NPR News: 06-01-2025 3PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – June 1, 2025, 3 PM EDT

Nora Ram brings you the latest developments from around the globe and across the United States in this concise five-minute update.

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1. Ukraine's Bold Strike Against Russian Bombers

Host: Nora Ram
Reporter: Joanna Kakisis

In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine's security service launched a daring operation dubbed "Operation Trojan Trucks." Utilizing trucks to clandestinely transport first-person view (FPV) drones deep into Russian territory, Ukraine successfully activated these drones to target and destroy 41 heavy Russian bomber jets stationed across four airfields, including a strategic base in Siberia.

Ruslan Stefanchuk, the chairman of Ukraine's parliament, lauded the operation on social media:

“A brilliant operation with striking results. We now have long-range haulers who deliver anything anywhere in the world.”
[00:32]

The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged the attacks, specifying the affected airbases and highlighting the audacity of strikes carried out thousands of miles from the Ukrainian frontlines.

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2. Escalation of Drone Attacks Over Ukraine Amid Peace Talks

As tensions mount, Russia retaliated by launching approximately 472 drones over Ukraine overnight, with officials reporting that the majority were intercepted. This surge in attacks coincides with the scheduling of direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia set to take place in Istanbul the following day, indicating a precarious balance between conflict and diplomacy.

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3. DHS Targets Local Governments on Immigration Enforcement Cooperation

Host: Nora Ram
Reporter: Jad Khalil

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled a contentious list of local governments deemed non-cooperative with immigration enforcement, signaling potential federal funding cuts. Jad Khalil reports that 33 local governments in Virginia, including several conservative jurisdictions, have been included on this list, sparking backlash from state Republican leaders.

Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin expressed his concerns:

“I asked local governments to respond.”
[01:44]

An unnamed Republican official added:

“We should collectively really ask why not.”
[01:59]

The inclusion of Martinsville—mistakenly listed as a county—has further fueled the controversy, with the city's police department seeking clarification. Governor Youngkin anticipates that many listed municipalities will contest their inclusion, arguing that they do not function as sanctuary cities.

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4. Congressional Tax and Spending Bill Sparks Fiscal Debate

Host: Nora Ram
Reporter: Russ Vo

As Congress reconvenes from its Memorial Day recess, the Senate is poised to debate a substantial tax cut and spending bill previously passed by the House. The bill aims to increase defense spending while reducing allocations for Medicaid and other programs that benefit lower-income Americans, thereby disproportionately favoring wealthier individuals.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has criticized the bill, asserting it would add trillions to the national debt over the next decade. Contrarily, Russ Vo, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, contends:

“This bill doesn't increase the deficit or hurt the debt. In fact, it lowers it by $1.4 trillion.”
[02:51]

Vo argues that the CBO's projections are based on an "artificial baseline" that fails to account for the extension of current tax laws beyond their sunset provisions, leading to differing fiscal assessments of the bill's impact.

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5. Mass Shooting in Hickory, North Carolina Under Investigation

A tragic incident unfolded early this morning in Hickory, North Carolina, where a mass shooting at a party resulted in one fatality and twelve injuries, including one critical case. Authorities are actively investigating the motive behind the attack, with no arrests reported thus far.

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6. Severe Geomagnetic Storm to Illuminate U.S. Skies

Host: Nora Ram
Reporter: Amy Held

Tonight, many Americans may witness a breathtaking display of the northern lights as a severe geomagnetic storm approaches Earth. Forecasted by the Space Weather Prediction Center at a level 4 on a five-point scale, this storm stems from a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted from the sun on Friday.

Amy Held explains:

“Charged particles colliding with our atmosphere can create an aurora also known as the northern lights. Shimmering sheets of purples, blues, and greens tonight could be visible as far south as Alabama, all the way to Northern California.”
[03:43]

While the spectacle promises stunning visuals, forecasters warn of potential GPS disruptions and voltage control issues. Last year's geomagnetic storm caused widespread service interruptions globally, and similar, though less intense, effects could occur this time.

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7. Atlantic Hurricane Season Kicks Off with Increased Precautions

The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins today, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting 13 to 19 named storms, including six to ten hurricanes. NOAA Director Mike Brannan urges residents in vulnerable areas to prepare disaster kits and stay attuned to local emergency updates.

Mike Brannan emphasizes:

“Most fatalities from hurricanes are due to inland flooding, sometimes far from the coast.”
[04:29]

Preparation and awareness are key, as the season often brings a mix of destructive storms impacting diverse regions of the United States.

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Stay informed with NPR News Now for the latest updates as events continue to unfold.

Transcript

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[Nora Ram]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ram. A top Ukrainian official says the country's security service has hit more than 40 Russian bombers in four airfields across Russia with drones. NPR's Joanna Kakisis reports.

[Joanna Kakisis]

Ukrainians are calling it Operation Trojan Trucks. Ukraine's security service used trucks to smuggle first person view drones deep into Russia, then activated those drones to strike 41 heavy bomber jets. Writing on social media, Ruslan Stefanchuk, the chairman of Ukraine's parliament, called it, quote, a brilliant operation with striking results. We now have long range haulers who deliver anything anywhere in the world, he said. Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed the attacks, naming the air bases, including one in Siberia, which is thousands of miles away from Ukraine. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Nora Ram]

Meanwhile, Russia launched hundreds of drones over Ukraine overnight. Officials say Most of the 472 drones were intercepted. The increased attacks come as another round of direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia is scheduled to be held in Istanbul tomorrow. The Department of Homeland Security has released a list of local governments it says are not cooperating with immigration enforcement in preparation for cutting funds to them. VPNs Jad Khalil reports. Virginia Republicans are questioning that distinction.

[Jad Khalil]

33 local Virginia governments are on the list, including in conservative places. Hanover county officials in central Virginia said they didn't know why they made the list and federal partners didn't explain. Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin said he asked local governments to respond.

[Unnamed Republican Official]

I think we'll see a bunch of them to say, no, we don't belong on this list and they will clarify that they are not sanctuary cities. And I think the ones that don't do that, we should collectively really ask why not.

[Jad Khalil]

One city, Martinsville, was listed as a county on the DHS list. The the city's police department pointed that out in their statement. For NPR News, I'm Jad Khalil in Richmond.

[Nora Ram]

Congress returns tomorrow from its Memorial Day recess. The Senate is expected to take up a huge tax cut and spending bill passed by the House last month. It would spend more money on defense and less on Medicaid and other programs that benefit lower income Americans. Wealthier Americans would benefit more from reduced taxes. The the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says the bill would add trillions of dollars to the national debt over 10 years Russ Vo, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, disagrees.

[Russ Vo]

This bill doesn't increase the deficit or hurt the debt. In fact, it lowers it by $1.4 trillion. What what some of the watchdogs have done is they have used CBO's artificial baseline, which doesn't allow and assume that current tax law will be extended because of sunsets that are in the law.

[Nora Ram]

He was interviewed on cnn. This is NPR News. Police in Hickory, North Carolina, are investigating a mass shooting during a party early this morning. They say one person was killed and 12 others were wounded, one critically. No arrests have been made. Federal forecasters are giving a heads up that a geomagnetic storm is expected to be severe. That brings the chance of a spectacular northern lights display across much of the US tonight, NPR's Amy Held reports.

[Amy Held]

Think of it as a nighttime salutation from the sun sent Friday. A powerful coronal mass ejection. That's basically a chunk of the sun erupted, says the Space Weather Prediction center, hurtling toward Earth. Charged particles colliding with our atmosphere can create an aurora also known as the northern lights. Shimmering sheets of purples, blues and greens tonight's could be visible as far south as Alabama, forecasters say all the way to Northern California. On a five point scale, they put this geomagnetic storm at 4. That's severe but less intense than last year's that lit up skies the world over and disrupted some power and communications systems. This time, forecasters say GPS and voltage control problems are possible. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Nora Ram]

The Atlantic hurricane season opens today. The national oceanic and atmospheric Administration forecasts 13 to 19 named storms this year with six to 10 hurricanes. Director Mike Brannan is urging people get ready to prepare a disaster kit and listen to local emergency officials. He says most fatalities from hurricanes are due to inland flooding, sometimes far from the coast. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News.

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