How worried should you be about bird flu?

Summary

Apple News Today: How Worried Should You Be About Bird Flu?
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu

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USAID Under Siege: Elon Musk and Trump's Assault on Foreign Aid

The episode opens with a dramatic account of recent turmoil at USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development. Over the weekend, Elon Musk's team entered USAID's headquarters, declaring intentions to shut down the agency. This sudden move led to staff receiving late-night emails instructing them not to report to work on Monday. When Democratic lawmakers attempted to assess the situation, they were initially blocked by federal officers.

Representative Jamie Raskin expressed concern over the actions taken against USAID employees:

"[01:07] Jamie Raskin: 'I represent thousands of federal workers, and a lot of them work in foreign aid and at USAID. [...] it's an attempt, really, to shut down an essential government function.'"

Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded by positioning himself as the acting administrator of USAID, despite its status as an independent agency for six decades. Rubio suggested that rather than a full shutdown, USAID's functions should undergo significant restructuring.

Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii announced plans to block all of Trump's State Department nominees, aiming to hinder the administration's efforts to dismantle foreign aid agencies:

"[03:45] Donald Trump: 'This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today. [...] The people get to decide how their taxpayer money is spent. Elon Musk does not get to decide.'"

Trump's Attack on USAID: Radical Lunatics and Budget Cuts

President Donald Trump continued his critique of USAID, labeling the agency as run by "a bunch of radical lunatics":

"[02:29] Donald Trump: 'It's been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we're getting them out.'"

Despite USAID accounting for less than 1% of the federal budget with over $40 billion handled in the 2023 fiscal year, Trump's administration, supported by Musk, is targeting the agency for slashing federal spending. Musk has alleged that USAID is "corrupt and wasteful," though these claims lack substantiated evidence.

Elon Musk's Influence and the Trump Administration's Moves

Elon Musk's intervention echoes his previous management style seen with his acquisition of Twitter. Jess Craig, a fellow at Vox, draws parallels between the two:

"[04:16] Jess Craig: 'We're really watching the Twitter playbook play out here. [...] We're seeing this play out now in the federal government. From Elon Musk.'"

Under Trump's directives, over 10,000 USAID employees across more than 100 countries are now targets in a broader campaign to reduce American foreign aid. This includes the recent halting of programs that supplied heat and electricity to Ukrainian refugees and disease monitoring in Africa. ProPublica describes this as potentially the most significant shift in U.S. humanitarian policy since the Marshall Plan, highlighting the immediate dangers faced by aid workers on the ground, such as those in Sudan who had to choose between following orders or risking the lives of malnourished children.

Tariffs and Trade: Trump's Economic Strategy

Shifting focus to trade policy, President Trump reinstated a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate with its own tariffs and restrictions on American products. This move followed Trump's initial retreat from tariff threats against Canada and Mexico—two of the U.S.'s largest trading partners. The tariffs against Canada and Mexico have been paused for 30 days to allow mediators to negotiate future steps, with Canada and Mexico already agreeing to some concessions on border security.

Trump frequently references the 25th President, William McKinley, praising his tariff policies:

"[06:25] Donald Trump: 'President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs [...] He was the tariff king.'"

However, historians caution that Trump's portrayal of McKinley's economic success is incomplete. While McKinley did implement significant tariff hikes, the U.S. economy was experiencing steady growth before, during, and after his presidency, driven by factors like technological advancements, unrestricted immigration, and increased banking activities. Moreover, McKinley's tariffs were unpopular among consumers, leading to Republican losses in subsequent elections. Unlike McKinley, who used tariffs as incentives for mutual trade reductions, Trump appears to employ them more as tools for coercion.

Bird Flu Outbreak: Impacts on Agriculture and Public Health

Transitioning to public health, the episode addresses the recent surge in bird flu cases across the United States. Jess Craig explains the ramifications:

"[09:33] Jess Craig: 'When bird flu is detected on a farm, [...] they have to be shut down, cleaned, decontaminated.'"

The outbreak has affected over 13 million birds nationwide, leading to significant shortages and price hikes, such as egg prices doubling from approximately $2.50 to over $4 per carton. Beyond poultry, bird flu has begun affecting cows and, more alarmingly, humans. The CDC reports dozens of human cases, including a fatality in Louisiana, marking the first human death in the U.S. attributed to bird flu.

Despite these concerning developments, Jess Craig reassures listeners about the low risk of bird flu to the general population:

"[10:40] Jess Craig: 'For the most part, the risk of bird flu to most people is very low.'"

Preventative measures like pasteurizing milk and thoroughly cooking eggs and meat effectively mitigate the risk. However, challenges persist, including farmer skepticism and reluctance to report infections, which complicates containment efforts.

Additional Headlines

International Diplomacy: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with President Trump, marking the first meeting with a foreign leader since Trump's return to office. Key discussion points include the implementation of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and the potential opening of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu faces internal political pressure from allies who favor continuing the military campaign against Hamas.

Legal Proceedings in Spain: In Spain, former soccer official Luis Rubiales stands trial for forcibly kissing a female player during the 2023 Women's World Cup victory celebration. The prosecution seeks a one-year prison sentence for sexual assault and an additional year and a half for coercion, alleging that Rubiales and his colleagues pressured the player into claiming the kiss was consensual. Rubiales denies these allegations, while the victim, Jenny Hermoso, has relocated to Mexico following death threats.

Sports Business: As the Super Bowl approaches, the potential three-peat victory by the Kansas City Chiefs faces a legal consideration regarding the use of the term "three peat." Pat Riley, a Miami Heat minority owner and NBA legend, holds the trademark for "three peat" and its variations. Ownership of this trademark means that merchandise bearing the term would require licensing fees, a strategy Riley successfully employed during the Chicago Bulls' three-peat victories in the 1990s.

Conclusion

Shemitah Basu wraps up the episode by directing listeners to the Apple News app for more stories, including a feature on actor Adrien Brody by Vogue and additional content available on the Apple News app and podcast platform.

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Notable Quotes:

• Jamie Raskin ([01:07]): "It's an attempt, really, to shut down an essential government function."
• Donald Trump ([02:29]): "It's been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we're getting them out."
• Jess Craig ([04:16]): "We're really watching the Twitter playbook play out here. [...] From Elon Musk."
• Donald Trump ([06:25]): "President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs [...] He was the tariff king."
• Jess Craig ([10:40]): "For the most part, the risk of bird flu to most people is very low."

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the February 4, 2025 episode of Apple News Today, providing a clear overview for listeners and those who missed the broadcast.

Transcript

[Shemitah Basu]

Good morning. It's Tuesday, February 4th. I'm Shemitah Basu. This is Apple News today. On today's show, why Trump keeps referencing the original tariff man President how worried should we be about bird flu? And a critical meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. But first, it's been a dramatic few days at USAID, the U.S. agency for International Development. After Elon Musk's team entered USAID's headquarters over the weekend and announced his intentions to shut down the agency, staffers were told in a late night email not to report into work on Monday. Then yesterday, workers showed up to find the lobby entrance was blocked by yellow tape. When some Democrats tried to enter the agency's headquarters, they were initially blocked by federal officers. Congressman Jamie Raskin was one of them. Here's what he told npr.

[Jamie Raskin]

Well, I represent thousands of federal workers, and a lot of them work in foreign aid and at usaid. And I wanted to go and see what's happening. They told me they were locked out of their workplace. And sure enough, we got inside and they said it had been closed. And all of the workers there were told to be teleworking, which is also, I understand, against the law under one of Trump's new executive orders. But it's an attempt, really, to shut down an essential government function.

[Shemitah Basu]

Now, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he's the acting administrator of the agency, even though USAID is an independent body and has been for 60 years. And he appeared to walk back plans for a full shutdown, saying the agency's functions should be overhauled. Also yesterday, Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii told the Wall Street Journal that he would block all of Trump's State Department nominees, effectively preventing Trump from installing his foreign policy team. Schatz said he'll delay those nominations from getting through until the administration's attack on foreign aid agencies ends. So how did usaid, which funds disaster relief, medical services, access to clean water and other programs around the world, become the focus of President Trump and Elon Musk's efforts to slash federal spending? Here's what Trump told reporters on the tarmac outside of Air Force One on Sunday.

[Donald Trump]

It's been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we're getting them out. Usaid, run by radical lunatics, and we're getting them out, and then we'll make a decision.

[Shemitah Basu]

Foreign aid makes up a very small portion of the federal budget. In the 2023 fiscal year, USAID handled more than $40 billion. That's less than 1% of the federal budget. Musk has claimed without evidence that USAID is corrupt and wasteful.

[Donald Trump]

As we dug into usaid, it became apparent that what we have here is not an apple with a worm in it, but we have actually just a ball of worms.

[Shemitah Basu]

The agency does work that many say is essential and that for a long time people of both parties have taken pride in like treating malnourished children in Sudan, which working to eliminate polio in dozens of countries, reducing HIV rates and providing beds, food and other critical services to refugees of Russia's war in Ukraine. The Washington Post calls it the world's largest provider of food assistance. Democrats say the attack on USAID is a sign of just how much power Elon Musk is wielding in Washington. And they say Trump doesn't have the authority to shut it down on his own. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy spoke about this on Monday.

[Donald Trump]

This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today. Let's call it what it is. The people get to decide how we defend the United States of America. The people get to decide how their taxpayer money is spent. Elon Musk does not get to decide.

[Shemitah Basu]

But for people who have long followed Elon Musk, this feels like a familiar pattern. CNBC's Steve Kovach points out. We saw Musk take a similar approach with his social media platform.

[Jess Craig]

We're really watching the Twitter playbook play out here. When Elon Musk took over Twitter two and a half years ago, this fork in the road email, this idea of going into agencies claiming fraud even though there wasn't not paying bills and things like that. We're seeing this play out now in the federal government. From Elon Musk.

[Shemitah Basu]

More than 10,000 people work for USAID in over 100 countries and they're just the latest targets in Trump's attack against American foreign aid programs. Last week he also paused programs that provide heat and electricity for Ukrainian refugees and disease monitoring in Africa. ProPublica calls what we are seeing the most consequential and far reaching shift in U.S. humanitarian policy since the Marshall Plan. And ProPublica recently wrote about the impossible position the freeze on foreign assistance is putting aid workers in on the ground. In Sudan, staffers at US Funded medical facilities had to make the choice last week between caring for severely malnourished malnourished children or following orders to immediately stop their work and possibly let up to 100 babies and toddlers die. They chose to keep working. Let's Talk tariffs. President Trump's promised 10% tariffs on Chinese goods went into effect overnight. Beijing responded with a number of retaliatory tariffs and restrictions on American goods and companies. This comes after Trump pulled back on his tariff threats against Canada and Mexico, our two biggest trading partners. Those tariffs are on pause for 30 days while mediators negotiate what should happen next. Canada and Mexico have already agreed to some concessions regarding border security. Trump's fixation on tariffs as a tool for economic growth and as a way to put pressure on other countries in negotiations has roots in some very interesting history. You'll often hear Trump invoke the name of the 25th president, William McKinley. Trump has praised McKinley many times, saying the country was prosperous under him because of tariffs he imposed.

[Donald Trump]

President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent. He was the tariff king, and he I don't think he was as bad as I am. I think I believe in him even more than him, but he believed in him very strongly. He was really a very good businessman and he took in billions of dollars at the time. That was when we were the richest. Relatively speaking, we were the richest during that period of time. That was tariffs from other countries.

[Shemitah Basu]

The Washington Post spoke with historians about Trump's reverence for McKinley and his tariffs, and they say Trump's retelling of that chapter of history is not a complete picture. One explained that it's not accurate to say tariffs were the main reason for McKinley's good economic fortune, because the US economy was growing pretty steadily before, during and after McKinley's time in office. One Federal Reserve estimate put growth at around 4% per year for decades before and after McKinley's term. There were other things going on during McKinley's presidency that fanned an already strong economy. Banks started loaning more money, unrestricted immigration meant that cheap labor was readily available, and technological advancements like the telephone also played a role. While McKinley did work to pass a new tariff law raising average taxes on manufactured goods to nearly 50% when he served in Congress, The Post reports that the policy was pretty unpopular. American businesses reaped huge profits, but consumers were upset about rising prices. Newspaper articles from the time blamed the tariffs for the cost of clothing and other items. It's one of the reasons, historians say Republicans lost midterm elections later the same year and the following presidential race. One big difference between McKinley and Trump, according to a historian and McKinley expert speaking to the Post, is is that Trump appears to be using tariffs as a stick to make demands or threats against other countries. McKinley used them more as a carrot to incentivize other countries to mutually reduce tariffs. It was a big part of McKinley's reciprocity approach to trade policy. In McKinley's second term, he gave a speech about the need for reciprocal trade agreements, saying the United States can't quote forever, sell everything and buy little or nothing. He also said the period of exclusiveness is past. But as the Post points out, we'll never know how his plans to reign in tariffs might have panned out, because the day after he gave his speech, he was shot by an assassin. McKinley died eight days later. Have you noticed the price of eggs is up again? That is, if you can find them. My grocery store was out of stock a few days ago. We're seeing this because of bird flu. In the past several weeks, across all 50 states, more than 13 million birds have been affected by it, according to the US Department of Agriculture. And for a poultry rancher, even one case of bird flu can have devastating consequences. Here's Jess Craig, a fellow at Vox and former infectious disease epidemiologist.

[Jess Craig]

When bird flu is detected on a farm, they can be massive operations that produce millions of egg eggs per week. They have to be shut down, cleaned, decontaminated.

[Shemitah Basu]

And to contain the spread of bird flu, any birds that have been exposed must be euthanized, which has been necessary for tens of millions of birds in recent years.

[Jess Craig]

So it's really just that we're seeing a surge of cases and that is resulting in a shortage, and then we see that in the price tag of eggs.

[Shemitah Basu]

According to Vox, a carton of eggs has nearly doubled in price from on average about $2.50 a year ago to more than $4 now. But the bird flu scare is going beyond poultry farms. It's now infected cows, which is rare, and even people. There are dozens of current cases in the United States where a human caught bird flu from interacting with an animal, according to the cdc. And last month, a person in Louisiana with underlying health conditions died of bird flu after being exposed to chickens and birds, the first human death attributed to bird flu in the United States. So how worried should you be about bird flu?

[Jess Craig]

For the most part, the risk of bird flu to most people is very.

[Shemitah Basu]

Low, craig told us. There are some basic things we can all do to be vigilant and protect ourselves.

[Jess Craig]

We do know things like pasteurizing milk and cooking your eggs and meat does kill bird flu. The highest risk is not from consuming these products. It's more coming into contact with an infected bird.

[Shemitah Basu]

And the good news is most of us do these things anyway. 99% of the country's milk supply comes from farms that pasteurize milk, for example. And Craig says the USDA does a pretty good job keeping tabs on poultry farms and taking quick action when there's a sign of possible bird flu. But the agency is up against some major challenges. Craig reports that a lot of farmers are skeptical of bird flu. They think it's a hoax. Some don't trust the government, so they might not report cases if they occur. And other farmers, she says, won't allow veterinarians on site to check for disease. Still, Craig told us she doesn't think that people should panic about this, though there are a few things that she'll be watching closely to see if the risk level changes, if any of the.

[Jess Craig]

Agencies announce that human transmission has become possible, or if we start seeing infections in swine. That probably would be major turning points in this, in this outbreak. But I think for now, take your standard precautions when eating or consuming meat and other animal products and you should be okay.

[Shemitah Basu]

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. Today. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with President Trump, becoming the first foreign leader to do so since Trump returned to office. NPR reports that there's a lot at stake in this meeting, most immediately how to proceed on the second part of the ceasefire deal to end Israel's war with Hamas and release all remaining hostages. Another topic that the Trump White House wants to broach is Israel opening diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia. A big obstacle to all of this are Netanyahu's allies in government at home in Israel, who want to see the war against Hamas continue and are threatening to bring down his government if he doesn't go on. In Spain, a trial is underway for Luis Rubiales, the former head of Spanish soccer who forcibly kissed a female player after the team won the 2023 Women's World Cup. Jenny Hermoso, the player in question, said in court on Monday that the kiss quote stained one of the happiest days of my life. Prosecutors are seeking a one year prison sentence for sexual assault. They're also pushing for an additional year and a half on coercion charges. They're claiming Rubiales and three former colleagues tried to pressure Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual. Rubiales denies the allegations. Hermoso, who has faced death threats since speaking out, has since left Spain to play in Mexico. And finally, we are days away from the super bowl when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles. And if the Chiefs bring it home, this would be their third championship win in a row. Commonly known as three peat. But if they want to use that specific term, they might have to pay big bucks to an NBA legend. Former player, coach and now minority owner of the Miami Heat, Pat Riley owns the trademark of the term three peat and several variations of it, meaning if anyone wants to make hats, shirts or other memorabilia, they'll have to pay up, USA Today reports. In the 90s, when the Chicago Bulls pulled off two separate three peats, Riley profited pretty handily off of both occasions. In 1998 alone, he received nearly $600,000 in royalty fees. You can find all these stories and more in the Apple News app. And if you're already listening in the News app right now, we've got a narrated article coming up next. Ahead of the Oscars, Vogue profiled best Actor nominee Adrien Brody, and he told the magazine none of his previous roles pushed him to the extremes as much as working on the Brutalist did. If you're listening in the podcast app, follow Apple News Narrated to find that story. And I'll be back with the news tomorrow.