Apple News Today: Detailed Summary of "Trump says Putin has gone “CRAZY.” What next for the war in Ukraine?"

Release Date: May 27, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu

1. Russia-Ukraine War: Trump's Fiery Critique of Putin

The episode opens with Shemitah Basu discussing the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Over the past weekend, Russia intensified its assault on Kyiv, launching its largest combined aerial attack since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, resulting in at least 13 fatalities.

Donald Trump took to social media to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating at [00:55] "I'm not happy with what Putin's doing. He's killing a lot of people and I don't know what the hell happened to Putin." He further escalates his rhetoric by declaring Putin "absolutely crazy" and criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of doing Ukraine "no favors."

This unpredictable stance from Trump has left analysts and global leaders uncertain about the U.S. strategy towards the conflict. Retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, Trump's former national security adviser, expressed optimism at [02:30] that Trump might ultimately "put a hell of a lot more pressure" on Putin, signaling a potential pivot to a more traditional U.S. approach to aid Ukraine.

However, this view is contested by Fiona Hill, a senior Russia adviser from Trump’s first administration. At [03:00], she asserts, "He wants Ukraine just off the docket," highlighting Trump's reluctance to engage deeply in the Ukraine conflict and his preference for bilateral deals over traditional alliances. Hill criticizes Trump's worldview as aligning closely with Putin's, emphasizing that Trump views global affairs as "big powers carving everything up" and dismisses Ukraine as “not my war.”

The episode underscores the ambiguity and inconsistency in the Trump administration's diplomatic approach, referencing Trump's recent actions such as sidelining Israel in hostage negotiations, making deals with the Houthis in Yemen, and unilaterally dropping sanctions in Syria. Fiona Hill elaborates at [04:08], stating, "If he does indeed make deals with Russia, with China, with Iran, then North Korea again, I think his argument would be that, well, we've basically cut off any risks for the United States."

2. College Graduates Use Commencement to Protest University Policies

Shifting focus, Shemitah Basu highlights the rising trend of college and university graduates using commencement ceremonies as platforms to voice dissent against their institutions' handling of political and social issues. Amidst heightened tensions due to Trump administration policies targeting international students and suppressing pro-Palestinian protests, students are leveraging these ceremonies to express their frustrations.

At George Washington University, student speaker Cecilia Culver [07:11] stated, "I cannot celebrate my own graduation without a heavy heart knowing how many students in Palestine have been forced to stop their studies, expelled from their homes and killed for simply remaining in the country of their ancestors." In response, the university apologized and banned her from future events for deviating from her pre-approved speech.

Similarly, at New York University, speaker Logan Rozos had his diploma withheld after adding, "the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine." NYU is pursuing disciplinary actions, reflecting the administration's stringent control over graduation speeches.

The episode also covers the case of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and U.S. green card holder, who was arrested by ICE during a naturalization interview. Wearing a keffiyeh during his graduation, Mahdawi symbolized solidarity with Palestinians and protested against his detention. Trump commented on [07:11], "This is our humanity, and what this university has done to Mahmoud and to me is a betrayal to the values and the principles that we come to this university to learn and to study."

Fiona Hill emphasized at [08:03], "They should not be targeted by the government for exercising that right," advocating for the protection of international students’ freedom of speech.

3. New Orleans Police's Controversial Use of Facial Recognition Technology

An investigative segment, based on a report by Doug McMillan of The Washington Post, reveals that New Orleans police have been utilizing facial recognition technology beyond standard practices. Instead of analyzing still images from past events, they deployed live facial recognition cameras across the city, primarily in the French Quarter—a hotspot for tourism and crime.

At [09:38], McMillan explains, "There's over 200 of these cameras pointed at the streets, various places in New Orleans." When the software detects a potential match from a list of suspects, officers receive real-time notifications via an app, prompting swift actions to verify and potentially arrest individuals.

However, this program may violate local laws due to the lack of a formal contract between the city and Project NOLA, the nonprofit managing the cameras. The New Orleans Police Department paused automatic alerts in April after internal reviews raised legal concerns [10:13]. Despite the pause, cameras remain active, with Project NOLA continuing to notify police through calls or emails, contributing to several arrests and assisting in capturing a fugitive from a high-profile jailbreak.

4. Additional News Highlights

Shemitah Basu briefly covers several other significant stories:

• Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's Leader Resignation: Jake Wood stepped down, citing the impossibility of implementing aid distribution without compromising humanitarian principles. This follows Israel's intensified attacks, including strikes on a school sheltering Palestinians.

• Liverpool Parade Attack in England: During a celebratory parade for Liverpool's Premier League title, a 53-year-old man drove his car into the crowd, injuring dozens, including children. Witness Matt Cole recounted at [13:26], "Adrenaline kicked in. I grabbed my daughter and I jumped out of the way." Authorities are treating it as an isolated incident, not terrorism.

• Hollywood's Box Office Comeback: Disney's remake of Lilo and Stitch and Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible 8 have shattered Memorial Day weekend box office records, countering previous quarter flops. The success of Lilo and Stitch, originally a modest hit in 2002, is attributed to a strong social media fandom and is projected to gross close to $1 billion.

Conclusion

The episode of Apple News Today adeptly navigates through complex geopolitical tensions, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Trump’s foreign policy, the rising activism among college students, and privacy concerns stemming from advanced surveillance technologies. Additionally, it touches upon critical humanitarian issues and noteworthy developments in entertainment. Through engaging narratives and direct quotes, Shemitah Basu ensures listeners are well-informed about the multifaceted stories shaping the current global and domestic landscape.