U.S. Employers Forced to Fire Thousands of Immigrants, and a Showdown over Peptides

Summary

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The Headlines: U.S. Employers Forced to Fire Thousands of Immigrants, and a Showdown Over Peptides

Podcast: The Headlines (The New York Times)
Host: Tracy Mumford
Date: July 23, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode explores several significant news stories of the day. The core focuses are:

• The looming mass firings of immigrants because of changed Temporary Protected Status (TPS) policies under the Trump administration, and its impact on U.S. industries, particularly health care.
• A regulatory showdown in Washington over peptides—hyped wellness substances—with a deep dive into their potential benefits, dangers, and regulatory controversy.
  Additional highlights include an ongoing lettuce-related illness scare affecting consumer behavior and fast food chains, growing use of private contractors for airport screening, and scientists discovering contagious cancer affecting catfish.

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1. Mass Firings of TPS Holders: Impact and Controversy

[00:34–03:15]

Key Discussion Points

• Federal Deadline and Immediate Impact:

  • Employers across America are facing a federal deadline to terminate hundreds of thousands of workers whose work authorizations were revoked.
    • “Last Friday was the deadline for businesses to dismiss immigrants from six countries, including Ethiopia, Myanmar and Syria, whose temporary protected status has now ended. Tomorrow, the work permits of Haitians with TPS will expire.” [00:40]
  • Over 330,000 Haitians affected; these individuals face immediate risk of deportation.

• Industry Impact: Health Care Shortage

  • At least 50,000 TPS holders work in health care—a sector already strained by workforce shortages.
  • Senior care facilities are particularly hard hit, with some already losing staff due to DACA processing delays.
  • Quote:
    • “There is no workforce waiting in the wings.” – Head of an industry group representing senior service providers [01:47]

• Policy Backdrop

  • Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end TPS protections, arguing the program was meant to be temporary.
  • DACA status renewals now take months instead of weeks, further compounding staffing problems in key sectors.

Notable Quotes

• “Employers across the US are facing a deadline of tomorrow to fire hundreds of thousands of people whose authorization to work in the country has been terminated by the Trump administration.” – Tracy Mumford [00:35]
• “The head of an industry group... called the Trump administration’s immigration policies a disservice to older adults and families in need of care...” [01:45]

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2. The Peptides Showdown: Hype, Science, Regulation

[03:15–06:45]

Key Discussion Points

• Peptides in Popular Culture

  • Peptides are touted by influencers and celebrities as “miracle drugs”—for boosting metabolism, enhancing skin, healing wounds, muscle building, and anti-aging.
    • “Peptides are everything right now, and we all have our favorite factors. Appetite gets the job done, suppresses your appetite…” [03:10]
  • Host's personal endorsement:
    • “I mean, I’m a big fan of peptides. I’ve used them myself and used them with really good effect on a couple of injuries.” [03:30]

• Science and Safety

  • Peptides: Short chains of amino acids, naturally occurring in the body (e.g., endorphins, medication like Ozempic).
  • Many “peptide products” promoted are experimental and unregulated; some linked to allergic reactions and potential tumor growth.
  • Government previously banned certain peptide injections from compounding pharmacies over safety concerns.

• Regulatory Fight

  • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is pushing the FDA to lift the ban on peptides.
  • Unusual controversy: 6 out of 19 FDA panelists deciding the issue actively sell or dispense peptides, raising conflict of interest concerns.
  • Kennedy's argument for deregulation:
    • “If you want to take an experimental drug, you can do that. You ought to be able to do that.” [05:15]
  • Critics stress lack of evidence:
    • “I don’t have a bias that peptides are bad necessarily. I just want to see the evidence, and we don’t have any.” (unnamed doctor & researcher) [05:40]
  • FDA advisory panel is expected to make a recommendation in coming days, but Kennedy can overrule any final agency decision.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services responds: “All committee members underwent the same ethics review and vetting process required of all FDA advisory committee members.” [06:10]

Notable Quotes

• “Recently, influencers and celebrities have been talking up what they describe as a miracle drug, claiming peptides can give you brighter skin, bigger muscles, heal your wounds, or even extend your lifespan.” – Tracy Mumford [03:21]
• “Kennedy has argued that lifting restrictions…would bring them into mainstream production instead of letting them circulate on a more dangerous black market.” [05:00]

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3. Airport Security Staffing: Private Contractors Return

[06:45–07:41]

Key Discussion Points

• Crisis at TSA-Staffed Airports:
  • Record-high wait times, government shutdowns, long lines, and unpaid TSA workers.
• The Private Contractor Model:
  • Some airports (e.g., San Francisco) avoided the crisis via private contractors.
  • More airports (Tampa, Des Moines, Charleston) are switching to hybrid screening, with private staff overseen by a few TSA managers.
  • Historical context: Pre-9/11, all U.S. airport security was private; the TSA replaced it post-9/11.
  • Concern: TSA union says privatization, even with oversight, could endanger safety.
    • “We don’t have to theorize about what that may look like because we have been through this before.” – TSA union head [07:30]

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4. Lettuce Scare: Food Safety, Consumer Panic, and Fallout

[07:41–08:55]

Key Discussion Points

• Surge in Cyclospora Infections:
  • Over 11,000 infections linked at least in part to leafy greens.
  • Major lettuce recall by Taylor Farms, supermarket shelves full of unsold greens.
• Economic Impact:
  • Foot traffic down at Sweetgreen, Chopped, Chipotle; Taco Bell especially hard-hit (20% drop in visits).
  • Produce from Mexico implicated in some cases.
  • Uncertainty on source and affected produce is leading to widespread consumer avoidance.
• Industry and Consumer Adaptation:
  • Some restaurants are pulling lettuce from menus.
  • Food influencers and diners opting for alternatives (e.g., “I ate some French fries.”) [08:54]

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5. Contagious Cancer Discovered in Catfish

[08:55–End]

Key Discussion Points

• Unusual Fish Tumors:
  • Brown bullhead catfish in a lake between Vermont and Quebec found with black, velvety growths—skin cancer.
• Discovery:
  • Scientists determined that the cancer is contagious and spreads through the water, likely via wounds.
  • Only a few species known to have transmissible cancers (some shellfish, dogs, Tasmanian devils).
• Implications and Open Questions:
  • No immediate threat to human health, but researchers ask:
    • “Is this really as rare as we think it is, or are we just not looking?” [End]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There is no workforce waiting in the wings.” – Senior care industry head [01:47]
• “If you want to take an experimental drug, you can do that. You ought to be able to do that.” – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. [05:15]
• “I don’t have a bias that the peptides are bad necessarily. I just want to see the evidence, and we don’t have any.” – Medical researcher [05:40]
• “We don’t have to theorize about what that may look like because we have been through this before.” – TSA union leader [07:30]
• “I ate some French fries.” – Food influencer on lettuce scare [08:54]
• “Is this really as rare as we think it is, or are we just not looking?” – University of Vermont cancer researcher [End]

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For listeners who missed the episode:
This recap includes all major topics of national consequence—immigration and health policy, regulatory battles in health and wellness, major changes in airport security, food safety scares, and breakthrough scientific discoveries—delivering context, memorable quotes, and clear indications of who said what, and when.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

from the New York Times, it's the Headlines. I'm Tracy Mumford. Today's Thursday, July 23rd. Here's what we're covering. Employers across the US Are facing a deadline of tomorrow to fire hundreds of thousands of people whose authorization to work in the country has been terminated by the Trump administration. Last Friday was the deadline for businesses to dismiss immigrants from six countries, including Ethiopia, Myanmar and Syria, whose temporary protected status has now ended. Tomorrow, the work permits of Haitians with TPS will expire. More than 330,000 Haitians have been living in the US under that program and they could also now be deported. The Department of Homeland Security gave employers the deadlines this month after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the administration to end some TPS protections, the status it's given to migrants from countries facing crises like natural disasters or civil unrest, and the administration stressed the program was designed to be temporary. One industry that's expected to take a big hit from these changes is health care. At least 50,000 TPS holders work in that field, which has already been struggling to fill positions, especially as Americans get older and need more long term care. Around the country, the Times has been talking with senior care facilities that are having to let people go, some of whom have worked there for years. The chief executive of a senior living provider in the Boston area said he's expecting to have to dismiss 40 Haitian workers tomorrow. It comes as these facilities were already losing staff due to changes in the DACA program, which shields people brought to the US as children from deportation. Renewing your DACA status used to take several weeks, but under the Trump administration it's now a months long process forcing thousands of people out of the workforce, at least temporarily. The head of an industry group that represents more than 5,000 senior service providers called the Trump administration's immigration policies a disservice to older adults and families in need of care and said, quote, there is no workforce waiting in the wings. In Washington today, there could be a high profile showdown over the future of what's become a buzzy wellness. Peptides. Peptides are everything right now, and we all have our favorite factors. Appetite gets the job done, suppresses your appetite. Number two, sloop 332 cranks up that metabolic rate.

[A]

What this is going to do is improve fine lines, wrinkles and firmness. Add this to your routine and thank us later.

[B]

Recently, influencers and celebrities have been talking up what they describe as a miracle drug, claiming peptides can give you brighter skin, bigger muscles, heal your wounds, or even extend your lifespan. I mean, I'm a big fan of peptides. I've used them myself and used them with really good effect on a couple of injuries. One of the most prominent supporters of the drugs is health secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Who has been pushing the FDA to make peptides more widely accessible. Chemically speaking, our bodies naturally produce thousands of peptides, which are short chains of amino acids. They do everything from regulating hormones to reducing inflammation. Endorphins, for example, are peptides. So are medications like Ozempic. But when influencers talk about them, they're often talking about a vast constellation of experimental products that can, in some cases, be dangerous, potentially leading to severe allergic reactions or tumor growth. A few years ago, the federal government banned specialized pharmacies from producing a number of peptide injections because of safety concerns. Now, under Kennedy, the FDA is considering whether to overturn that ban. Starting today, a 19 member FDA advisory panel will take up the issue. And in a highly unusual situation, 6 of the people appointed to the panel sell or dispense peptides themselves. Even though panels like this are intended to be neutral bodies of outside experts. Kennedy has argued that lifting restrictions on these peptides would bring them into mainstream production instead of letting them circulate on a more dangerous black market. Though he's also made more sweeping arguments, saying at one point, quote, if you want to take an experimental drug, you can do that. You ought to be able to do that. Meanwhile, critics of opening the peptide floodgates point to the fact that there is little to no data about exactly how many popular peptide products actually work in humans. One doctor and researcher told the Times, quote, I don't have a bias that the peptides are bad necessarily. I just want to see the evidence, and we don't have any. After it meets today and tomorrow, the FDA panel will make a recommendation about the peptides to the agency's commissioner, though Kennedy will have the authority to overrule any final decision. In response to questions about the makeup of the panel, the the Department of Health and Human Services said, quote, all committee members underwent the same ethics review and vetting process required of all FDA advisory committee members. In the past year. Airports are seeing their highest wait times in TSA history. Multiple government shutdowns turned the security lines at airports into an absolute mess. The line snaking its way through the terminal for a second straight day with TSA workers going unpaid. Some lines stretched all the way outside into the parking lot as passengers waited three, four, even five hours. But a handful of airports like San Francisco avoided that crisis because their checkpoints are staffed by private contractors instead of the tsa. And now more airports are making the switch. Tampa, Des Moines and Charleston are opting into a similar public private screening initiative that's being rolled out by the Trump administration. Administration. Under that program, a small handful of TSA managers oversee private employees who've gone through the same training as regular TSA agents. Airport security actually used to be all private before September 11, at which point the TSA replaced the patchwork of security operations across the US this week, the head of a union representing nearly 50,000 TSA agents argued that a return to a system like that, even with increased federal oversight, could jeopardize public safety. He said, quote, we don't have to theorize about what that may look like because we have been through this before. Should people stop eating fresh produce? Like, how do you avoid getting this thing? Across the country, Americans are in the grip of a great lettuce scare.

[A]

All I want is a crispy Caesar

[B]

salad, but we can't have lettuce right now. So cyclospora infections, tied at least in part to leafy greens, have soared to record highs, with state health departments reporting more than 11,000 infections, which can cause severe diarrhea. There's been one major lettuce recall by Taylor Farms, the country's largest produce supplier. And consumers are now very wary.

[A]

Did you know you can make salad without lettuce and that there's veggies that you can peel?

[B]

Shelves at grocery stores are full of unpurchased bags of spinach, arugula, romaine, and visits to chains like Sweetgreen, Chopped and Chipotle are down, according to one market research group. The group also found that Taco Bell has been hit especially hard. Visits to the chain have plummeted almost 20% after authorities linked some cases of the illness to iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico and served at Taco Bell locations. Overall, there's still a lot of uncertainty about the outbreak. Exactly where it's coming from, what specific produce is affected, and that is contributing to people's decision to just stay away from greens. Some smaller restaurants said they've decided to pull all lettuce from their menus, and one food influencer told the Times she recently went out to dinner to a restaurant where she usually orders a salad and instead, quote, I ate some French fries. And finally, a little more than a decade ago, people fishing in a vast lake on the Vermont Quebec border started noticing something strange. The brown bullhead catfish they were reeling in were covered in velvety black growths. Skin cancer. Scientists who started looking into why the fish were getting sick thought that was a bit odd, since skin cancer is often caused by UV light and the catfish live in the mud deep at the bottom of the lake. Now, after years of research, doing DNA testing and ruling out a wide range of possible explanations, a team at the University of Vermont has reached a remarkable conclusion. The catfish are victims of a contagious form of cancer, according to a report published yesterday in the journal Nature. The scientists say they think it started with a single catfish getting a tumor, and the cancer then spread through the water and invaded other catfish, potentially through scratches or wounds on their bodies. Contagious cancer isn't unheard of, but so far it's only been found in a tiny and seemingly random collection of species. Some shellfish dogs, which can transmit a cancer called CTVT during sex, and Tasmanian devils, which have been pushed to the brink of extinction by devil facial tumor disease, which is just a horrifying name. For now, there's little research to indicate that contagious cancers are circulating among humans, but experts say it's conceivable that one could be discovered in the future. One of the authors of the report on the catfish told the Times. Is this really as rare as we think it is, or are we just not looking? Those are the headlines today on the Daily why the Trump administration is helping build a nuclear program in Saudi Arabia at the same time as it's trying to destroy the nuclear program in Iran. You can listen to that in the New York Times app or wherever you get your podcasts. Guests I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow with the latest and the Friday news quiz.