U.S. Allies Reject Trump’s Demands for Warships, and Bovino to Retire From Border Patrol

Summary

The Headlines – U.S. Allies Reject Trump’s Demands for Warships, and Bovino to Retire From Border Patrol The New York Times, March 17, 2026
Host: Tracy Mumford

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Headlines offers a concise but wide-ranging update on major stories in U.S. and global politics, with a particular focus on President Trump’s recent foreign policy moves amid the war with Iran, internal White House dynamics, and evolving domestic health and criminal justice policies. It covers the rejection by U.S. allies of a request for military support in the Strait of Hormuz, media conflict between the Trump administration and press outlets, changes in border enforcement leadership, a court setback for federal vaccine policy changes, Medicaid reforms for formerly incarcerated individuals, and the passing of Margareta Magnusson, the author behind the concept of "Swedish Death Cleaning."

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Allies Reject Trump’s Call for Warships in Strait of Hormuz

• [00:54 – 01:43]

  • President Trump called on U.S. allies (Germany, Japan, Italy, Australia, Britain, South Korea) to send warships to escort shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing conflict with Iran.
  • Most allies declined or remained non-committal, to which Trump responded by reframing the ask as a "loyalty test."
  • Trump’s response (01:43):
    “We have the strongest military by far in the world. We don't need them. But it's interesting. I'm almost doing it in some cases, not because we need them, but because I want to find out how they react.”

• [01:54 – 02:29]

  • Context: The strait is nearly shut down due to attacks on merchant vessels.
  • Trump has even asked China to send support, which seems unlikely due to its oil interests and Iran’s accommodation of Chinese shipping.

2. White House Escalates Conflict with Media Over War Coverage

• [02:29 – 03:57]
  • Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have criticized the media, especially CNN, with Hegseth looking forward to a possible takeover by tech mogul David Ellison, an ally of Trump.
  • FCC chairman Brendan Carr has threatened to revoke broadcaster licenses over alleged misleading war coverage, leading to bipartisan criticism, including from Republican Senator Ron Johnson.
  • Senator Ron Johnson (03:45):
    “Yeah, I'm a big supporter of the First Amendment. I do not like the heavy hand of government, no matter who's wielding it. Really. The federal government's role is to protect our freedoms, protect our constitutional rights.”

3. Trump Floats "Taking Cuba"

• [04:10 – 04:29]
  • In a surprising comment, Trump raised the prospect of “taking Cuba”—either "free it, take it... I could do anything I want with it."
  • This comes against the backdrop of escalating U.S. pressure: oil embargoes, resulting power outages, and pressure on Cuba to replace its president.
  • Reporter analysis suggests the White House sees ousting Diaz Canel as a win, regardless of broader regime change outcomes.

4. Greg Bovino to Retire from Border Patrol

• [04:29 – 05:36]
  • Bovino, notable for high-profile and aggressive deportation operations (especially in major cities), announces his impending retirement following backlash from incidents involving federal immigration agents.
  • His tactics sparked lawsuits, accusations of racial profiling, and his eventual sidelining.

5. Federal Judge Blocks Vaccine Policy Changes

• [05:36 – 06:33]
  • A major court decision halts controversial vaccine policy changes pushed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., including restrictions on Covid vaccines and the restructuring of an advisory panel (whose members the judge deemed underqualified).
  • Medical groups challenging the changes celebrate the ruling as a win for “public health, evidence-based medicine, the rule of law and the American people.”

6. Medicaid Coverage Reform for Former Inmates

• [06:33 – 08:33]
  • The Times reports on new Medicaid policies letting coverage resume before prison release, aiming to reduce risk and improve post-release outcomes.
  • Notable statistic: Former prisoners’ risk of death is nearly 13 times higher than the general population in the two weeks after release.
  • California’s example: 50,000+ inmates have benefited from prerelease services, improving health transitions and public safety.
  • California sheriff (08:27):
    “If you can stabilize people, you are going to have a more safe and peaceful environment all the way around.”

7. Remembering Margareta Magnusson and "Swedish Death Cleaning"

• [08:33 – 09:29]
  • Magnusson, who popularized the concept of tidying up before death (“dåstädning”) to avoid burdening loved ones, has passed away at 91.
  • Quote from her book:
    “A loved one wishes to inherit nice things from you, not all things from you.”
  • The concept encourages sharing meaningful possessions before death and making the end-of-life process less daunting.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on allies’ military support:
  “I’m almost doing it in some cases… because I want to find out how they react.” (01:43)

• Senator Ron Johnson rebukes FCC threats:
  “I'm a big supporter of the First Amendment. I do not like the heavy hand of government, no matter who's wielding it.” (03:45)

• Trump floats Cuba intervention:
  “I do believe I'll be the honor of having the honor of taking Cuba. That'd be good. That's a big honor. Taking Cuba. Taking Cuba in some form.” (04:10)

• California sheriff on Medicaid reform:
  “If you can stabilize people, you are going to have a more safe and peaceful environment all the way around.” (08:27)

• Magnusson’s distilled wisdom:
  “A loved one wishes to inherit nice things from you, not all things from you.” (09:29)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:45 – 01:43: U.S. Allies rebuff Trump’s call for warships
• 02:29 – 03:57: White House targets media, First Amendment debate
• 04:10 – 04:29: Trump on “taking Cuba”
• 04:29 – 05:36: Border Patrol’s Bovino announces retirement
• 05:36 – 06:33: Federal judge blocks vaccine policy shift
• 06:33 – 08:33: Medicaid reforms for former inmates
• 08:33 – 09:29: Legacy of Margareta Magnussen and Swedish Death Cleaning

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This episode combines sharp political updates with thoughtful coverage of health and criminal justice reforms, and ends with a poignant reflection on legacy and mortality. The newsroom tone remains brisk, factual, and occasionally wry, offering insight into the dynamics shaping both U.S. policy and everyday lives.

Transcript

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[Tracy Mumford]

from the new York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracy Mumford. Today's Tuesday, March 17th. Here's what we're covering.

[Donald Trump]

While taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn to into the wider war

[Tracy Mumford]

Across Europe and around the world, US Allies are drawing a line on the war with Iran.

[Chase Sapphire Reserve Narrator]

This war started without any consultations before a war which we didn't start after

[Tracy Mumford]

President Trump put out a call this weekend for countries to send warships to escort traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, many declined. Germany, Japan, Italy and Australia. Other nations, including Britain and South Korea, were non committal.

[Donald Trump]

I said for you mean for 40 years we're protecting you and you don't want to get involved in something that is very minor, very few shots going to be taken because.

[Tracy Mumford]

Trump has lashed out in response, complaining that the US has been defending other countries for decades. He insisted some had agreed to help and said he was thinking of his request as a loyalty test.

[Donald Trump]

We have the strongest military by far in the world. We don't need them. But it's interesting. I'm almost doing it in some cases, not because we need them, but because I want to find out how they react.

[Tracy Mumford]

Since the war started, the Strait of Hormuz has been all but closed to traffic as 17 ships have been attacked in or near the waterway, including one this morning that's cut off a key supply route for not just oil, but also fertilizer and other products that help fuel the global economy beyond the U.S. s allies traffic. Trump also called on China to send naval support, but Beijing has little incentive to jump in. It gets oil from Iran, and Iran has been letting those ships pass safely through the strait.

[Donald Trump]

Meanwhile, here's a real headline for you. For an actual patriotic press how about Iran Shrinking going Underground?

[Tracy Mumford]

The Trump administration is pushing back on coverage of the war. Recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized how CNN has covered the conflict.

[Donald Trump]

The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.

[Tracy Mumford]

Hegseth said he was looking forward to the outlet being under the control of the tech zion David Ellison, who is friendly with Trump and currently trying to buy the network. And over the weekend, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, threatened to revoke broadcasters licenses over their coverage of the war, his latest move in a campaign to stomp out what he sees as liberal bias in media. Carr accused broadcasters of running hoaxes and news distortions and warned them to, quote, correct course. Previous administrations also complained about news coverage. But this White House's attempts to shame journalists or try to limit how they do their work has fueled comparisons to the demands of authoritarian leaders. Carr's comments in particular drew criticism from the president's own party, with Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin telling Fox News he thought they went too far.

[Donald Trump]

Yeah, I'm a big supporter of the First Amendment. I do not like the heavy hand of government, no matter who's wielding it. Really. The federal government's role is to protect our freedoms, protect our constitutional rights.

[Tracy Mumford]

Thank you so much, Senator Johnson. It's been great talking to you. Now a few other quick updates on the Trump administration.

[Donald Trump]

I do believe I'll be the honor of having the honor of taking Cuba. That'd be good. That's a big honor. Taking Cuba. Taking Cuba in some form. Yeah.

[Tracy Mumford]

At the White House yesterday, whether I

[Donald Trump]

free it, take it, take. I could do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth?

[Tracy Mumford]

President Trump publicly raised the possibility of what he called taking Cuba. It comes as his administration has ramped up its pressure campaign against the island. It's effectively cut off all oil supplies for the past few months, which has wreaked havoc. Yesterday, the entire island was plunged into a blackout. Cuba has been trying to negotiate with the US and the Times has learned that the White House is demanding that Cuba push its president, Miguel Diaz Canel, out of power. US Officials think that would be a win for them, even if it doesn't completely remake the communist government. Also in immigration news, Greg Bovino, the combative Border Patrol official who became one of the most high profile figures in the administration's deportation campaign, tells the Times he plans to retire. Over the past year, Bovino oversaw aggressive operations in la, Chicago, New Orleans, and Minnesota, often posting about it on social media. Those operations sparked lawsuits and allegations of racial profiling, and Bovino was sidelined after backlash to the killing of two US Citizens by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Bovino says he'll step down from his post in the coming weeks. And last update, a federal judge has dealt a major blow to some of the controversial vaccine policies rolled out under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The judge's ruling puts a stop to Kennedy's efforts to cut down on the number of recommended shots, as well as his push to limit Covid vaccines. The judge also reversed all decisions made by the vaccine advisory panel that Kennedy hand picked. In his ruling, he noted that less than half appeared to have, quote, any meaningful experience in vaccines. A lawyer for the medical groups that had challenged the administration called Monday's ruling a significant victory for public health, evidence based medicine, the rule of law and the American people. A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services said the agency wanted to see the decision overturned, saying it was one of many, quote, attempts to keep the Trump administration from governing. Across the US The Times has been covering a significant new policy shift that's helping people transition smoothly into life outside prison. It has to do with Medicaid coverage. When Medicaid was established back in the 1960s, the program's policy was to drop health coverage for anyone who was sent to jail. They then needed to re enroll after they were let out. That process could take months and it left people coming out of prison, and many of whom have substance use disorders or mental health issues, vulnerable. One study found that a person's risk of death in the first two weeks after their release from prison was nearly 13 times higher than the general population. But about a decade ago, advocates, local officials and law enforcement started pushing to change that system. They eventually got Congress to pass a law that's paved the way for more than two dozen states to move towards getting Medicaid to kick back in before a prisoner is released. One of those states is California, where more than 50,000 inmates have now received pre release services paid for by the state's Medicaid program. That includes John DeSantis, a 37 year old in San Jose who told the Times he was able to meet with a county healthcare worker a month before completing his sentence. He then walked out of jail with a 30 day supply of medications at the ready and a case manager was waiting to set him up with appointments with a psychiatrist. Supporters of the expanded services say it's not just a good thing for the inmates themselves, but also for the entire community. One California sheriff told the Times, quote, if you can stabilize people, you are going to have a more safe and peaceful environment all the way around. And finally when I mentioned death, because

[Donald Trump]

that's so scary, people don't want to talk about it, which is very silly I think, because that's the only thing that's that is coming to us.

[Tracy Mumford]

Margaretta Magnussen who made the concept of Swedish Death cleaning a global phenomenon, has died at 91, and if she lived by what she preached, no one is going to be sorting through boxes and boxes of her dusty knickknacks and heirlooms to to figure out what to do with her stuff. In 2018, when she was in her 80s, Magnussen published a book introducing people to the Swedish concept of Da stedning, or tidying up before you die. She wrote the book after hearing about someone in the US dreading the idea of trying to sort through his dad's possessions. It became a manifesto urging people to make sure they weren't leaving their loved ones a mess. There's a message here about how to live, isn't there?

[Donald Trump]

Yes.

[Tracy Mumford]

I hope so.

[Donald Trump]

Get rid of the abundance and have fun.

[Tracy Mumford]

To Magnussen, death cleaning was a way of making the end of life seem less overwhelming and scary, and a way to share the joy of your belongings while you still can. She encouraged readers to invite friends and family over to rummage through books and treasures and take what they want, saying it was a chance to tell the stories that go along with those objects. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning was eventually published in more than 30 countries, and people clearly responded to the wisdom she shared, which she boiled down to quote a loved one wishes to inherit nice things from you, not all things from you. Those are the headlines today on the Daily A deep dive on Iran's new supreme leader and what his appointment means for the war and the future of the country. You can listen to that in the New York Times app or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow.

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[Tracy Mumford]

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