Apple News In Conversation

The billionaire tech heir trying to buy the movie industry — on his father’s dime

<p>A battle is underway over some of Hollywood&rsquo;s most valuable properties. Paramount Skydance and Netflix are vying for control of Warner Bros. Discovery &mdash; the parent company of CNN, HBO, and a vast library of iconic films and TV shows. <a href="https://apple.news/Ai8wTEcgBSOKGDuGdO6cdNw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>New York </em>magazine</a> features writer Reeves Wiedeman recently profiled David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount Skydance and son of tech billionaire Larry Ellison. Wiedeman sits down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to explain the motivations behind the tech heir&rsquo;s business moves, how consolidation is reshaping the entertainment industry, and what it means for viewers&rsquo; screens &mdash; and wallets.</p>

How Bad Bunny went from bagging groceries to global superstardom

<p>Bad Bunny is one of the most popular artists in the world. He&rsquo;s won six Grammys &mdash; including Album of the Year for his latest record, <em>Deb&iacute; Tirar M&aacute;s Fotos</em>, the first Spanish-language album to take home the award &mdash; and this weekend, he&rsquo;ll headline the Super Bowl halftime show. Suzy Exposito, an editor at <em>De Los</em>, has followed Bad Bunny&rsquo;s rise for years and interviewed him several times. She joins <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu to talk about his upbringing in Puerto Rico, his ascent to global stardom, and how he&rsquo;s reshaping pop music.</p>

How ICE entered its most aggressive era — and what comes next

<p>Since President Trump took office just over a year ago, federal immigration enforcement has substantially expanded &mdash; nowhere more visibly than in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where federal officers have killed two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Widespread protests, scrutiny of ICE operations, and questions about accountability have intensified in recent weeks. Caitlin Dickerson, staff writer for <a href="https://apple.news/AS24qKjEqRYqL-QIP_k6IDg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Atlantic</em></a>, sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to discuss what&rsquo;s happening inside ICE today &mdash; and what these latest developments could mean going forward. Listen to the full interview on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-in-conversation/id1577591053" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a>.</p>

This science writer has seen Earth’s most amazing places. Here’s what she’s learned.&#8232;

<p><em>New Yorker </em>staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert has been reporting on climate and the environment for more than 25 years. In her work, she captures both the awe-inspiring beauty of the natural world and the unsettling truth about what humans are doing to it. Her latest book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/life-on-a-little-known-planet/id6741508099"><em>Life on a Little-Known Planet: Dispatches From a Changing World</em></a>, is a collection of essays from her decades-long career. Kolbert spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about the stories that have shaped her reporting &mdash; and what they&rsquo;ve taught her about a rapidly changing planet.</p>

The true toll of the Los Angeles fires

<p>In January 2025, catastrophic wildfires tore through Los Angeles, destroying entire neighborhoods and leaving devastation that continues today. MS NOW senior reporter Jacob Soboroff reported live from the blaze in his hometown of Pacific Palisades &mdash; and is now out with a new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/firestorm/id6745510650" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America&rsquo;s New Age of Disaster</em></a>, a deeply reported account of the chaos and enduring fallout. Soboroff sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to share what he witnessed on the ground and what the fires revealed about a city &mdash; and a country &mdash; unprepared for the disasters ahead.</p>

Trump didn’t take military action against Venezuela in his first term. Here’s what changed.

<p>The recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela has raised many questions about what&rsquo;s actually driving the Trump administration&rsquo;s aims in the region. To break down what&rsquo;s known &mdash; and unknown &mdash; about this unprecedented action, <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu talked with <a href="https://apple.news/A3IjPOcBhS9uG1kFfvns0PA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>New Yorker</em></a> staff writer Jonathan Blitzer, who has been reporting on immigration and foreign policy for years. They discuss how Venezuela became a target of the current administration, and how this tenuous situation could evolve moving forward.</p>

Rebroadcast: The secret to finding joy in running

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em><br /><br />Martinus Evans did not have an easy start to running. Weighing over 300 pounds, he set out to finish a marathon after a doctor told him to &ldquo;lose weight or die.&rdquo; He writes about his running journey in his book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/slow-af-run-club/id6443367648" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run</em></a>. In this week&rsquo;s episode of <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, Evans talks with host Shumita Basu about the lessons he&rsquo;s learned from being a &ldquo;back-of-the-packer.&rdquo;</p>

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

<p></p> <p><em>This episode from our archives is our most-listened-to interview of the year. It was originally published in June 2025.</em></p> <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>

The best music, movies, and TV of 2025

<p>The end of the year is a moment to reflect on the art and culture that stood out. <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu sat down with two culture critics &mdash; Sam Sanders, the host of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sam-sanders-show/id1771084688" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Sam Sanders Show</em></a> on KCRW, and Anne Helen Petersen, creator of the podcast and newsletter <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-study-podcast/id1718662839" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Culture Study</em></a> &mdash; to break down their top releases. They talk about the music, film, and TV they loved most in 2025. Plus, our listeners share their own picks for this year&rsquo;s can&rsquo;t-miss shows and albums.</p>

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>