Apple News Today — Episode Summary

Episode: Why Trump is rolling out the red carpet for the Saudi crown prince
Host: Shumita Basu
Air Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Shumita Basu explores three notable news stories:

1. President Trump’s high-profile meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the deepening U.S.–Saudi relationship
2. The sudden resignation of FEMA’s acting head and the implications for U.S. disaster response
3. The recent spate of museum robberies in France, revealing vulnerabilities in Europe’s most famous institutions

The episode mixes analysis, reporting, and interviews to provide context for each story, focusing especially on U.S. foreign policy, government agency upheavals, and cultural crime.

Main Story: U.S.–Saudi Relations — A Red Carpet for the Crown Prince

Key Discussion Points

• Restoring the Crown Prince’s Reputation
  • After the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, for which the CIA believed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible, bin Salman faced global condemnation.
  • Matthew Martin, Saudi Arabia Bureau Chief for Semafor, highlights that the prince is now regaining the status he held in 2017, when he was seen as a reformer.
    • Quote (02:02):

      "It’s going to be a real coup for the sort of Saudis' ability to take a slow and steady approach to rebuilding the Crown Prince's reputation, which is now going to be sort of back at the level that you would have seen it in 2017..." – Matthew Martin

• Military and Economic Deals
  • The White House visit is set to include a major weapons deal: the U.S. selling F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
  • These jets are usually restricted to closest U.S. allies — previously, only Israel in the region.
  • Israeli officials are rumored to have requested that the sale hinge on Saudi normalization of relations with Israel.
    • Quote (03:32):

      "The Saudis have not wanted to move on normalization. They are very keen to use this as leverage... prepared to normalize, but you have to take irreversible steps towards the recognition of a Palestinian state." – Matthew Martin

• Strategic Importance and Diplomatic Shifts
  • Despite previously labeling Saudi Arabia a “pariah,” the Biden administration slowly normalized relations due to the kingdom’s oil and regional influence.
  • Trump’s administration has now openly embraced the crown prince, seeking closer ties.
• Business Interests and Ethical Questions
  • The Trump Organization, managed by the president's sons, is expanding its real estate activity in the Middle East, further blurring the lines between Trump’s roles as businessman and diplomat.
    • Quote (04:33):

      "The Trump family clearly sees economics and development as a way of promoting stability in the region and also making money at the same time." – Matthew Martin

• Massive Saudi Investment in the U.S.
  • Saudi Arabia recently pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments.
  • A White House-adjacent event will bring American and Saudi business leaders together, reinforcing economic and diplomatic ties.
• Presidential Rhetoric
  • Trump frames the occasion as grand, promising more than just a meeting and honoring the prince with ceremony.

Timestamps:

• [01:32] Matthew Martin on Saudi reputation rebuilding
• [03:08] F-35 deal and Israeli concerns
• [04:33] Trump family’s dual economic/diplomatic interests

FEMA in Turmoil: Leadership Shakeups and Disaster Response

Key Discussion Points

• Leadership Instability
  • Acting Director David Richardson resigns after only six months, making him FEMA’s second head to depart this year.
• Crisis Mismanagement Allegations
  • Brianna Sachs (Washington Post) recounts Richardson’s absence during the devastating Texas floods, the delayed response, and communication breakdowns.
    • Quote (06:29):

      "They were requesting imagery and that they needed some resources that they did not get for 48 hours. And in a disaster we know that they need to be moving immediately." – Brianna Sachs

• Controversial Leadership Style
  • Richardson’s blunt all-staff meeting ("I don't stop at yield signs... I will run right over you." – [05:21]) and gaffes like joking about hurricane season drew criticism.
• Systemic Challenges and Uncertain Future
  • The Trump administration is reviewing FEMA's structure, with Secretary Kristi Noem steering a major reform initiative.
  • Former FEMA head Cameron Hamilton speaks candidly about tensions with DHS and bipartisan support for FEMA’s existence.
    • Quote (07:58):

      "...Nobody wants FEMA to go away. You can talk to the most reddest of the red states. It doesn't matter. No emergency managers across the country want FEMA to go away." – Cameron Hamilton

• Karen Evans Steps Up
  • FEMA's Chief of Staff, Karen Evans, becomes the third acting head of FEMA in a single year.

Timestamps:

• [05:21] Richardson's staff meeting remarks
• [06:01] Sachs on disaster response failures
• [07:58] Hamilton on FEMA’s value

French Museum Heists: Exposing Old-School Vulnerabilities

Key Discussion Points

• Louvre Break-In and National Security Concerns
  • A major jewelry theft from the Louvre and a structural incident highlight systemic security gaps.
  • Stacy Meichtry (Wall Street Journal) explains that French museums are susceptible to theft not due to sophisticated criminals, but because of outdated facilities and underfunded security upgrades.
    • Quote (09:31):

      "We're talking about thieves that are not using highly sophisticated methods. They're... using very sort of low-tech means to penetrate museums that everybody thought were safe." – Stacy Meichtry

• Budget Constraints and Bureaucracy
  • An €80 million plan for Louvre security enhancements stalled due to funding shortages and red tape.
  • Critics blame misallocated resources and the prioritization of new acquisitions over security.
• Growing Problem Amid Economic Trends
  • Nine heists in French museums in a year versus only four in the rest of Europe; the rise of gold’s value makes “meltable,” untraceable loot an attractive target.
  • President Macron orders a national art census to triage protection priorities.

Timestamps:

• [09:31] Meichtry on low-tech museum thefts
• [10:29] Louvre’s deferred security upgrades

Quick News Hits

• Gaza Peace Efforts
  • UN Security Council adopts Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan; only Russia and China abstain. Focus is now on forming a stabilization force and governance board. (11:09)
• Larry Summers Resignation
  • Summers withdraws from public engagements following his link to Jeffrey Epstein via newly revealed messages. (12:01)
• Thanksgiving Inflation
  • Turkey prices up 40% from last year; beef up 15%. President Trump announces plans to lower tariffs on key foods to fight food price hikes. (13:15)

Notable Quotes

• Matthew Martin on Reputation Recovery (02:02):

  "[This is] a real coup for the Saudis' ability to take a slow and steady approach to rebuilding the Crown Prince's reputation... back at the level that you would have seen it in 2017..."

• Matthew Martin on Saudi Leverage (03:32):

  "They are very keen to use this as leverage... we're prepared to normalize, but you have to take irreversible steps towards the recognition of a Palestinian state."

• Brianna Sachs on FEMA’s Disaster Response Lag (06:29):

  "They were requesting imagery and that they needed some resources that they did not get for 48 hours. And in a disaster, we know that they need to be moving immediately."

• Cameron Hamilton on FEMA's Value (07:58):

  "...Nobody wants FEMA to go away. You can talk to the most reddest of the red states. It doesn't matter. No emergency managers across the country want FEMA to go away."

• Stacy Meichtry on Museum Security Flaws (09:31):

  "...Thieves that are not using highly sophisticated methods... using these very sort of low-tech means to penetrate museums that everybody thought were safe."

Memorable Moments & Tone

• The episode maintains a tone of clear, curious inquiry, spotlighting both the high drama of international politics and the granular detail of administrative hiccups and museum vulnerabilities.
• The tension between public interest and personal gain is a consistent undercurrent — in both international diplomacy and domestic agency management.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:32] Saudi Crown Prince’s comeback — Matthew Martin interview
• [03:08] F-35 fighter jet deal, normalization conditions
• [04:33] Trump Organization’s Middle East expansion
• [05:21] FEMA head’s resignation — staff meeting quote
• [06:01] Texas floods, FEMA response critique
• [07:58] Former FEMA head on agency’s worth
• [09:31] Vulnerabilities in French museum security
• [10:29] Louvre’s unimplemented security plan
• [11:09] UN adopts Trump's Gaza plan
• [12:01] Larry Summers steps back over Epstein ties
• [13:15] Turkey and beef prices, Trump’s tariff response

This summary encapsulates the episode's major themes, important quotes, and strategically-timed moments for those who want a comprehensive snapshot of the day’s top news discussions on Apple News Today.