Trump hailed the ceasefire deal — but cracks are already showing

Summary

Apple News Today — April 9, 2026

Episode Theme:
On this episode, host Cecilia Ley guides listeners through a rapidly unraveling Middle East ceasefire deal hailed by former President Trump, growing local blowback against AI data centers, and other major news stories, highlighting the complexity behind headlines and deepening audience understanding with on-the-ground reporting and expert analysis.

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1. Middle East Ceasefire Deal: Shaky Beginnings

Main Theme:
The episode opens with the tense aftermath of a ceasefire deal in the Middle East, involving Iran, Israel, and the U.S., examining its immediate breakdown, regional misunderstandings, and ongoing oil disruptions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Iran’s Accusations & Oil Blockade

  • Iran accuses the U.S. and Israel of violating the ceasefire, shows little willingness to restore oil flow.
    • “The regime is willing to end its chokehold over oil supplies.” [00:11]
    • “We're in for a pretty long blockage to the oil situation. I think consumers are going to feel that for a long time.” – Avi Salzman, Barron’s [00:15]

• Confusion About Ceasefire Scope:

  • Questions swirl around whether Lebanon and Hezbollah were included.
    • Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue—displacing a million, killing over 1,500.
    • “Mere hours after the ceasefire announcement, Israeli strikes barraged Beirut, including dense commercial and residential areas.” [01:10]
  • Urgent calls for medical aid in Beirut:
    • “There has been an urgent call for doctors across the country to head to hospitals... This is much, much bigger than anything that we've seen in this war or even the previous one, actually.” – Rania Abuzed, Journalist [01:24]

• Differing Narratives and Threats

  • Hezbollah responds with strikes into Israel.
  • Iran threatens a “regret inducing response.” [01:52]
  • U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance claims Iran misunderstood the agreement:
    • “I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon and it just didn’t. We never made that promise.” – J.D. Vance [02:04]
    • He adds, Israel has offered to “check themselves a little bit.” [02:23]

• Strait of Hormuz Still Blocked

  • Iranian state media says the strait is closed after Israeli attacks;
  • Trump’s press secretary disputes this, noting increased traffic:
    • “We have seen an uptick of traffic in the strait today and I will reiterate the President’s expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely.” – Trump Press Secretary Caroline Levitt [02:42]

• Real Effects Lag Behind Political Promises

  • Oil prices drop on the news of the deal, but actual shipping remains stalled:
    • “Oil's down on paper, but as far as the free flow of oil and gas, that's just not happening.” – Avi Salzman [03:06]
    • “The last 24 hours have shown us that Iran appears to have full control of the strait. And it doesn’t show much sign of loosening that. They see themselves as having leverage.” – Avi Salzman [03:21]
    • Iran now charging tolls (including crypto fees), upending trade norms [03:36–03:47]

• Companies Reluctant to Resume Shipping

  • “Companies are telling me they're just not willing to take that risk right now… There are too many uncertainties… the health and life of the crew are… their number one concern.” – Avi Salzman [04:05]
  • Hundreds of ships backlogged, months of disruption expected even in best cases [04:28]
  • The strait’s status will be central to upcoming talks in Islamabad, attended by U.S., Iran, and special envoys [04:44–05:08]

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2. Local Backlash Against AI Data Centers

Main Theme:
Urban and rural communities across the U.S. are intensifying resistance to large AI data center projects, triggering new local laws, state legislative proposals, and a national debate about economic growth versus community and environmental wellbeing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• National Movement Gains Steam

  • President Trump pushes for shifting electricity costs to companies [05:17]
  • Progressives propose a pause on new centers: Sanders/Ocasio-Cortez call for a national moratorium [05:24]
  • Multiple states (Maine possibly first) advocate bans; more than 10 have introduced such measures [05:32]

• Port Washington, Wisconsin’s Landmark Referendum

  • City passes (2-to-1) a first-in-the-nation measure giving local voters authority over tax incentives for future large developments (including data centers) [05:50]
    • “There was a lot of uncertainty about how Tuesday’s vote would go… the fact that it passed by a 2 to 1 majority… signals that these types of referendums clearly have some kind of ground to stand on in other communities.” – Tyler Katzenberger, Politico [06:08]

• Quality of Life Concerns Drive the Protests

  • Fears: environmental harm, lack of transparency, water and noise pollution.
    • “Folks there are really protective of their natural resources. They love their lake. It’s part of the identity and… culture there… I don’t know if I want this project coming in and disturbing the nature around me, the way of life that I have.” – Tyler Katzenberger [07:33]
  • Social and political backlash: threats, violence (a councilor’s home shot at in Indianapolis)
  • Local activism could set a national precedent as more cities prepare ballot measures [06:34, 08:03]
  • Some business groups attempt to block these measures in courts [08:11]

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3. Masters Golf Tournament: Missing Legends, Uncertain Future

Main Theme:
Golf’s iconic Masters tournament begins amid the conspicuous absences of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, fueling debates about legacy, fandom, and player behavior.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Anticipation and Big Names

  • Strong favorites: Rory McIlroy (last year’s winner), Scottie Scheffler (current No. 1)
  • “It feels like one of the most fascinating Masters we've had in probably at least seven years.” – Brody Miller, The Athletic [08:43]
  • Room for a breakout underdog: “Feels like we might be due for a kind of really out there winner… somebody less established but on the come up might break through.” – Brody Miller [09:06]

• Woods and Mickelson Absent for First Time Since 1994

  • Mickelson: out for family health reasons
  • Woods: arrest and DUI charge after SUV accident, found with hydrocodone pills.
    • “It’s a little bit selfish of him to drive and put other people in harm’s way as well. But he’s my hero, you know. … The reason why I play golf is because of this tournament and Tiger … it's hard to see him go through what he's going through and especially under the microscope.” – Jason Day, pro golfer [10:13]

• Woods: Comebacks and Consequences

  • Fourth vehicle incident in recent years; entering treatment, stepping away from golf.
  • “Tiger Woods is about that Shakespearean arc… This guy falls, but then he comes back… now this is officially a problematic series of behavior… he’s doing reckless.” – Brody Miller [10:54]

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4. News Roundup: Brief Updates

House Committee & Jeffrey Epstein Investigation

• Former Attorney General Pam Bondi dodges testifying by leaving her role; disputes over DOJ handling of Epstein files. [11:39–12:25]

Record-breaking March Weather

• Hottest March on record in the U.S.; ten states set all-time highs. Early spring, drier conditions, attributed to climate change. [12:25–13:07]

Cambodia Erects Monument to a Heroic Rat

• Statue honors Magawa, a giant African pouched rat who sniffed out more than 100 landmines – “one of the best rats we've ever had.” [13:24–14:07]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Middle East ceasefire and oil crisis: 00:05–05:08
• AI Data Center backlash: 05:08–08:19
• Masters Golf Tournament: 08:29–11:39
• News Briefs (Epstein, weather, rat hero): 11:39–14:07

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Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• “We're in for a pretty long blockage to the oil situation. I think consumers are going to feel that for a long time.” — Avi Salzman [00:15]
• “There has been an urgent call for doctors across the country to head to hospitals… This is much, much bigger than anything that we've seen in this war or even the previous one, actually.” — Rania Abuzed [01:24]
• “I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon and it just didn’t. We never made that promise.” — J.D. Vance [02:04]
• “We have seen an uptick of traffic in the Strait today... the President’s expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely.” — Trump Press Secretary Caroline Levitt [02:42]
• “The last 24 hours have shown us that Iran appears to have full control of the strait... They see themselves as having leverage.” — Avi Salzman [03:21]
• “There was a lot of uncertainty about how Tuesday’s vote would go... the fact that it passed by a 2 to 1 majority... signals that these types of referendums clearly have some kind of ground to stand on in other communities.” — Tyler Katzenberger [06:08]
• “Folks there are really protective of their natural resources. They love their lake. It’s part of the identity and… culture there.” — Tyler Katzenberger [07:33]
• “It feels like one of the most fascinating Masters we've had in probably at least seven years.” — Brody Miller [08:43]
• “It’s a little bit selfish of him to drive and put other people in harm’s way as well. But he’s my hero, you know.” — Jason Day [10:13]
• “Tiger Woods is about that Shakespearean arc… This guy falls, but then he comes back… now this is officially a problematic series of behavior.” — Brody Miller [10:54]

---

Conclusion

This episode underscores how supposed diplomatic breakthroughs can unravel quickly, spotlights a unique moment in grassroots tech activism, and examines the shifting narrative of American sports and weather. For a deeper dive, all articles referenced are available in the Apple News app.

Transcript

[Cecilia Ley]

Good morning. Iran accuses the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire. And so far there's little sign that

[Reporter/Correspondent]

the regime is willing to end its chokehold over oil supplies.

[Avi Salzman]

We're in for a pretty long blockage to the oil situation. I think consumers are going to feel that for a long time.

[Cecilia Ley]

Politico explains the length. Some states are going to keep data

[Reporter/Correspondent]

centers out of their towns and why talk of Tiger woods is still dominating

[Cecilia Ley]

the masters even though he's not competing. It's Thursday, April 9th. I'm Cecilia Ley and this is Apple News.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Today,

[Cecilia Ley]

The first day of the ceasefire was dominated by confusion about who was involved, how it might work and whether

[Reporter/Correspondent]

it had already been breached.

[Cecilia Ley]

One of the big questions has been

[Reporter/Correspondent]

whether Lebanon is included here.

[Cecilia Ley]

Israel has been sending missiles into the

[Reporter/Correspondent]

country on a constant basis as it targets the Iran backed militia Hezboll.

[Cecilia Ley]

Those strikes have displaced a million people

[Reporter/Correspondent]

and killed over 1500. And the strikes haven't stopped.

[Cecilia Ley]

Mere hours after the ceasefire announcement, Israeli

[Reporter/Correspondent]

strikes barraged Beirut, including dense commercial and residential areas. According to the AP, local journalist Rania Abuzed told France24 about the situation on the ground.

[Rania Abuzed]

There has been an urgent call for doctors across the country to head to hospitals. There have been repeated calls for blood donations of every type. The ambulances from the north of Lebanon are heading to Beirut and to the south to try and assist. So it's a case of all hands on deck. This is much, much bigger than anything that we've seen in this war or even the previous one, actually.

[Cecilia Ley]

Last night, Hezbollah said it had responded

[Reporter/Correspondent]

with strikes into northern Israel.

[Cecilia Ley]

Iran said that the cease fire terms

[Reporter/Correspondent]

had been violated because of Israel's continued attacks. And they warned of a, quote, regret inducing response if they didn't pull back.

[Cecilia Ley]

Vice President J.D.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

vance suggested Lebanon was never part of the deal.

[J.D. Vance]

I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon and it just didn't. We never made that promise. We never indicated that was going to be the case. What we said is that the ceasefire would be focused on Iran and the ceasefire would be focused on America's allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states.

[Cecilia Ley]

But he did suggest Israel had offered to, quote, check themselves a little bit

[Reporter/Correspondent]

to keep his negotiations on track.

[Cecilia Ley]

Following Israel's bombardment, Iranian state media said

[Reporter/Correspondent]

it had closed the Strait again.

[Cecilia Ley]

Yesterday, Trump's press secretary, Caroline Levitt said that was false.

[Trump Press Secretary]

This is a case of what they're saying publicly is different.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Privately.

[Trump Press Secretary]

We have seen an uptick of traffic in the strait today and I will reiterate the President's expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely. That is his expectation. It has been relayed to him privately.

[Cecilia Ley]

Oil prices fell on news of a deal last night, but those private words and expectations have yet to translate into real change.

[Avi Salzman]

Right now, it's kind of like oil's down on paper, but as far as the free flow of oil and gas, that's just not happening.

[Cecilia Ley]

Avi Salzman covers energy for barons and has been tracking tanker movement. So far, he told us, it's very

[Reporter/Correspondent]

quiet out there with few ships passing through.

[Avi Salzman]

The last 24 hours have shown us that Iran appears to have full control of the strait. And it doesn't show much sign of loosening that. They see themselves as having leverage. And right now it appears that that's the status quo.

[Cecilia Ley]

Iran is reportedly charging toll payments from tankers, and the Financial Times writes that

[Reporter/Correspondent]

they have demanded crypto fees as the price of entry.

[Cecilia Ley]

That would violate established trade norms and

[Reporter/Correspondent]

represent a new source of income for the regime.

[Cecilia Ley]

Yesterday, Trump said he was considering a

[Reporter/Correspondent]

joint venture toll system with Iran. But even if the strait does begin to open up, Salzman says it could be a long time before things return to normal. To start with, many companies are wary of even entering the dangerous waters.

[Avi Salzman]

Companies are telling me they're just not willing to take that risk right now. I checked in with Maersk, which is the biggest publicly traded shipping company, and they said there are too many uncertainties right now. It's just the life and health of the crew are, I think, their number one concern.

[Cecilia Ley]

There's also the issue of the disruption

[Reporter/Correspondent]

and backlog, which Salzman says could take months to figure out.

[Avi Salzman]

Even in the best case scenario, it would be an enormous undertaking. There are hundreds of ships just sort of waiting to go through. So it would be like waiting in a line for your favorite concert, except everyone behind you is, you know. More than 100ft long.

[Cecilia Ley]

The strait is likely to be central

[Reporter/Correspondent]

to the upcoming talks.

[Cecilia Ley]

This Saturday, Vance is set to be

[Reporter/Correspondent]

in Pakistan's capital city, Islamabad, to negotiate a more permanent end to the war. He'll be joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner.

[Cecilia Ley]

Across the country, the local backlash against building AI data centers is gaining momentum. Politicians from both sides have taken note. President Trump has urged his party in

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Congress to put the burden of electricity costs onto companies.

[Cecilia Ley]

And last month, Senator Bernie Sanders and

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez introduced a bill that would put a moratorium on their construction.

[Cecilia Ley]

But it's at the local level where

[Reporter/Correspondent]

some change actually seems to be happening. Maine may become the first state to fully freeze the construction of new centers soon, and more than 10 states have proposed at least temporary bans. And on Tuesday night, a city in Wisconsin issued its verdict on a first in the nation referendum.

[Tyler Katzenberger]

Port Washington, which is a small town just north of Milwaukee, targeted zoning policy and specifically created a measure that would allow voters to have the final say in whether or not to approve a certain tax incentive for future large developments like data centers.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Tyler Katzenberger is a reporter with Politico covering technology.

[Tyler Katzenberger]

There was a lot of uncertainty about how Tuesday's vote would go, and so the fact that it passed by a 2 to 1 majority, I think might have been surprising to some folks. I think it signals that these types of referendums clearly have some kind of ground to stand on in other communities as we look forward.

[Cecilia Ley]

The campaign gained momentum after the city

[Reporter/Correspondent]

signed off on OpenAI and Oracle's $15 billion facility.

[Cecilia Ley]

That project will still move forward, but

[Reporter/Correspondent]

referendum could lead to future developments getting blocked. By requiring voter approval, Katzenberger told us that this grassroots effort in a city of around 12,000 people could set a national precedent, providing a tool for grassroots activists who want to halt data center projects. At least three other communities across the country are set to vote on similar ballot measures this year. And in Ohio, there's an effort to put a ban on certain facilities on a statewide ballot.

[Cecilia Ley]

Over the last several decades, Rust Belt

[Reporter/Correspondent]

cities like Port Washington have seen investments decline. So naturally, some city leaders are attracted by the prospect of jobs and investment. But it also brings big political risks and strong feelings. In one extreme example, earlier this week, a city councilor in Indianapolis said that his home was shot at over construction of a proposed data center. For many residents, the development of AI data centers in their communities are seen as a hit on their quality of life.

[Tyler Katzenberger]

Folks there are really protective of their natural resources. They love their lake. It's part of the identity and part of the culture there. They love the nature that surrounds the town. And so when they see this data center proposal come in, and I think for some folks, they feel like they haven't been told enough about it or maybe feel like it wasn't transparent enough. I don't know if I want this project coming in and disturbing the nature around me, the way of life that I have. And also I'm worried about noise pollution. I'm worried about, you know, is my water still gonna be fresh?

[Cecilia Ley]

Katzenberger told us that in the coming

[Reporter/Correspondent]

months, many more residents from California to Michigan will have their chance to cast their ballots and put the brakes on development.

[Cecilia Ley]

As for Wisconsin, a regional business group is seeking to block the measure on

[Reporter/Correspondent]

the grounds that it violates state law.

[Cecilia Ley]

But the ballot result is enough for

[Reporter/Correspondent]

advocates to keep pushing their opposition.

[Cecilia Ley]

Today marks the start of the Masters, professional golf's most prestigious tournament of the year. The annual event is held at Augusta

[Reporter/Correspondent]

national in Georgia, where players compete to win the coveted and legendary green jacket.

[Brody Miller]

Yeah, it feels like one of the most fascinating Masters we've had in probably at least seven years.

[Cecilia Ley]

Brody Miller is a staff writer for

[Reporter/Correspondent]

the Athletic who covers golf and spoke to us from Augusta. Miller says the tournament will feature big name threats like last year's winner Rory McIlroy from Ireland and the currently ranked world number one player, Scottie Scheffler. But this year there might be some surprises.

[Brody Miller]

It feels like we might be due for a kind of really out there winner. But on the other hand, you know, I think it could just mean somebody less established but on the come up might break through. Whether that's a Cameron Young who just won the players, whether that's a Ludwig Oberg, you know, guys like that that have contended but haven't made the leap.

[Cecilia Ley]

The Masters holds a special place in

[Reporter/Correspondent]

the hearts of fans and players. The course, traditions and prestige all add up to one of the most anticipated sports events of the year. But the 2026 tournament will missing are two major golfers, Tiger woods and Phil Mickelson. It'll be the first Masters not to feature either one of these players since 1994. Three time champion Mickelson withdrew from the competition due to a family health matter. But it will be woods absence that is most conspicuous and is still dominating parts of the coverage.

[Cecilia Ley]

Woods was arrested and charged with DUI

[Reporter/Correspondent]

offenses in Florida where he rolled his SUV and was discovered with two hydrocodone pills in his pocket. Some players are speaking up about what it all means to them. Here's Australian pro Jason Day speaking to reporters on Tuesday.

[Jason Day]

The only thing that I don't understand is that it's a little bit selfish of him to drive and put other people in harm's way as well. But he's my hero, you know, he was my hero growing up. The reason why I play golf is because of this tournament and Tiger and you know, it's, it's hard to see him go through what he's going through and especially under the microscope.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

This is woods fourth incident involving a vehicle since 2009. He recently traveled to Switzerland, where he apparently entered a treatment facility. He said in a statement he was stepping away from golf to focus on his health.

[Cecilia Ley]

Miller says despite those numerous incidents, the

[Reporter/Correspondent]

50 year old has a reputation of being able to come back from any challenge.

[Brody Miller]

Tiger woods is about that Shakespearean arc of this guy falls, but then he comes back. And then each time now like the more things that happen the fall, the more you're like him winning that 2019 masters or him surviving that 2021 crash and then still making three more masters cuts. As insane as that is in his late 40s with like half of a working body, when these incredible acts keep happening, it just keeps propelling this notion that there's nothing he can't come back from. And as I wrote, it's becoming dangerous in that sense of okay, but now this is officially a problematic series of behavior and I'm not trying to cancel him or dunk on him, but he's doing reckless.

[Cecilia Ley]

And finally, a few other stories we're following. It seems former Attorney General Pam Bondi

[Reporter/Correspondent]

won't speak to the House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein after all.

[Cecilia Ley]

Bondi received a subpoena last month to

[Reporter/Correspondent]

testify in her government role, but now that she's gone, the subpoena is invalid.

[Cecilia Ley]

That's according to a letter sent by

[Reporter/Correspondent]

the Department of Justice.

[Cecilia Ley]

President Trump reportedly fired Bondi, at least

[Reporter/Correspondent]

in part, over her handling of the Epstein files. She was subpoenaed to answer questions over whether the DOJ had acted in compliance with a law passed requiring the release of all the documents. Lawmakers complained that redactions in the files were more than the law allowed. One Democrat on the panel had threatened to begin contempt proceedings if she didn't appear, though he would need Republican support to move them forward.

[Cecilia Ley]

If you live in the western and southern parts of the country and felt like it was unseasonably warm in recent

[Reporter/Correspondent]

weeks, you weren't wrong. Last month was the hottest March on record in the US and was the first month where temperatures exceeded long term averages by more more than 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Ten states recorded their warmest March on record, including California, Idaho, Texas and Colorado. The figures are part of a new report released by the national oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The report says things are also getting drier. Last month also ranked as the driest March across the lower 48 states since 2013. Researchers say that climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme heat events, which bring with them shorter winter seasons and earlier spring warmth. And finally, rats are not your typical neighborhood hero, and people don't usually like to celebrate their presence, but a new monument was just erected in Cambodia honoring a very special rodent for its bravery.

[Cecilia Ley]

Magawa, who weighed less than three pounds,

[Reporter/Correspondent]

was a giant poached rat that sniffed out more than 100 landmines in the country over five years.

[Cecilia Ley]

A seven foot statue of Magawa was

[Reporter/Correspondent]

unveiled last week to honor, quote, one of the best rats we've ever had. According to the organization of Popo, a nonprofit in Belgium that trains animals to detect minds, Magawa could cover the area of a tennis court in about 20 minutes compared to the several days it would take humans to do the same job. Rats are uniquely suited for this kind of work because of their highly developed sense of smell and compact size, which is light enough not to trigger a landmine. Better that they are there than in your home.

[Cecilia Ley]

You can find all these stories and more in the Apple News app. And if you're already listening in the News app right now, we've got a narrated article coming up next.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

The Wall Street Journal reports on the companies charging Medicaid big sums for in demand autism therapy offering services with little regulatory oversight attached.

[Cecilia Ley]

If you're listening in the podcast app,

[Reporter/Correspondent]

follow Apple News narrated to find that story. And I'll be back with the news tomorrow.