Apple News Today: Detailed Summary of May 9, 2025 Episode

Hosted by Shemita Basu

1. Graduation Season and the Job Market

As graduation season reaches its peak, Shemita Basu opens the episode by highlighting that this year's graduating class is expected to be the largest in history. With millions of young individuals entering the workforce, optimism about job prospects remains high.

Survey Insights: Rachel Barber, a money and economy reporter at USA Today, discusses a recent survey conducted by Monster and Harris Poll, which surveyed over 1,000 recent and soon-to-be graduates. The findings reveal significant optimism among graduates regarding their job prospects:

• 83% believe they will secure employment shortly after graduation.
• 37% anticipate finding a job within four to six months.
• Only 5% expect it to take a year or longer ([00:51]).

Qualifications and Overconfidence: Barber notes that most graduates feel adequately qualified for entry-level roles, with 20% even considering themselves overqualified ([01:15]).

Economic Backing: The graduates' confidence aligns with recent economic reports showing strong job numbers in April, a stable unemployment rate, and slight growth in average hourly earnings. However, nearly half of the surveyed graduates express skepticism about securing positions at their preferred companies ([01:23]).

Deal Breakers for Employment: Several factors deter graduates from accepting certain job offers:

• Competitive Salary and Benefits: Nearly half insist on competitive compensation packages ([01:23]).
• Pay Transparency and Work Structure: Graduates are advocating for greater transparency in salaries and are largely opposed to rigid work-from-office mandates. 60% view in-office requirements as outdated ([02:12]).

Barber emphasizes the shift towards valuing work-life balance:

"More than half said that they won't work somewhere that doesn't provide that. So kind of the conventional wisdom that the first few years of your career are for grinding and putting in overtime to get a promotion. They're not really in agreement with that." ([02:26])

Expert Advice on Job Hunting: Barber consulted with career experts who advise graduates to remain patient during their job searches. Companies are extending their hiring processes, often involving multiple interview rounds, writing tests, and informal meetings to assess team compatibility. This extended process is due to the abundance of qualified applicants, allowing companies to take their time without the pressure to hire immediately ([02:49]).

Career Aspirations: Among the surveyed graduates:

• 25% intend to pursue careers in business.
• 15% are interested in careers related to artificial intelligence ([03:25]).

2. The Election of the First American Pope

In a historic moment, the Vatican has elected Robert Prevost as the new Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. This marks the first time an American has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church.

Papal Inauguration: Pope Leo XIV addressed the global Catholic community with heartfelt emotion:

"La pace sia contuti voi." ([04:34]) Translation: "May peace be with you all."

Background and Selection: Joshua McElwee, Reuters' Vatican correspondent, provides insight into Pope Leo's unexpected selection. Despite being relatively unknown and having only served at the Vatican for two years, Prevost's extensive missionary work in Peru and his compassionate approach towards refugees likely influenced his election ([04:34]).

Political Reactions: President Donald Trump lauded Pope Leo's selection as a significant honor for the United States. This endorsement follows Trump’s controversial tweet featuring an AI-generated image of himself as pope, which was met with backlash from religious leaders. The relationship between Pope Leo and President Trump is anticipated to be complex, especially on social issues. Pope Leo is perceived as aligning with Pope Francis on social justice causes, particularly regarding refugees and migrant rights ([04:45]).

Potential Policy Directions: Experts suggest that Pope Leo XIV may continue to support Pope Francis's progressive stances, including criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policies and other life issues. However, there remains uncertainty regarding his positions on topics like sexuality. While Pope Francis has taken more lenient stances, such as allowing blessings for gay couples, Leo XIV's future policies remain to be seen ([06:09]).

Local Reactions: A lighthearted moment emerged when rumors about Pope Leo being a Chicago Cubs fan were quickly dispelled by his brother, clarifying that he is, in fact, a White Sox supporter ([07:03]).

3. Soviet-Era Spacecraft Set to Crash-Land on Earth

An old Soviet spacecraft, initially launched to Venus over five decades ago, is projected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and crash-land. This event has reignited concerns about space debris and its potential impact on our planet.

Spacecraft Details: Shortly after its launch, the spacecraft inadvertently became trapped in Earth's orbit. Designed to withstand Venus's denser atmosphere, there's a possibility that parts of it may survive re-entry and reach the Earth's surface intact ([07:24]).

Risk Assessment: Harvard astronomers explain that the probability of the spacecraft striking a person is extremely low, primarily because approximately 70% of Earth is covered by water, increasing the chances of an oceanic landing ([08:49]).

Space Junk Concerns: The impending crash highlights the broader issue of space debris. Unlike most satellites that burn up upon re-entry, this Soviet spacecraft may contribute to environmental concerns if it disintegrates:

• In 2024, around 1,000 satellites re-entered Earth's atmosphere, averaging three per day.
• Projections suggest that by 2035, this number could rise to 50 re-entries daily, exacerbating space pollution ([08:49]).

Environmental Implications: Eric Rostin, an environmental writer for Bloomberg, warns of the potential impact on the ozone layer:

"When you start burning up all that aluminum and copper and lithium at the top of the atmosphere, it turns out it might start to have some effects we do not want." ([08:49])

These materials could deplete the ozone layer, which safeguards life on Earth by blocking harmful ultraviolet radiation. Additionally, rising space debris could indirectly influence weather patterns.

Industry Growth and Future Risks: Companies like Amazon and SpaceX have significantly increased the number of satellites in orbit. SpaceX alone has launched over 7,000 satellites, with plans to scale up to 42,000 in the future. This surge raises concerns about stratospheric pollution, as rocket emissions and satellite particles could reverse progress made in ozone layer recovery and potentially alter weather systems ([09:19]).

Ongoing Research and Mitigation Efforts: Scientists advocate for proactive measures to monitor and mitigate the effects of space debris. The European Space Agency plans to launch a mission in 2027 to track a satellite's final descent and analyze the remnants before they impact Earth ([10:03]).

4. Additional News Highlights

White House Personnel Changes:

• Jeanine Pirro: President Trump has appointed Fox News host and former prosecutor Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, a pivotal role within the Justice Department. This appointment follows the withdrawal of Ed Martin's nomination due to Republican opposition. Pirro is known for her longstanding support of Trump and her vocal stance on election fraud claims from 2020 ([10:21]).

• FEMA Leadership: Cameron Hamilton, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was dismissed shortly after expressing opposition to congressional suggestions to eliminate FEMA. His termination occurs amid Trump administration proposals to significantly reduce FEMA's budget, just weeks before the hurricane season begins ([10:21]).

Urban Land Subsidence: New research reveals that the land beneath the 28 most populous U.S. cities is experiencing subsidence, affecting approximately 34 million residents. Contrary to common belief that subsidence primarily affects coastal cities, many of the impacted cities are inland. For instance, Houston is sinking rapidly due to extensive groundwater, oil, and gas extraction activities. The causes of subsidence vary regionally, highlighting the diverse challenges urban areas face regarding land stability ([10:21]).

Mother's Day Special Story: In Fort Worth, Texas, a heartwarming story emerged where a mother shares her son's graduation announcement from Texas Christian University. Kyle Fields reflects on his close relationship with his mother, highlighting the importance of family support during his academic journey:

"One of my favorite memories from it is being able to sit in the living room and knock out our homework together. I mean, there was plenty of nights where up till 10, 11 o'clock she's reading or I'm writing an essay. That kind of thing definitely brought us closer." ([12:48])

Conclusion

Shemita Basu wraps up the episode by wishing listeners a special Mother's Day, sharing a personal anecdote, and teasing the next episode featuring an interview with Pulitzer Prize winner Madeline Barron. The episode offers a comprehensive overview of significant events, from the optimistic job market for graduates and the historic election of an American pope to the environmental implications of space debris and noteworthy political appointments.

For more stories and in-depth coverage, listeners are encouraged to access the Apple News app.