Apple News Today

The Food and Drug Administration is supposed to ensure that medical devices used by the public are safe and effective. ProPublica investigates why the agency allowed a heart pump that didn’t meet federal standards to be implanted in thousands of patients. The United Nations calls its new report on climate change “a code red for humanity.” CNN has key takeaways. The Wall Street Journal looks at the Taliban’s mission to capture cities in Afghanistan as the U.S. withdraws. National Geographic explores how animal-rights advocates are fighting for animal personhood, and what it could mean for creatures in captivity. NPR describes why a large inflatable rat created to protest at labor disputes gained free-speech rights.

In an article for Vanity Fair, Sherman investigates Epstein’s ties to Leslie Wexner, the founder of the company that owns Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works and, until recently, the only publicly known client of Epstein’s.

As the first day of school approaches, health officials and educators are figuring out how to bring students back for in-person learning without spreading the coronavirus. The Washington Post looks at four Florida school districts that are pushing back against Governor Ron DeSantis’s threat to withhold funding if they mandate mask-wearing. Parents and children who were separated at the southern border by the Trump administration are being reunited by a government task force. BuzzFeed News reports that the reunited families are struggling to get by financially and need resettlement assistance.  Bloomberg Businessweek dives into the story behind a billionaire’s mission to grow genetically modified lungs in pigs for use in humans.  NPR looks at how technologically advanced tracks have helped Olympic athletes compete better.

This week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that people in New York City will have to provide proof of COVID vaccination to dine indoors, go to the gym, or watch a live performance. As cases of the Delta variant surge, Quartz looks at how vaccine passes are being are being implemented in Europe.  After a string of legal defeats, a program that would forgive the USDA loans of 16,000 minority farmers is facing an uncertain future. Politico reporter Josh Gerstein breaks down why conservative challenges to the program are presenting the Biden administration with a stark choice.  A move by lawmakers to ban surprise medical bills from January leaves urgent-care clinics in a gray area. Kaiser Health News explains why experts say the regulatory gap could leave patients at risk. The Washington Post looks at an investigation into the NCAA that found that it has consistently undervalued women’s basketball.After a string of legal defeats, a program that would forgive the USDA loans of 16,000 minority farmers is facing an uncertain future. Politico reporter Josh Gerstein breaks down why conservative challenges to the program are presenting the Biden administration with a stark choice.  A move by lawmakers to ban surprise medical bills from January leaves urgent-care clinics in a gray area. Kaiser Health News explains why experts say the regulatory gap could leave patients at risk. The Washington Post looks at an investigation into the NCAA that found that it has consistently undervalued women’s basketball.

On Monday, a report from New York attorney general Letitia James found that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed state employees. Rebecca Traister of New York Magazine joins the show to break down what the investigation tells us about powerful politicians and the apparatuses that protect them.  Pandemic lockdowns saw many people who were recovering from drug addiction lose access to the treatment centers and in-person meetings they relied on. Peter Jamison of the Washington Post explains what this meant for a community in West Virginia.  Bloomberg reports on President Biden’s new evictions moratorium, ordered on Tuesday. The measure gives renters in areas that have had "substantial or high” levels of coronavirus transmission an additional two months of relief. Many Black creators responsible for creating viral dances on TikTok have struggled to get proper credit. BuzzFeed News describes how some are moving to protect their intellectual property. In 1968, two American athletes raised their fists in a Black Power gesture during an Olympic medal ceremony in Mexico City. More than 50 years later, Time reports that Olympians have continued to find ways to include protests on the podium.

On Sunday, Senate lawmakers announced a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan. Tony Romm of the Washington Post breaks down what’s in the package and where it stands now. In California, more than 20,000 people were sterilized before a eugenics law was repealed in 1979. Juliana Jiménez writes for NBC News about the history of this practice and efforts to compensate some of the survivors. A few years ago, a study found that preschoolers who watched a lot of Disney princess movies were more hung up on gender stereotypes. But the Wall Street Journal reports that the research continued and has now led to a seemingly different conclusion. Simone Biles returned to Olympic competition, earning a bronze medal in the balance-beam final. Yahoo Sports breaks down the results. Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm set a new world record in the 400-meter final. NBC Olympics has the coverage.

To access government services, Americans often spend countless hours dealing with red tape. Annie Lowrey of the Atlantic explains why she calls this a “time tax.” Many homeowners have been able to defer their monthly mortgage payments during the pandemic. The Washington Post reports on the end of the forbearance period and what it means for borrowers. Dino nuggets are a surprising feat of design and engineering. The Wall Street Journal talks to a mastermind behind these kid-friendly shaped chicken-nuggets. NPR has the details of a study that found that Olympic bronze medalists are often happier than those who win silver.

Kelis is a pop star most widely known for her 2003 hit single, “Milkshake.” She’s still performing, but her talents and interests extend beyond the music world. A few years ago, she and her husband bought a farm outside L.A. and started living off the land. Best-selling author Roxane Gay wrote about Kelis’s experience running the farm for Harper’s Bazaar. In her article, Gay explores why Kelis started farming and the freedom it has brought her. Gay also looks at the barriers that often stand between Black people and homegrown food. Gay’s article, called “How Kelis Remixed Her Life,” is available to read (and listen to) in Apple News+.

An internal CDC document obtained by the Washington Post strikes an urgent tone about the dangers of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. Tomorrow, an important federal eviction moratorium is set to expire. The Guardian reports on the impact. Last year, the U.S. homicide rate surged by 25%. ProPublica visits Philadelphia to see what increased violence there reveals about the national picture. The flowers in bouquets held by victorious Olympians during medal ceremonies tell a story of remembrance and rebuilding. NPR explains.

The IRS spends a surprising amount of time targeting low-income taxpayers. In the Atlantic, law professor Dorothy Brown argues that America’s auditing system is deeply unfair. Vox explains why U.S. public housing is in such a dilapidated state. A new study finds financial stress can make parents less likely to interact with their children. The Washington Post breaks down the potential impact on a child’s ability to build their vocabulary. The Wall Street Journal looks at how a rule change is making Olympic fencing more interesting. It’s designed to fix an unexpected problem: fencers refusing to fight.