Podcast Summary: Apple News Today

Episode: Why an attorney tasked with prosecuting Trump’s critics resigned
Host: Shumita Basu
Date: September 22, 2025

Overview

This episode covers several major news stories, focusing first on the resignation of U.S. Attorney Eric Siebert after pressure from President Trump over Siebert’s refusal to prosecute Trump’s political adversaries. Other key discussions include updates on the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee, renewed family separations in U.S. immigration enforcement, and significant world news including the recognition of a Palestinian state by three major Western countries and a memorial for Charlie Kirk. Host Shumita Basu draws insights from current reporting and features quotes from journalists, politicians, and individuals directly involved in these events.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Push to Prosecute Critics and the Resignation of Eric Siebert

• Backdrop: President Trump pressed the DOJ to bring charges against prominent opponents, including NY AG Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey.

• Siebert’s Refusal and Resignation:

  • Eric Siebert, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trump appointee, declined to pursue indictments due to lack of evidence.
  • Trump expressed doubt about Siebert’s loyalty due to his confirmation being backed by Democratic senators:

    “When I saw that he got approved by those two men, I said, pull it, because he can't be any good.” — Trump [01:12]

  • Trump publicly claimed he wanted Siebert fired for being a "Democrat supported U.S. attorney who was never going to do his job."
  • Siebert resigned via a letter obtained by NBC.

• Calls for Indictments: Trump was notably explicit in urging Attorney General Pam Bondi (a loyalist) to pursue charges against James, Comey, and Rep. Adam Schiff, alleging—without evidence—their guilt.

• Legal Status of Targets:

  • Schiff is under investigation for mortgage fraud, but he states he’s always complied with the law.
  • Letitia James faces similar claims—her attorney, Abby Lowell, called it a paperwork error and not criminal.
  • Comey was previously found by the DOJ IG to have violated FBI policy by leaking memos but never charged.

• Concerns Over DOJ Independence:

  • Critics from both parties worry about politicization.

    “He [Trump] wants to be a prosecutor in every district where he has an enemy so that he can make the decisions...When that doesn’t happen, people believe those decisions are now being made for personal reasons, not legal ones. And that creates a slippery slope in our justice system.”
    — Chris Christie, former NJ governor [03:49]

  • Trump has nominated Lindsey Halligan, his former defense attorney, as Siebert’s replacement.

📍 Key Segments:

• [00:05–01:12] Basu introduces Siebert’s resignation and Trump’s comments
• [01:22–02:34] Details about public and social media statements; legal background on investigations
• [03:49–04:23] Chris Christie’s commentary on week’s developments

2. CDC Vaccine Panel: Debate and Chaos

• Changing Vaccine Recommendations:
  • First CDC vaccine panel meeting since director’s firing by HHS Secretary RFK Jr.
  • New panelists include known anti-vaccine advocates.
  • Primary issue: whether to delay the hepatitis B shot for newborns to one month of age if mothers test negative—panel tabled this, citing the need for more data.

    “The members would say we don't have long term data ... But the flip side of that is we do know the long term safety of these shots. They are very safe, and it is a safety net to have universal birth shot vaccination.” — Elaine Chen, Stat reporter [05:45]

  • Panel voted to reverse endorsement of the combined MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) shot for children under four due to a low risk of seizures, despite lack of new data or scientific cause for concern.

    “The risk of seizures for that combined shot is still very low, and the bigger issue is that they are casting doubt and revisiting a vaccine that is overall very safe and there are no new safety risks.” — Elaine Chen [07:14]

  • Most changes described as modest, but the process has become less evidence-based, creating unease among health experts.

    “If we're just changing recommendations suddenly, without any new data or evidence being presented, then people have questions about what was behind this process, like what drove the initial recommendation.” — Chen [08:17]

📍 Key Segments:

• [05:12–06:12] Debate on hepatitis B birth vaccine
• [07:14–08:17] MMRV vaccine and concerns over panel process

3. Family Separations and Immigration Policy

• Blocked Deportations: Trump administration attempted to deport 70+ unaccompanied Guatemalan children over Labor Day; a judge intervened, criticizing DHS's justification.
• Broader Pattern of Separations:
  • Unlike the previous "zero-tolerance" border policy, new separations often occur inside the U.S.—after traffic stops, in court, or at workplaces.

    “Trying to track the children who are being separated from their parents inside the United States is really difficult because it's happening in all different ways. It's not just as they cross the border.” — Maria Sacchetti, The Washington Post [09:42]

  • Example: Salma Martinez, an asylum seeker with no criminal background, was separated from her twin daughters after being pulled over by ICE.

    “She's having to make this decision standing on the side of the road at a car wash, you know, in a parking lot when they pulled her over.” — Sacchetti [11:14]

  • Official figures on separated children are contested, with the Post reporting over 400 cases since Trump’s return to office.

📍 Key Segments:

• [09:42–10:59] Challenges tracking family separation; new policies after end of zero-tolerance
• [10:59–11:21] First-person account of Salma Martinez’s separation

4. Other Major Stories (Quick Highlights)

• Charlie Kirk Memorial:
  • Tens of thousands attended the memorial in Arizona; his widow, Erica, spoke about forgiveness.

    “I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer ... is love and always love.” — Erica Kirk [12:47]

  • Trump attended, sat with Elon Musk—their first joint public appearance post-Musk’s government role.
• International Recognition of Palestine:
  • UK, Australia, and Canada announced formal recognition of the Palestinian state, with more countries expected to follow at the UN General Assembly—an event described as historic.
  • Netanyahu strongly condemned the move.
• Chicago River Swim for Charity:
  • First organized swim in Chicago River in nearly a century, symbolizing improved water quality and community engagement.

📍 Key Segments:

• [12:47–13:04] Charlie Kirk memorial, Trump and Musk meet
• [13:04–13:30] Recognition of Palestine; Netanyahu’s response
• [13:30–end] Chicago River charity swim

Notable Quotes

• On politicization of the Justice Department:

  “He wants to be a prosecutor in every district where he has an enemy so that he can make the decisions... And that creates a slippery slope in our justice system.”
  — Chris Christie [03:49]

• On chaos at CDC vaccine panel:

  “If we're just changing recommendations suddenly, without any new data or evidence being presented, then people have questions about what was behind this process...”
  — Elaine Chen [08:17]

• On modern family separations:

  “Trying to track the children who are being separated from their parents inside the United States is really difficult because it's happening in all different ways.”
  — Maria Sacchetti [09:42]

• On forgiveness at the Kirk memorial:

  “I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer... is love and always love.”
  — Erica Kirk [12:47]

Summary

This episode of Apple News Today delivers in-depth reporting and commentary on key U.S. political, public health, immigration, and international affairs stories—from DOJ independence under Trump to new controversies around vaccine guidance and surging family separations at the US border. Each story is framed with clarity by host Shumita Basu, supported by frontline reporting and impactful firsthand voices.