Podcast Summary: Iran’s Missile Attacks Are Slowing Down. Is this why?

Podcast: Apple News Today
Host: Cecilia Ley
Date: March 10, 2026

Overview

This episode of Apple News Today, hosted by Cecilia Ley, centers on the ongoing war between the United States and Iran, with a focus on why Iran’s missile attacks have dramatically decreased. The episode also covers the political repercussions of the conflict, a stirring act of resistance by Iran’s women’s soccer team, the Trump administration’s interventions in the U.S. coal industry, and other notable news stories.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Sharp Decline in Iran’s Missile Attacks

• Iran’s Missile Stockpile Depleted:
  • David Cloud (Wall Street Journal) reveals that Iran’s ability to fire missiles is now "hampered" due to "severe losses in their stockpile."
    (00:15)

    "The evidence we have right now is that they are suffering severe losses in their stockpile, and that's really hampering their ability to continue to fire missiles." — David Cloud (00:15)

• U.S. and Israeli Strikes Are Effective:
  • In the conflict’s early days, Iran launched hundreds of missiles daily, but this number has plunged as U.S. and Israeli forces target missile launching sites and underground bunkers.
    (02:07, 02:56)

    "In the early days, there were hundreds of missiles fired in a day... That has dropped off... as the US And Israeli attacks on their missile launching sites have continued." — David Cloud (02:07)

• Bunker Strategy Backfires:
  • Iran moved its remaining missiles into deep underground bunkers to protect them, but these sites have been effectively targeted by U.S. and Israeli intelligence and airstrikes.

    "...they started digging deep bunkers... but that may have been a tactical mistake." — Cecilia Ley (02:47)

2. U.S. Response and Political Rhetoric

• Triumphant Tone from U.S. Leaders:
  • President Trump has oscillated between declaring the war “very complete” and cautioning that “the conflict wouldn't be over this week,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth celebrates the U.S.'s rapid destruction of missile launchers.
    (01:10, 03:24)

    "We could call it a tremendous success right now... but the big risk on that war has been over for three days. We wiped them out the first." — Pete Hegseth (01:10) "As soon as they sent a missile up from a launcher, we were able to knock out that launcher within a period of 5 minutes or less accurately, right on the noggin." — Pete Hegseth (03:24)

• Uncertainty Remains:
  • The exact extent of Iran’s remaining missile arsenal is unknown, making the long-term outlook of the conflict unclear.

3. Iranian Women’s Soccer Team’s Protest

• Powerful Public Defiance:
  • In the Asia Cup in Australia, the Iranian women’s soccer team refused to sing the national anthem, a defiant stand against the regime.
    (04:28-04:38)

    "Now, this might not seem like a very big deal to us, but it's really a strong act of resistance that can get them and their families into a lot of trouble." — Naseem Kadem (04:28)

• Swift and Severe Backlash:
  • Iranian officials threatened punishment, possibly as extreme as execution, and forced the team to perform later displays of loyalty under strict surveillance.
• International Support and Asylum:
  • Protests in Australia supported the players, some of whom sought asylum, and the Australian government offered humanitarian visas.
    (06:02, 06:29)

    "The Iranian Australian community here has been just so incredible, rallying behind these women." — Naseem Kadem (06:02)
    "Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women. They're safe here and they should feel at home here." — Anthony Albanese (06:29)

4. The Trump Administration’s Coal Policy

• Government Intervention for Coal Plants:
  • The administration has ordered the U.S. military to purchase more coal-powered electricity and used emergency authority to prevent several coal plant closures, arguing this is necessary for grid stability and national security.
    (07:23-07:34)

    "We're going to be buying a lot of coal through the military now, and it's going to be less expensive and actually much more effective..." — Pete Hegseth (07:23)

• Industry Pushback:
  • Utilities and state governments—such as Colorado's—are resisting, citing cost, existing green infrastructure, and constitutional concerns. There is also ongoing litigation against these federal orders.
    (08:29, 09:09)

    "...the federal government's intervention forcing us to keep this coal plant open amounts to an unconstitutional taking of our private property." — Sam Brash (09:09)

• Legal and Environmental Implications:
  • The administration’s use of the Federal Power Act is unprecedented outside wartime or disaster response, and court challenges may soon test these policies’ legality.

5. Other Major Stories

• Attempted Terror Attack in NYC:
  • Two men inspired by ISIS attempted—and failed—to detonate explosives at a New York City protest site. They are in custody, and city officials reaffirmed the right to protest freely.
    (11:37)

    "While I found this protest appalling, I will not waver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen. Ours is a free society where the right to peaceful protest is sacred..." — Mayor Zoran Mamdani (11:37)

• Live Nation Settlement:
  • The giant entertainment company reached a $280 million settlement with the Justice Department in an antitrust case, without full separation from Ticketmaster.
• Chimpanzees and Alcohol:
  • A new study finds chimps actively seek out fermented fruit, lending credence to the "drunken monkey theory" linking human attraction to alcohol with our evolutionary ancestors.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On missile degradation:

  "The evidence we have right now is that they are suffering severe losses in their stockpile, and that's really hampering their ability..." — David Cloud (00:15)

• On rapid targeting of missile launchers:

  "As soon as they sent a missile up from a launcher, we were able to knock out that launcher within a period of 5 minutes or less accurately, right on the noggin." — Pete Hegseth (03:24)

• On the soccer team’s protest:

  "It's really a strong act of resistance that can get them and their families into a lot of trouble." — Naseem Kadem (04:28)

• On free speech after attempted terror attack:

  "While I found this protest appalling, I will not waver in my belief that it should be allowed to happen. Ours is a free society where the right to peaceful protest is sacred. It does not belong only to those we agree with. It belongs to everyone." — Mayor Zoran Mamdani (11:37)

Key Timestamps

• 00:15: David Cloud explains Iran's missile stockpile problems
• 01:10: Pete Hegseth comments on U.S. success in the conflict
• 02:07-02:56: Decline in missile launches; bunkers targeted
• 03:24: U.S. rapid targeting of launchers
• 04:28-06:29: Iranian women’s soccer team protest and asylum efforts
• 07:23-10:24: Trump administration’s coal policies and legal pushback
• 11:37: NYC Mayor's remarks on right to protest after terror attempt

Takeaway

This episode provides a snapshot of escalating global tensions and domestic policy shifts, underlining the hidden costs and unexpected consequences of war—both on the battlefield and at home. It captures high-stakes resistance in both military and civilian contexts, the repercussions for those who dissent, and the ripple effects on U.S. policy and energy infrastructure. The human stories behind the headlines—as told by journalists, officials, and protesters—put a personal face on the news of the day.