On today’s show: Trump pledged to close the Education Department. The Washington Post’s Laura Meckler examines what that would mean. Reuters has what to know as the Biden administration approves Ukraine’s use of American long-range missiles. What happens when a vaccine skeptic leads health policy? NPR looks at the impact of such a move in Florida. Plus, Biden becomes the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon, Democrats in Pennsylvania defy a court order in a Senate recount, a major pollster retires, and the Alaska town that won’t see sunrise again for 64 days. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.
Chapter 1: What are the main topics discussed in this episode?
Good morning. It's Monday, November 18th. I'm Shamita Basu. This is Apple News Today. On today's show, how the Department of Education became a political lightning rod, what happened in Florida when they appointed a vaccine skeptic to run public health, and the Alaska town that won't see sunrise again for 64 days.
But first, President Joe Biden has given Ukraine approval to use U.S.-made weapons to strike deep into Russia for the first time. That's according to at least two U.S. officials who tell Reuters that this is in direct response to North Korean ground troops joining the Russian offensive.
And with just two months left in office, it marks a significant policy shift for President Biden, who has so far resisted giving Ukraine the green light to use these weapons out of fear that it could escalate the conflict. In the past, Russia has called this a red line. And yesterday, senior Russian lawmakers said it could lead to World War III.
The weapons, known as the Army Tactical Missile System, can travel about 190 miles and would allow Ukraine to strike Russian ammunition depots, logistical centers, basically anything that would allow them to resupply their front line. Here's how retired Air Force Colonel Cedric Layton described it to CNN.
And it's one of the most lethal weapons that the U.S. has in its arsenal. And if the Ukrainians can use it the same way that the U.S. would use it in a similar situation, then it could very much change the way in which the war is being fought right now.
Reportedly, Ukraine already used U.S.-supplied long-range missiles last month. CNN reports the U.S. quietly provided them. But this announcement marks a public change in policy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who's been asking for this since practically the start of the war, addressed the news in a video message.
The plan to strengthen Ukraine is a plan of victory.
Today, there's a lot of talk in the media about us receiving permission for respective actions. But strikes are not carried out with words. Such things are not announced. Missiles will speak for themselves.
According to CNN, Biden, who has been in South America for the start of the G20 summit, has been talking with world leaders about North Korea's involvement in the Ukraine war, including with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, asking Beijing to apply pressure on North Korea as its largest trading partner to remove itself from the conflict. Meanwhile, a U.S. official told NPR that the U.S.
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Chapter 2: What is the significance of Biden's approval for Ukraine's use of U.S. weapons?
It's probably 50 percent of our job now in pediatrics is explaining to parents the importance of vaccinating their children.
Vaccination rates were already dropping in Florida before Latipo was appointed to his role. But under his leadership, they dropped even further. Today, the routine childhood vaccination rate for kindergartners in the state is at the lowest it's been in over a decade. And we're seeing similar trends on the national level.
Gwynn told NPR she's worried we'll see that accelerate with a vaccine skeptic like RFK Jr. in charge of national health policy.
I'm very concerned, as are all pediatricians across the nation. One of our primary roles as pediatricians is keeping children safe. And the most effective way to keep children safe from preventable communicable diseases is vaccines.
Recently, RFK Jr. has said he will work to make sure parents have the science and information they need to make an informed decision about vaccines for their kids. Many Republican senators have already come out to say they'll support Kennedy's nomination. But should he not get confirmed? NPR says Florida Surgeon General Joseph Latipo is another name that's been floated.
Before we let you go, a few other stories being featured in the Apple News app. On his way to the G20 summit, where climate change will be a top focus, President Biden became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon.
Folks, we don't have to choose between the environment and the economy. We can do both. We've proven it back home.
He met with local leaders and indigenous groups working to preserve the rainforest. He also announced an additional U.S. commitment of $50 million to save the Amazon from deforestation, a goal current Brazilian President Lula da Silva has vowed to accomplish by 2030. In U.S.
election news, there is a recount underway in Pennsylvania in the race between Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat, and Dave McCormick, his Republican challenger, who currently leads by about 20,000 votes. And there's something of an open revolt taking place against a court order.
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