Episodes

  • Why the Constitution is making our politics worse (From the archives)

    Why the Constitution is making our politics worse (From the archives)
    Jul 2 2026
    This episode originally aired on Sept 18, 2025.

    The Constitution has been amended 27 times, but the last meaningful change was over half a century ago. In historian Jill Lepore’s book We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution, she argues that the near impossibility of amendment in recent decades underlies many of today’s political crises, from polarization to battles over the courts. Lepore spoke with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu about the history of constitutional revision and why the amendment process matters for the future of American democracy.
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    30 mins
  • The little-known forces quietly killing the college degree

    The little-known forces quietly killing the college degree
    Jun 25 2026
    When New Yorker staff writer Jay Caspian Kang sat down to do his taxes, one question surfaced: Should he still be saving for his 9-year-old daughter’s college fund? What followed was a deeply reported series about the growing crisis in American higher education and the forces behind it — from AI to soaring tuition to a collapse in public trust in institutions. Kang speaks with Apple News In Conversation guest host David Greene about what colleges are actually for, whether they’re still delivering on their promises, and what the future of higher education might look like.
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    25 mins
  • The U.S. is turning 250. These songs unexpectedly changed American history.

    The U.S. is turning 250. These songs unexpectedly changed American history.
    Jun 18 2026
    The United States turns 250 years old this summer — and there’s no shortage of ways to mark the moment. One of the most revealing lenses through which to view the country’s history may be music. Anna Harwell Celenza, professor at Johns Hopkins University and author of On the Record: Music That Changed America, joined Apple News In Conversation guest host David Greene to discuss the hidden political history of American music — from why “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the national anthem to how “Strange Fruit” helped pass anti-lynching legislation — and what music still has to say about democracy now.
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    24 mins
  • TV’s most beloved assistant coach says the World Cup is about to change America. Here’s how.

    TV’s most beloved assistant coach says the World Cup is about to change America. Here’s how.
    Jun 11 2026
    This year’s World Cup will be the largest in history, with 48 teams and 104 matches — and, for the first time in more than 30 years, the tournament is being played on American soil. Brendan Hunt, co-creator, writer, and star of Ted Lasso and cohost of the Apple News Original podcast After the Whistle, joins Apple News In Conversation guest host David Greene to talk about how he fell in love with soccer as an adult, the U.S. Men’s National Team players he’ll be watching, and whether the United States is finally a soccer country.
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    27 mins
  • How the Texas floods forever changed one family

    How the Texas floods forever changed one family
    Jun 4 2026
    On July 4, 2025, catastrophic flooding tore through Central Texas, killing more than 130 people and destroying communities along the Guadalupe River. Aaron Parsley, a senior editor at Texas Monthly, was there — and though he survived, his family suffered a devastating loss. His harrowing account of what happened when floodwaters overwhelmed their house and ripped them apart won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. Now he’s out with a new essay and a podcast about what their recovery has looked like. Parsley joined Apple News In Conversation guest host David Greene to talk about grief, the evolution of his faith, and what survival really means.
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    24 mins
  • How to navigate summer air travel when everything costs more

    How to navigate summer air travel when everything costs more
    May 28 2026
    The summer travel season is upon us — and this year is more complicated and more expensive than most. The war in Iran has driven up jet-fuel prices globally, and Spirit Airlines, one of the biggest budget carriers in the country, has just shut down. On top of that, a possible super El Niño could cause widespread disruptions. Zach Wichter, a consumer travel reporter at USA Today, joins Apple News In Conversation guest host Sam Sanders to explain what it all means for travelers this summer — and his tips for how to fly smarter.
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    22 mins
  • Why America has more billionaires than ever (From the archives)

    Why America has more billionaires than ever (From the archives)
    May 21 2026
    This episode originally aired on July 10, 2025.

    Americans have a long history of obsession with the ultrarich, from Carnegie and Rockefeller to Bezos and Musk. And today, the gap between the rich and the poor is bigger than ever as the billionaire class has ascended to new heights. In his book, The Haves and Have-Yachts, New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos explores the extravagant lifestyles of the wealthy and their outsize influence on politics. He sat down with Apple News In Conversation host Shumita Basu to talk about this unique moment — when billionaires are both resented and envied by the public — and what it means for the rest of us.
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    30 mins
  • How one Supreme Court decision could shift political power for decades

    How one Supreme Court decision could shift political power for decades
    May 14 2026
    At the end of April, the Supreme Court’s ruling on Louisiana v. Callais significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act. The decision made it easier for states to legally draw districts that reduce the voting power of Black voters and other minority groups. In response, several Republican-controlled Southern states have moved to redraw their congressional maps. Adam Serwer, a staff writer at The Atlantic, joins Apple News In Conversation guest host Sam Sanders to help explain this pivotal moment and the long history of voting rights in America.
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    25 mins