Apple News Today: "Trump had a busy first day. Here’s what you missed." Summary

Release Date: January 21, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu

1. Donald Trump's First Day Back in Office

A. Inaugural Promises and Executive Actions

On his return to the presidency, Donald Trump delivered a fervent inaugural speech promising "the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense" (00:41). Upholding his commitment, Trump swiftly initiated a series of executive actions aimed at reversing numerous policies from the previous administration.

B. Major Executive Orders Signed

Within hours of his inauguration at the Capitol One Arena in Washington, Trump signed several significant executive orders:

• Rescission of Biden-Era Policies: Trump revoked 78 executive actions, orders, memoranda, and other directives enacted during Joe Biden's administration (01:00).

• January 6 Pardons: Among the most controversial actions was the broad pardon of over 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot. This included both nonviolent and violent offenders, such as Henry Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader sentenced to 22 years for sedition (02:33).

• Withdrawal from International Agreements: Trump officially withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization.

• Immigration Measures: He delayed the ban on TikTok and introduced new immigration policies, including efforts to end birthright citizenship—a move likely to face constitutional challenges.

• Border Policies: Trump reinstated policies requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico during their court hearings and rescinded Biden's orders aimed at reuniting separated families and rebuilding the U.S. refugee program (03:30).

Notable Quote:

"We're the only country in the world that does this with birthright, as you know, and it's just absolutely ridiculous. But, you know, we'll see. We think we have very good grounds. Certainly people have wanted to do this for decades."
— Donald Trump (05:25)

C. Legislative Actions by the Republican Colleagues

Republican leaders in the Senate quickly moved to endorse Trump's agenda by confirming Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and advancing Pete Hegseth's nomination for Defense Secretary (01:11).

D. Reactions to Trump's Executive Orders

• Support from Republicans: Trump’s supporters and Republican figures lauded his swift actions as necessary steps towards restoring American values and policies. Fox host Jesse Watters described Trump's inaugural speech as "probably the most ambitious speech ever given by a human being," highlighting its inspirational impact (06:03).

• Criticism from Democrats: Prominent Democrats, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, condemned Trump's pardons related to January 6th as "an outrageous insult to our justice system and a betrayal of the law enforcement officers who protected the Capitol that day" (03:14).

• Public Sentiment: One convicted rioter, Gabriel Augustine Garcia, expressed support for Trump's actions, stating, "I feel justice was prevailed here... I just walked in the Capitol to peacefully protest. I'm not charged with violence. I didn't hurt anybody. I didn't destroy property." (03:14)

2. The Legacy of Cecile Richards

A. Leadership at Planned Parenthood

Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood, passed away at 67 after battling an aggressive form of brain cancer. Richards led the organization from 2006 to 2018, expanding its support base from 2.5 million to 11 million volunteers and supporters amidst intense political opposition (07:05).

B. Challenges Faced During Her Tenure

Under Richards’ leadership, Planned Parenthood encountered significant hurdles, including:

• Federal Funding Cuts: The Trump administration altered federal family planning programs, resulting in the closure of hundreds of clinics.

• State-Level Opposition: States like Texas aggressively defunded Planned Parenthood, leading to the shutdown of numerous clinics.

• Supreme Court Decisions: In 2022, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision Richards had long fought to protect (08:25).

C. Continued Advocacy and Personal Philosophy

After stepping down, Richards remained active in the reproductive rights movement by launching initiatives such as an online chatbot for confidential abortion information and a website sharing personal stories affected by new restrictions. At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, she emphasized the importance of relentless advocacy:

Notable Quote:

"Last year I became a grandmother, and during my daughter's pregnancy, nothing mattered more to me than her health. One day our children and grandchildren may ask us, when it was all on the line, what did you do? And the only acceptable answer is everything we could."
— Cecile Richards (09:02)

D. Her Enduring Impact

Richards was renowned for her indefatigable spirit and unwavering commitment to reproductive rights. She believed in making tangible changes and finding joy amidst challenges:

Notable Quote:

"You can make change, you can make people's lives different, and you can also find a lot of joy and meet amazing people along the way. And look, if you're fighting for things that are hard, you're going to lose more than you're going to win. But when you do win, you've got to claim that VICT and learn from it."
— Cecile Richards (09:46)

3. Additional News Highlights

A. Trump's Cryptocoin Ventures

Trump launched a cryptocurrency simply named "Trump," which surged to a $10 billion market cap shortly before his inauguration, with 80% owned by his company or affiliates. Experts have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, especially as Trump advocates for reduced regulations and increased adoption of digital assets (07:05).

B. Impact of Trump’s Policies on Disaster Recovery

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump's campaign promises, such as imposing tariffs on imported goods and deporting undocumented workers, could significantly hinder disaster recovery efforts in states like North Carolina and Florida. These areas require extensive rebuilding after hurricanes and wildfires, with construction heavily reliant on imported materials and a considerable portion of the workforce being undocumented (07:05).

C. Prince Harry’s Legal Battle with News UK

Prince Harry initiated legal proceedings against News UK, a division of Rupert Murdoch's media empire, alleging the illegal acquisition of his personal information by journalists and private investigators. This marks one of only two cases among 40 original complaints that have not resulted in settlements. The lawsuit underscores ongoing tensions between Harry and the British tabloids, which have previously settled similar cases for approximately $1.5 billion total (07:05).

For more in-depth coverage on these stories and additional news, visit the Apple News app.

Timestamps Reference

• 00:05 – Introduction by Shemitah Basu
• 00:41 – Trump’s inaugural speech quote
• 01:00 – Signing of executive orders
• 01:11 – Senate confirmations
• 02:33 – Details on January 6 pardons
• 03:00 – NBC’s capture of rioter’s reaction
• 03:14 – Gabriel Augustine Garcia’s statement
• 03:30 – Border policies overview
• 05:25 – Trump’s birthright citizenship quote
• 06:03 – Jesse Watters' praise of Trump's speech
• 07:05 – Introduction to Cecile Richards’ legacy
• 07:28 – Impact of Roe v. Wade overturn
• 08:25 – Sarah McCammon on Richards’ legacy
• 08:35 – Richards’ continued advocacy
• 09:02 – Cecile Richards’ personal quote
• 09:35 – Cecile Richards on making change
• 10:08 – Conclusion by Shemitah Basu

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the "Apple News Today" episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.