Apple News Today: Episode Summary - "How Trump’s DEI Crackdown is Impacting Women in Science"

Release Date: March 31, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu

1. Introduction

Shemitah Basu opens the episode by outlining the primary topics for the day, which include the impact of the Trump administration's crackdown on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives on women in science, South Korea's troubled history with adoptions, and updates from men's college basketball's Final Four. Additionally, Basu touches on significant special elections influencing the political landscape.

2. Special Elections and Political Landscape

a. Florida House Races

Basu begins by discussing two pivotal House races in Florida that could affect the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

• Florida's 6th Congressional District:

  • Candidates: Republican State Senator Randy Fine vs. Democrat Josh Wheal

  • Context: Randy Fine is challenging to replace Mike Waltz, who is embroiled in controversies related to the Signal Group chat discussing military strikes in Yemen.

  • Polling: Fine leads within the margin of error, but his opponent has significantly outfunded him, raising concerns within the GOP.

  • Notable Quote:

    Ron DeSantis (Florida Governor) [01:17]: "I will tell you this regardless of the outcome in that it's going to be a way underperformance from what I won that district by in '22 and what President wanted by in November. That is not a reflection of President Trump. It's a reflection of the specific candidate running in that race."

• Another Florida Congressional Race:

  • Candidates: Democrat Gay Vallomont vs. Republican Jimmy Petronas

  • Context: Vallomont has outfunded Petronas by a ratio of 7 to 1, signaling a potential shift in a traditionally Republican district.

  • Polling Edge: Republicans hold a narrow 218 to 213 edge over Democrats in the House, making each seat critical.

  • Expert Insight:

    Steve Kornacki (NBC National Political Correspondent) [02:37]: "The last couple of years in special elections for the House and in lower turnout elections like not like presidential elections, where everybody votes, that's where the Democrats have had an advantage. That's where they've overperformed. They've done well. Why? Because it seems that the Democratic base for elections that do not have Donald Trump on the ballot seems more motivated than the Republican base."

b. President Trump's Involvement

President Trump emphasizes the critical nature of these races for maintaining the Republican majority.

• Notable Quote:

  Donald Trump [03:23]: "And I said, elise, would you do me a favor? We can, we cannot take a chance. We have a slim margin. We don't want to take any chances. We don't want to experiment."

Most analysts believe the GOP will likely retain these seats, but Democrats see potential shifts if their candidates perform strongly.

3. Trump's DEI Crackdown and Its Impact on Women in Science

a. Overview of Administrative Actions

The Trump administration has implemented significant reductions in workforce and funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These cuts include substantial decreases in NIH grants awarded to universities, which are pivotal in conducting research across various medical fields, including critical areas like pediatric brain cancer, heart disease, and asthma.

b. DEI Restrictions

A notable aspect of these funding cuts involves the prohibition of approving grants that reference terms such as "women," "trans," or "diversity." This directive is part of a broader crackdown on DEI initiatives within federal research institutions.

c. Impact on Researchers and Studies

Shefali Luthra, a reproductive health reporter for The 19th, provides insights into the real-world consequences of these administrative decisions.

• Challenges Faced by Researchers:

  • Projects have been halted or had to seek alternative funding sources.

  • Some studies, particularly those focusing on women's health, face potential shutdowns.

  • Notable Quotes:

    Shefali Luthra [04:52]: "They had been in the works of running clinical trials or analyzing data and suddenly were told they could no longer do that."

    Shefali Luthra [05:13]: "We simply won't get the answers to questions that we had already paid to ask and in turn aren't going to be able to reap the health benefits."

d. Case Study: Research on Uterine Fibroids

A poignant example is highlighted through the experiences of a researcher at Columbia University studying uterine fibroids—common, painful tissue growths with significant impacts on women's health, particularly among Black women.

• Funding Cuts Impact:

  • The sudden termination of federal funding left the researcher uncertain about the future of her studies.

  • Notable Quote:

    Shefali Luthra [06:04]: "She studies uterine fibroids... They are under researched... She didn't know what to do. She didn't know what this would mean for her research in the long term."

e. Root Causes of the DEI Funding Cuts

Luthra attributes the crackdown to broader cultural and political battles, including anti-trans rhetoric and misconceptions about the nature of the research being conducted.

• Mischaracterizations:

  • President Trump inaccurately described research as involving "transgender mice," which misrepresents the actual studies focused on hormone effects on diseases like asthma and breast cancer.

  • Notable Quote:

    Shefali Luthra [07:03]: "A lot of this sort of comes from this anti trans rhetoric... It was looking at whether hormones might affect asthma or breast cancer or other conditions that manifest differently based on sex and gender."

• Cultural Implications:

  • The administration's stance reflects a broader disinterest in understanding gender and sex in societal contexts, impacting various aspects of public infrastructure and health funding.

4. South Korea's Dark History of Adoptions

Shifting focus, Basu delves into the troubling history of adoptions in South Korea, highlighting systemic issues and recent efforts towards reconciliation.

a. Personal Story of Choi Young Ja

In 1975, Choi Young Ja, a mother from South Korea, experienced the heart-wrenching loss of her son, Sang Yeol, who was taken away without consent under fraudulent adoption practices.

• Impact on Families:

  • Children were often lied to, told they were abandoned or orphaned.

  • Many adoptees, like Sang Yeol (now Frank), discovered their true identities years later through DNA testing services like 23andMe.

  • Notable Quote:

    Choi Young Ja [08:28]: "She was shocked the boy she last remembered at the age of four had become an adult with gray hair."

b. Government's Role and Reforms

Kyowan Lee, a former health ministry official, criticizes the government's previous handling of adoption policies, emphasizing negligence over children's rights in favor of budgetary concerns.

• Systemic Failures:

  • Lack of detailed regulations to protect children's rights.

  • Prioritization of reducing social welfare spending through foreign adoptions.

  • Notable Quote:

    Kyowan Lee [09:48]: "The government did not really care about the details... They focused was the welfare need of the national budget."

c. Move Towards Truth and Reconciliation

Recent advocacy by adoptees and the revelation of fraudulent practices have pressured South Korea to address past abuses. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has acknowledged human rights violations and governmental failures in protecting adoptees.

5. Additional News Highlights

a. International Relations and Conflicts

• US-Russia Tensions:

  President Trump threatens new sanctions against Russia unless a deal is reached to end the war in Ukraine, responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands for interim governance in Ukraine.

• Myanmar Earthquake:

  A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay has resulted in significant casualties and a humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by ongoing civil war hindering rescue and recovery efforts.

b. NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Final Four

• Men's Final Four:

  All four number one seeds (Auburn, Florida, Duke, Houston) have advanced to the Final Four in San Antonio, marking the first occurrence since 2008.

• Women's Final Four:

  USC, UConn, Texas, TCU, UCLA, and South Carolina have secured their spots, with matchups scheduled for the coming weekend.

6. Closing Remarks and Upcoming Stories

Basu concludes by promoting additional content available on the Apple News app, including a narrated article from The Wall Street Journal about psychologist Daniel Kahneman's decision for assisted suicide at age 90—a topic sparking conversations about mental health and autonomy in later life.

Conclusion

This episode of Apple News Today provides an in-depth exploration of the Trump administration's policies affecting women in scientific research, shedding light on the broader implications for public health and gender-focused studies. Additionally, it covers critical political races in Florida, uncovers historical injustices in South Korea's adoption system, and updates listeners on significant international and sports news. Through engaging discussions and expert insights, host Shemitah Basu ensures listeners are well-informed on these multifaceted issues.