Apple News Today: Detailed Summary of "Trump’s Labor Pick Backed Unions. It Might Cost Her Votes."

Release Date: February 21, 2025
Host: Shemit Sebastu
Guest: Ankush Khadori, former federal prosecutor and senior writer at Politico

1. Trump Administration’s Deportation Policies and Migrant Detentions

Shemit Sebastu opens the episode by addressing the ongoing deportation efforts under the Trump administration, highlighting the plight of undocumented immigrants being deported to countries where they face significant challenges.

• Deportation Flights to Costa Rica and Panama:
  On a Thursday flight, approximately 135 migrants were deported to Costa Rica, almost half of whom were children, including two pregnant women. These individuals primarily hail from China, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, countries that are unlikely to readily accept their return. Similarly, around 300 deported individuals are held in Panama under a similar bridge arrangement.

• Conditions in Detention Facilities:
  Migrants in Panama have reported dire conditions, including being confined in hotels without access to phones, the internet, or legal counsel. Visual evidence emerged showing migrants trapped in their rooms, with some pleading for help or expressing fears about returning to their home countries.

• Journalistic Insights:
  Julie Turkowitz, New York Times bureau chief, shared insights from her reporting:

  "[00:02:04] ‘All of us have been able to speak to a group of these people who have said that they are being held against their will... they came to the United States to seek asylum, were swiftly deported by the United States, and wound up in Panama, never expecting, of course, to be there.’"
  – Julie Turkowitz, New York Times

• Panamanian and Costa Rican Government Stances:
  Panamanian officials argue that the detention is for the migrants' protection and to verify their identities. Contrarily, lawyers assert that detaining individuals without a court order for over 24 hours is illegal. Costa Rican authorities typically allow up to 30 days for repatriation, with the possibility of extensions.

• Political Pressures:
  Analysts suggest that Panama's acceptance of difficult cases may be influenced by intense pressure from the Trump administration, which has hinted at seizing the Panama Canal as leverage.

2. Expanding Executive Power: Insights from Ankush Khadori

A significant portion of the episode features a conversation with Ankush Khadori, who discusses the Trump administration's attempts to expand executive power and the potential implications for the U.S. government’s balance of power.

• Impoundment and Executive Overreach:
  Khadori explains that impoundment allows the president to override Congress by not spending money appropriated by the legislature, posing a threat to the power of the purse held by Congress.

  "[05:20] Khadori: It is historically, and our Constitution relies on this. There is supposed to be a healthy amount of tension and competition between our three branches of government..."

• Historical Context and Legal Battles:
  The discussion delves into the history of attempts to modify executive power, such as President Bill Clinton’s failed line-item veto, which the Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional.

• Supreme Court Dynamics:
  With the Supreme Court now having a 6-3 Republican majority, including three Trump appointees, Khadori warns that the court may be more receptive to expanding executive power. This shift could have lasting effects beyond Trump’s presidency, empowering future administrations.

• Long-term Implications:
  Khadori emphasizes that changes to executive power structures could permanently alter the relationship between the branches of government, making it easier for successors to continue expanding presidential authority.

  "[07:47] Khadori: ...the power that they want for themselves is a power that goes to their successors, too."

3. Controversy Surrounding Trump’s Labor Secretary Nominee: Laurie Chavez Durimer

The episode shifts focus to the nomination of Laurie Chavez Durimer as the Labor Secretary, exploring the complexities and political pushback her nomination faces despite her pro-union background.

• Nominee’s Background and Support:
  Laurie Chavez Durimer, a former Republican Representative, garnered support from several unions, including Teamster president Sean O'Brien, due to her father’s involvement with the Teamsters and her co-sponsorship of the PRO Act, a significant labor reform bill aimed at strengthening collective bargaining rights.

• Senate Confirmation and Political Pushback:
  While many of Trump’s nominees have been confirmed with relative ease, Chavez Durimer's nomination is experiencing resistance from within her own party.

  "[09:35] Laurie Chavez Durimer: Do you support the PRO act?
  [09:38] Bernie Sanders: Thank you, Ranking Member Sanders..."
  In her hearing, she distanced herself from the PRO Act, leading to skepticism among both Republicans and Democrats about her commitment to pro-union legislation.

• Key Exchange Highlight:
  An exchange with Senator Bernie Sanders illustrates her wavering stance:

  "[10:06] Bernie Sanders: ...the PRO ACT because I wanted to be at that table and have those conversations...
  [10:23] Laurie Chavez Durimer: So you no longer support the aspect of the PRO act that would have overturned state right to work laws?"
  "[10:28] Bernie Sanders: Yeah, there were so many parts. That's a yes, yes, yes, sir."

• Republican Divisions and Future Prospects:
  The Washington Post notes that Chavez Durimer is seen as distancing herself from her pro-union roots, causing Democrats to potentially withdraw support and Republicans to remain divided between her union-friendly voting record and her current statements favoring state control over labor laws.

• Impact on Labor Oversight:
  With the Trump administration already taking steps to reduce federal oversight in labor matters—firing Democratic commissioners from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations Board—Chavez Durimer’s leadership could further diminish federal protections for workers.

• Committee Vote:
  Her nomination is set for a committee vote the following week, with significant uncertainty over its outcome.

4. Additional News Highlights

Shemit Sebastu concludes the episode with brief updates on various other news stories:

• Israeli and Hamas Conflict:
  Israeli officials reported that remains handed over by Hamas do not belong to the claimed individuals, demanding the return of Shiri Beavis’s body. This development complicates the upcoming release of six remaining hostages.

• New York City Political Turmoil:
  Governor Kathy Hochul announced she will not remove Mayor Eric Adams from office despite corruption charges, opting instead for an inspector general oversight. Adams challenges this decision, asserting no legal basis for the governor’s intervention.

• Luis Rubiales Conviction:
  The former head of the Spanish soccer federation, Luis Rubiales, was convicted of sexual assault for forcibly kissing player Jenny Hermoso but was acquitted of coercion charges. He received a fine without prison time.

• Asteroid Safety Update:
  NASA’s Center for Near Earth Objects Studies reported that the likelihood of a football field-sized asteroid colliding with Earth has dropped from 3.1% to essentially zero, validating the effectiveness of the asteroid tracking system established in 2012.

Conclusion

This episode of Apple News Today provides an in-depth analysis of the Trump administration's controversial deportation policies, the potential expansion of executive power and its implications for the U.S. government’s balance of power, and the contentious nomination of Laurie Chavez Durimer as Labor Secretary. Additionally, it touches on diverse global and domestic issues, offering listeners a comprehensive overview of the day's most pressing news.

For a more detailed discussion with Ankush Khadori on the expansion of presidential power, listeners are encouraged to stay tuned to the Apple News app for the upcoming episode of Apple News in Conversation.

This summary aims to capture all key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, utilizing direct quotes with proper attributions and timestamps to enhance the narrative flow and provide clarity for those who have not listened to the full podcast.