Apple News Today

The western U.S. is at high risk of devastating wildfires during the current scorching heat wave. But California developers are still building homes in fire zones. The Sacramento Bee explains why. Senate Republicans blocked a sweeping bill from Democrats to overhaul federal voting rules. The Washington Post reports on how it happened and what comes next. It’s ridiculously easy to make a fake vaccination card in America. Bloomberg News breaks down why that’s bad news for businesses across the country. If you’re feeling anxious about returning to post-pandemic life, some experts recommend befriending a tree. The Wall Street Journal explains why this isn’t as crazy as it may sound.

The deadliest coronavirus hotspot is very close to the United States. The Wall Street Journal reports on South America, which has only 5 percent of the global population but accounts for a quarter of the world’s COVID-19 death toll. New York City residents are facing something new in the mayoral primary: ranked-choice voting. Vox breaks down the arguments for and against this balloting system. And the Wall Street Journal uses bagel preferences to illustrate how it works. Las Vegas Raider Carl Nassib is the first active NFL player to come out as gay. CNN looks at the reaction from the sports world. A theft of more than 42,000 pounds of pistachios is just the latest in a series of nut heists in California. The Washington Post explains the trend.

Proponents of a four-day workweek say it would be good for businesses, workers, and society. The Atlantic explores the idea. The Summer Olympics will have up to 10,000 Japanese spectators at each event. The Wall Street Journal reports from Tokyo. The arrival of a new president in Iran complicates the country’s already tricky relationship with the United States. Bloomberg News looks at the nuclear talks. And Vox explains the new president’s background. The medical-marijuana industry in Maine is largely made up of small independent shops. Politico reports on fears that new regulations may advantage big corporate marijuana dealers. CNN has the story of a painting purchased at a landfill for a few dollars that turned out to be a piece by David Bowie worth tens of thousands.

After Democrats won the 2020 presidential election, Republicans responded by proposing a series of new voting laws in red states — designed, they say, to protect future elections. But the U.S. government says last year saw some of the safest elections in American history. Ari Berman is a senior reporter at Mother Jones, and he sees these new laws as an effort to disenfranchise newly mobilized Black voters — a pattern that can be charted from Jim Crow to today. Berman’s story is available to read (and listen to) in Apple News+.

Juneteenth is now a federal holiday. Food writer and producer Nicole A. Taylor shares recipes for celebrating it with family and friends in Food & Wine. CNBC has the story of how extreme heat is presenting serious health and environmental problems across the U.S. West. The Wall Street Journal reports that because of uneven vaccination rates, the future of COVID in the U.S. could vary by state. And Bloomberg News looks into regional differences in vaccination. You might have heard about a man briefly getting trapped in the mouth of a whale. National Geographic explains why it is impossible for most whales to swallow a human.

Newly released documents and emails show how Trump and his allies pressured the Department of Justice to overturn the election results. The Washington Post reveals the key findings. The FDA recently approved a new Alzheimer’s drug, despite its panel of expert advisers voting unanimously against the move. Stat explains how doctors are navigating the consequences of the controversial decision. Chinese fashion brand Shein has become incredibly popular among young Americans. Bloomberg News looks at how Trump’s trade war played a crucial role in its rise. Ryan Lochte is trying to become the oldest American male Olympic swimmer. Yahoo Sports reports on his rough start at the trials. Apple News Today host Duarte Geraldino recently spoke with Sports Illustrated writer Brian Burnsed about his profile of the star swimmer.

As President Biden meets with Russian president Vladimir Putin, another round of Mideast violence breaks out. The L.A. Times looks at what the new Israeli administration could mean for American interests in the region. The term “critical race theory,” once rarely heard outside of universities, is now used on cable news, on social media, and by national politicians. NBC News reports on how networks of conservative activists stirred up a political firestorm around an academic concept. Furniture orders are super-delayed right now, sometimes by up to six months. The design magazine House Beautiful explains why. New high-tech Nike shoes appear to be helping elite runners smash records. As the U.S. Olympic trials begin, the Wall Street Journal details how these shoes are changing the world of track.

As the Trump administration’s Department of Justice comes under scrutiny, a former federal prosecutor argues in Slate that the Biden administration isn’t doing enough to root out past corruption. American workers are quitting their jobs at rates not seen in decades. The Wall Street Journal explores what’s driving the trend. The White House says it’s exploring how to expand access to lawyers for immigrants and asylum seekers. To get a sense of how that might work, Vox takes a look at New York’s program. A plague of mice is tormenting Australia. As the invading rodents eat crops, chew through appliances, and even gobble up car seats, the Washington Post goes into the heart of the battle, and captures striking images.

America’s largest Protestant denomination may be about to split over race, gender, and political issues. The New Yorker reports on how this week’s meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention could mark a turning point. The problem of homelessness has intensified during the pandemic. The Washington Post talks to residents of an encampment on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon. Tornadoes are deadly and cause billions of dollars in damage every year. Vox explains why science is so bad at predicting them and what’s being done to improve forecasts. The Atlantic's deputy managing editor investigates an apple that mysteriously survived for more than a year on a colleague’s desk in their locked-down office. (And she ate some of it too.)

Ryan Lochte is the second-most decorated swimmer in Olympic history. After tarnishing his reputation in Rio in 2016, Lochte is gunning to make it back to the games one last time. But, at the age of 36, that’s no easy task. For Burnsed’s story in Sports Illustrated — available to read (and listen to) in Apple News+ — the writer spent time with Lochte, watched his grueling practices, and spoke with him about why he sees his road to redemption ending in Tokyo.