Inside the sprint to avert a government shutdown

Summary

Apple News Today: Episode Summary – "Inside the Sprint to Avert a Government Shutdown"

Release Date: December 20, 2024
Host: Shemita Basu

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1. Government Shutdown Crisis: A Tumultuous Path to Funding

In this episode, Shemita Basu delves into the intense political maneuvering aimed at preventing a government shutdown during the critical holiday season. The episode highlights the failure of a funding bill negotiated by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, which was thwarted by President-elect Donald Trump before it could reach the House floor.

Key Developments:

• Failed Funding Bill: The initial bill, which had garnered bipartisan support, was effectively killed by Trump, compelling Republicans to hastily propose an alternative.
• Quick Scramble by GOP: Without a solid backup plan, the GOP attempted to pass an extension of current funding. The revised bill, approved by Trump, omitted several provisions but retained significant funding for farmers ($10 billion) and disaster aid ($100 billion). However, it failed to advance beyond the House floor.

Notable Quotes:

• Chip Roy [01:24]: “On this vote, the yeas are 174, the nays are 235, one voting present, 2/3 not being in the firm the affirmative. The rules are not suspended and the bill is not passed.”
• Chip Roy [01:56]: “To take this bill yesterday and congratulate yourself because it's shorter in pages but increases the debt by $5 trillion is asinine. And that's precisely what Republicans are doing. I am absolutely sickened by a party that campaigns on fiscal responsibility and has the temerity to go forward to the American people and say you think this is fiscally responsible, as he's promised to.”

Internal GOP Tensions:

• Republican Defiance: Some GOP members, including Chip Roy, voiced strong opposition against the bill, criticizing the party’s departure from fiscal responsibility.
• Trump’s Response: In retaliation, Trump hinted at a primary challenge against Roy, showcasing a rift within the Republican ranks.

Elon Musk’s Influence:

• Public Pressure Campaign: Elon Musk emerged as a significant influencer, leading a social media campaign against the initial bill. His efforts, dubbed the “Musk Johnson proposal,” swayed public opinion and legislative actions.
• Chip Roy [03:55]: “They view him really as the most powerful proxy. They think he speaks for Trump.”

Concluding Insights: The episode underscores Speaker Mike Johnson’s precarious position, balancing Trump’s demands with the realities of a slim Republican majority that may require Democratic support—something currently unlikely given Democratic dissatisfaction with the bill’s provisions.

2. Afghan Women Courageously Oppose Taliban Regime

Shifting focus to international affairs, the episode features an in-depth interview with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai and director Sahra Mani about the plight of Afghan women under Taliban rule.

Highlights:

• Documentary Spotlight – "Bread and Roses": The documentary, executive produced by Malala Yousafzai and directed by Sahra Mani, showcases the brave protests of Afghan women against the Taliban’s oppressive policies.
• Risks Faced by Activists: The film captures the harrowing experiences of women facing threats, tear gas, and arrests while advocating for their rights.

Notable Quotes:

• Malala Yousafzai [05:32]: “They have systematically erased women from public life, which Afghan women activists and human rights experts call a gender apartheid.”
• Sahra Mani [06:37]: “I know there is so many women they arrested that they never come back home. They got killed by Taliban and still so many women they kidnapped and we don't know where they are. Some of them, their dead body find it around the city and some of them is still missing.”
• Malala Yousafzai [07:00]: “It's really important for us to make a clear stance against the Taliban that what you are doing does not represent us, it does not represent our culture, it does not represent our faith, and it does not represent our country. We have not elected you, you are not our representatives and what you are doing is against our will. It's against our rights and dignity.”

Urgent Call to Action: Both Malala and Sahra emphasize the necessity for the international community to recognize and respond to the ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan, urging continued global awareness and intervention.

3. Hollywood’s Holiday Hustle: Blockbusters Amidst Challenges

The episode transitions to the entertainment sector, examining the dynamics of holiday movie releases and the broader challenges facing Hollywood.

Box Office Highlights:

• Top Performers: The holiday season saw the release of family-friendly blockbusters like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Mufasa the Lion King, and the gothic horror film Nosferatu. Additionally, sequels such as Moana 2 and Gladiator 2 dominated the Thanksgiving weekend.
• Record-Breaking Earnings:
  • Ryan Fonder [08:43]: “It was led by Moana, which grossed $221 million in five days. And it's opening, which is a Thanksgiving record. You were gone forever.”
  • Ryan Fonder [09:08]: “All told, all the movies grossed 420 million at the box office in that five day stretch. And that was also a Thanksgiving record.”

Industry Challenges:

• Declining Theater Attendance: Factors such as rising ticket prices and the surge in streaming services have contributed to a steady decline in theatergoers, a trend exacerbated by the pandemic.
• Shift to Sequels and Franchises: Studios prioritize sequels and franchise extensions, a strategy some critics argue stifles creative diversity.
  • Ryan Fonder [10:22]: “They will go out for an event type of picture. The kind of movie like Wicked, where it's like, okay, we're going out, we're going to dinner, we're going to get dressed up, that kind of thing. Like that is what's really driving the business.”

Critical Perspectives:

• Overreliance on Intellectual Property (IP): Fonder notes that the “IP Renaissance” has led studios to exhaust existing franchises, limiting the introduction of fresh, original content.
  • Ryan Fonder [10:48]: “I think you just get a less interesting mix of movies when every studio is trying to do basically the same thing and trying to do something that they've all done before.”

4. Additional News Highlights

Beyond the primary segments, the episode touches on several other significant stories:

• Luigi Mangione Case:

  • Updates: Luigi Mangione, charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, waived his extradition hearing and was transported to New York City. Federal prosecutors have added new charges, including stalking and murder with a firearm. Previously, Mangione faced charges of murder as an act of terrorism among others.

• Amazon Worker Strikes:

  • Union Efforts: Approximately 10,000 Amazon workers in New York City, Atlanta, and California went on strike, represented by the Teamsters Union. Their demand is for Amazon to recognize the union and negotiate a contract.
  • Amazon’s Stance: The company maintains that workers are disinterested in unionization and asserts that the strikes will not impede holiday deliveries. Historical context includes a 2022 instance where Amazon refused to negotiate despite a warehouse in Staten Island being certified by the NLRB.

• Santa Camp: Training the Next Generation of Santas:

  • Behind the Magic: CT Insider reports that nearly 90 aspiring Santas attended Santa Camp in New Hampshire, where they learned essential skills such as costume handling, creating backstories, and engaging with children and adults empathetically.
  • Program Insights:
    • Sahra Mani [13:36]: “With a mighty cheer.”
    • New England Santa Society President [13:39]: Emphasizes the importance of understanding the nuances behind playing Santa Claus, highlighting the camp’s role in preparing individuals for the role’s demands.

Conclusion

Shemita Basu wraps up the episode by reminding listeners to access the full interview with Malala Yousafzai and Sahra Mani through the Apple News app. She also extends holiday greetings, announcing the team's upcoming break until January 16.

This episode of Apple News Today provides a comprehensive look into the political turmoil surrounding the potential government shutdown, the brave resistance of Afghan women against Taliban oppression, the evolving landscape of Hollywood’s holiday releases, and other pertinent news stories, all enriched with insightful commentary and firsthand accounts.

Transcript

[Shemita Basu]

Hey there, it's Shemita here. Just want to let you know after today's show, our team is taking a good long end of the year break. We are human. We need to recharge and we'll be back for the first full week in January. Okay, let's do the news. Good morning. It's Friday, December 20th. I'm Shemitah Basu. This is Apple News Today. On today's show, how some women in Afghanistan are risking their lives to protest Taliban rule. Why releasing a holiday blockbuster is still tricky business. And the summer camp where wannabe Santas go to train. But first, it's been a rollercoaster couple of days for lawmakers trying to avert a government shutdown before the holidays after a bill negotiated by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson was effectively killed by President elect Donald Trump before it even came to the floor on Wednesday. GOP, with no apparent backup plan, scrambled yesterday to pass an extension of current funding. The new Trump approved bill cut out a good chunk of provisions that were included in the previous version, but kept money for farmers, about $10 billion and $100 billion in disaster aid. The bill made it to the floor, but not any farther.

[Chip Roy]

On this vote, the yeas are 174, the nays are 235, one voting present, 2/3 not being in the firm the affirmative. The rules are not suspended and the bill is not passed.

[Shemita Basu]

So lawmakers went home with no deal. Last night, Trump was demanding spending be tied to a two year debt limit suspension. Dozens of Republicans voted against the bill, balking at that idea without spending cuts. Texas Representative Chip Roy was one of the nay votes and he had some strong words for his fellow Republicans.

[Chip Roy]

To take this bill yesterday and congratulate yourself because it's shorter in pages but increases the debt by $5 trillion is asinine. And that's precisely what Republicans are doing. I am absolutely sickened by a party that campaigns on fiscal responsibility and has the temerity to go forward to the American people and say you think this is fiscally responsible, as he's promised to.

[Shemita Basu]

Do with Republicans who go against him. Trump threatened Roy with a primary challenge in online posts. This was the first major test of how Congress is preparing to act under a second Trump presidency, and it revealed a willingness from some Republicans to defy the president elect. It also casts a harsh spotlight on Speaker Johnson, who will need to figure out how he wants to balance Trump's demands with congressional realities. A slim Republican majority in the House means Johnson will likely need the support of Democrats to pass Any bill, something Dems are not keen to do now after their initial contributions to the bill were axed. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the new proposal laughable.

[Chip Roy]

We negotiated in a bipartisan, bicameral way, real progress for working class Americans, for middle class Americans, for everyday Americans who aspire to be part of the middle class that has been cut out of this legislation. Why would you do that?

[Shemita Basu]

Jeffries expressed his frustration by calling the new plan the Musk Johnson proposal, referring of course to Elon Musk, who led an intense pressure campaign on social media against the initial bill in recent days. He called the bill outrageous and encouraged his followers, over 200 million people, to call their representatives and urge them to vote against it. Melanie Zenona, a congressional reporter for Punchbowl News, told msnbc, you could see Musk shifting the tides on Capitol Hill in real time when he was tweeting that.

[Chip Roy]

Today members were taking notice that tweet was flying around. I saw people on their phones on their way to votes, looking at the tweets. One of them pulled it out and showed me, and that mattered. They view him really as the most powerful proxy. They think he speaks for Trump.

[Shemita Basu]

Musk's relationship with the President elect has received a lot of attention ever since he endorsed Trump over the summer, especially once Trump gave Musk a title and a mission to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, basically tasking him with suggesting big cuts to federal spending. Musk's potential conflicts of interest, as well as his effect on entire government agencies have been the subject of scrutiny and speculation. He is, after all, the world's richest man, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires index, and he's CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and the Social media site X. All the while, though, it's been hard to pinpoint Musk's exact influence in Trump era politics. But not this time, where Musk left a clear trail of his charge to derail this government spending bill. Congress is on a tight deadline to pass a funding bill by midnight tonight to keep the government running. When the US withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban almost immediately regained control of the country. In the years since, the Taliban has stripped the rights of women and girls, banning them from school, from going out without a chaperone, banning their voices from being heard in public.

[Malala Yousafzai]

They have systematically erased women from public life, which Afghan women activists and human rights experts call a gender apartheid.

[Shemita Basu]

That's Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and activist who famously recovered from her own attack by the Taliban in her home of Pakistan back in 2012. I recently got a chance to talk with her about a new documentary she executive produced called Bread and Roses. Released by Apple tv. The film was made largely from footage that three women activists in Afghanistan took themselves at great personal risk as the Taliban cracked down on their protests.

[Chip Roy]

God not Azad. God not a Mushi.

[Shemita Basu]

In the film you see the women out on the streets chanting their motto, work, Bread, freedom. You see them being threatened by Talibs with guns, sprayed with tear gas, and in some cases being arrested and detained. Director Sahra Mani says that the three main women in her film have since escaped the country, but not all women are so lucky.

[Sahra Mani]

I know there is so many women they arrested that they never come back home. They got killed by Taliban and still so many women they kidnapped and we don't know where they are. Some of them, their dead body find it around the city and some of them is still missing.

[Shemita Basu]

Malala told me that it's important for them to continue to raise their voices despite the risks.

[Malala Yousafzai]

It's really important for us to make a clear stance against the Taliban that what you are doing does not represent us, it does not represent our culture, it does not represent our faith, and it does not represent our country. We have not elected you, you are not our representatives and what you are doing is against our will. It's against our rights and dignity.

[Shemita Basu]

Malala and Sahra also told me about the need for the international community to take notice of what's happening to women and girls in Afghanistan, and they hope the film underscores the urgency to act.

[Sahra Mani]

I'm sure Taliban have plans for the future, but the world doesn't have any plan for the Taliban.

[Shemita Basu]

To hear the rest of my interview with Malala Yousafzai and Sahra Mani, listen to this week's episode of Apple News in conversation. If you're listening in the news app, we'll cue it up to play for you next Christmas is just a few days away and for a lot of families it's a cherished tradition to take a good old trip to the movies. The 2024 holiday lineup includes some family friendly films like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa the Lion King. Those are both out today, and there's one coming up on Christmas Day that is definitely not suitable for kids. The gothic horror film Nosferatu. It's been a pretty rough few years for Hollywood at large between pandemic closures and labor strikes by writers and ACT last year, but it scored a big win over the Thanksgiving holiday. Three actually wicked Moana 2 and Gladiator 2.

[Ryan Fonder]

It was led by Moana, which grossed $221 million in five days. And it's opening, which is a Thanksgiving record. You were gone forever.

[Chip Roy]

It was three days, but I missed you.

[Shemita Basu]

Ryan Fonder covers the business of Entertainment for the LA Times.

[Ryan Fonder]

All told, all the movies grossed 420 million at the box office in that five day stretch. And that was also a Thanksgiving record. So it was a massive weekend dominated completely by those top three films. But the problem is that the overall box office environment is not as strong as it was even pre pandemic.

[Shemita Basu]

Fonder says theaters were already on a slow decline before the pandemic for a few reasons. Ticket prices are up, consumer habits have changed with streaming getting more popular. A lot of people just wait for a movie to show up there so they can watch from their couch. That's part of why actors and writers went on strike last year for better streaming residuals. But to be clear, the theater still has Die Hard fans. And I don't just mean fans of the movie Die Hard, another great Christmas movie, by the way. If you tell those fans to show up in costume, to show up in groups, they'll really get into it.

[Ryan Fonder]

They will go out for an event type of picture. The kind of movie like Wicked, where it's like, okay, we're going out, we're going to dinner, we're going to get dressed up, that kind of thing. Like that is what's really driving the business. And less so, just kind of that old school walk up like, oh, what's going on at the movie theaters today?

[Shemita Basu]

If you haven't noticed, so many of the movies I've mentioned already are sequels or franchises. Fonder says that's because studios know it works. He pointed out every year the top 10 movies are dominated by sequels, remakes and franchise extensions. As far back as 2011, the New York Times noted sequels and franchises were starting to take over. But as moviegoers, Fonder says, we lose a little something with that model.

[Ryan Fonder]

I think you just get a less interesting mix of movies when every studio is trying to do basically the same thing and trying to do something that they've all done before. The phrase that I constantly hear from executives that makes me laugh a little bit is that they want something familiar with a twist. It's just a little different.

[Shemita Basu]

But even as execs want to keep going back to the same old well, it's not clear if there will be anything there.

[Ryan Fonder]

And so the studios have really dug in on this IP Renaissance and the problem is is that they've started to run out of things to adapt and you can't just regurgitate and regurgitate forever and ever.

[Shemita Basu]

Before we let you go. A few other stories being featured in the Apple News app Some significant movement this week in the case of Luigi Mangione, the man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. First, Mangione waived his right to an extradition hearing and was transported to New York City yesterday afternoon. Federal prosecutors also unveiled new charges against him, including stalking, murder through the use of a firearm and an additional gun charge. That's according to NBC News. Earlier this week, Mangione was also charged with murder as an act of terrorism and 11 other charges. Amazon workers went on strike in New York City, Atlanta and California yesterday. The Teamsters union says it represents nearly 10,000Amazon workers and wants Amazon to recognize the union and negotiate a contract with them. Amazon claims workers don't want a union and says the strike won't affect holiday deliveries. We have seen how Amazon deals with unions in the past. In 2022, an Amazon warehouse in Staten island voted to unionize and was certified by the nlrb. But so far Amazon has refused to bargain with them. And finally, as you make those last minute trips to the mall or big box stores and you see Santa Claus there taking photos with families, there is a chance the person in the suit went to Santa Camp CT Insider reports over the summer, about 90 soon to be Santas gathered in the woods of New Hampshire to learn the basics like how to dress, how to create a backstory, and maybe most importantly, how to talk to children and adults with empathy. The camp is just like any other summer camp with cabins, paddling the lake and sitting around the campfire bonding.

[Chip Roy]

With a mighty cheer.

[Shemita Basu]

The president of the New England Santa Society says most people don't know what goes on behind the scenes of being Mr. Klaus and learning. That is what the camp is all about. You can find all these stories and more in the Apple News app. And if you're listening in the News app right now, stick around for my full conversation with Malala Yousafzai and Sasha Mani. That episode of Apple News in Conversation is queued up to play for you next. Like I said, this team is taking a good break to end the year, so enjoy your holidays. Happy New Year and we'll be back with the News on Monday, January 16.