Trump is refusing a court order to return a mistakenly deported man

Summary

Apple News Today – Episode Summary: "Trump is refusing a court order to return a mistakenly deported man"
Release Date: April 15, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu

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1. Trump and El Salvador's Refusal to Return Wrongfully Deported Man

Overview:
The episode opens with a high-stakes international dispute involving former President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. A Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador's notorious megaprison. Despite a unanimous Supreme Court order mandating his return, both Trump and Bukele are refusing to comply.

Key Developments:

• Presidential Standoff:
  President Trump and President Bukele met in the Oval Office on Monday to address Abrego Garcia's situation. Bukele expressed strong opposition to returning Garcia, labeling the Supreme Court's order as "preposterous."
  Quote:
  Nayib Bukele (00:50): "How can I return him to the United States? Like I smuggle him into the United States or what do I do with forces? I'm not going to do it. The question was preposterous."

• Supreme Court Order:
  The Supreme Court unanimously directed the U.S. administration to facilitate Garcia's return. Garcia, originally from El Salvador, resides in Maryland with his family under legal protected status. He has no criminal record in either country.
  Quote:
  Unnamed Reporter (01:01): "Order directing the administration to, quote, facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States."

• Trump Administration's Response:
  While the White House acknowledges the deportation as an administrative error, Trump advisor Stephen Miller contested this view, asserting it was intentional.
  Quote:
  Stephen Miller (01:29): "This was the right person sent to the right place."

• Legal Obstacles:
  The Trump administration contends that they cannot facilitate Garcia's return as he is no longer in U.S. custody. Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed this stance, emphasizing that any return depends solely on El Salvador's decision.
  Quote:
  Pam Bondi (01:54): "That's up to El Salvador. If they want to return him, that's not up to us."

• Impact on Garcia's Family:
  Garcia's wife, Jennifer, expressed distress over the lack of communication, stating, "The last time I spoke to him was March 15... And since then, I haven't heard from him."
  Quote:
  Jennifer Abrego Garcia (02:16): "He told me to take care of the kids and to be strong."

• Legal Experts’ Perspective:
  Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Lawrence Tribe criticized the administration's stance, highlighting the contradiction with the Supreme Court's ruling.
  Quote:
  Lawrence Tribe (02:42): "They've taken the position that even if it's clearly illegal and the government admits it, they say, too bad, too late... All nine justices reject the idea that suddenly the greatest nation on earth is powerless and its courts are powerless."

• Trump's Future Plans:
  As the case unfolds, Trump is contemplating expanding his partnership with El Salvador by sending incarcerated U.S. citizens to Salvadoran prisons, a move that civil rights advocates deem illegal.
  Quote:
  Shemitah Basu (03:14): "He told reporters at the Oval Office yesterday he loved the idea, which has alarmed civil rights advocates."

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2. House Republicans' Budget Plan and Medicaid Cuts

Overview:
The episode shifts focus to Congress, where House Republicans have passed a budget plan aiming to advance President Trump's legislative agenda. This plan includes significant tax cuts and new tax breaks, raising concerns about funding sources.

Key Developments:

• Budget Proposal:
  The proposed budget encompasses substantial tax reductions, with analysis indicating that the primary funding gap would be addressed by cutting Medicaid.
  Quote:
  Shemitah Basu (03:54): "On that agenda are tax cuts and additional new tax breaks, which will cost a lot of money."

• Potential Medicaid Cuts:
  While House Speaker Mike Johnson has pledged to protect Medicaid, some Senate Republicans are considering eliminating provider taxes—a strategy to save over $600 billion in the next decade but potentially reducing Medicaid benefits and payments to healthcare providers.
  Quote:
  Joseph Walker (04:44): "When states levy these taxes on hospitals, that counts toward the state's budget for Medicaid."

• Provider Taxes Debate:
  Provider taxes, which are taxes imposed on healthcare providers like hospitals and nursing homes, help fund Medicaid by allowing states to receive matching federal contributions. Critics argue that eliminating these taxes would harm eligible patients by forcing states to cut healthcare benefits.
  Quote:
  Joseph Walker (05:09): "What would happen is states might be forced to cut benefits... reduce payments to hospital and other health care providers."

• Political Dynamics:
  Despite bipartisan support for provider taxes among governors and state legislators, advocates warn against their elimination. Former Trump advisor Stephen Miller labeled the removal of these taxes as a "kickback," while defenders claim they are essential for adequate Medicaid reimbursements.
  Quote:
  Unnamed Reporter (05:52): "Allowed states to game the system to artificially inflate their Medicaid contributions and to enrich politically powerful hospitals."

• Legislative Timeline:
  With Congress in recess, Speaker Johnson urges House members to negotiate with Senate counterparts on the bill's changes by May 9th. Concurrently, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is set to identify over $800 billion in spending cuts over the next decade.
  Quote:
  Shemitah Basu (06:13): "Lawmakers are on a tight timeline."

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3. Rising Maternal Mortality Rates in the U.S.

Overview:
A concerning trend highlighted in the episode is the significant rise in maternal mortality rates in the United States, a development that starkly contrasts with global improvements in maternal health.

Key Developments:

• Statistical Increase:
  A study analyzing CDC data from 2018 to 2022 revealed a 27% increase in pregnancy-related death rates, with a specific surge in deaths occurring from six weeks to a year postpartum.
  Quote:
  Anel Oza (07:16): "In 2018 there was about 25.3 deaths per 100,000 births and by 2022 that was closer to 32.6, which is concerning all on its own."

• Political Inaction:
  Despite the rising rates, political efforts to address the issue are faltering, with funding and support for maternal health initiatives diminishing.
  Quote:
  Anel Oza (07:14): "A lot of the work that would sort of work to undo this increase is being gutted and not funded anymore."

• CDC Department Cuts:
  Last month, significant portions of the CDC department responsible for maternal and child health were placed on leave, and funding for researchers studying maternal mortality was withdrawn. This division plays a crucial role in identifying health disparities that contribute to the U.S. having the highest maternal death rate among high-income nations.
  Quote:
  Shemitah Basu (07:51): "This division is aimed at identifying the health gaps that still exist."

• Demographic Disparities:
  The study highlighted that maternal mortality rates are disproportionately higher among indigenous and Black women compared to white women. Geographical disparities are also significant, with states like California reporting substantially lower rates compared to Alabama.
  Quote:
  Anel Oza (08:06): "Maternal health disparities also varied by geographic location."

• Legislative Response in Alabama:
  In response to high maternal mortality rates, Alabama lawmakers passed a bill to provide immediate Medicaid access for pregnant women, even as their applications are pending. This initiative aims to cover almost half of all births in the state, increasing Medicaid spending by approximately $1 million annually over three years.
  Quote:
  Unnamed Reporter (09:13): "A bill to provide immediate access to Medicaid for pregnant women... would increase Medicaid spending statewide by about $1 million per year over the course of three years."

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4. Additional News Highlights

a. Harvey Weinstein's Retrial:
The disgraced movie mogul is back in court for a retrial in New York, revisiting a high-profile MeToo-era case. The new trial includes an additional charge based on an allegation from a woman not involved in the initial prosecution. Despite this, Weinstein maintains his innocence and remains incarcerated for previous convictions.

b. Rumesa Ozturk's Deportation Controversy:
Tufts University doctoral student Rumesa Ozturk was forcibly detained and targeted for deportation by masked immigration officials after co-authoring an op-ed criticizing Tufts' response to Israel's war in Gaza. However, an internal government memo contradicts DHS's claims, stating there was insufficient evidence to justify her deportation. Ozturk is currently held in a Louisiana detention center without comments from DHS or the State Department.

c. Paige Beckers' WNBA and Unrivaled 3-on-3 Deal:
Former UConn Huskies guard Paige Beckers was the first pick in the latest WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings. In addition to her WNBA career, Beckers has secured a lucrative deal with the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, earning significantly more than her entire four-year WNBA rookie contract, aiming to provide sustainable offseason opportunities for players.

d. Tax Day Reminder:
A timely reminder for listeners to file their 2024 taxes, noting that residents in FEMA-declared disaster areas receive an automatic extension to May 1. Details and eligible locations are available in the show notes.

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Conclusion

This episode of Apple News Today delves deep into pressing national and international issues, from high-stakes political disputes and significant legislative developments to alarming public health trends and noteworthy legal battles. By providing detailed reports, expert opinions, and firsthand accounts, Shemitah Basu ensures listeners are well-informed on the multifaceted stories shaping our world today.

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For more detailed coverage and additional stories, visit the Apple News app.

Transcript

[Shemitah Basu]

Good morning. It's Tuesday, April 15th. I'm Shemitah Basu. This is Apple News today. On today's show, Republicans look for budget cuts to meet Trump's legislative agenda. Why?

[Unnamed Reporter]

Maternal mortality rates are rising in the.

[Shemitah Basu]

US and the WNBA gets its latest.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Star in last night's draft.

[Shemitah Basu]

But first, President Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele say they will not return.

[Unnamed Reporter]

A Maryland man who was wrongfully deported to a notorious megaprison in El Salvador.

[Shemitah Basu]

Bukele met with Trump in the Oval Office on Monday and addressed the situation directly with reporters.

[Nayib Bukele]

How can I return him to the United States? Like I smuggle him into the United States or what do I do with forces? I'm not going to do it. The question was preposterous.

[Shemitah Basu]

This comes despite a unanimous Supreme Court.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Order directing the administration to, quote, facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States.

[Shemitah Basu]

He's originally from El Salvador, but he.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Lives in Maryland under legal protected status with his wife and children who are US Citizens.

[Shemitah Basu]

He has no criminal record in the.

[Unnamed Reporter]

United States or El Salvador.

[Shemitah Basu]

The White House has called his deportation an administrative error. But at least one Trump advisor, Stephen Miller, contradicted that, saying, quote, this was.

[Unnamed Reporter]

The right person sent to the right place.

[Shemitah Basu]

In court filings, the Trump administration has.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Claimed there's nothing they can do to.

[Shemitah Basu]

Bring Abrego Garcia home because he's no.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Longer in U.S. custody.

[Shemitah Basu]

And more recently, it has said the.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Language of the Supreme Court's order only means US Officials have to allow him back into the country if El Salvador chooses to release him.

[Shemitah Basu]

Here's Attorney General Pam Bondi speaking to reporters on Monday.

[Pam Bondi]

That's up to El Salvador. If they want to return him, that's not up to us. The Supreme Court ruled, President, that if as El Salvador wants to return him, this is international matters, foreign affairs. If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane.

[Shemitah Basu]

Meanwhile, Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer, says their.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Family hasn't heard from him in a month.

[Jennifer Abrego Garcia]

The last time I spoke to him was March 15, when they were about to abort a plane. And since then, I haven't heard from him. He told me to take care of the kids and to be strong.

[Shemitah Basu]

Lawrence Tribe is a professor emeritus at Harvard Law School.

[Unnamed Reporter]

He told NPR the administration's response runs counter to the Supreme Court's ruling.

[Lawrence Tribe]

They've taken the position that even if it's clearly illegal and the government admits it, they say, too bad, too late, oops, the person is gone and we cannot get him back. And all nine justices reject the idea that suddenly the greatest nation on earth is powerless and its courts are powerless. Just because someone is outside the country, that's not the law.

[Shemitah Basu]

As Abrego Garcia's case continues to play out, Trump says he is considering expanding.

[Unnamed Reporter]

His partnership with El Salvador by also sending incarcerated US Citizens El Salvador prisons.

[Shemitah Basu]

He told reporters at the Oval Office.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Yesterday he, quote, loved the idea, which has alarmed civil rights advocates.

[Shemitah Basu]

Trump said he would only use this.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Approach if it's legal.

[Shemitah Basu]

But legal experts say it would be.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Flagrantly illegal to deport U.S. citizens under both U.S. and international law.

[Shemitah Basu]

Let's turn to Congress, where at the end of last week, House Republicans passed a budget plan that sets the ground.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Work for President Trump's legislative agenda.

[Shemitah Basu]

On that agenda are tax cuts and additional new tax breaks, which will cost.

[Unnamed Reporter]

A lot of money.

[Shemitah Basu]

And analysis shows there really aren't many.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Places to find that money, other than by making big cuts to Medicaid.

[Shemitah Basu]

House Speaker Mike Johnson has promised to protect Medicaid, but some Senate Republican lawmakers.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Are eyeing the math and saying they definitely won't support a bill that contains Medicaid benefit cuts.

[Shemitah Basu]

Joseph Walker, a reporter with the Wall Street Journal, says one potential cut that Republicans are considering are what are known as provider taxes. These are taxes that states impose on hospitals, nursing homes, any place that's providing health care.

[Joseph Walker]

Medicaid is jointly funded by the states and by the federal government. The federal government's contribution depends on a state's per capita income and how much money it's putting into Medicaid itself.

[Shemitah Basu]

So when states levy these taxes on hospitals, that counts toward the state's budget for Medicaid.

[Joseph Walker]

And so what states can do is they get this big matching contribution from the federal government and then basically funnel back most or all of the money and make it so that basically many of the hospitals get back much more money in extra payments than they paid out in taxes.

[Shemitah Basu]

This system has made provider taxes popular among governors and state legislators on both.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Sides of the aisle, and it's why advocates have warned that eliminating or changing them would negatively impact eligible patients.

[Shemitah Basu]

But if Congress were to eliminate just those taxes, the Congressional Budget Office estimates.

[Unnamed Reporter]

That it could save more than $600 billion over the next decade.

[Joseph Walker]

What would happen is states might be forced to cut benefits in some ways, or certainly reduce payments to hospital and other health care providers that benefit from these state provider taxes and the matching contributions from the federal government.

[Shemitah Basu]

Supporters of eliminating provider taxes say they've.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Allowed states to game the system to artificially inflate their Medicaid contributions and to enrich politically powerful hospitals.

[Shemitah Basu]

One former Trump advisor called it a kickback. Defenders maintain that it helps hospitals cover.

[Unnamed Reporter]

What they say insufficient Medicaid reimbursements won't.

[Shemitah Basu]

Congress is currently in recess, but lawmakers.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Are on a tight timeline.

[Shemitah Basu]

Speaker Mike Johnson wants House members to.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Confer with their Senate counterparts on proposed changes to the bill and have Those ready by May 9th.

[Shemitah Basu]

That same week, the House Energy and.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, is expected.

[Shemitah Basu]

To begin identifying more than $800 billion.

[Unnamed Reporter]

In spending cuts over 10.

[Shemitah Basu]

Pregnancy related.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Deaths are on the rise, despite the.

[Shemitah Basu]

Fact that more than 80% of these.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Types of fatalities are preventable, according to the cdc.

[Shemitah Basu]

And a particularly dangerous period that's long.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Been overlooked is finally getting counted. Almost one third of these deaths are taking place anywhere from six weeks to a year after childbirth.

[Shemitah Basu]

That's according to a recently published study looking at CDC data.

[Unnamed Reporter]

From 2018 to 2022, it found a 27% increase in pregnancy related death rates. In the Anel Oza with Stat News.

[Shemitah Basu]

Spoke to us about the study.

[Anel Oza]

In 2018 there was about 25.3 deaths per 100,000 births and by 2022 that was closer to 32.6, which is concerning all on its own. But I think it also stands in stark contrast to the political moments that we're in where a lot of the work that would sort of work to undo this increase is being gutted and not funded anymore and in some cases that work is being terminate.

[Shemitah Basu]

Last month much of the CDC department.

[Unnamed Reporter]

That oversees maternal and child health was put on leave.

[Shemitah Basu]

Some researchers studying maternal mortality have had.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Their funding taken away.

[Shemitah Basu]

This division is aimed at identifying the.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Health gaps that still exist that lead the US to have, compared to all other high income nations, the highest rate of maternal deaths.

[Anel Oza]

The other thing that I think is pretty notable here is the increase we saw from 2018 to 2022 was largely driven by maternal mortality in young women. So those that are aged 25 to 39 who saw an even greater increase than that overall statistic.

[Shemitah Basu]

Also, by expanding the window to up to a year postpartum, the study's authors.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Were able to identify several chronic diseases as the leading causes of late maternal deaths, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and mental disorders.

[Shemitah Basu]

Compared to white women, maternal mortality rates.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Are higher among indigenous and black women.

[Shemitah Basu]

The study found that maternal health disparities.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Also varied by geographic location.

[Anel Oza]

So in California, which was the state with the lowest maternal mortality, they were seeing about 18 deaths per 100,000 births. And in the state that was highest, which was Alabama, they saw almost 60 deaths per 100,000 births. And they calculated that if the whole country had a rate that was about equal to California's, that would have saved 2,600 lives.

[Shemitah Basu]

Just last week, Alabama lawmakers unanimously passed.

[Unnamed Reporter]

A bill to provide immediate access to Medicaid for pregnant women, even as their application for the program is being consistent.

[Shemitah Basu]

Considered Medicaid was used to pay for.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Almost half of all births in the state in 2023, and the bill would.

[Shemitah Basu]

Increase Medicaid spending statewide by about $1.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Million per year over the course of three years.

[Shemitah Basu]

Before we let you go, a few.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Other stories we're following.

[Shemitah Basu]

Convicted rapist and disgraced movie mogul Harvey.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Weinstein is back on trial starting today.

[Shemitah Basu]

Jury selection begins in New York in a redo of the high profile MeToo era case where Weinstein was initially convicted.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Of sexual criminal assault in the first degree and rape in the third degree.

[Shemitah Basu]

Those charges were overturned a year ago after an appeals court ruled the judge.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Had unfairly allowed testimony from women whose allegations were not part of the charges.

[Shemitah Basu]

The Guardian reports that this retrial will most likely be an abridged version of.

[Unnamed Reporter]

The original case, but there will be one crucial difference.

[Shemitah Basu]

It includes a new charge based on.

[Unnamed Reporter]

An allegation from a woman who was not part of the first prosecution.

[Shemitah Basu]

Over the years, Weinstein has argued he.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Is innocent and pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him.

[Shemitah Basu]

His criminal convictions in California still stand.

[Unnamed Reporter]

And he remains in prison for those.

[Shemitah Basu]

Now to reporting from the Washington Post.

[Unnamed Reporter]

On Tufts University doctoral student Rumesa Ozturk.

[Shemitah Basu]

You might remember she was grabbed off.

[Unnamed Reporter]

The streets by her home near Boston last month and detained by masked immigration officials.

[Shemitah Basu]

The Trump administration revoked her student visa and targeted her for deportation over an.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Op ed that she co wrote last year for the student newspaper, which criticized Tuft's response to Israel's war in Gaza.

[Shemitah Basu]

The Department of Homeland Security has said.

[Unnamed Reporter]

That op ed is proof that she engaged in activities, quote, in support of Hamas.

[Shemitah Basu]

But the Post learned of an internal.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Government memo that refutes that narrative.

[Shemitah Basu]

It turns out DHS recommended the State Department to investigate Austerk before she was.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Detained and days before, before she was.

[Shemitah Basu]

Arrested, the State Department determined the Trump.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Administration had not produced any evidence showing Ostark engaged in anti Semitic activities or made public statements supporting Hamas.

[Shemitah Basu]

And the memo concluded Secretary of State.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Marco Rubio did not have sufficient grounds to revoke her visa. Today, Ostark is being held in a Louisiana detention center.

[Shemitah Basu]

Neither DHS or the State Department offered.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Comment to the post.

[Shemitah Basu]

Fresh off of her 2025 NCAA National.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Championship, former UConn Huskies guard Paige Beckers was selected first in last night's WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings.

[Shemitah Basu]

Beckers averaged just under 20 points per.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Game in her last year at UConn before capturing that elusive national championship.

[Shemitah Basu]

The WNBA isn't the only place Beckers.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Is taking her talents, though.

[Shemitah Basu]

She also signed a deal to play.

[Unnamed Reporter]

In the unrivaled 3 on 3 league.

[Shemitah Basu]

That launched earlier, where she'll earn significantly.

[Unnamed Reporter]

More money than at the wnba.

[Shemitah Basu]

Unrivaled was established to provide players with.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Sustainable off season opportunities.

[Shemitah Basu]

Its first year was a huge success.

[Unnamed Reporter]

And with an average player salary of $220,000, Beckers could earn more there than her entire four year WNBA rookie contract combined.

[Shemitah Basu]

And just one quick reminder before we let you go.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Today is tax day, so don't forget to file your 2024 taxes if you haven't already.

[Shemitah Basu]

But if you live in a state.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Or a FEMA declared a disaster over.

[Shemitah Basu]

The last year, you automatically get a little extra time. Your deadline to file is May 1, and you can find the list of locations that qualify in our show Notes. 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. Over our planet's vast history, 99.9% of.

[Unnamed Reporter]

The species that once existed are now.

[Shemitah Basu]

Extinct, but a genetic startup called Colossal is trying to bring some of them, like the woolly mammoth and the dodo back. The New Yorker has the story of how they say they've already succeeded in creating living animals with ancient DNA. If you're listening in the podcast app.

[Unnamed Reporter]

Follow Apple News Narrated to find that.

[Shemitah Basu]

Story and I'll be back at the News tomorrow.