Apple News Today: Detailed Episode Summary Release Date: May 22, 2025 | Host: Shemitah Basu

1. Tragic Shooting at Israeli Embassy Event

The episode opens with a somber report on the fatal shooting outside an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Two staff members from the Israeli Embassy, Yaron Lensky and Sarah Milgram, were killed in the attack.

• Details of the Incident:

  • Victims:
    • Yaron Lensky: A German-born Israeli citizen working in the embassy's political department, passionate about peace initiatives with Arab neighbors.
    • Sarah Milgram: An American employee in the embassy's public diplomacy department.
  • Suspect:
    • Elias Rodriguez: A 30-year-old from Chicago, apprehended at the scene.
    • Incident Description ([00:59]):

      Pamela Smith, D.C. Police Chief: "Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum. He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire, striking both of our decedents. After the shooting, the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security. The suspect chanted Free, Free Palestine while in custody."

• Ambassador's Statement:

  • Yechiel Leiter ([01:47]):

    "The couple was about to be engaged. Yaron purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem. I will say this, we are a resilient people. Together we won't be afraid. Together we'll stand and we're going to overcome moral depravity of people who think that they're going to achieve political gains through murder."

2. Reactions and Broader Context

• Political Reactions:

  • President Trump: Took to social media to condemn anti-Semitism, stating that "hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA."
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Expressed outrage, highlighting the ongoing tensions related to the Gaza conflict.

• Gaza Conflict Context:

  • Over 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas's attack on October 7.
  • Israel is intensifying its offensive to secure hostages and gain control over Gaza, with Netanyahu asserting that "at least 20 hostages are still alive."

• Humanitarian Efforts:

  • Despite international backlash, Netanyahu allowed limited aid into Gaza after an 11-week blockade, though distribution issues have hindered the aid's effectiveness.

• Event's Intended Purpose:

  • The shooting occurred at an event aimed at fostering unity between Jewish and non-Jewish communities.
  • An organizer remarked to NBC News on the "painful irony" of the attack undermining their bridge-building efforts.

3. COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Restrictions

A significant portion of the episode addresses the FDA's new guidance on COVID-19 vaccine approvals and the ensuing policy shift.

• FDA's New Guidelines ([03:05]):

  • Restriction: The FDA will no longer approve new COVID-19 vaccines for healthy individuals under 65 unless additional safety and efficacy trials are conducted.
  • Current Policy: Boosters remain available to all, but under the new rules, only those with medical conditions—such as obesity, pregnancy, or a history of smoking—will continue to have access to boosters without restrictions.

• Statements from Health Officials:

  • Dr. Vinayak Prasad ([04:39]):

    "Americans can be reassured that they will be covered by such approvals. At the same time, we want more evidence at the US Food and Drug Administration. We want to know more about what these products are doing, especially as we enter the seventh, eighth, and ninth dose."

  • Pamela Smith ([04:39]):

    "We have launched down this multi-year campaign of booster after booster after booster and we do not have gold standard science to support this for average risk, low-risk Americans."

• Expert Commentary:

  • Usha Lee McFarling ([05:48]):

    "A lot of people really just want choice. They say, well, don't take away my choice to have the vaccine. Maybe I live with my grandmother who has cancer and I want to get it to protect her."

• Industry Concerns:

  • Usha Lee McFarling ([06:10]):

    "The problem is that these trials take a long time, months, and can be quite expensive. Vaccines are not very profitable, certainly not compared to drugs like ozone, for example. So one concern is that vaccine manufacturers just may say, well, it's just not worth it."

• Policy Implications:

  • ABC News highlights that traditionally, the CDC sets vaccine recommendations, with the FDA handling approvals, marking a departure in public health protocol under the current administration.
  • NPR points out reduced CDC communications, with rising cases of measles, salmonella, listeria, and hepatitis A and C juxtaposed against the WHO's new pandemic treaty, which the US is exiting under Trump's lead.

4. President Biden's Health and Cognitive Concerns

A focal point of the episode is the emerging narrative around President Biden's health, both physically and cognitively.

• Health Developments:

  • President Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, bringing his health into sharper focus.

• Cognitive Decline Reporting:

  • Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s Investigation:

    • In their book, "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," they reveal that Biden's declining mental acuity was known to his closest aides but was concealed from the public and even other government officials.

    • Jake Tapper ([09:05]):

      "Cabinet secretaries, multiple Cabinet secretaries tell us that, you know, if there was a crisis at 2 am they would have been worried. They did not have confidence that he would have been a reliable commander in chief with a middle of the night crisis."

    • Jake Tapper ([10:01]):

      "The outside pollsters, Murphy, Guerin and Pollack never talked to Biden. They were never allowed to speak with him. And you know, they'd been having concerns about his age and the impact of his age on his candidacy for months, but they never got to talk to him. And finally, Chuck Schumer is able to confront Joe Biden and say, I've talked to your pollsters. Have you? They think you only have a 5% chance of winning. He's the only one we can find that actually said to Biden, if I were you, I would drop out. He's the only one we can find saying that."

• Biden’s Response:

  • The former president has refuted claims about his cognitive decline, asserting there is no evidence to support such allegations.

• Implications:

  • The revelations have stirred debate about Biden's ability to continue serving, especially in light of his announced cancer diagnosis.

5. Other Notable Political Developments

• House Legislation on Trump's Agenda:

  • The House approved a bill to fund President Trump's tax and immigration policies, including extending trillions in tax cuts and introducing new spending measures while cutting over $1 trillion from social safety nets over the next decade. The legislation awaits Senate revisions.

• Diplomatic Tensions with South Africa:

  • President Trump's Meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa:

    • The meeting became contentious as Trump propagated unfounded claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa.

    • Shemitah Basu ([12:26]):

      "Nothing happens to them? No, there is quite nothing happens to them. There is criminality in our country. People who do get killed, unfortunately, through criminal activity, are not only white people, majority of them are black people. Police statistics in the country show that white South Africans are not killed at a higher rate than other South Africans."

    • Context: Trump misrepresented footage of protests against violence towards farmers as depicting actual grave sites.

• Luxury Jet from Qatar:

  • The Defense Department has accepted a luxury Boeing jet from Qatar to serve as a temporary Air Force One for President Trump, sparking debates over the Emoluments Clause and ethical considerations.
    • Pentagon Spokesperson: Assured adherence to federal regulations and proper security measures.
    • Ethics Concerns: Experts argue for stricter enforcement to prevent such foreign gifts.

6. Upcoming Content and Conclusion

The episode concludes by teasing the continuation of the conversation with Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson regarding President Biden's mental acuity. Listeners are encouraged to follow up in the Apple News app for the subsequent episode.

Notable Quotes:

• Pamela Smith ([00:59]):

  "Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum..."

• Yechiel Leiter ([01:47]):

  "Together we won't be afraid. Together we'll stand and we're going to overcome moral depravity of people who think that they're going to achieve political gains through murder."

• Usha Lee McFarling ([05:48]):

  "A lot of people really just want choice. They say, well, don't take away my choice to have the vaccine..."

• Jake Tapper ([09:05]):

  "Cabinet secretaries... did not have confidence that he would have been a reliable commander in chief..."

• Jake Tapper ([10:01]):

  "They're the only one we can find saying that."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the multifaceted discussions from the episode, ranging from international incidents and public health policy shifts to pivotal political narratives surrounding presidential health and legislative actions. For listeners seeking in-depth analysis and updates, the Apple News app remains the go-to platform.