Apple News Today – Episode Summary: "What to know about Trump and Musk’s epic breakup"

Release Date: June 6, 2025
Host: Yasmeen Khan (in place of Shamita Basu)

1. Trump and Musk’s Epic Fallout

The episode opens with Yasmeen Khan delving into the dramatic and highly publicized fallout between former allies, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk—the world's most powerful and richest individuals. The conflict ignited when Trump reacted to Musk's harsh criticism of his major spending bill.

Key Events:

• Initial Tension: The disagreement began when Trump responded to Musk's description of his spending bill as a "disgusting abomination" during a press interaction.

  • [00:58] Donald Trump: “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we're well anymore... He hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that'll be next. But I'm very disappointed in Elon.”

• Escalation on Social Media: The tension quickly escalated on social platforms.

  • Musk retaliated on X (formerly Twitter), attacking Trump directly.
  • Trump responded on Truth Social, threatening to cancel government contracts tied to Musk's businesses.
  • Musk countered by announcing the discontinuation of a crucial spacecraft for the US Space program and hinted at political maneuvers against Trump.
  • By late afternoon, Musk called for Trump’s impeachment and warned of economic repercussions from Trump’s tariffs.

• Market Impact: The fallout had immediate economic repercussions.

  • Tesla's stock price dropped by 14%.
  • Trump’s cryptocurrency, among others, also saw declines.
  • Gwynne Shotwell, COO of SpaceX, highlighted the interdependency with approximately $22 billion in government contracts, signaling the gravity of the situation.

Notable Insights:

• Juan Williams, Commentator:

  • [02:24] “I don’t think anybody should be surprised that you have these two personalities blowing up... Musk is the one guy that Trump can't control.”

• Steve Bannon’s Involvement: The former Trump ally called for aggressive actions against Musk, including deportation and seizing SpaceX.

  • [03:52] Donald Trump: “...the US government should seize it...”

• Historical Context: The breakdown contrasts sharply with Musk’s earlier support of Trump, such as his February X post stating, “I love Donald Trump as much as a straight man can love another man.”

• Kara Swisher, Tech Journalist:

  • [05:14] “Breaking up is hard to do, I guess.”

Conclusion: The dramatic split between Trump and Musk not only strained their personal relationship but also had significant economic and political implications, with both leaders navigating the fallout's broader impact.

2. Travel Ban and Its Impact on Afghan Refugees

Yasmeen transitions to a pressing immigration issue: the Trump administration's travel ban affecting individuals from 12 countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East, including Afghanistan.

Key Points:

• Scope of the Ban:

  • Bans entry from 12 countries, with seven additional nations under partial restrictions.
  • Justification cited: Visa overstays, though selective in application as some high-overstay countries are exempt.

• Impact on Afghan Refugees:

  • Rick Nowak, Afghanistan Bureau Chief for The Washington Post:

    • [06:45] “...many of them expressed really shock... it feels like the end of their dreams really to resettle to the US.”

  • Case Study: Amal

    • A 35-year-old Afghan man stuck in Pakistan awaiting US processing.
    • [07:27] Rick Nowak: “...this puts him back to point zero. He doesn't know what to do.”

Exceptions and Carve-Outs:

• Individuals with special immigrant visas, green card holders, and athletes attending major events are exempt.
• However, the ban significantly hampers those who fled the Taliban with promises of relocation, leaving thousands stranded.

Human Impact:

• Thousands of Afghans remain in limbo, many of whom were encouraged by US officials to relocate to neighboring countries like Pakistan for processing.
• The administration’s actions are perceived as a final blow to their hopes of resettling in the US.

Conclusion: The travel ban has severe humanitarian consequences, particularly for Afghan refugees who have been left stranded without assistance, undermining previous relocation promises and pushing their dreams of safety and stability further out of reach.

3. Venezuelan Migrants Deportation Controversy

The episode further explores a controversial deportation program targeting Venezuelan immigrants, revealing systemic discrepancies between public narratives and actual data.

Investigative Insights:

• ProPublica and Texas Tribune Investigation:

  • Deportations in March sent Venezuelan immigrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.

  • Contrary to public claims, over half of the 238 deported individuals had no criminal convictions or pending charges, primarily minor offenses like retail theft or traffic violations.

  • [09:30] Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica: “...the government knew when it sent all these people out and publicly has described them all as criminals, that that information just simply wasn't true.”

• Administration’s Response:

  • The White House dismissed the findings, insisting all deported individuals are criminals without providing supporting evidence.
  • Donald Trump: Justified deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, alleging links to the Trende Aragua gang—a claim later disproven by journalists.

Human Stories:

• Leonardo, a soccer coach from Venezuela, deported without due process, remains detained in El Salvador with no communication to his family or legal representation.

  • [11:14] Melissa Sanchez: “...they have always been detained and then they were shipped away from this country without having committed any crimes...”

Legal Developments:

• Supreme Court Intervention:
  • Temporarily blocked further deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.
  • A federal judge mandated that around 140 deported men be allowed to appeal their removal, reversing the administration’s abrupt actions.

Conclusion: The deportation of Venezuelan immigrants under dubious pretenses highlights significant flaws in the administration's immigration policies, raising serious ethical and legal concerns about due process and the treatment of non-violent offenders.

4. Additional News Highlights

Towards the end of the episode, Yasmeen covers several other significant news stories:

a. Trump and Xi Jinping’s Trade Call:

• Dialogue Attempt: Donald Trump engaged in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping aiming to advance trade negotiations.

  • Ling Ling Wei, Wall Street Journal: “...no one's expecting one call can solve all the problems... Both sides do seem to have softened their tones, but making a deal with China is proving much harder than he thought.”

• Outcome: The call led to minimal progress, with Xi Jinping continuing a hardline negotiation stance.

b. Supreme Court Rulings:

• Discrimination Case in Ohio:

  • The Supreme Court ruled to allow individuals from majority groups to sue for discrimination without needing to meet heightened proof standards.

  • Example: Marlene Ames, a heterosexual woman, successfully argued discrimination at work based on sexual orientation favoritism.

• Gun Manufacturers’ Liability:

  • The Court blocked a claim by the Mexican government alleging US gun manufacturers aided Mexican cartels through illicit sales.

  • Conclusion: Despite evidence of knowledge about illegal gun sales, Mexico failed to prove that US gunmakers should be held liable.

Conclusion: These additional stories underscore ongoing complexities in international relations, immigration law, and civil rights, reflecting the multifaceted nature of current events covered by Apple News Today.

Final Notes

The episode provides a comprehensive overview of high-stakes political and social issues, from the explosive breakup between Trump and Musk to critical immigration policies affecting refugees and migrants. Through investigative journalism and expert commentary, Yasmeen Khan ensures listeners are well-informed on the nuanced and rapidly evolving stories shaping the world today.

For full access to these stories and more, download the Apple News app.