Apple News Today – August 1, 2025

Host: Gideon Resnick (in place of Shumita Basu)

1. Trump's New Tariffs Target Brazil Amidst Bolsonaro's Trial

In a sweeping economic move, former President Donald Trump announced new tariffs affecting over 60 countries, set to take effect next Thursday. The tariffs establish a minimum rate of 10%, escalating to at least 15% for nations with a trade surplus with the United States. Notably, Trump has imposed a staggering 50% tariff on Brazil, a move that stands out as one of the highest globally.

Trump’s Motivation: The rationale behind targeting Brazil isn't rooted in traditional trade deficits. Instead, Trump is reacting sharply to the legal troubles of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who stands accused of plotting a coup in 2022. Trump's frustration stems from Bolsonaro's trial, leading him to demand the dismissal of charges against the ex-president.

• Perry Stein, Trump Supporter: "Country and he fought hard for those people, and they want to put him in jail." [01:22]

Brazil's Reaction: Manuela Andriano, Reuters’ chief correspondent for Brazil, described the tariffs as "very unprecedented," highlighting the strained departure from the historically positive US-Brazil relations.

• Manuela Andriano: "Brazil and the US have always had good relations... So this is very strange." [01:37]

Economic Implications: While some exemptions exist—for example, orange juice and aircraft—the impact on popular American products is significant. Coffee and beef, both major exports from Brazil to the US, are not exempted. With Brazil supplying 30% of the US coffee market and being the largest global coffee producer, prices for these commodities are expected to rise.

• Manuela Andriano: "It's not going to be so easy to replace that... expect burgers and coffee to become more expensive." [02:00]

Political Fallout: The tariffs appear to have backfired domestically for Brazil. Former President Lula da Silva noted that the trial is a "judicial matter and not for trade negotiations." Consequently, Lula's approval ratings have surged, with more Brazilians now supporting his government than opposing it.

2. Controversial Confirmation of Emil Bovey to Federal Appeals Court

In a contentious judicial appointment, Emil Bovey, a former personal lawyer for Donald Trump, was narrowly confirmed to a lifetime position on the Federal Appeals Court despite numerous ethics violation allegations.

Background on Emil Bovey: Bovey represented Trump in three out of four of his criminal cases, including the notable Manhattan case where Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. Appointed by Trump to a top position in the Justice Department earlier this year, Bovey's swift nomination to the Third Circuit Court raised eyebrows.

Controversial Confirmation: Bovey's confirmation process was expedited unusually quickly, with concerns over his impartiality due to his close ties with Trump. This appointment grants Bovey significant influence, allowing him to potentially review hundreds of lawsuits against the Trump administration, thereby shaping US law for decades.

• Perry Stein, DOJ Correspondent: "I am not anybody's henchman... I'm a lawyer from a small town who never expected to be in an arena like this." [04:52]

Whistleblower Allegations: Several whistleblowers have accused Bovey of prioritizing Trump's agenda over legal principles. One notable allegation involves Bovey instructing DOJ attorneys to proceed with migrant flights to El Salvador despite a federal judge's directive against it.

• Suna Rasmussen, Wall Street Journal Reporter: "That is a big no, no in the prosecutorial world and the justice department." [05:33]

Additionally, Bovey has been implicated in influencing the dismissal of corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, leading to the resignation of multiple prosecutors who opposed his directives.

Senate Opposition: Despite Democratic opposition and abstention from Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, Bovey secured his position, highlighting deep partisan divides over judicial appointments.

• Suna Rasmussen: "Trump has... really trying to pick different people to prevent this from happening again." [07:02]

Implications for the Justice Department: Bovey's confirmation is indicative of Trump's evolving judicial strategies, aiming to align the Justice Department more closely with White House policies, reducing the traditional separation between the two.

3. The Spread of Nitizines: Europe’s Emerging Drug Crisis

A new synthetic opioid, nitizines, is rapidly spreading across Europe, posing a threat surpassing even fentanyl in potency and lethality. First synthesized in the 1950s, nitizines have only recently surged in the drug market since 2019.

Potency and Danger: Nitizines are 50 to 250 times more potent than heroin and five times stronger than fentanyl, meaning only trace amounts can cause fatal overdoses.

• Perry Stein, Drug Specialist: "Nitizines are so potent that only a trace amount of them will cause a lethal overdose." [07:53]

Distribution Channels: Primarily sourced from China, where precursor compounds remain legal, nitizines are produced inexpensively and distributed through various channels, including individual brokers and online sellers. Reports indicate that these drugs often contaminate other substances like heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy, and counterfeit painkillers, leading to unintentional consumption by users.

• Perry Stein: "They would send me the pills to sky in discreet packaging... quite easy to get in touch with these dealers." [08:04, 09:00]

Public Health Crisis: Europe, which has stringent regulations on synthetic opioids, is facing warnings of a potential crisis reminiscent of the US fentanyl epidemic. Countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia have already declared national emergencies due to rising nitazine usage, and UK health professionals are likening the situation to the AIDS crisis among drug users.

• Perry Stein: "Nitizines are the biggest public health crisis for people in the UK who use drugs since the AIDS crisis." [09:26]

Future Outlook: The involvement of organized criminal gangs, including those linked to Mexican cartels and Chinese suppliers, could exacerbate the spread, overwhelming European law enforcement and healthcare systems.

4. Other News Highlights

Texas Flooding Aftermath: In Texas, during the deadly floods that ravaged Hill Country on July 4th, top emergency management official William Thomas faced scrutiny for being off duty during the catastrophe.

• William Thomas: "The morning of the 4th... I briefly woke around 2pm... at around 5:30am on July 4th by my wife..." [11:00]

Tragically, 27 campers and counselors lost their lives at Camp Mystic. The County Judge, Rob Kelly, admitted to being out of town during the floods, prompting calls for improved warning systems to prevent such oversights in the future.

Record-Breaking Birth in Ohio: Thaddeus Daniel Pierce has been recognized as the world's oldest baby by MIT Technology Review. Born from an embryo that had been stored for over 30 years, Thaddeus’s birth marks a significant milestone in reproductive technology.

• Linda Archerd, Donor and Mother: Expressed awe and described the experience as something out of a sci-fi movie.

Reinstatement of the Presidential Fitness Test: President Trump has reinstated the annual presidential fitness test for public school students, a move reversing the Obama administration's focus on individual health over athletic performance. This change brings back the infamous pull-up challenge, much to the relief of those wishing to avoid such physical tests.

5. Upcoming Episode Teaser

In the next episode of Apple News Today, host Shamita Basu engages in a conversation with journalist TJ Raphael about the harrowing experiences of women forced to give up their babies at a Christian maternity home. These women, who had chosen to continue their pregnancies, sought support but were instead compelled into adoption, revealing deep-seated issues surrounding reproductive choice in America.

Stay informed with all these stories and more by accessing the Apple News app. Enjoy your weekend, and tune in next Monday for the latest updates.