Apple News In Conversation

How Trump became the GOP’s savior in chief — and the strategy to bring him back to the White House

<p>Following the Republican National Convention, the GOP has never been more confident about the chances of Donald Trump winning in November. <a href="https://apple.news/AJUSjT5ckTlWi9FP1dqV2bQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Atlantic</em></a> staff writer Tim Alberta, who has spent months talking to Trump insiders, breaks down his campaign&rsquo;s strategy and why so much could change between now and the election.</p>

Kids feel anxious. Parents feel hopeless. Why it’s so hard to limit social-media use.

<p>The U.S. surgeon general recently recommended that all social-media platforms come with a warning label alerting parents and young people of their risks. Meanwhile, some schools are moving to ban phones altogether.<em> Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu talks to psychologist Mitch Prinstein, an expert in adolescent development, about what we actually know about the effects of social media on kids&rsquo; brains &mdash; and his compassionate advice for navigating smartphone use in your family.</p>

How to survive this summer’s unbearable heat

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives that was originally published in July 2023.</em><br /><br />Millions of people in the U.S. are living in areas with dangerous levels of heat &mdash; and a growing death toll. In a new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-heat-will-kill-you-first/id6444250725" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Heat Will Kill You First</em></a>, reporter Jeff Goodell warns that heat is pushing us into a new climate era, with dire implications for individuals, society, and our planet. Goodell spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about the changes we need to make today and the reasons he still has hope for the future.</p>

Inside the making of reality TV

<p>Guest-hosted by Sam Sanders: 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 new 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>

The real reason so many people are getting cosmetic surgery

<p>Guest-hosted by Sam Sanders: Social media, constantly seeing ourselves on Zoom, and other modern technologies are inspiring people to change their faces and bodies at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, we have more access than ever before to medical procedures to modify our appearances. That combination is resulting in a plastic-surgery frenzy. To understand the science behind how our brains process beauty, guest host Sam Sanders talks to Neelam Vashi, an associate professor of dermatology at Boston University&rsquo;s medical school who has <a href="https://www.bu.edu/articles/2024/study-shows-correlation-between-social-media-use-and-cosmetic-procedures/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">studied</a> the connection between social media and cosmetic surgery. Then, Elise Hu, the author of <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/flawless/id6443314811" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture From the K-Beauty Capital</em></a>, offers tips on how to navigate a world of ever-fleeting beauty trends.</p>

Why TV and movies are getting worse

<p>A year after two historic Hollywood strikes, America&rsquo;s entertainment industry is in crisis. Box-office numbers are way down, there are roughly 20% fewer jobs than before the pandemic, and just a handful of companies now control virtually everything we watch. Franklin Leonard, the founder of the <a href="https://blcklst.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Black List</a>, is a Hollywood insider and an industry disrupter. He talks to guest host Sam Sanders about how TV and filmmaking need to change.</p>

What we know about the allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs

<p>An explosive lawsuit against hip-hop mogul Sean &ldquo;Diddy&rdquo; Combs, filed by his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, has prompted an avalanche of accusations and eyewitness accounts of his violent behavior. A new, deeply reported feature from <a href="https://apple.news/AXEQIOZrfSciGeuR0WyNJ9g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Rolling Stone</em></a> is one of the most extensive accounts yet of allegations against Combs &mdash; detailing decades of alleged physical and sexual abuse from his days in college to the heyday of his label, Bad Boy Records, and beyond. Guest host Sam Sanders talks with reporters Cheyenne Roundtree and Nancy Dillon about what they learned from witnesses &mdash; and how Combs&rsquo;s accusers are seeking justice.</p>

If you could choose another version of your life, would you?

<p>Guest-hosted by Sam Sanders:&nbsp;The new Apple TV+ series<em> Dark Matter</em> tells the story of Jason Dessen, a man who is abducted into an alternative version of his own life. The show is based on a book by best-selling science-fiction writer Blake Crouch. <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>guest host Sam Sanders spoke to Crouch and two stars of the show, Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly, about regret, the existence of the multiverse, and how the internet has all of us leading multiple lives.</p>

Rebroadcast: What losing family taught Anderson Cooper about grief and gratitude

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em><br /><br />Anderson Cooper is now the only living member of the family he grew up with. When he was 10 years old, his father died of a heart attack. His brother died by suicide about a decade later. And in 2019, his mother died at the age of 95. It&rsquo;s only recently that Cooper has been able to talk about and process these deaths. For<em> Apple News In Conversation</em>&rsquo;s <em>Think Again </em>series, he spoke with host Shumita Basu about what he&rsquo;s learned by talking to people about death and grief on his podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper/id1643163707" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>All There Is</em></a> &mdash; and the advice he has for those who are struggling with loss.</p>

Retirement is daunting. Here’s how Americans are making it work.

<p>Guest-hosted by Julia Carpenter: Whether you&rsquo;re 30 or 50 years old, it can be difficult to know what your life in retirement is going to look like and how to best prepare for it.&nbsp;<em>Wall Street Journal</em> reporters Anne Tergesen and Veronica Dagher spoke to people with a wide variety of retirement experiences &mdash; from those retiring on almost nothing but <a href="https://apple.news/AsD-TRCE-SBm6ZCPC4PNyWQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Social Security</a> to those with <a href="https://apple.news/AkgP0Js9QQni0ZUrd4CJFtA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$5 million</a> &mdash;&nbsp;about how they are each making it work regardless of the number in their bank accounts.</p>

How to become your own boss

<p>Guest-hosted by Julia Carpenter: More and more people are becoming self-employed in the U.S. And when it comes to being your own boss, everything from your finances to your attitude can shape whether your business is a success. Paco de Leon is a personal-finance expert and host of the podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weird-finance/id1670986446" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Weird Finance</em></a>. She sits down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>guest host Julia Carpenter to share some of the best advice she&rsquo;s learned from her own experience, and from guiding clients to create their own businesses.</p>

Rebroadcast: His father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He went looking for answers.

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em><br /><br />Around 2013, author and cardiologist Sandeep Jauhar started noticing some worrying changes in his father. He would forget the code to their safe; he couldn&rsquo;t remember what he did the day before and would get lost driving home. Eventually, his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease. In his new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/my-fathers-brain/id1623194942" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>My Father&rsquo;s Brain: Life in the Shadow of Alzheimer&rsquo;s</em></a>, Jauhar chronicles the challenges of caring for a sick parent and explains where medicine is today when it comes to treatment for this incurable illness.</p>

How to make America a better place to raise kids

<p>Guest-hosted by Julia Carpenter: The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. But when it comes to support for parents and families, we lag behind many of our peers. We have relatively high infant- and maternal-mortality rates and no national parental-leave policy. We spend far less on early-childhood care than other wealthy countries do. Economist and parenting expert <a href=“https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parentdata-with-emily-oster/id1633515294”>Emily Oster</a> argues that it doesn&rsquo;t have to be this way. She sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> guest host Julia Carpenter to talk about some concrete ways we could make this country a better place to start a family.</p>

How money affects your mental health

<p>Guest-hosted by Julia Carpenter: Losing your job. Being evicted. Hearing your parents fight about money. These can all be forms of financial trauma. Megan McCoy, a marriage and family psychologist specializing in financial therapy, explains how these traumas can have a long-standing effect on your relationship with money and how to break the cycle.</p>

How a financial-advice columnist got scammed out of $50,000

<p>Guest-hosted by Julia Carpenter:&nbsp;Charlotte Cowles never thought she&rsquo;d fall for a scam. She&rsquo;s savvy about money and even writes a financial-advice column for <a href="https://apple.news/AEXkv-9S2ROa70KqmZhNaZw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Cut</em></a>. But last fall, scammers persuaded her to put $50,000 in cash in a shoebox and hand it over, wiping out her life savings. Cowles tells her story to <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>guest host Julia Carpenter and offers tips on how to prevent this from happening to you.</p>

Rebroadcast: Tom Hanks on what it takes to make a movie

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em><br /><br />Tom Hanks has learned a thing or two about moviemaking during his decades-long career. Ultimately, he says, it&rsquo;s not about one person&rsquo;s vision or direction; it&rsquo;s about the countless people behind the camera &mdash; and a few in front of it &mdash; who make a movie possible. That&rsquo;s the foundational idea behind his debut novel,&nbsp;<a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-making-of-another-major-motion-picture-masterpiece/id6443397015" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece</em></a>. Hanks spoke to&nbsp;<em>Apple News In Conversation&nbsp;</em>host Shumita Basu before SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents actors, decided to strike. But his book and their conversation are a reminder of all that goes into creating the entertainment many of us take for granted.</p>

The U.S. political system is broken. Here are five ideas to fix it.

<p>Guest-hosted by Brian Stelter: The United States is one of the greatest democracies in the world. But, for a lot of people in this country, it doesn&rsquo;t feel that way. A recent Pew Research survey found that about 7 in 10 Americans feel that our political system is not working well. Ezra Klein is one of the top thinkers and writers on U.S. politics. He&rsquo;s also an opinion columnist for the <em>New York Times </em>and host of the podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ezra-klein-show/id1548604447" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Ezra Klein Show</em></a>. Klein sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>guest host Brian Stelter to talk about some concrete ways we could make our system better.</p>

Who’s better for the economy — Biden or Trump?

<p>Guest-hosted by Brian Stelter: Many Americans say the economy is their top issue this election year, with roughly two-thirds of voters saying&nbsp;they don&rsquo;t feel it&rsquo;s working for them. That&rsquo;s despite a variety of indicators that show the economy is healthy and thriving. Guest host Brian Stelter talked with Megan Leonhardt, a senior writer for <a href="https://apple.news/AFp1h4TqnREu5kYBAzdwrmw">Barron&rsquo;s</a>, and Betsey Stevenson, a labor economist and professor at the University of Michigan, about the disconnect between the data and voter sentiment, as well as Joe Biden&rsquo;s and Donald Trump&rsquo;s first-term track records.</p>

Not sure what’s real or fake online? Here are some tips.

<p>Guest-hosted by Brian Stelter: Between the upcoming presidential election, rapidly improving artificial intelligence, and weakened social-media safeguards, disinformation is becoming an increasingly urgent issue in the U.S. In her new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/attack-from-within/id6448880114" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Attack From Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America</em></a>, legal analyst and former U.S. attorney Barbara McQuade argues that American democracy will suffer if we don&rsquo;t distinguish truth from lies. McQuade spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>guest host Brian Stelter about America&rsquo;s disinformation problem and how to address it.</p>

Everything you need to know about Trump’s four criminal trials

<p>Guest-hosted by Brian Stelter:&nbsp;Donald Trump is the first president &mdash; current or former &mdash; to face criminal charges. The first of his four criminal trials is set to begin at the end of March, with at least one other expected to take place before the presidential election. Guest host Brian Stelter spoke with Scott Detrow, host of NPR&rsquo;s <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trumps-trials/id1715894000" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Trump&rsquo;s Trials</strong></em></a> podcast, and Karen Tumulty, political columnist for the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/karen-tumulty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Washington Post</strong></em></a>, about the charges against Trump and how he&rsquo;ll split his time between the courtroom and campaign trail.</p>

Could Biden drop out of the race? Can Trump run if he’s convicted? Your 2024 election questions, answered.

<p>Guest-hosted by Brian Stelter: This year&rsquo;s presidential election is unprecedented for many reasons. Republican front-runner and former president Donald Trump is facing 91 criminal charges in four separate trials. President Joe Biden, the presumed Democratic nominee, is facing serious criticisms over his age. Guest host Brian Stelter sat down with<em> New Yorker </em>staff writers Susan B. Glasser, Jane Mayer, and Evan Osnos, who also cohost <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-political-scene-the-new-yorker/id268213039" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Political Scene</em></a> podcast. He asks whether backup plans exist for either candidate, what the rules are around electing someone convicted of a crime, and why this campaign cycle is sure to be unlike any other.</p>

The WNBA is building something — and it’s not just the women’s version of the NBA

<p>Guest-hosted by David Greene: Sheryl Swoopes, often called the &ldquo;female Michael Jordan,&rdquo; was the first player signed to the WNBA. Her story is featured in the new documentary <a href="https://tubitv.com/movies/100014374/shattered-glass-a-wnbpa-story" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story</em></a>, which takes a look at how far the league has come since Swoopes&rsquo;s early days &mdash; and what today&rsquo;s pro athletes say they still need from the league. Guest host David Greene spoke with Swoopes and the film&rsquo;s director, Andrea Buccilla.</p>

Former elite gymnast Maggie Nichols speaks out about Larry Nassar’s abuse

<p>Guest-hosted by David Greene: Maggie Nichols was the first athlete on the national team to report former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar&rsquo;s sexual abuse to the organization in June 2015. A year later, she was not selected for the U.S. Olympic team. She spoke with guest host David Greene about her new memoir, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/unstoppable/id6450285390" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Unstoppable!</em></a></p> <p><em>Warning: This episode includes descriptions of sexual violence and restrictive eating.</em></p>

Why America is obsessed with the NFL

<p>Guest-hosted by David Greene: The NFL accounted for 93 of the top 100 U.S. broadcasts in 2023, according to Nielsen ratings. But not that long ago, the league was reeling from controversies around head injuries, allegations of racism in its hiring practices, and players protesting police brutality. To better understand the NFL&rsquo;s staying power, <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> guest host David Greene spoke with sports journalist Pablo Torre, host of the podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pablo-torre-finds-out/id1685093486"><em>Pablo Torre Finds Out</em></a>. They dig into the league&rsquo;s ups and downs, America&rsquo;s obsession with football, and the Taylor Swift effect.</p>

College sports are a multibillion-dollar business. Why aren’t athletes getting a cut?

<p>Guest-hosted by David Greene: College football and basketball are multibillion-dollar industries. But while some Division 1 coaches and athletic directors make millions of dollars each year, the players themselves are not paid by the schools they compete for. That may soon change. The NCAA is facing a slew of lawsuits that could lead to student athletes being treated and compensated as university employees. ESPN panelist and <a href="https://apple.news/AXbNh_nb4QQ6LfVgCF3AH0g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Washington Post</em></a> columnist Kevin Blackistone spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>guest host David Greene about the case against the NCAA &mdash; and the role that race plays in this debate.</p>

Inside the mind of one of the New Yorker’s most iconic cartoonists

<p>Roz Chast started at the<em> New Yorker </em>in 1978, when there was only one other woman cartoonist at the magazine. Decades later, she is a celebrated figure in the cartoon world and has become well-known for her distinctive style and humor. Her latest book, <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/i-must-be-dreaming-9781620403228/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>I Must Be Dreaming</em></a>, is an illustrated guide to Chast&rsquo;s dreams and the inner workings of her mind. Chast spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about following her artistic intuition, the popularity of <em>New Yorker </em>cartoons, and her collection of canned goods.</p>

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

<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>

How the evangelical church became so political, according to a pastor’s son

<p>Journalist Tim Alberta was raised in the evangelical church and is a practicing Christian. But he&rsquo;s grown increasingly concerned about how entrenched politics has become in the evangelical movement. In his latest book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-kingdom-the-power-and-the-glory/id6445634752" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism</em></a>, Alberta lays out the state of the evangelical church today and its shift toward the cultural and political fringes. Below are excerpts from Alberta&rsquo;s interview with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu.</p>

Esther Perel on the real reasons couples fight

<p><a href="https://www.estherperel.com/courses/turning-conflict-into-connection" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">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 real 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: Your brain is hardwired to resist change. Here’s how to retrain it.

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em></p> <p>Transitions can feel intimidating and destabilizing. But these moments can also be opportunities for growth, reflection, and self-discovery &mdash; especially when you have the right tools. In this episode of <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, host Shumita Basu talks to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Hidden Brain</em></a>&rsquo;s Shankar Vedantam about why pivot points can feel so challenging and how to embrace them as opportunities, rather than obstacles.</p>