Podcast Summary: Apple News Today

Episode: Jimmy Kimmel returns to late-night TV. Here’s what he said.
Host: Shumita Basu
Date: September 24, 2025

Overview

This episode of Apple News Today covers major headlines including Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night TV after a suspension by Disney, former President Trump’s combative speech at the UN General Assembly, the challenge of cleaning up Iowa’s polluted water amid rising cancer rates, and the introduction of robotic umpires in Major League Baseball. Host Shumita Basu summarizes top news stories and includes perspectives from journalists and guests.

Jimmy Kimmel Returns to Late-Night TV

[00:05–03:52]

• Background:
  Jimmy Kimmel returned to TV after being suspended by Disney for comments made following the high-profile killing of Charlie Kirk.

• Reception:
  Kimmel entered to a standing ovation and devoted half an hour to addressing the controversy.

  • Thanked supporters—including rival late-night hosts and even GOP Senators like Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell.

• Emotional Acknowledgment:
  Kimmel directly addressed his remarks about Kirk and showed visible emotion:

  • “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don't think there's anything funny about it. I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed sending love to his family and asking for compassion. And I meant it, and I still do.”
    — Jimmy Kimmel [01:03]

• Position on Disney Suspension:
  Expressed disagreement with Disney’s decision, but thanked them for reinstating him.

• Free Speech & Political Pressure:
  Critiqued the administration for targeting his job and those of his colleagues, referencing direct pressure from President Trump:

  • “The President of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who. Who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can't take a joke.”
    — Jimmy Kimmel [01:42]

  • Noted Trump’s alleged influence in removing Stephen Colbert from CBS and pressuring other networks.

    • “I hope that if that happens or if there's even any hint of that happening, you will be 10 times as loud as you were this week. We have to speak out against this.”
      — Jimmy Kimmel [01:59–02:29]

• Trump's Response:
  Shortly before the broadcast, Trump posted on social media objecting to Kimmel’s return and threatening litigation against ABC.

• Satirical Interview Segment:
  Kimmel interviewed Robert De Niro, who played FCC Chair Brendan Carr, joking about charging for free speech:

  • “It ain't free no more.”
    — Robert De Niro as FCC Chair Brendan Carr [02:44]

  • “Now you're charging by the word. How much are you charging?”
    — Jimmy Kimmel [02:50]

• FCC Involvement:
  Carr had advocated for Kimmel’s suspension and suggested possible federal action against ABC affiliates. Clarified his position at a Monday event:

  • “When concerns are raised about news distortion, there's an easy way for parties to address that and work that out… Now, if they don't, there's a way that's not as easy, which is someone can file a complaint at the FCC, and then the FCC, by law, as set up by Congress, has to adjudicate that complaint.”
    — Brendan Carr [03:21]

• Media Landscape & Corporate Pressure:
  The episode highlighted how government oversight of media companies (FCC approvals for deals) impacts broadcaster decisions, especially for parent companies like Disney (ABC) and major station owners Nexstar and Sinclair—both of whom chose not to air Kimmel’s return [approx. 1/4 of ABC affiliates].

• Late-Night TV in Decline:
  Kimmel’s future in late-night is uncertain with contract expiring next year; ratings are declining industry-wide.

Trump’s Combative UN Speech

[06:10–09:25]

• Speech Highlights:

  • Trump criticized the United Nations’ effectiveness, exceeding his allotted time, and disparaged its record as “empty words.”

    • “For the most part, at least for now, all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. It's empty words, and empty words don't solve war.”
      — Donald Trump [06:10]

  • Referred to climate change forecasts as “a con job,” and warned about migration’s impact in Europe.

• Emphasis on National Identity:

  • “Our ancestors gave everything for homelands that they defended with pride, with sweat, with blood, with life, and with death. Now the righteous task of protecting the nations that they built belongs to each and every one of us.”
    — Donald Trump [07:00]

• Reaction:

  • Richard Engel of NBC News commented:

    • “He really portrayed the institution… as basically a waste of time and that countries around the world, if they want to save their countries, particularly the ones in Europe, should follow his example.”
      — Richard Engel [07:27]

• Ukraine Position Shift:

  • Trump posted on social media that Ukraine could reclaim all Russian-occupied territory, which is a pivot from his previous stance advocating for territorial concessions.
  • President Zelensky confirmed a productive meeting with Trump and echoed skepticism about the UN.

• US Withdrawal from UN Structures:

  • Trump’s administration has ceased US payments to the UN (over $3B owed) and withdrawn from other agencies (WHO, Human Rights Council).
    • UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the halt in aid "a death sentence for many."

Pollution and Cancer in Iowa

[09:25–12:42]

• Context:
  Iowa, with few heavy industries, surprisingly has the nation’s 2nd highest cancer rate.

• Agriculture’s Environmental Impact:

  • Reporter Peter Waldman (Bloomberg): Iowa’s vast corn and hog industries use huge quantities of chemical fertilizers and produce manure, leading to high nitrate runoff—polluting water and emitting nitrous oxide.

    • “Iowa is the number one state in corn production… extraordinary amounts of manure from hogs, and it consumes an extraordinary amount of chemical fertilizer to grow all that corn.”
      — Peter Waldman [09:44]

  • Nitrate runoff is linked not only to cancer but also to birth defects and rare blood disorders.

• Blue Baby Syndrome:

  • “Babies were getting something called Blue Baby Syndrome. Their skin was literally turning blue as a result of asphyxiation.”
    — Peter Waldman [10:49]

• Regulatory Challenges:

  • State regulation is weak, influenced by powerful lobbies (e.g., Iowa Farm Bureau), described as “the fourth branch of government.”

    • “We couldn't do anything until checking with the Farm Bureau. They dictated what we could and couldn't do.”
      — Former Iowa Department of Natural Resources employee [11:05]

  • Federal regulatory reviews have stalled or reversed with changes in administration; Trump's second term saw the dismantling of the EPA office tasked with investigating nitrate.

    • “The Trump administration has now eviscerated the main office of Research and Development within the EPA that does that work. So that work has gone poof.”
      — Peter Waldman [12:24]

• Personal Impact:

  • Local families report high cancer incidence but are hesitant to discuss links due to economic dependence on farming.

Brief News Roundup

[12:42–End]

• Assassination Attempt Verdict:
  Ryan Ruth found guilty of attempting to assassinate President Trump in Florida; incident followed another attempt at a campaign event.
• Amazon Trial:
  FTC sues Amazon for deceptive Prime signups and a predatory cancellation process, with potential billion-dollar penalties ([13:30] approx).
• MLB Robot Umpires:
  Starting next season, Major League Baseball will allow teams two ball/strike challenges per game using a robotic adjudication system, displayed in stadiums. Designed to balance automation with the tradition of live umpires.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man...”
  — Jimmy Kimmel [01:03]

• "The President of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who... Who work here fired from our jobs."
  — Jimmy Kimmel [01:42]

• "It ain't free no more."
  — Robert De Niro as FCC Chair Brendan Carr [02:44]

• "For the most part, at least for now, all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter... It's empty words, and empty words don't solve war.”
  — Donald Trump [06:10]

• “He really portrayed the institution... as basically a waste of time...”
  — Richard Engel [07:27]

• “Babies were getting something called Blue Baby Syndrome..."
  — Peter Waldman [10:49]

Key Takeaways

• Jimmy Kimmel’s return to television highlighted the interplay of free speech, political pressure, and corporate interests in American media.
• Trump’s UN address was marked by sharp criticism and significant foreign policy shifts, particularly regarding Ukraine.
• In Iowa, agricultural pollution is under renewed scrutiny amid disturbing cancer rates and regulatory inaction.
• MLB's embrace of robot umpires signals unprecedented change for America's pastime, blending technology with tradition.
• Major corporate and legal stories—e.g., Amazon’s FTC showdown—continue to shape the headlines.

For more in-depth coverage, visit the Apple News app or follow Apple News Today for daily recaps.