Evening News Podcast for Monday, June 9

Good evening. I'm Will Dove and I’m Hannah Bern, and this is the nightly news for Monday, June 9… A new exposé today spotlights the controversial legacy of Henry Morgentaler, a Holocaust survivor who became known as Canada’s foremost proponent of abortion rights. According to the director of communications for the Campaign Life Coalition, Pete Baklinski, Morgentaler’s personal history included surviving imprisonment at Auschwitz and Dachau during World War II. Baklinski’s report questions how someone who endured “the worst of man’s inhumanity to man” could, in turn, become what he terms a “destroyer” and “Canada’s top abortionist.” The article notes that after liberation, Morgentaler initially embraced life, but his experiences in the concentration camps may have influenced his later actions and outlook. Baklinski’s report alleges that Morgentaler personally performed 80,000 abortions and was instrumental in overturning Canada’s abortion law through the 1988 Supreme Court decision, ultimately leading to nearly five million preborn children aborted since 1969. The article claims Morgentaler adopted dehumanizing language for the unborn, referring to them as “clump of cells” and “blob of tissue.” The report draws parallels between Morgentaler’s wartime trauma and his subsequent actions, suggesting he became a perpetrator of what it calls “willful force and injustice…” In Los Angeles this past weekend, protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have escalated. Dramatic footage shows a protester being knocked over and kicked by police horses during the clashes. The riot scenes are described as chaotic, with demonstrators in face masks clashing with police. One source reported an order attributed to President Donald Trump to “arrest everyone in face masks” and declarations that troops should enter to quell the riots… It appears that as much as we might not like his tariffs, Donald Trump’s “Fortress America” policies are working. According to a recent analysis, 99.8% of job growth during President Trump’s second term is in the private sector. Meanwhile, statistics show that under President Biden, 25% of job growth was attributed to government positions. These contrasting economic figures are portrayed as indicative of each president’s approach to economic policy, with Trump’s administration fostering private sector expansion and Biden’s administration seeing a larger proportional increase in public sector jobs. Note that in the past ten years the bulk of new Canadian jobs were also created in the public sector, while the private sector has continued to struggle… Kyiv and its regions faced one of their most severe nights of Russian drone strikes, with the mayor of Kharkiv reporting major damage following a wave of attacks. The strikes targeted infrastructure and residential areas, underscoring continued aggression despite ongoing defensive efforts. In a related development, the Kremlin signaled that continued advances into Ukraine is part of a broader plan to establish a “buffer zone” for security. The move has raised concerns over expanded territorial ambitions as Russian forces appear to be consolidating positions while intensifying attacks on densely populated cities… Families of missing Ukrainian soldiers gathered near the Belarus border today as Russia and Ukraine began another round of prisoner exchanges. Relatives brandished photos of their missing loved ones, with many expressing little hope for reunion after years of uncertainty. The latest deal, agreed during direct talks in Turkey last week, involves swaps of the sick, heavily wounded, those under 25, and the repatriation of 12,000 bodies of deceased soldiers. Russia’s defence ministry stated the first group of soldiers under 25 had been returned from Ukraine, while a similar number of Ukrainians were released. Exact figures were not disclosed. Some Ukrainian prisoners released today had been held since the war’s start. One mother, Tetiana, searched for news of her father and cousin, both missing. The returned prisoners appeared thin and reportedly received little support from the International Red Cross during their detention. Meanwhile, fighting escalated overnight, with Russia launching 479 drones at Ukraine—a new record. Ukraine retaliated by striking a Russian airbase and an electronics factory, damaging equipment and suspending production. Both sides continue accusing each other of obstructing the repatriation of dead soldiers. Israel has transferred “several” MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile systems to Ukraine, marking a notable escalation in its military backing for the Zelensky government, according to Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky. This transfer, confirmed in a Sunday interview with Pravda USA, breaks from Israel’s earlier cautious stance on military involvement in the Ukraine conflict, largely driven by concerns over fraying ties with Russia. The batteries involved are older US-supplied systems that had been in Israeli service since the early 1990s. While initial reports from May suggested only one refurbished Patriot battery would be sent, Brodsky clarified that multiple systems have now been delivered. Additionally, in late January, Axios reported that the US military facilitated the transfer of about 90 Patriot air defense interceptors from storage in Israel through Poland en route to Ukraine, corroborating the scale of recent arms deliveries. Analysts suggest this move could be a strategic shift for Israel, seeking to bolster its image among European nations—some of whom are poised to recognize a Palestinian state—by joining the coalition backing Ukraine. The announcement coincides with intensified Russian air attacks on Ukrainian cities, particularly Kyiv. Israeli forces intervened today to stop an aid ship carrying activists en route to the Gaza Strip. The intervention prevented the vessel from reaching its destination, citing security concerns and ongoing hostilities in the region. International observers continue to watch such incidents closely, as aid access to Gaza remains a contentious issue amid the protracted conflict with Hamas. The move underscores Israel’s policy of closely monitoring and controlling the flow of goods and persons into Palestinian territories as past aid shipments have been used to smuggle weapons and ammunition to Hamas... Iran has secured a major deal with China to acquire enough fuel materials from China to build up to 800 ballistic missiles, according to multiple sources. Concurrently, Russia has announced plans to construct eight nuclear power plants in Iran, a move seen as a direct response to ongoing tensions with the United States. These developments greatly expand Iran’s missile and nuclear infrastructure, raising concerns among Western powers about regional security and the potential for further destabilization. The nuclear energy agreement also deepens military and economic ties between Moscow and Tehran, challenging U.S. influence in the Middle East. Both initiatives could significantly alter the balance of power in the region. Euthanasia activists are coming under scrutiny for what critics describe as the “glamorization” of assisted suicide through romanticized media, including a recent “love story” propaganda film. The production reportedly uses emotional storytelling to soften public attitudes toward medical assistance in dying, with critics arguing this distorts the reality of suicide and downplays the importance of palliative and mental health care. The debate has intensified as proponents of Maid (Medical Assistance in Dying) continue to lobby for further decriminalization and expanded eligibility. Opponents worry such campaigns could erode safeguards and put vulnerable individuals at risk, drawing parallels to aggressive marketing strategies rather than open, honest public discussion… Apple researchers today released findings stating that current AI models remain far from achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) or anything resembling human-level reasoning. The research highlights persistent limitations in AI’s ability to understand context, generalize knowledge, and reason flexibly across different tasks. The findings suggest that, despite rapid advancements in machine learning, breakthroughs needed for AGI are not imminent. Apple’s analysis cites ongoing issues with hallucinations, a situation where AI’s make things up, inconsistent outputs, and the inability to truly adapt to new situations without massive retraining or specialized prompts. The report underscores that while AI has made impressive strides, claims of imminent AGI are premature, and major challenges remain before machines can match human cognitive abilities… I’m Will Dove and I’m Hannah Bern, and that’s the news for today, Monday, June 9.