Apple News Today: Episode Summary - "Their Mission Was Eight Days. They Ended Up in Space for Nine Months"

Release Date: March 19, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu

1. International Crises: Ukraine and Gaza Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict: The episode opens with an update on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Following a brief truce agreement between former President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin—where Putin agreed to halt attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure—the fragile peace quickly unraveled. Russia resumed missile and drone attacks, targeting both civilian and energy facilities.

Ukrainian officials reported that "two hospitals were hit, a violation of international law" (00:47). In retaliation, Ukraine launched long-range drones into Russia, with Russian authorities asserting that one of these drones struck an oil depot.

President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously expressed openness to a partial ceasefire and continued negotiations, emphasizing the need for a full ceasefire. However, today's events led Zelensky to declare that Moscow's support for a ceasefire is insincere. He is scheduled to discuss the situation further with Trump later in the day.

Gaza Conflict: Turning to Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the "resumption of combat in full force" (01:25), signaling the end of the fragile ceasefire with Hamas. This escalation involved the largest Israeli strikes since the January ceasefire, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian casualties within the first 24 hours, many occurring during Ramadan's pre-dawn meal.

A poignant voice note from 22-year-old Palestinian Wassam Thabet encapsulates the trauma:
"I was lying in my bed almost asleep when I started hearing the heavy continuous bombing... We are still traumatized by what we have here witnessed or experienced in the last war. I don't think we have the energy or strength for another war." (02:36)

Health workers, including those from Doctors Without Borders, reported catastrophic injuries and overwhelming patient volumes, with some doctors visibly distressed by the intensity of the situation (02:58). In response to the escalating violence, the Israeli military has ordered evacuations in eastern Gaza, hinting at potential renewed ground operations similar to those in Ukraine.

President Trump remains optimistic about swiftly ending both conflicts but has yet to secure lasting agreements acceptable to all parties involved.

2. The Unexpected Long Mission: NASA Astronauts Stranded in Space

NASA's recent mission encountered unforeseen challenges, resulting in astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore extending their stay on the International Space Station (ISS) from an planned eight days to nine months.

Originally launched aboard the Boeing Starliner in June—a first for human-crewed Boeing missions—the mission faced critical issues:

• Thruster Problems and Helium Leaks: As reported by space reporter Andrea Leinfelder (05:02), the astronauts experienced malfunctions en route to the ISS, causing significant delays and uncertainty.

• NASA's Contingency Plans: Due to these technical difficulties, NASA executed a pre-existing plan to retrieve the astronauts using SpaceX's Dragon capsules. Contrary to President Trump's claims that he directed Elon Musk to facilitate the rescue after the Starliner "abandoned" the crew, Leinfelder clarifies that these measures were "already in the works before Trump came into office" (05:17).

• Astronauts' Preparedness: Both Williams and Wilmore were prepared for extended missions. Wilmore emphasized that astronauts are trained for "unknown, unexpected contingencies" (06:15), highlighting the robustness of NASA's human spaceflight programs.

• Notable Achievements: An unexpected silver lining from the extended mission is Williams setting the record for the "total spacewalking time by a female astronaut", accumulating 62 hours and six minutes over nine spacewalks (06:27).

3. Educational Policy Changes: Florida’s Rollback of DEI Initiatives

Under Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has spearheaded significant changes to Higher Education Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies:

• Executive Order Impact: An executive order issued in January declared DEI programs "illegal", instructing institutions to cease using DEI principles in employment and admissions (07:15).

• Legislative Actions: Florida introduced laws forbidding public colleges and universities from allocating funds to DEI initiatives and banning the teaching of critical race theory in general education courses (08:28).

• University of Florida's Transformation: As reported by Wall Street Journal's higher education reporter Doug Belkin, the University of Florida has undergone extensive changes:

  • Job Cuts: The elimination of 28 DEI-related positions.
  • Rebranding: Renaming the Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement to the Office of Community and Belonging.
  • Cultural Shifts: Removal of civil rights leaders' photos and LGBTQ symbols like rainbow flags (08:50).

• Diverse Reactions Among Students and Faculty:

  • Support: Conservative students welcomed the changes, feeling previously marginalized and fearing academic repercussions for voicing their perspectives (09:20).
  • Opposition: Other students and faculty expressed concerns over a "chilling effect on free speech", fearing governmental overreach and potential social ostracization (09:37).

• Classroom Dynamics: New laws permitting students to record classes without professor consent have raised anxieties about classroom discussions being misrepresented or exploited for political agendas (10:04).

Belkin emphasizes that these policies have "had a really kind of wide ranging effect" on various aspects of campus life, from teaching methods to dormitory operations.

4. Judicial Updates: Supreme Court and Federal Rulings

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts: Chief Justice Roberts issued a rare statement criticizing President Trump and his allies for calling to impeach judges who have obstructed the administration's agenda. He asserted that the appropriate response to unfavorable rulings is to "file an appeal" (10:15).

Elon Musk and USAID Ruling: A federal judge ruled that Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency likely acted unconstitutionally in shutting down USAID. The decision favored 26 current and former employees, mandating that:

• Email Access Restoration: Current workers regain email access.
• Operational Restrictions: The Department is barred from taking further action related to USAID.

Additionally, for the first time, the ruling suggests Musk might possess sufficient independent authority to require Senate confirmation, countering the administration's claim of his advisory role. The White House dismissed the ruling as a "miscarriage of justice" (10:50).

5. NCAA Tournament Tips

As March Madness approaches, the episode offers strategic insights for filling out NCAA tournament brackets:

Men's Tournament:

• Emphasis on Upper Seeds: Senior writer Justin Williams advises focusing on 11-seeds, noting their recent success.

  "Just make sure you pick a double digit seed to make a Sweet 16 run. It happens every year" (12:14).

Women's Tournament:

• Conservative Approach: Tournament staff writer Sabrina Merchant recommends minimizing early-round upsets due to top seeds hosting games on their home courts, reducing the likelihood of surprises.

  "You could end up lucky. You can get live tournament scores super fast on the lock screen of your iPhone by downloading the Apple Sports app." (12:36).

General Advice:

• Balance Strategy with Fun: When uncertain, Basu suggests embracing randomness—choosing based on favorite colors, mascots, or cities to enhance enjoyment and potential luck (13:03).

6. Additional Stories and Closing Remarks

Gen Z and Dating: A narrated article from The Atlantic explores the trend of Gen Z withdrawing from the dating scene, raising questions about the necessity of romantic experience for personal development.

Live Updates: Listeners can access live tournament scores via the Apple Sports app and follow additional stories on the Apple News app.

Shemitah Basu concludes by promoting the next day's content and encouraging listeners to stay tuned for more updates.

Note: Timestamps correspond to the original podcast transcript and are hyperlinked for ease of reference.