Apple News Today: Inside the Fallout of a Stunning National-Security Leak
Release Date: March 28, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu
Guest: Dasha Burns, White House Bureau Chief at POLITICO

Introduction

In the March 28, 2025 episode of Apple News Today, host Shemitah Basu delves into the repercussions of a significant national-security leak involving a Signal Group chat that detailed military strategies against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The episode also covers other pressing issues, including immigration crackdowns, political nominations, executive orders on voter registration, and major departmental cuts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

1. Signal Group Chat Leak and Administration Fallout

Overview: The episode opens with the revelation that senior administration officials were inadvertently included in a Signal Group chat with journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. This chat contained explicit discussions and detailed plans for military strikes in Yemen that resulted in the deaths of dozens, including children. The leak has triggered congressional scrutiny, mixed messages from the administration, and bipartisan calls for an inspector general investigation.

Key Points & Discussions:

• Administrative Response:

  • Mike Waltz's Accountability:

    • Shemitah Basu (00:05): "Mike Waltz, the national security advisor, has taken responsibility for the mess up."
    • Dasha Burns (01:30): Expresses skepticism about Waltz's acceptance of responsibility, highlighting his attempts to deflect blame.
    • Dasha Burns (02:31): "Behind the scenes, there is a lot of tension and frustration. The President is really upset about this. He feels like it was embarrassing, it was an unforced error."

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Deflection:

    • Unknown Speaker (03:56): Criticizes journalists by comparing to Hillary Clinton's email scandal, stating, "Any security professional... would be fired on the spot for this type of conduct."

• President Trump's Stance:

  • Dasha Burns (02:31): "The typical Trump playbook is do not apologize, deny and go on Fox News. Right. And that's very much what Mike Waltz tried to do."

• Bipartisan Concerns:

  • Shemitah Basu (04:14): Highlights that figures like Tulsi Gabbard and Marco Rubio demand harsh consequences for security breaches.
  • Dasha Burns (05:38): Notes the bipartisan request to the Department of Defense Inspector General to investigate, indicating fractures even within traditionally loyal Republican ranks.

• Consequences and Political Implications:

  • Dasha Burns (04:28): Discusses the potential for Mike Waltz to be held accountable amidst internal finger-pointing.
  • Dasha Burns (05:28): Indicates that the administration fears setting a bad precedent but acknowledges increasing pressure for real consequences.

2. Immigration Crackdown and Student Detentions

Overview: The administration has intensified its immigration crackdown, targeting foreign-born individuals, including students. Recent incidents involve the detention of a Turkish student from Tufts University and a student from the University of Alabama, accused of supporting Hamas. These actions are part of a broader strategy to create the appearance of strong immigration enforcement amid logistical challenges.

Key Points & Discussions:

• Detentions and Accusations:

  • Shemitah Basu (05:59): Describes the detention of students, including a video of a Tufts student being pulled off the street by masked officers.
  • Shemitah Basu (06:47): "Homeland Security is saying she's being accused of supporting Hamas, which her lawyer denies."

• Revocation of Student Visas:

  • Shemitah Basu (06:47): Reports that Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the revocation of over 300 student visas.

• Administration's Strategy:

  • Dasha Burns (07:55): Analyzes the administration's goals:

    1. Retribution Against Liberal Institutions: Targeting universities aligns with Trump's political strategy to undermine liberal establishments.
    2. Optics of Immigration Crackdown: With actual deportations not meeting targets, the administration uses high-profile detentions to project strength.

  • Dasha Burns (08:09): Emphasizes the bypassing of due process, noting, "This is part of the strategy of this administration, is to flood the zone and do all of this so rapidly that the guardrails that would normally be in place just can't keep up."

3. Executive Order on Voter Registration

Overview: President Trump signed an executive order mandating proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. This move aims to address alleged election integrity issues, though it faces significant legal challenges and questions about its practical impact.

Key Points & Discussions:

• Details of the Executive Order:

  • Shemitah Basu (08:09): "President Trump signed an executive order that seeks to mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections."

• Legality and Impact:

  • Dasha Burns (08:52): "There will be plenty of challenges to this, but it's unclear how much of this will actually make it into any sort of law."
  • Shemitah Basu (09:18): Questions the executive order's impact on state-level voter registration processes.
  • Dasha Burns (09:35): Suggests the order serves more as a political signal, potentially influencing state and congressional actions without having direct policy implications.

4. Additional News Highlights

A. Nomination Pulled for UN Ambassador

• Shemitah Basu (10:12): Reports that President Trump withdrew Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's nomination for Ambassador to the United Nations, citing concerns over running for her House seat due to Republicans' narrow majority.

B. Special House Elections in Florida

• Shemitah Basu (10:12): Highlights upcoming special elections to replace former Congressman Matt Gaetz and another district where Governor Ron DeSantis anticipates underperformance by Trump-backed candidates.

C. Department of Health and Human Services Job Cuts

• Shemitah Basu (10:12): Announces that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ordered cuts of 10,000 staffers at HHS, significantly affecting the FDA and CDC. Democrats condemn the move, fearing it will undermine public health and safety.

D. Archaeological Discovery in New Mexico

• Shemitah Basu (10:12): Shares a breakthrough discovery of the oldest footprints in North America at White Sands National Park, dated to approximately 23,000 years ago, offering new insights into early human life on the continent.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Shemitah Basu summarizing the day's major stories and teasing an upcoming interview with journalists Zoe Schiffer and Leah Figar from Wired regarding their reporting on Elon Musk and Doge's digital influence on the federal government.

Shemitah Basu (13:03): "That episode is queued up to play for you next. Enjoy the weekend and I'll be back with the news on Monday."

Notable Quotes

1. Dasha Burns on Mike Waltz's Accountability:

   • "Doesn't know how the number got into his phone or how the number got into the group chat." (01:44)

2. Dasha Burns on Trump’s Defense Strategy:

   • "The typical Trump playbook is do not apologize, deny and go on Fox News." (02:31)

3. Unknown Speaker on Security Breaches:

   • "Any security professional... would be fired on the spot for this type of conduct and criminally prosecuted for being so reckless with this kind of information." (03:56)

4. Dasha Burns on Immigration Strategy:

   • "This is part of the strategy of this administration, is to flood the zone and do all of this so rapidly that the guardrails that would normally be in place just can't keep up." (08:09)

5. Dasha Burns on Executive Order Impact:

   • "It is often a message and a signal and then others at the state level in Congress take that and run with it in their own way so it doesn't have to have the policy teeth necessarily to have a big." (09:35)

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the podcast episode, detailing the major topics discussed, the dynamics within the administration, bipartisan reactions, and additional pertinent news stories. Notable quotes are included to highlight key viewpoints and moments within the conversation, providing depth and context for listeners who did not engage with the full episode.