Why Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down

This episode of Apple News Today covers a range of major national and international developments, beginning with President Trump's announcement of a major troop drawdown from Germany, citing tensions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and a broader strategic pivot toward the Indo-Pacific and Western Hemisphere. The move has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers and concerns about its impact on NATO and deterrence against Russia. Simultaneously, the Supreme Court's recent ruling weakening Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is triggering a wave of redistricting efforts across the South, with Republican-led states attempting to redraw congressional maps in ways that could eliminate Black-majority districts and reduce Black representation in Congress. The episode then shifts to a dramatic business story: the sudden collapse of Spirit Airlines, once a punchline for its budget model and quirky branding. Despite years of financial struggles, including rising fuel costs due to the Iran war, failed merger attempts with Frontier and JetBlue, and an engine defect grounding planes, the airline faced an abrupt end after a last-minute $500 million federal bailout proposal fell through due to disagreements with bondholders. The shutdown left over 17,000 employees jobless and thousands of passengers stranded, marking the end of a once-iconic low-cost carrier. The episode closes with cultural highlights, including the box office success of The Devil Wears Prada 2 and a deep dive into the mystery of message-in-a-bottle hunters.