On today’s show: Lawmakers scrambled to reach a deal to fund the government and avert a shutdown. They were ultimately unsuccessful, the Wall Street Journal reports. Malala Yousafzai and Sahra Mani join Apple News In Conversation to talk about the bravery of women in the face of Taliban rule and the urgent need for the international community to act. Releasing Hollywood blockbusters is still a messy business, years after the COVID-19 pandemic and labor strikes upended the industry. Los Angeles Times reporter Ryan Faughnder has more. Plus, the suspected shooter of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson is extradited to New York, Amazon workers go on strike, and the summer camp where wannabe Santas train.
Hey there, it's Shemita here.
Just want to let you know after today's show, our team is taking a good long end of the year break.
We are human.
We need to recharge and we'll be back for the first full week in January.
Okay, let's do the news.
Good morning.
It's Friday, December 20th.
I'm Shemitah Basu.
This is Apple News Today.
On today's show, how some women in Afghanistan are risking their lives to protest Taliban rule.
Why releasing a holiday blockbuster is still tricky business.
And the summer camp where wannabe Santas go to train.
But first, it's been a rollercoaster couple of days for lawmakers trying to avert a government shutdown before the holidays after a bill negotiated by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson was effectively killed by President elect Donald Trump before it even came to the floor on Wednesday.
GOP, with no apparent backup plan, scrambled yesterday to pass an extension of current funding.
The new Trump approved bill cut out a good chunk of provisions that were included in the previous version, but kept money for farmers, about $10 billion and $100 billion in disaster aid.
The bill made it to the floor, but not any farther.
On this vote, the yeas are 174, the nays are 235, one voting present, 2/3 not being in the firm the affirmative.
The rules are not suspended and the bill is not passed.
So lawmakers went home with no deal.
Last night, Trump was demanding spending be tied to a two year debt limit suspension.