The kitchen tools you should seriously think about throwing out

Summary

Apple News Today: Detailed Summary of "The Kitchen Tools You Should Seriously Think About Throwing Out"

Release Date: November 21, 2024
Host: Shamita Basu
Episode Title: The Kitchen Tools You Should Seriously Think About Throwing Out

---

1. Defense Secretary Nomination: Pete Hegseth Under Scrutiny

The episode opens with a critical examination of President-elect Donald Trump's selection of Pete Hegseth as his nominee for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, a veteran and Fox News host, faces significant criticism for his lack of military leadership experience. Shamita Basu highlights, “[Hegseth] would be the least experienced defense secretary in American history” (00:53).

Hegseth has openly criticized the military establishment, labeling it as “ineffective” and “woke.” During an appearance on the Sean Ryan Show, he stated, “You gotta fire the chairman of joint Chiefs and you gotta fire this... any general that was involved in any of the DEI woke has gotta go” (01:12). His comments extend to questioning the role of women in combat, which he believes complicates military effectiveness. In the same interview, he remarked, “I love women service members who contribute amazingly because everything about men and women serving together makes the situation more complicated” (01:36).

Contrasting Hegseth’s views, outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the critical role of women in the military, stating, “They make us better. They make us stronger. And again, what I've seen from our women is quite incredible” (02:00).

Dan Lamoth, a Pentagon reporter for the Washington Post, expressed concerns about Hegseth's nomination resonating negatively within the Defense Department. Lamoth noted, “There's a great deal of apprehension and concern and alarm... around the Defense Department as an institution in general” (02:18). He further elaborated on the potential ramifications of Trump's promises to hold senior military officers accountable for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, suggesting that it could lead to a sense of scapegoating among Pentagon employees (03:16).

2. Springfield, Ohio: Fallout from False Claims About Haitian Immigrants

Another significant segment addresses the repercussions in Springfield, Ohio, following false claims by President Trump that Haitian immigrants in the community were consuming pets. These allegations, initially propagated by far-right activists and neo-Nazis, gained widespread attention when Trump reiterated them during a presidential debate, leading to immediate bomb threats and heightened security risks. Omar Jimenez, a CNN correspondent, reported, “It just put this huge spotlight on the city in a way that I don't think they were ready for” (04:59).

The Haitian community, numbering between 12,000 to 15,000 in the county, mostly refugees fleeing gang violence over the past four years, faced confusion and hurt over the unfounded accusations. Jimenez noted, “On top of the confusion was a little bit of hurt with how much people actually latched onto those claims” (05:20). Many Haitians felt unsafe in Springfield and began relocating to other areas, driven by fears of potential mass deportations under Trump's administration.

Local officials acknowledged the strain on infrastructure due to the increased immigrant population but also recognized the economic revitalization brought by the Haitian community. However, they expressed concern that mass departures, whether voluntary or forced, could adversely impact Springfield’s economy and social fabric. Jimenez highlighted, “They just weren't sure as to how long this attention was going to stick around and in many ways complicate their lives” (06:17).

3. Kitchen Safety Alert: Replacing Black Plastic Utensils

Shifting to consumer safety, the episode delves into a study published in the journal Chemosphere that raises concerns about black plastic kitchen utensils. The study found that black plastic items, including spatulas and spoons, often contain dangerous levels of flame retardants derived from recycled electronic waste (07:53).

Jessica Roy, a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, emphasized the risks associated with using these utensils: “When you look at something like a black plastic spatula that is getting heated up and that's touching your food... the heat... increases the chemical migration so that... chemicals... leach into the food” (08:23). Roy advises consumers to replace black plastic utensils with alternatives such as wood or silicone to minimize potential health risks.

However, scientists caution that the extent of chemical transfer to food has not been fully quantified. Despite this, the consensus among experts leans towards proactive replacement. “Unfortunately, there's no way to know if your black plastic spatula has those flame retardants in it... the safest thing to do is just to get rid of stuff” (09:16).

Shamita Basu reiterates that even longstanding black plastic items might pose risks, advocating for the adoption of safer materials in the kitchen. Roy further advises, “Every time we study plastic of any color, we find things in it that are dangerous... looking critically at other plastics in your house, in your kitchen, makes a lot of sense” (09:51).

4. Additional News Highlights

The episode also covers several other pertinent news stories:

• House Ethics Committee and Matt Gaetz: Members of the House Ethics Committee are deadlocked over releasing a report on former Representative Matt Gaetz. Leading Democratic member Representative Susan Wild indicated that the panel would reconvene in a few weeks to further discuss the matter (10:35). Meanwhile, House Democrats are pushing for making the report public, with some Republican senators even considering subpoenaing the House for the information if necessary.

• Rust Film Incident: The controversial film Rust premiered at a film festival amidst ongoing legal repercussions following a tragic accident where actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured the director. Director Joel Souza discussed his difficult decision to continue the project, stating, “It was a really tough decision... I just feel like for me that was the right thing to do” (11:39). Financial gains from the film will go to Hutchins' husband and son, as the original producers opted out of profiting from it (11:52).

• Retirement of Pamela Hayden: Iconic voice actress Pamela Hayden, known for voicing Milhouse on The Simpsons, announced her retirement after 35 years. Her voice has been a staple in over 600 episodes. Fox plans to audition new voices to continue bringing beloved characters to life (12:07).

Conclusion

Shamita Basu wraps up the episode by directing listeners to additional stories available on the Apple News app, including an in-depth narrated article from The Atlantic about Lucy Calkins and her influence on American education. The episode offers a comprehensive overview of pressing national issues, from political appointments and immigration crises to consumer safety and cultural highlights, all delivered with insightful commentary and expert opinions.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Pete Hegseth on the Sean Ryan Show:
  “You gotta fire the chairman of joint Chiefs and you gotta fire this... any general that was involved in any of the DEI woke has gotta go.” (01:12)

• Pete Hegseth on Women in Combat:
  “I love women service members who contribute amazingly because everything about men and women serving together makes the situation more complicated.” (01:36)

• Lloyd Austin on Women in the Military:
  “They make us better. They make us stronger. And again, what I've seen from our women is quite incredible.” (02:00)

• Dan Lamoth on Hegseth’s Nomination:
  “There's a great deal of apprehension and concern and alarm... around the Defense Department as an institution in general.” (02:18)

• Omar Jimenez on Springfield's Spotlight:
  “It just put this huge spotlight on the city in a way that I don't think they were ready for.” (04:59)

• Jessica Roy on Black Plastic Utensils:
  “When you look at something like a black plastic spatula that is getting heated up and that's touching your food... the heat... increases the chemical migration so that... chemicals... leach into the food.” (08:23)

• Pamela Hayden on Retirement:
  “Everything's coming up Milhouse.” (12:07)

---

Note: Timestamps correspond to the podcast transcript provided.

Transcript

[Shamita Basu]

Good morning.

[Gideon Reznik]

It's Thursday, November 21st. I'm Gideon Reznik in for Shamita Basu. This is Apple News today. On today's show, why you might want to toss that black plastic spatula in your kitchen. How Springfield, Ohio, has been since Trump's lies about the Haitians living there. And the last episode for an iconic voice actor. But first, a look at how the military could change under President elect Donald Trump. Trump has selected Pete Hegseth as his nominee for defense secretary.

[Shamita Basu]

Hegseth is a veteran and most recently.

[Gideon Reznik]

A Fox News host, but he doesn't.

[Shamita Basu]

Have military leadership experience. In fact, NPR reports that if Hegseth is confirmed, he would be the least.

[Gideon Reznik]

Experienced defense secretary in American history.

[Shamita Basu]

And he would come into the role.

[Gideon Reznik]

With some big criticisms of the military, characterizing it as ineffective, quote, unquote, woke.

[Shamita Basu]

And saying that some of the top brass should be fired. Here's Hegseth on the podcast the Sean.

[Gideon Reznik]

Ryan show, just before he was officially tapped to head up Defense.

[Pete Hegseth]

You gotta fire the chairman of joint Chiefs and you gotta fire this. I mean, obviously you're gonna bring in a new secretary of defense, but any general that was involved, General, Admiral, whatever that was involved in any of the DEI woke has gotta go.

[Shamita Basu]

Hegseth has also been critical of women.

[Gideon Reznik]

Serving in combat roles, saying that it's made our military less lethal and effective. Here he is again on the Sean Ryan Show.

[Interviewer]

You don't like women in combat?

[Pete Hegseth]

No.

[Interviewer]

Why not?

[Pete Hegseth]

I love women service members who contribute amazingly because everything about men and women serving together makes the situation more complicated.

[Gideon Reznik]

According to a Pentagon report from a.

[Shamita Basu]

Year ago, women made up roughly 20%.

[Gideon Reznik]

Of the U.S. military's active duty force and selected reserve in 2022.

[Shamita Basu]

And outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently.

[Gideon Reznik]

Told NBC News how vital women are to our military.

[Lloyd Austin]

They make us better. They make us stronger. And again, what I've seen from our women is quite incredible. This is not hyperbole. This is fact. I'm just telling you what I've seen.

[Gideon Reznik]

Dan Lamoth is a Washington Post reporter who covers the Pentagon.

[Shamita Basu]

He told us how Hegseth's nomination is.

[Gideon Reznik]

Resonating with people who work there.

[Dan Lamoth]

We've got an incoming president who has openly and repeatedly threatened to fire anyone associated with the fall of Afghanistan. We've got a nominee for the defense secretary job, and Pete Tegseth, who has said that one of the first things he would do would be to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. So I think at minimum, there's a great deal of apprehension and concern and alarm that I'm hearing from my sources right now in the Pentagon and just kind of around the Defense Department as an institution in general.

[Gideon Reznik]

While we've heard a lot of rhetoric from Trump and Hegseth about their goals, we know very little about the details so far. For example, what would it mean to end diversity programs in the military or to fire, quote, unquote, woke generals?

[Dan Lamoth]

And depending on where you fall on that issue, you know, you could be doing an awful lot of house cleaning or more something that's very, you know, targeted.

[Gideon Reznik]

Lamoth also told us there's a lot of concern about Trump's vows to go.

[Shamita Basu]

After the generals involved with the decision.

[Gideon Reznik]

To leave Afghanistan and the chaotic withdrawal.

[Dan Lamoth]

I think one thing they hear that I'm watching for and I'm concerned about, just as an American citizen, is how do we define who's, quote, unquote, to blame for the fall of Afghanistan? Knowing a lot of these senior officers, knowing that they spent years there themselves and in a lot of cases managed the operations, tried to take care of their people the best they could, but also had orders to follow, and in many cases, particularly when it came to the end in Afghanistan, often gritted their teeth and followed the rules and followed the laws. It's got to hit some kind of way for these senior officers, for their families, for Pentagon employees in general who are watching this all play out and kind of feel like they're being scapegoated after the fact.

[Gideon Reznik]

There will be a lot to watch for, including how and if Trump follows through on his promise to use the military to conduct the biggest deportation program in U.S. history. For clarity on all these questions, the Washington Post reached out to Hegseth, but was not able to reach him for comment. Now to Springfield, Ohio, a community that was thrown into the national spotlight by President Elect Trump when he falsely claimed before millions of viewers at the presidential debate that Haitian immigrants living in the community were eating pets. The lie originally circulated online by far right activists and even neo Nazis, but when Trump repeated it, it went viral. Bomb threats to Springfield followed. State troopers had to escort kids to school.

[Omar Jimenez]

It just put this huge spotlight on the city in a way that I don't think they were ready for.

[Gideon Reznik]

That's CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez, who's been to Springfield several times since Trump's comments. After the political world and many media outlets moved on, he told us the immediate reaction from Haitians in the community was confusion. Why them?

[Omar Jimenez]

On top of the confusion was a little bit of hurt with how much people actually latched onto those claims. That this was something that people actually believed they could be capable of doing.

[Shamita Basu]

There are an estimated 12 to 15,000 immigrants living in the county that contains Springfield.

[Gideon Reznik]

Many are believed to be Haitians who.

[Shamita Basu]

Have arrived in the past four years, fleeing deadly gang violence. Springfield was an attractive destination for some.

[Gideon Reznik]

Because it had available jobs and a low cost of living. Local officials acknowledged to cnn.

[Shamita Basu]

Yes, they could have had better infrastructure in place to accommodate the arrival of these immigrants, and that the growing population has led to some growing pains. But the community had been trying to.

[Gideon Reznik]

Tackle problems collaboratively before false claims spread.

[Shamita Basu]

And today, Jimenez says many Haitians still don't feel safe in Springfield.

[Gideon Reznik]

So they're leaving.

[Omar Jimenez]

They just weren't sure as to how long this attention was going to stick around and in many ways complicate their lives.

[Shamita Basu]

Attention isn't their only concern. Trump has threatened to end temporary protection status, a provision that allows immigrants from countries like Haiti going through humanitarian emergencies to live and work here in the US Legally. And Ximena says that Trump's mass deportation.

[Gideon Reznik]

Threat is another motivating factor.

[Omar Jimenez]

I've spoken to members of the community there since the election, and they've told me they have noticed Haitians leaving, going to either other parts of Ohio or different parts of the country because, unfounded or not, they are under the belief that Springfield will be one of the first places that these potential mass deportations start.

[Shamita Basu]

City officials told Jimenez that if Haitians.

[Gideon Reznik]

Leave Springfield in mass numbers, by choice or not, it would hurt their community.

[Omar Jimenez]

Some of these employers and city officials have told me personally that with the population increase of Haitian immigrants in the Springfield area, yes, there have been challenges. There have been stresses on education, there have been stresses on healthcare, stresses on trying to find enough translators to make those sectors of life work, but also that it's helped revitalize the community economically.

[Gideon Reznik]

We are exactly one week out from.

[Shamita Basu]

Thanksgiving, and as you prepare to whip.

[Gideon Reznik]

Up a feast for your loved ones, there are a few items in your.

[Shamita Basu]

Kitchen you might want to seriously consider.

[Gideon Reznik]

Throwing out before that day. Namely, your black plastic spatula, spoons, and other similar utensils.

[Shamita Basu]

That's because they were found in some cases to contain dangerous levels of flame retardants.

[Gideon Reznik]

That's according to a new study published.

[Shamita Basu]

In the journal Chemisphere, which found all.

[Gideon Reznik]

Sorts of black plastic items are more.

[Shamita Basu]

Likely to contain dangerous levels of toxic chemicals because many are made from recycled.

[Gideon Reznik]

Electronic waste, like old TV sets and computers.

[Shamita Basu]

And it's not just kitchen tools.

[Gideon Reznik]

The study looked at things like black plastic takeout containers and Kids, toys as well.

[Jessica Roy]

The real concern is anything that ends up in someone's mouth.

[Gideon Reznik]

That's Jessica Roy, a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle who recently wrote about this.

[Jessica Roy]

And so when you look at something like a black plastic spatula that is getting heated up and that's touching your food and that heat especially, and the oil as sort of a transfer mechanism increases the chemical migration so that if there are flame retardants in your spatula, the oil and the heat, that combination makes it more likely for those chemicals to then leach into the food that you're eating.

[Gideon Reznik]

Now, before you rush to throw out all of the black plastic that might.

[Shamita Basu]

Be in your home, a number of scientists who reviewed this study have called.

[Gideon Reznik]

Attention to the fact that it did not examine the extent to which these toxic chemicals are, are transferred to people when they put these products in their.

[Shamita Basu]

Mouths or if that happens at all. Now, Roy told us she personally felt.

[Gideon Reznik]

Safer throwing all of her black plastic utensils away, especially since there's just no.

[Shamita Basu]

Easy way to tell which items contain.

[Gideon Reznik]

These toxic chemicals and which do not.

[Jessica Roy]

Unfortunately, there's no way to know if your black plastic spatula has those flame retardants in it. There's no sort of like home test. There's no mark on the product that says this was made with recycled plastic or anything like that. And so really the safest thing to do is just to get rid of stuff.

[Gideon Reznik]

Experts agree, including one of the authors.

[Shamita Basu]

Of this study who told the Atlantic.

[Gideon Reznik]

She no longer saves black takeout containers. And experts say even if you've had.

[Shamita Basu]

Kitchen tools like these for years and.

[Gideon Reznik]

Might think, oh, well, I've already been exposed, you should still consider buying alternatives. Roy suggested non plastic materials like wood or silicone.

[Jessica Roy]

But I think more broadly, and a takeaway I hope people get from this story, every time we study plastic of any color, we find things in it that are dangerous. If it's not flame retardants, it seems like it's something else. And so I think looking critically at other plastics in your house, in your kitchen, makes a lot of sense. And when you upgrade things, if you are going to buy new measuring cups anyways, if you're going to buy a new coffee maker anyways, looking for stuff that doesn't use as much plastic, especially black plastic, makes sense.

[Gideon Reznik]

Before we let you go, a few other stories being featured in the Apple News app. Let's start with US Politics.

[Shamita Basu]

Members of the House Ethics Committee deadlocked.

[Gideon Reznik]

In a private vote about releasing its report on former Representative Matt Gaetz the.

[Shamita Basu]

Leading Democratic member of the committee, Representative.

[Gideon Reznik]

Susan Wild, said that the panel would.

[Shamita Basu]

Meet again in a couple of weeks.

[Gideon Reznik]

To discuss the matter further.

[Shamita Basu]

Meanwhile, two other House Democrats introduced resolutions.

[Gideon Reznik]

To try and make the report public.

[Shamita Basu]

While all this is happening in the House, senators in both parties who will be in charge of confirming Gaetz for.

[Gideon Reznik]

The role of attorney general, have been eager to see the report.

[Shamita Basu]

One Republican senator even said he's open to subpoenaing the House for the information. In entertainment news, the controversial film Rust.

[Gideon Reznik]

Premiered yesterday at a film festival.

[Shamita Basu]

On the set of the movie, the actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun.

[Gideon Reznik]

That turned out to be loaded, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding the director.

[Shamita Basu]

The film's armorer was found guilty of.

[Gideon Reznik]

Involuntary manslaughter and is currently in prison. Baldwin was also charged, but the case against him was eventually dismissed. NPR spoke with the director, Joel Souza, about why he wanted to complete the project.

[Joel Souza]

It was a really tough decision, and I'll be very honest, I was a wreck through most of the second go around. It's something I still struggle with that I should have or shouldn't have. But, you know, I just feel like for me that was the right thing to do.

[Gideon Reznik]

According to a source who spoke to.

[Shamita Basu]

Npr, the film's original producers will not.

[Gideon Reznik]

Gain financially from the movie.

[Shamita Basu]

Instead, profits will go to Hutchins husband and son.

[Gideon Reznik]

And finally, an iconic voice in comedy is retiring.

[Pamela Hayden]

Hey, they're working. My feet are soaked, but my cups are bone dry. Everything's coming up Milhouse.

[Gideon Reznik]

Yes, that is Milhouse from the Simpsons.

[Shamita Basu]

He will stick around. But Pamela Hayden, the voice of his.

[Gideon Reznik]

Beloved character and others on the show, is retiring after 35 years. Her voice has appeared in over 600 episodes, and her last one will be Sunday. Fox is going to start casting a new voice for her characters. So we'll have to see who they hire to bring Bart's buddy to life next. You can find all these stories and more in the Apple News app. And if you're already in the news app, we have a narrated article coming up next from the Atlantic about Lucy Calkins. Thousands of schools used her curriculum to teach kids to read and write, which.

[Shamita Basu]

Put more emphasis on teaching them to.

[Gideon Reznik]

Love reading than going through exercises like phonics. But for many kids, it didn't work, and Calkins was ultimately blamed for the reading crisis in America. If you're listening in the podcast app, you can follow Apple News Narrated to find that story. And I'll be back with the news tomorrow.