Apple News Today: Episode Summary Title: A Project 2025 Coauthor Is Now in Trump’s Cabinet
Host: Shemitah Basu
Release Date: February 10, 2025

1. President Trump's Attack on Government Agencies and USAID Cuts

[00:05 – 02:59]

Shemitah Basu opens the episode by discussing President Donald Trump's recent interview with Fox News' Bret Baier. Trump criticized government agencies, particularly targeting USAID, claiming rampant fraud and waste. He stated:

Donald Trump (00:43): "I'm going to go to the military. We're going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse. And you know, the people elected me on that."

Trump, alongside Elon Musk—now chair of the Department of Government Efficiency—has initiated significant cuts to USAID, freezing most foreign aid for 90 days and slashing USAID’s workforce from over 10,000 to approximately 600 employees. Despite a temporary halt by a district judge, the administration proceeded to remove USAID's name from its headquarters.

Russell Berman of The Atlantic comments on the unprecedented speed and extent of the cuts:

Russell Berman (01:45): "The speed with which Donald Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling USAID has been shocking to, you know, supporters and critics pretty much everyone."

Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary, defended the cuts, highlighting alleged misallocations:

Caroline Levitt (02:32): "These are some of the insane priorities that that organization has been spending money on... I don't know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don't want my dollars going towards this crap."

However, fact-checks by The Washington Post and PolitiFact revealed inaccuracies in Levitt’s claims. For instance, the $70,000 grant for a DEI musical in Ireland was actually from the State Department, not USAID, and aimed to promote shared values rather than fund a musical.

Additionally, Basu notes that foreign aid constitutes less than 1% of the U.S. budget, contrary to Trump’s claim that Americans believe it consumes about 25%:

Shemitah Basu (05:02): "The truth is foreign aid is less than 1% of our budget."

2. Appointment of Russ Vogt and the Influence of Project 2025

[05:10 – 08:06]

The episode highlights the appointment of Russ Vogt as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Vogt, a key architect of Project 2025—a conservative blueprint crafted by the Heritage Foundation for Trump's second term—brings substantial influence to the Trump administration.

Shemitah Basu underscores Vogt’s significance:

Shemitah Basu (06:59): "Vogt has described OMB as, quote, a president's air traffic control system and the nerve center of the federal government."

Megan Messerly, White House reporter for Politico, elaborates on Vogt’s role in Project 2025:

Megan Messerly (07:16): "He authored Chapter two on the Executive Office of the President, where he really lays out clearly his theory of executive branch power and his vision for sort of testing the limits of that power."

Despite Trump’s denial of involvement with Project 2025:

Donald Trump (07:59): "I haven't read it. I don't want to read it purposely."

Messerly points out the alignment of current administrative actions with Project 2025’s objectives, which include:

• Restructuring federal departments (e.g., disbanding Commerce and Education departments)
• Reversing climate protections
• Redefining marriage and family based on biblical principles

These initiatives faced significant opposition during the 2024 campaign, with only 4% of voters favoring the plan according to an NBC News poll. Nevertheless, Vogt’s confirmation saw unanimous Republican support and unanimous Democratic opposition in the Senate.

3. Bird Flu and Its Impact on Egg Prices vs. Chicken Wings

[08:26 – 11:30]

Transitioning to agricultural news, Basu explains the discrepancy between soaring egg prices and the affordability of Super Bowl chicken wings amidst a bird flu outbreak.

Key Points:

• Egg Farmers Struggle: Egg-laying chickens are experiencing higher infection rates compared to meat-producing chickens. An unnamed egg farmer stated:

  Unnamed Egg Farmer (10:37): "Egg farmers are in the fight of their lives to keep this disease at bay, to keep our hens safe and to keep eggs coming."

• Economic Impact: Recovering from a bird flu outbreak can take six months to a year, severely affecting egg supply and prices.

• Recent Outbreaks: Bird flu has also affected dairy cows in Nevada and poultry markets in New York City, leading to closures to prevent disease spread.

Elizabeth Walters, Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, addressed the outbreak:

Elizabeth Walters (11:18): "These markets are very closely linked by source blocks, distributors, so we think it's really important to get in there, have a period of the markets being down so we can stamp out this disease."

The episode also mentions the death of birds at zoos due to bird flu, though no widespread risk to humans has been identified. Concerns persist about the CDC being restricted from releasing unapproved communications, potentially hindering public awareness and response to the outbreak.

4. The Super Bowl: Chiefs vs. Eagles Dominance and Performances

[11:30 – 15:54]

Philadelphia Eagles Triumph Over Kansas City Chiefs

In a surprising turn, the Philadelphia Eagles delivered a commanding victory over the two-time defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, with a final score of 40-22. Sports editor Shankar Saman provided insights into the game:

Shankar Saman (13:09): "They just did everything right. They were better on offense, they were better on defense. They got lucky at the right times."

Key Highlights:

• Eagles' Performance: Led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, who secured two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. This marks the Eagles' first Super Bowl win since 2018.

• Chiefs' Struggle: Despite their reputation, the Chiefs could not recover from an early deficit, missing the elusive three-peat in the NFL.

Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show

The halftime performance featured Kendrick Lamar, making history as the first solo rap artist to headline the Super Bowl. His performance included a diss track aimed at Drake, titled "Not Like Us," which sparked controversy as Drake is suing Lamar’s record label over false accusations in the song.

Performance Highlights:

• Kendrick Lamar’s dancers donned American flag colors.

• Samuel L. Jackson portrayed Uncle Sam on stage.

• Serena Williams made a surprise appearance, hinting at political affiliations by positioning herself against Drake.

• The show concluded with:

  Shemitah Basu (14:33): "The 13-minute show ended with the words 'Game over' lit up a message clearly to Drake."

Impact and Reception:

• Lamar’s performance was interpreted as a commentary on race relations in America and a direct challenge to Drake, aligning with the tumultuous narratives surrounding both artists.
• The Eagles' decisive win and Lamar's provocative performance dominated post-game discussions.

5. President Trump’s Trade Tariff Announcements

[15:02 – 15:54]

On the day of the Super Bowl, President Trump announced significant changes to U.S. trade policies directly from Air Force One:

Donald Trump (15:33): "Ain't you tired trying to strike a chord and it's probably a minor."

Key Announcements:

• Steel and Aluminum Tariffs: Imposition of a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, affecting all countries, including major trading partners Canada and Mexico.

• Existing Tariffs: Maintained a 10% tariff on all products from China.

• Threats and Pauses: Initially threatened additional tariffs on Canada and Mexico but later paused these actions during the Super Bowl broadcast.

These announcements reflect Trump’s ongoing focus on reducing trade deficits and protecting American industries, despite potential diplomatic tensions with neighboring countries.

Conclusion

In this episode, Shemitah Basu navigates through a spectrum of impactful stories—from President Trump's aggressive stance against government agencies and the strategic appointment of Russ Vogt, to pressing agricultural challenges posed by bird flu, and the dramatic highlights of the Super Bowl. The episode underscores the intertwining of political maneuvers, economic policies, public health issues, and cultural spectacles shaping the current landscape.

For more detailed coverage and ongoing updates, listeners are encouraged to access the Apple News app.