Apple News Today

Justin Lahart, WSJ economics reporter who breaks down U.S. labor trends, and José de Córdova, WSJ Latin America correspondent who covers Cuba’s collapse. They unpack Cuba’s severe fuel shortages, emergency measures and long-term political risks. They also explain why U.S. hiring has slowed, from low quits to rate and immigration effects.

Released Epstein files spark a political crisis abroad, threatening top leaders. U.S. courts are strained by a surge of immigration cases and emergency DOJ plans. Forever chemicals are seeping into private wells with regulatory gaps complicating cleanup. Other fast headlines include a major sports crash, a high-profile sentencing in Hong Kong, and a surprise Super Bowl celebration.

Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times editor and music journalist who has long covered Bad Bunny. She traces his Puerto Rican roots and SoundCloud breakthrough. She discusses his choice to rap in Spanish and bold collaborations. She explores his genre-blending records, cultural advocacy, and what headlining the Super Bowl means for Latino visibility.

Max Tani, media editor at Semafor who analyzes newsroom strategy and cuts. He breaks down sweeping layoffs at The Washington Post and why its finances and audience focus have faltered. He traces Jeff Bezos's role in the paper’s rise and recent editorial moves. The conversation also touches on allies pivoting toward China and a Super Bowl rematch recap.

Lawmakers haggle over limits on ICE powers and a tight negotiation timetable. Russian strikes leave Kyiv scrambling for heat and power as residents improvise to survive winter. Rising temperatures threaten future Winter Olympic sites, prompting talk of artificial snow and scheduling changes. A long peace walk by Buddhist monks brings mindfulness into the national spotlight.

María Luisa Paúl, a Washington Post reporter on immigration, highlights rising child detentions and the high-profile Liam Conejo-Ramos case. Idrees Ali, a Reuters correspondent, breaks down the U.S. shooting of an Iranian drone near a carrier and the tense diplomacy that may follow. They discuss motives, regional talks, and how leaders are positioning ahead of uncertain negotiations.

A deep look at ICE’s growing use of facial recognition, drones, trackers and phone-location data to monitor protesters and suspects. Coverage of Rafah’s limited border reopening and the logistical puzzles of moving people and aid. New Epstein file releases stir international fallout. Quick briefs on election-material lawsuits, U.S.-Iran talks, and how inflation shows up in Valentine’s candy.

A breakdown of the partial government shutdown and the funding fights keeping negotiators at an impasse. New Epstein file releases and what prosecutors say about potential charges. A dramatic $100 million gift aimed at helping American Olympic athletes with basic living costs. Coverage of the Kennedy Center closure, a detained five-year-old released from ICE custody, and the big Grammy winners.

Caitlin Dickerson, an investigative reporter at The Atlantic known for deep immigration coverage and a Pulitzer Prize, unpacks ICE’s recent escalation in enforcement. She discusses Minneapolis shootings, rapid recruitment with limited vetting, expanded detention and deportation directives, eroding oversight, and how courts and Congress might respond. The conversation focuses on the most consequential shifts in policy and practice.

Ashlea Ebeling, WSJ reporter on personal finance and tax policy, and Caitlin Dickerson, Atlantic writer on immigration and DHS policy, join to discuss ICE funding and congressional options. They cover operational shifts after protests and key 2025 tax changes filers should watch. Short news bites include a crackdown in Rasht and other notable headlines.