Apple News Today

What’s the deal with high meat prices? Is there more to them than just the pandemic supply-chain crunch? Reuters examines the Biden administration’s argument that the meatpacking industry is partly to blame. Political and legal fights over mask mandates are heating up across the country. The Wall Street Journal looks at the latest developments from New York and Virginia. Not long ago, earthquakes were unusual in Texas, which now sees hundreds of magnitude-2.5 quakes and above every year. Vox explains why seismologists blame the oil and gas industry. Calling all skygazers: NASA is calling for volunteers to help it monitor cloud coverage in our changing climate — and all you need is your smartphone. The Washington Post has the details.

A pandemic program to help low-income kids in America get enough to eat is struggling. The Washington Post reports. NBC News looks at the options Biden is weighing for responding to a Russian invasion of Ukraine, including potentially moving U.S. troops to nearby countries. As electric cars grow in popularity, Inside Climate News shows how researchers are working to get better at recycling dead batteries. Input Magazine explores how some influencers who feature animals on their social-media accounts have started cloning the creatures, in part to keep followers engaged. Filing taxes will be rough this year. The Wall Street Journal explains why, and how to deal with it.

Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for The New York Times Magazine and the creator of the 1619 Project. The project reframes American history around an important date that isn’t mentioned in many history books: 1619, the beginning of American slavery. Hannah-Jones has expanded on the idea and turned it into a book called The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story. Hannah-Jones spoke with Apple News Today host Shumita Basu about the project.

The Washington Post has details of a new CIA report that says it is unlikely that a “worldwide campaign” by a foreign power is behind the condition known as Havana syndrome. The New Yorker has been covering this story for a long time. An extensive investigation by the Washington Post finds that more than 1,700 U.S. congressmen enslaved Black people. NPR explains why many low-income nations have COVID-vaccination rates of below 10%, while many wealthy countries have passed 80%. The hit soundtrack of Disney’s ‘Encanto’ is creating a whole new audience for Colombian music. Billboard speaks to singer Mauro Castillo.

Reuters reports on Biden saying he thinks Vladimir Putin may “move in” on Ukraine, as well as potential actions the U.S. and allies might take against Russia if that happens. The Atlantic looks at how Democrats’ failure to pass sweeping new election legislation is a reminder of the limits of the very slim majority the party has in Congress. California was supposed to clear cannabis convictions. Tens of thousands of people are still languishing. The Los Angeles Times investigated. Supply-chain issues are making a new type of Girl Scout cookie hard to find. But one determined Washington Post reporter managed to get a taste.

NPR speaks to medical experts for a report card on how President Biden has managed the pandemic in the last year. New York’s attorney general says there’s evidence Donald Trump and his company falsely valued assets. The Wall Street Journal breaks down the latest court filing. Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil explains the fight between airlines and wireless carriers about the rollout of expanded 5G technology that could speed up smartphone downloads. America’s fertility rate sank during the pandemic. Meanwhile, many Nordic countries had a baby boom. National Geographic looks into what’s going on. Vox speaks to researchers who say a child’s baby teeth are a potential gold mine of information about their physical and mental development.

Cryptocurrency is becoming a bona fide issue in American politics, influencing candidates and their campaigns. Politico has the story. Who betrayed Anne Frank and her family to the Nazis in 1944? Reuters reports on an extensive investigation that has revealed a surprising new suspect. New surveys detailed in the Washington Post show how COVID made it hard for scientists to do their jobs, particularly women. The Wall Street Journal explains how “Baby Shark” became the first YouTube video to pass 10 billion views.

The Washington Post looks at how setbacks on voting rights fit among the many challenges President Biden is facing as he seeks to advance his agenda. Bloomberg Businessweek reports on the ways young women’s health, education, and independence are suffering as the pandemic erases decades of progress in developing nations. Tonga is recovering after it was hit by a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami over the weekend. Reuters has the latest on the aftermath. National Geographic looks at the science behind the blast. The Wall Street Journal crunches the numbers to show how TikTok’s top stars are earning more money than CEOs of some of the world’s biggest companies.

If you’re suffering from a terminal illness and have only a few months to live, should you be allowed to choose how and when to end your life? Ten states in the country allow patients to do just that — a practice referred to as medical aid in dying — under highly regulated laws. In April 2020, Bloomberg journalist Esmé Deprez’s father became the second person to end his life under the Maine Death with Dignity Act. Deprez speaks with Apple News Today host Duarte Geraldino about that experience and a California case making its way through the courts now that could expand the scope of the law.

The New Yorker reports from Afghanistan, where more than 20 million people are on the brink of famine. NBC News explains how recent deadly home fires in New York City and Philadelphia underscore the systemic racism in urban planning. Sales of vinyl records overtook those of CDs last year, a sign of the changing attitudes of music fans. Quartz looks into what’s going on. A U.S. court ruled that gruyère-style cheeses made in America can be called gruyère. Swiss and French cheesemakers plan to keep fighting in court. Food & Wine has the story.