Apple News Today – Podcast Summary
Episode: As Trump weighs a strike on Iran, the Pentagon has a warning
Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Yasmeen Khan
Episode Overview
This episode covers three major stories:
- The Trump administration’s consideration of a military strike on Iran amidst warnings from the Pentagon;
- The escalating corporate battle for ownership of Warner Brothers, with Netflix, Paramount, and regulators in the fray;
- A New Yorker investigation into whether popular weight loss drugs could also treat addiction.
The episode also includes brief updates on severe winter weather in the Northeast U.S., escalating cartel violence in Mexico, and a preview of President Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address.
1. U.S.-Iran Tensions: Strike Considered, Pentagon Cautions
Key Points:
- The Trump administration is pushing for tough concessions from Iran, especially the curtailment of its nuclear program, after talks failed to yield progress.
- The U.S. has evacuated non-essential diplomatic personnel from Beirut due to rising fears of conflict; the largest U.S. air build-up since the 2003 Iraq war is ongoing near Iran.
- Reports from the Wall Street Journal highlight that General Dan Kaine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, issued a pointed warning to President Trump about the risks of a large-scale operation.
Three Main Risks Identified by General Kaine ([01:35]-[02:32]):
-
Increased Risk of American Casualties:
“If there was to be an extended campaign that could last multiple days against Iran... it increases the risk of casualties against Americans...”
— Alex Ward ([01:43]) -
Dwindling Munitions and Missiles:
“There’s also the possibility that the US starts running out of munitions and air defense missiles, which the US is already running low on.”
— Alex Ward ([02:05]) -
Overtaxing U.S. Forces:
“What Kaine is not advocating necessarily for don't do the strikes. He's just saying, effectively, Mr. President, if you want to choose these massive options against Iran, you, you're welcome to just know that these are the risks that you incur...”
— Alex Ward ([02:23])
-
President Trump disputes Kaine’s warnings, insisting the Pentagon is ready and a strike could be imminent.
-
The administration’s goals remain somewhat unclear, with speculation about regime change, nuclear deterrence, and support for Iranian protesters ([02:50]-[03:11]).
-
The U.S. seeks major Iranian concessions: limiting missile range, pulling back regional support for armed groups, and ending uranium enrichment — demands Iran has rejected as violating its sovereign rights ([03:11]-[03:50]).
-
Despite hardships at home and domestic unrest, Iran signals possible willingness to negotiate further, but warns of fierce retaliation if attacked ([04:09]-[04:42]):
“They’re basically saying, hey America, if you don’t make a deal with us and you strike us, we are going to hit you with everything we’ve got.”
— Alex Ward ([04:35])
2. Hollywood Takeover Battle: Paramount vs. Netflix for Warner Brothers
Key Points:
-
Paramount has made a higher bid to acquire Warner Brothers, seeking to outmaneuver a pending Netflix deal.
-
The Warner board has four days to weigh Netflix’s response if Paramount’s offer is judged superior.
-
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, speaking from the BAFTA red carpet, challenges Paramount to “make a better deal,” dismissing accusations and misinformation ([05:40]):
“Just put a better deal on the table and see if you can win.”
— Ted Sarandos ([05:45]) -
The Department of Justice has begun an antitrust probe, examining whether a Netflix-Warner merger would create monopolistic market share ([05:53]-[06:39]).
-
Disagreement centers on market definitions:
-
Critics point to streaming “market share” potentially exceeding 50%, triggering antitrust standards.
-
Netflix argues its competition is broader, citing YouTube’s massive global audience ([06:49]):
“YouTube is what we are really fighting against... subscribers, non subscribers, little kids, big kids, cats who want to put up videos of themselves and everyone else in between.”
— Dominic Patton ([06:49])
-
-
Notable Hollywood figures, including James Cameron, criticize the deal for threatening theatrical releases; Netflix denies and accuses Cameron of siding with Paramount.
-
President Trump has interjected himself into the process, demanding Netflix remove former Obama official Susan Rice from its board ([07:52]). Both Patton and Sarandos note the oddity of presidential involvement:
“Yeah, he likes to do a lot of things on social media.”
— Ted Sarandos ([08:02]) -
With shareholder votes pending and regulatory reviews underway, Patton sums up:
“Nobody should cash in their winnings yet. Donald Trump and the Trump administration are nothing if not volatile and temperamental and fickle, and this could change at any time.”
— Dominic Patton ([08:19])
3. Weight Loss Drugs: A Possible Tool Against Addiction
Key Points:
-
GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic) are designed for diabetes and obesity but may also suppress addictive urges ([09:23]-[09:44]).
-
Early research and anecdotal evidence suggest people taking these drugs experience reduced cravings for alcohol, cigarettes, opioids, and even non-drug-related addictions like gambling.
-
Dhruv Kullar of The New Yorker shares the story of Mary, who struggled with alcohol for decades, tried Ozempic for weight loss, and experienced a dramatic drop in her urge to drink ([10:10]-[10:52]):
“She used to ruminate on alcohol — when to drink, how to drink, how much to drink, how much not to drink, and all that kind of noise went away...”
— Dhruv Kullar ([10:52]) -
Cautions and Limitations:
-
Not a miracle cure; side effects can include loss of interest in pleasurable activities and mood changes.
-
Over half of patients stop the drugs within a year due to cost, access, or side effects.
-
Risk of developing drug tolerance; unknowns about long-term efficacy and what happens after cessation ([11:28]):
“If you’re not taking the drug, it’s not going to be very helpful for your addiction or anything else.”
— Dhruv Kullar ([11:28])
-
-
GLP-1s do not address underlying causes of addiction, but could become a useful option in treatment.
4. Quick Hits: U.S. Weather, Mexico Violence, Trump’s Address
Major Headlines:
-
Record Snowstorms ([11:56]): Extreme snowfall impacts the Northeast and mid-Atlantic; power outages, hazardous roads, travel chaos, and fatalities reported.
-
Cartel Violence in Mexico:
- Killing of top drug lord Nemesio “El Mencho” Aceguira prompts retaliation, violence across 20 states, and deadly clashes.
- Fears of a civil war within the Sinaloa cartel and disruption of narco-trafficking routes.
-
Trump’s State of the Union:
- Set for 9PM Eastern; follows an intensive year of policies on immigration, tariffs, and foreign intervention; Republicans hold Congressional control, but face tough midterms.
Notable Quotes
-
General Kaine’s Warning:
“If you want to go big, well, then, you know, the bigger it is, the more risks you incur. Mr. President.”
— Alex Ward ([00:12]) -
Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Addressing the Competition:
“If you want to try to outbid our deal between now and the point we get regulatory approval, just make a better deal.”
— Ted Sarandos ([05:40]) -
On Drug Trials for Addiction:
“Drugs only work if you’re taking them. Huge numbers of people, by some estimates more than half of people come off these drugs within one year of starting them.”
— Dhruv Kullar ([11:28]) -
Hollywood Mergers and Antitrust:
“That is a monopoly of the industry.”
— Dominic Patton ([06:19])
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:05–04:42: U.S.-Iran tensions overview, Pentagon warning, administration goals, and Iranian response.
- 05:12–08:42: Paramount vs. Netflix for Warner Brothers, DOJ antitrust probe, Trump’s intervention, Hollywood weigh-in.
- 09:23–11:56: GLP-1 drugs and their effect on addiction; interviews and clinical insights.
- 11:56–End: Headlines—Winter storm, Mexican cartel violence, State of the Union preview.
For More:
Find in-depth coverage and narrated articles on these topics via the Apple News app.