This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email transcripts@nytimes.com with any questions.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
From \u201cThe New York Times,\u201d it\u2019s \u201cThe Headlines.\u201d I\u2019m Tracy Mumford. Today is Friday, May 29. Here\u2019s what we\u2019re covering.<\/p>\n
[THEME MUSIC]<\/p>\n
speaker 1<\/p>\n
President Trump said, no, we\u2019re taking the gloves off, and that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re doing. So we\u2019re stopping the drugs. We\u2019re striking the boats. We\u2019re defeating narco terrorists.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
For the last nine months, the US has launched strike after strike on small boats in the waters off South America.<\/p>\n
president donald trump<\/p>\n
We\u2019re saving hundreds of thousands of lives with those pinpoint attacks.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
Officials say the campaign is meant to cut off the flow of drugs into the US. And in recent weeks, it\u2019s been quietly ramping up the attacks. There was a boat strike on Tuesday and Wednesday. In all, there have now been almost 60 strikes, killing nearly 200 people. From the start, many legal experts have called these attacks illegal extrajudicial killings, stressing that the military is not allowed to intentionally target civilians who pose no threat of imminent violence.<\/p>\n
Now, on top of that, experts tell \u201cThe Times\u201d that the boat strikes have also been ineffective and have not curbed the flow of cocaine into the country. If the strikes were slowing the supply, public health researchers say the price on the street for the drug would go up. They say that hasn\u2019t happened.<\/p>\n
Similarly, if less cocaine was getting in, epidemiologists say dealers would be trying to stretch their supply by cutting it with other ingredients, but an analysis of cocaine samples doesn\u2019t reflect that. And signs are also emerging that traffickers are simply using other methods for smuggling, shifting to land routes or putting more cocaine on container ships. One public health expert who tracks cocaine use in the US told \u201cThe Times\u201d that the boat strikes are basically the same as, quote, \u201cbombing a handful of McDonald\u2019s in Dallas, Texas, and claiming that you\u2019ve made America healthy again.\u201d Recently, in the Senate \u2014<\/p>\n
lawmaker<\/p>\n
General, what evidence do you have that this campaign is actually degrading cartel operations rather than simply destroying some low-level assets, boats?<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
The general overseeing the campaign faced sharp questions from lawmakers about the strikes.<\/p>\n
general francis l. donovan<\/p>\n
I cannot stand before you and tell you that there is a percentage drop in American deaths inside the United States or a certain percentage of drugs reaching the United States.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that targeting the boats is not a long-term solution. He said the US needed to work more with its allies in South America and that, quote, \u201cboat strikes aren\u2019t the answer to the country\u2019s drug problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
[MUSIC PLAYING]<\/p>\n
A new disclosure form that reveals details of President Trump\u2019s stock portfolio is adding to concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The form shows that in the first few months of this year, Trump\u2019s investment portfolio made more than 3,600 trades, buying and selling shares in big banks, manufacturers, and tech giants.<\/p>\n
That has raised questions not just because the federal government regulates those industries, but also because of the timing of some of those trades, which have coincided with the president appearing to publicly endorse specific companies. For example, in February, Trump\u2019s financial advisors bought more than $1 million in stock of the computer giant Dell. Nine days later \u2014<\/p>\n
president donald trump<\/p>\n
I also want to thank Michael and Susan Dell. Go out and buy a Dell computer.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
\u2014 Trump lavished praise on the company in a speech as he highlighted the founders\u2019 philanthropy.<\/p>\n
president donald trump<\/p>\n
They make a great product. They\u2019re not looking for any publicity. I give them publicity.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
Then, this week, the Pentagon announced it was giving Dell a nearly $10 billion defense contract. The co-president of Public Citizen, a nonprofit group that has criticized the Trump family\u2019s ongoing business activity, told \u201cThe Times\u201d that with Trump, quote, \u201cit is impossible to know where personal profit making ends and policymaking starts.\u201d<\/p>\n
While there is a law that prohibits federal employees from taking official action to benefit their own interests, it does not apply to the president. Still, the White House has rejected any concerns about the trades, saying Trump, quote, \u201conly acts in the best interests of the American public.\u201d And the Trump organization says all of his stock trades are controlled by third-party investment managers.<\/p>\n
[MUSIC PLAYING]<\/p>\n
Now, a few quick updates from across the Middle East. First \u2014<\/p>\n
aung thu khant<\/p>\n
One ship, they start yelling at that Iranian Navy. We want to go out, open the Hormuz.<\/p>\n
natalie kitroeff<\/p>\n
They were screaming and begging to be let out.<\/p>\n
aung thu khant<\/p>\n
Yes.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Times\u201d has been talking with sailors who\u2019ve been stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
virendra vishwakarma<\/p>\n
Every day, my wife, my son and daughter, they call. Papa, when you are coming back home? Every day, they call.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
They described being on constant lookout for the threat of missile or drone strikes and watching their stockpiles of food and medicine on board dwindle as Iran has kept the critical waterway shut down for three months and counting.<\/p>\n
Now, diplomats involved in the talks between the US and Iran say the two sides are closing in on a preliminary agreement that could finally reopen the strait. Negotiators would then continue to work separately on a longer-term peace deal. On today\u2019s episode of \u201cThe Daily,\u201d you can hear more from some of the thousands of sailors who\u2019ve been caught in limbo as the war has dragged on. A second update now from Lebanon \u2014<\/p>\n
[SHOUTING]<\/p>\n
\u2014 where the country is facing a new surge of deadly attacks from Israel despite a ceasefire. Israeli forces said they carried out strikes on more than 130 Hezbollah targets across the country this week. Many of them were in residential areas. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia, has been continuing its own attacks on Israeli troops who\u2019ve invaded and occupied the southern part of Lebanon. The renewed violence could threaten the delicate talks between Iran and the US, since Iran has demanded that any deal to end the fighting also include Lebanon. And \u2014<\/p>\n
israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu<\/p>\n
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he has directed the Israeli military to expand its control over Gaza. Speaking at a conference yesterday, he said Israel currently controls 60 percent of the territory. When members of the audience shouted that Israel should take it all, Netanyahu said, quote, \u201cFirst of all, 70. Let\u2019s start with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into place last year, Israel has continued its operations in Gaza to put pressure on the militant group. It\u2019s gradually been taking more and more land there, sometimes by simply picking up and moving the concrete blocks that it\u2019s used to mark the boundaries. That has meant that Gaza\u2019s roughly 2 million residents, who mostly live in territory controlled by Hamas, have been forced onto a smaller and smaller slice of land.<\/p>\n
[MUSIC PLAYING]<\/p>\n
Across the US in recent years, there\u2019s been a growing effort to help low-income Americans by giving them cash. Unlike government programs like food stamps that target specific needs, the so-called cash transfer programs basically leave it up to the recipients to decide how to use the extra money. Research into the benefit of this kind of program has found mixed results, but a new study published in \u201cThe Lancet Public Health\u201d has one of the most optimistic recent assessments.<\/p>\n
It showed that a cash transfer program in Flint, Michigan, significantly improved the health of moms and their newborns. The study followed women in the city, where the majority of mothers earn under $10,000 a year. For the research, a group of pregnant women were given a one-time payment of $1,500 and then $500 a month for the first year of their child\u2019s life.<\/p>\n
Researchers found that after getting the money, more women received prenatal care, the rate of premature births declined, and fewer babies were born underweight. One of the authors of the report said that, quote, \u201cMoms told us, because of these dollars, I can take a day off work and pay for gas to go to my prenatal appointment.\u201d<\/p>\n
[MUSIC PLAYING]<\/p>\n
And finally \u2014<\/p>\n
speaker 2<\/p>\n
Tlachtli.<\/p>\n
speaker 3<\/p>\n
T-L-A-C-H-T-L-I.<\/p>\n
speaker 2<\/p>\n
Madoqua.<\/p>\n
speaker 3<\/p>\n
M-A-D-O-Q-U-A.<\/p>\n
speaker 2<\/p>\n
Ratiarius.<\/p>\n
speaker 3<\/p>\n
R-A-T-I-A-R-I-U-S.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
The Scripps National Spelling Bee came down to a fierce spell-off last night, with the top two contenders trying to get as many words right as they could in 90 seconds.<\/p>\n
speaker 2<\/p>\n
Bromocriptine.<\/p>\n
speaker 4<\/p>\n
B-R-O-M-O-C-R-I-P-T-I-N-E.<\/p>\n
speaker 2<\/p>\n
Cushaw.<\/p>\n
speaker 4<\/p>\n
C-U-S-H-A-W. [BUZZ]<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Southern California, came out on top. As an eighth grader, this was his last year of eligibility, and he clinched it. The high-speed spell-off format was introduced a few years ago to keep the bee from going on and on. In the past, the more traditional back-and-forth could drag out late into the night and result in multiple winners, like the year when eight kids had to share the title.<\/p>\n
The new champion, Shrey, told the announcers that there was one word that made him nervous last night \u2014 bhuvaneshwar, which, yeah, that\u2019s fair, but he got it. And overall, he said he was not intimidated.<\/p>\n
shrey parikh<\/p>\n
Spelling fast is what I do every day, so a spell-off just kind of came naturally. And it was just like another day of spelling for me.<\/p>\n
announcer 1<\/p>\n
Just another day.<\/p>\n
announcer 2<\/p>\n
Hey! [LAUGHS]<\/p>\n
announcer 1<\/p>\n
Come on over here \u2014<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
Those are \u201cThe Headlines.\u201d If you\u2019d like to play the Friday News Quiz, it is just after these credits. This show is made by Will Jarvis, Margaret Kadifa, Jake Lucas, Jon Stewart, and me, Tracy Mumford. Original theme by Dan Powell. Special thanks to Isabella Anderson, Larissa Anderson, Sam Dolnick, Miles McKinley, and Zoe Murphy.<\/p>\n
[THEME MUSIC]<\/p>\n
Now time for the quiz. Every week, we ask you a few questions about stories \u201cThe Times\u201d has been covering. Can you get them all? Here we go.<\/p>\n
[THEME MUSIC]<\/p>\n
First up, recently, an employee at a major tech company launched a pop-up radio station for everyone who works there.<\/p>\n
artificial speaker<\/p>\n
(SINGING) Badge in my bag<\/p>\n
Box on my desk<\/p>\n
Ding on the chat<\/p>\n
We need less than our best<\/p>\n
Three screens going dark<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
It featured AI-generated songs, which were all made specifically in response to a big announcement by the company.<\/p>\n
artificial speaker<\/p>\n
(SINGING) Share the stress in the hearts of corporate mess<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
Your question \u2014 what was the custom soundtrack all about? Give those lyrics a close listen.<\/p>\n
artificial speaker<\/p>\n
(SINGING) HR Zoom call<\/p>\n
Screen frozen on the smile<\/p>\n
Thin package on the table<\/p>\n
I haven\u2019t seen you in a while<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
The answer \u2014<\/p>\n
artificial speaker<\/p>\n
(SINGING) Oh<\/p>\n
Had a layoff<\/p>\n
Had a layoff<\/p>\n
Say it like a joke<\/p>\n
Had a layoff<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
The curated anthems were all about layoffs at Meta, which eliminated 8,000 jobs. The radio station offered songs in many kinds of genres, quote, \u201cto support your diverse coping preferences.\u201d Definite points for creativity, but I will just say, you don\u2019t necessarily have to go the AI route when classics like this already exist.<\/p>\n
johnny paycheck<\/p>\n
(SINGING) Take this job and shove it<\/p>\n
I ain\u2019t working here no more<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
Thank you, Johnny Paycheck.<\/p>\n
johnny paycheck<\/p>\n
(SINGING) Take this job and shove it<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
Next question. In his time as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has put out some memorable videos. I\u2019m not just talking about all the workouts in jeans. There was also a video where he was chugging a glass of milk in the hot tub with Kid Rock. And this week, he posted a video to his personal social media account where he was wrangling wildlife barehanded.<\/p>\n
cheryl hines<\/p>\n
OK. OK.<\/p>\n
robert f. kennedy jr<\/p>\n
Are they biting? Yeah.<\/p>\n
cheryl hines<\/p>\n
Honey. Honey. let it go. Oh my god.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
The video was filmed on Dr. Oz\u2019s patio. And Oz, along with Kennedy\u2019s wife, can be heard in the background trying to help or just cringing.<\/p>\n
cheryl hines<\/p>\n
Bobby, please!<\/p>\n
robert f. kennedy jr<\/p>\n
[LAUGHS]<\/p>\n
cheryl hines<\/p>\n
Bobby. Bobby, please.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
Your question \u2014 what creatures did Kennedy pick up?<\/p>\n
[TIMER TICKING]<\/p>\n
The answer \u2014<\/p>\n
[DING]<\/p>\n
Kennedy cornered two black racer snakes, which are non-venomous. That is good because they were definitely nipping at his hands. \u201cThe Times\u201d actually checked with some snake experts to rate Kennedy\u2019s technique. One said it wasn\u2019t the worst wrangling he\u2019d ever seen, but he did not recommend just grabbing snakes by the tails. Another snake wrangler emphasized that, really, the best advice is always going to be just leave them alone.<\/p>\n
[MUSIC PLAYING]<\/p>\n
And last question.<\/p>\n
president donald trump<\/p>\n
Out here, we\u2019re going to have 4,000 seats right in front of the front door of the White House.<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
At the White House, construction is now underway on the South Lawn for the cage that UFC fighters will brawl in next month.<\/p>\n
president donald trump<\/p>\n
You see the kind of pounding he\u2019ll take. And then, all of a sudden, it\u2019s over, and the other guy\u2019s not in good shape, right?<\/p>\n
tracy mumford<\/p>\n
The event will be part of celebrations for the country\u2019s 250th birthday. It also, conveniently, will be taking place on Trump\u2019s birthday. Now, Trump is not the first president with an interest in this kind of sport. Several former American presidents were wrestlers. Your question \u2014 can you name the president who is actually in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame?<\/p>\n
[TIMER TICKING]<\/p>\n
The answer \u2014<\/p>\n
[BELL RINGS]<\/p>\n
Entering the ring at 6 foot 4 inches tall, not including the top hat, it is Abraham Lincoln. According to the Wrestling Hall of Fame, Lincoln fought a lot in his 20s and had only one recorded defeat.<\/p>\n
That is it for this week\u2019s news quiz. If you want to tell us how you did, our email, as always, is theheadlines@nytimes.com. The show will be back on Monday, which will be June. Somehow, it\u2019s going to be June. See you then.<\/p>\n
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