversial policies in modern American history. It began in mid-2017 but was only acknowledged publicly about a year later. In 2020, NBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff came out with a book on the subject called <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/separated/id6478543828" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Separated: Inside an American Tragedy</em></a>. Most recently, Soboroff teamed up with Academy Award&ndash;winning filmmaker Errol Morris to make a documentary, also called <a href="https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/separated/umc.cmc.4esc4qr4ywzvatredoc2w2x31" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Separated</em></a>, based on the book<em>.</em> Morris and Soboroff spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about how this policy was carried out and what it might look like under the new Trump administration.</p>

How Taylor Swift changed the music industry forever

<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/AHtfR614dQCuKfciNo4SeEg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><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" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><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>

Rebroadcast: Why we keep buying stuff we don’t need

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em><br /><br />Holiday spending is expected to reach record levels this year. That makes for a lot of packages &mdash; and a lot of returns, donations, and junk. On <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, host Shumita Basu speaks with <a href="https://apple.news/ToeaQ_L_NQPCFBus3ZQ7O4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Atlantic</em></a>&rsquo;s Amanda Mull, who reveals the strategies retailers use to get you to buy more stuff and what you can do to have a more sustainable holiday season. Listen to the full interview on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-in-conversation/id1577591053?i=1000676135109" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a>.</p>

Why more people are cutting ties with family

<p>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>

She writes women who feel real. Her work is shaking up TV.

<p>Sharon Horgan has spent decades creating hilarious TV and compelling women characters at every stage of life. In the BBC comedy <em>Pulling</em>, she captured the confusion of early adulthood. Young parenthood was the subject of Amazon Prime&rsquo;s <em>Catastrophe</em>. And HBO&rsquo;s <em>Divorce</em>, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, focused on the dissolution of a marriage. Her latest project, <em>Bad Sisters</em>, premieres its second season this week on Apple TV+. Horgan sits down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to talk about bringing realistic women onscreen, the delicate balance of writing comedy and drama, and why menopause might be the most challenging life stage of all.</p>

Why Americans bet on Donald Trump — again

<p>Along with Donald Trump&rsquo;s win this week, Republicans took control of the Senate and are favored to secure the House. To break down the forces behind this rightward shift, <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu spoke with <a href="https://apple.news/AoB6m7BQIRnu5zuJ9-IIrZw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Atlantic</em></a> staff writer George Packer. They discuss what the election results reveal about the country and the change many Americans want to see.</p>

How a Harris or Trump win would change America

<p>Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are making their closing pitches to voters ahead of Election Day. In this final week, <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu sat down with <em>New York Times </em>chief White House correspondent Peter Baker and <em>New Yorker </em>staff writer Susan Glasser. The married political reporters are also authors of the book <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-divider/id1601350040" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017&ndash;2021</em></a><em>. </em>They reflected on this moment in the campaign, the two contrasting visions for America the candidates are presenting, and what a victory for either Harris or Trump could mean for the country.</p>

The truth behind one of the biggest political lies

<p>Since former President Trump lost the 2020 presidential race, he and his supporters have been spreading the false claim that the election was stolen and that the U.S. is rife with voter fraud. This has been disproven in court many times, but the rhetoric has had a real effect on the country &mdash; from the January 6 attack on the Capitol, to election-rule changes, to general distrust around the voting process. <a href="https://apple.news/ABVdSY2T0SPSEbrABQbe59w" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Votebeat</em></a>&rsquo;s Jessica Huseman is one of the leading reporters on voting in the U.S. She talks with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about the lies being spread about our voting system and explains why Americans can feel reassured that this election will be safe and fair.</p>

Hurricanes are deadlier than ever. It doesn’t have to be this way.

<p>In the past month, two major hurricanes hit the southeastern United States, causing hundreds of deaths and billions of dollars in damage. Journalist Porter Fox warns that this is only the beginning. Fox, who has been reporting on climate change for more than a decade, has published a new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/category-five/id6478102643" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Category Five: Superstorms and the Warming Oceans That Feed Them</em></a>. He spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about how human-induced climate change is fueling increasingly larger and more dangerous storms &mdash; and how we can turn the tide.</p>

Why this crucial voting bloc is inching to the right

<p>Democratic candidates for office have historically relied on support from Latino voters. But recent elections and polling show that this crucial voting bloc is starting to move further to the right. In her new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/defectors/id6474948896" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America</em></a>, journalist Paola Ramos explores the forces behind this shift. She spoke to <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about what all of this could signal for the 2024 election.</p>

What to know about the Israel-Hamas war, one year in

<p>One year ago, Hamas militants killed nearly 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 people hostage. Since then, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, including more than 16,000 children. Most recently, the conflict expanded into Lebanon, and Iran fired missiles into Israel. <em>Vox</em> senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp talks to <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about where things stand now, the devastating human toll of the war, and how the conflict could evolve.</p>

What a post-Roe America looks like now — and how the election could change it

<p>Since the overturning of <em>Roe</em> v. <em>Wade</em>, nearly half of states in the U.S. have banned or heavily restricted abortion, leaving millions of people without access to this procedure. Caroline Kitchener covers abortion for the <a href="https://apple.news/AsH1VveGfQ6SFBkSa0NIHMw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Washington Post</em></a> and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her reporting in 2023. Kitchener talks to <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about the impact of abortion bans on people&rsquo;s lives and the role this issue is playing in the 2024 election.</p>

They killed 24 people, including children. Why was no one held responsible?

<p>On November 19, 2005, a group of U.S. Marines killed 24 men, women, and children in Haditha, Iraq. It would become known as the Haditha massacre and set off one of the largest war-crimes investigations in American history. But, ultimately, no one was convicted of these killings. The latest season of the<em> New Yorker</em>&rsquo;s podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-dark/id1148175292" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>In the Dark</em></a> explores what happened in Haditha and how the U.S. military justice system often fails to hold its members to account. Host Madeleine Baran spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>&rsquo;s Shumita Basu about this expansive investigative reporting.</p>

Why our loved ones believe political conspiracy theories — and ways to repair the damage

<p>When it comes to QAnon and other conspiracy theories, there&rsquo;s no one type of person who is most vulnerable. And those who get sucked in can quickly become unrecognizable to their loved ones. Jesselyn Cook, the author of <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-quiet-damage/id6452501843" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Quiet Damage: QAnon and the Destruction of the American Family</em></a>, talks to <em>Apple News</em> <em>In Conversation</em>host Shumita Basu about how QAnon has shattered lives across the political spectrum and the tools that can work to pull family and friends back out of the rabbit hole.</p>

Living longer should be a gift. Why doesn’t it feel that way?

<p>Every day, 10,000 people turn 65 in America. With unpaid family members bearing the brunt of the work and an already-stressed care workforce, the U.S. faces huge challenges to support the elderly. Labor organizer and <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-age-of-dignity/id1473548057" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">author</a> Ai-jen Poo talks to <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about&nbsp;how America can give everyone a chance to have the aging experience they deserve.</p>

Rebroadcast: Her family had always kept one relative a secret. She set out to uncover the truth.

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em><br /><br />Growing up, Jennifer Senior thought her mom was an only child. But when she was 12 years old, she learned her mom had a sister, named Adele, who was institutionalized as a baby. Adele had spent almost her entire life separated from her family. Decades later, in 2021, Senior reconnected with her aunt and uncovered the dark history of institutionalizing children with intellectual disabilities. Senior wrote about her aunt&rsquo;s story in <a href="https://apple.news/AOhyVHf7YT46EVdIY63FbPw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Atlantic</em></a> and spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about her experience.</p>

Inside the strategy to get Kamala Harris to the White House

<p>This week, Democrats rallied around their new ticket, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. It was a remarkable sign of unity for a party that settled on their new nominee just four weeks ago and has been riding a wave of voter enthusiasm. But can this energy last? And what will it take to win the White House in November? Apple News editor Gideon Resnick attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and talked to Apple News <em>In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about where the race with Trump stands now and what the Harris campaign sees as its path to victory.</p>

The scariest 70 miles

The Darién Gap is one of the most dangerous migrant routes in the world and the only way to get to the U.S. from South America by land. But despite the risks, more and more people — including children — are braving the 70-mile stretch of harsh terrain. Atlantic staff writer Caitlin Dickerson and photographer Lynsey Addario recently made the trek with several families to show just how treacherous it is on the ground. Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu spoke with Dickerson about what she saw — and how U.S. immigration policy has created more risks for people every step of the way.

What Nancy Pelosi wants for America — and what she’s done to get it

<p>Nancy Pelosi is one of the most powerful people in U.S. history. She was first elected to Congress in 1987 at the age of 47 and went on to become the first woman speaker of the House in 2007. She is known as a shrewd politician with an outsize influence over the Democratic Party and the country. Her new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-art-of-power/id6484320103" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Art of Power</em></a>, details some of the biggest moments in her career. Pelosi sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu to talk about the 2024 race for the White House, American politics today, and her legacy.</p>

How America’s food is making us sick

<p>The United States&rsquo; food system is fundamentally broken. We produce food that is optimized for profits, not quality. A lot of it is also detrimental to our health. And the way we produce it does huge harm to the planet. Best-selling author <a href="https://bittmanproject.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark Bittman</a> has been a leading voice in food and policy for decades. He talks to <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about the serious problems with how our food is made and sold &mdash; and offers solutions to improve the system.</p>

The GOATs to watch at the Paris Olympics

<p>The <a href="https://apple.news/TKLrmq8dkSgOQOchItCi2FA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>2024 Paris Olympics</strong></a> are finally here, with two weeks of jaw-dropping, mind-blowing athleticism by some of the world&rsquo;s GOATs. NBC&rsquo;s Rebecca Lowe is covering the Olympics &mdash; and talks with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about the athletes on Team USA, what they&rsquo;re up against, and the most exciting storylines of this summer&rsquo;s Games.</p>