Apple News Today: “Nothing there but the chimney.” L.A. evacuees return to rubble
Release Date: January 13, 2025

Hosted by Shemitah Basu, Apple News Today delivers a comprehensive overview of today’s most pressing stories. In this episode, Basu delves into the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, President Biden’s domestic policy legacy, the challenges of recycling old electronics, and emerging trends in dining and archival work.

1. Los Angeles Wildfires: Evacuation and Devastation

The episode opens with a harrowing report on the ongoing wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County. As of January 13, 2025, the fires have claimed at least 24 lives and destroyed over 12,000 homes and structures. The Los Angeles County Sheriff warns that with heavy winds and continued dry conditions forecasted for the week, containment efforts are likely to falter, potentially increasing the death toll.

Personal Stories Amidst Destruction:

• Les from Altadena shares his surreal experience:

  "It was surreal. It's like stuff happened so fast." [01:14]
  "Our home is nothing there but the chimney. I hope we bounce back. It's gonna be a hard process, a slow process, but it's just going to take time." [01:23]

• Dale, a 91-year-old Pasadena resident, reflects on his long-term loss:

  "Entire history is in the house. I'm going to break down again. That's what I feel. It's, it's my whole life. I'm okay, I'll be okay. I'm tough. And even though I'm 91 years old, I'll start over again." [01:45]

• An unnamed woman from Altadena recounts her frantic escape:

  "We were having dinner. I told my three-year-old, my one-year-old that we're having a fancy candlelight dinner because the power went out. And then we looked outside, we saw a huge fire and we just passed, packed whatever we can and we ran out. It was chaos." [02:08]
  "I'm trying to figure out how to tell my 3-year-old that we don't have a home." [02:29]

Despite the chaos and loss, the community rallies to support firefighters, exemplified by a touching moment at a California In-N-Out Burger restaurant where firefighters received a standing ovation.

Call to Action: For those looking to help, Basu mentions that KQED provides a list of organizations where contributions are needed, with links available in the show notes.

2. President Biden's Legacy on Domestic Policy

Shifting focus to Washington, the episode examines President Joe Biden's domestic policy achievements as he approaches his final week in office. Basu outlines Biden’s significant legislative milestones:

• American Rescue Plan ($1.9 trillion): Aimed at economic stimulus during the pandemic, including the third round of direct relief payments.

  "It's not hard to see that we're in the middle of the once in several generations economic crisis with a once in several generations public health crisis... There's no time to waste." — Joe Biden [03:41]

• Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill: Over $1 trillion allocated for bridges, airports, roads, and highways.

• CHIPS and Science Act: Focused on boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign sources.

• Inflation Reduction Act: Encouraged $500 billion investment in low-carbon energy and manufacturing, benefiting even red states.

Despite these accomplishments, Biden faced criticism from Republicans over perceived excessive government spending and concerns about economic implications.

Expert Analysis by Franklin Foer:

Franklin Foer of The Atlantic assesses Biden’s impact:

"He made all this investment in restoring American manufacturing. The country is in actually quite good shape." [05:16]

However, Foer points out a disconnect between legislative success and political popularity:

"His idea of persuasion and compromise... wasn't that successful in his presidency. It wasn't politically successful." [05:42]

Foer further argues that Biden's inability to prevent Donald Trump’s return to the White House overshadows his legislative achievements:

"Whatever great successes Joe Biden might have had... they're kind of erased by the fact that he failed on his largest objective of them all." [06:36]

Nevertheless, Foer suggests that Biden’s legacy will be re-evaluated over time, much like President Carter’s, indicating that historical perspective might offer a more favorable view of his presidency.

3. E-Waste Recycling: How to Dispose of Old Electronics Safely

Transitioning to environmental concerns, Basu addresses the growing issue of electronic waste (e-waste). With technological advancements, households accumulate numerous outdated electronics that pose significant recycling challenges.

Reporter Adam Clark Estes shares his dilemma:

"I had an old electric toothbrush and I didn't know what to do with it." [08:14]
"I knew that it had a big battery in it, and I didn't want it to go in the trash can and end up catching on fire somewhere." [08:20]

Key Statistics:

• Only 12% of small electronics are recycled worldwide (2024 UN report).
• Each person produces approximately 17 pounds of e-waste annually.
• E-waste poses fire risks and contains harmful metals and chemicals that can contaminate soil and groundwater.

Recycling Solutions:

• Certified E-Waste Recyclers: Estes advises using certified facilities, many of which are available at big-box stores like Best Buy, Staples, Home Depot, and some Goodwill locations.

  "Best Buy does, Staples does, Home Depot takes stuff like light bulbs and even Goodwill will take a lot of E waste. Just check to make sure that your local Goodwill is equipped to do it." — Les [09:37]

• Reuse and Refurbishment: Estes emphasizes the importance of reusing materials to lower greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change impacts.

"Buy refurbished. It's going to be cheaper and you're giving a second life to a product that was really resource intensive to produce." — Les [10:12]

Encouraging Community Action: By adopting recycling habits and promoting them, Basu suggests, e-waste recycling can become as routine as recycling aluminum cans.

4. Other News Highlights

a. Donald Trump's Cabinet Picks:

With the new administration forming, President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations are under scrutiny. Senate confirmation hearings are set to begin, emphasizing loyalty to Trump more than during his first term. Notable nominees facing hearings include:

• Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary
• Marco Rubio for Secretary of State
• Christy Noem for Homeland Security Secretary

b. Decline in Tipping Rates:

The episode highlights a significant decrease in tipping within restaurants. Tipping reached its peak in 2021, with 56% of patrons tipping 20% or more. By 2024, this figure has dropped to 38%. Factors contributing to this trend include:

• Rising Menu Prices: Leading to tipping fatigue.
• Tipping Prompts: Especially in establishments where tipping was previously uncommon.

c. National Archives Seeks Volunteer Transcribers:

The National Archives is seeking volunteers to assist in transcribing 200 years of digitized government documents. The challenge lies in deciphering large, loopy cursive writing prevalent in historical records. Interested individuals can find more information through links provided in the show notes.

Looking Ahead:

Basu concludes by previewing upcoming content:

• A narrated article from The New Yorker exploring America’s relationship with ultra-processed foods and the scientific challenges in understanding their health impacts.

Listeners are encouraged to follow Apple News Plus Narrated for access to this and other in-depth stories.

For more detailed insights and additional stories covered in today’s episode, please refer to the Apple News app’s Show Notes.