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[00:00]
A
In Washington. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Libby Casey. President Trump is naming housing official Bill Pulte to a new role in addition to his existing titles, acting director of National Intelligence. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports. Pulte will replace Tulsi Gabbard, who has announced she will resign at the end of the month.
[00:19]
B
Pulte is currently the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which support the US Mortgage market. Pulte's biography on the agency's website lists no intelligence experience with the bulk of his career experience in the housing sector. He is a Trump loyalist who in his current role last year accused Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud. Cook has denied wrongdoing. Trump subsequently attempted to fire Cook from the board. The Supreme Court is set to rule on that case. Pulte's not the only official to serve in multiple roles circumstances. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also the current acting national security adviser. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
[00:59]
A
Doctors examined President Joe Biden after his disastrous debate performance against President Trump in 2024. That's according to former first lady Jill Biden, who told NPR's Scott Detrow she was worried in the moment that Biden was suffering a stroke.
[01:14]
C
Jill Biden says doctors evaluated the president after he walked off the stage. Once they cleared him, Joe and Jill Biden went on to multiple campaign stops. The former first lady says she never saw her husband like that any other time before or since. That's despite reports quoting former White House staffers claiming they saw the president that tired and addled at other moments.
[01:35]
D
Never. Never. And you know what, Scott? No one came to me and said, Jill, I have seen this moment at, you know, blankety blank. No one came to me and said that.
[01:49]
C
Jill Biden is promoting a new memoir called View from the East Wing. Scott Detrow, NPR News, Washington.
[01:54]
A
In Colorado, a federal judge has halted President Trump from dismantling the country's largest federal climate lab for now. NPR's Kirk Ziegler reports. The lab successfully got a preliminary injunction to stop the administration's plans while a broader lawsuit moves forward.
[02:10]
E
President Trump's budget czar Russell Vogt, has been targeting the national center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, since last year, calling it a, quote, premier research strong stronghold for left wing climate lunacy. Ncar, which is operated by a consortium of major public universities, houses one of the world's largest weather supercomputers. Its forecasting research has lately been used directly by utilities that have had to make split second decisions whether to turn off power lines when major wind events elevate wildfire danger. In a statement, the lab's director said the Judge's decision recognizes NCAR's importance to public safety and national security. Kirk Zigler, NPR News.
[02:51]
A
It's primary Election Day in six states, including New Jersey, Iowa, Montana and South Dakota. This is npr. The Trump administration is defending its plan to send Americans who may be exposed or infected with Ebola to a facility in Kenya that appears to be on hold after it was blocked by a Kenyan court. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of Medicare and Medicaid Services, says sending patients back to the US Is too far.
[03:17]
F
We are confident, and the State Department is working on this diligently that they're going to be able to work out something with Kenya. There has already been a fair amount of communication around this issue. There's many places we can send folks, but sending them across the world, especially when we're not sure what's going on with them, is probably not the wisest move.
[03:34]
A
Medical experts say the plan is unprecedented. President Trump has thrown doubt on the safety of Tylenol during pregnancy, asserting that it could be linked to conditions like autism and ADHD. As NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports, a major medical society released an updated position statement finding that using Tylenol during pregnancy is safe.
[03:55]
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The Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine represents physicians that care for patients with high risk pregnancies. For many years, acetaminophen, or Tylenol, has been the first line treatment for pain and fever in pregnant patients. When President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr asserted that it was actually unsafe, the medical association began a new assessment of the evidence. On Monday, the society concluded that acetaminophen is safe to use in pregnancy. The new position statement points out that untreated fever and pain comes with health risks, especially early in pregnancy, and that patients shouldn't try to tough it out as President Trump had suggested. Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News.
[04:36]
A
This is NPR News in Washington.
[04:40]
H
Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to NPR News now sponsor free through Amazon Music. Or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get NPR plus@plus.NPR.org that's plus.NPR.org.

Summary4 min read

NPR News Now — Episode Summary

Episode: NPR News: 06-02-2026 3PM EDT
Date: June 2, 2026
Host: Libby Casey
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers concise updates on major political and health stories from Washington, Colorado, and beyond. Highlights include a high-profile intelligence appointment by President Trump, new disclosures about President Joe Biden's health after the 2024 debate, legal action to protect a key climate research site, the Trump administration's Ebola quarantine plan, and a medical society's reassurance on Tylenol use in pregnancy.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Bill Pulte Appointed Acting Director of National Intelligence

[00:00–00:58]
- President Trump names Bill Pulte, current head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), as acting director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who is resigning at the end of June.
- Notable Points:
  - Pulte’s background is in the housing sector, with no experience in intelligence.
  - He is known as a Trump loyalist and previously accused Fed board member Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud, leading to a Supreme Court case after Trump sought her removal.
  - Multiple officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are serving dual roles.
Quote:

"Pulte's biography on the agency's website lists no intelligence experience... He is a Trump loyalist who in his current role last year accused Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud."
— Danielle Kurtzleben, [00:18]

2. Jill Biden Discusses President Biden's Post-Debate Health

[00:58–01:54]
- Following President Biden's poor debate performance against Trump in 2024, former First Lady Jill Biden reveals that doctors checked him for a possible stroke immediately afterward.
- She insists she’s never previously observed such fatigue in him, countering reports from former White House staffers.
- Jill Biden is promoting her memoir, “View from the East Wing.”
Quote:

"Never. Never. And you know what, Scott? No one came to me and said, Jill, I have seen this moment at, you know, blankety blank. No one came to me and said that."
— Jill Biden, [01:35]

3. Legal Action to Protect the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

[01:54–02:50]
- A federal judge temporarily halts the Trump administration's effort to dismantle NCAR in Boulder, Colorado.
- The injunction is in place while a lawsuit proceeds.
- NCAR is described as a vital facility for climate research, housing world-class weather supercomputers and helping utilities make life-and-death safety decisions during extreme weather events.
- Trump budget chief Russell Vogt had labeled the lab as a “premier research stronghold for left wing climate lunacy.”
- The lab’s director praised the court’s recognition of NCAR’s importance to public safety and national security.

4. Primary Election Day in Six States

[02:50–03:17]
- Voters are heading to the polls in six states, including New Jersey, Iowa, Montana, and South Dakota.
- Brief note before returning to top news items.

5. Controversial Ebola Quarantine Plan in Kenya

[02:50–03:34]
- The Trump administration’s plan to send Americans exposed to Ebola to a facility in Kenya is on hold after a Kenyan court’s block.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz (Medicare and Medicaid Services) defends the plan, arguing that returning patients directly to the US isn’t wise.
- Experts call the plan “unprecedented.”
Quote:

"There's many places we can send folks, but sending them across the world, especially when we're not sure what's going on with them, is probably not the wisest move."
— Dr. Mehmet Oz, [03:17]

6. Medical Society Affirms Tylenol Safety in Pregnancy

[03:34–04:36]
- President Trump, joined by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., raised new concerns about Tylenol during pregnancy, linking it to autism and ADHD.
- In response, the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine reviewed the literature and reaffirmed that Tylenol (acetaminophen) remains safe for pregnant patients.
- The Society underscored the risks associated with untreated fever and pain in pregnancy and discouraged “toughing it out,” as Trump had suggested.
Quote:

"The new position statement points out that untreated fever and pain comes with health risks, especially early in pregnancy, and that patients shouldn't try to tough it out as President Trump had suggested."
— Selena Simmons Duffin, [03:55]

Notable Moments and Quotes

Danielle Kurtzleben on Bill Pulte:
"Pulte's biography on the agency's website lists no intelligence experience..." [00:18]
Jill Biden refuting staffer claims:
"Never. Never. And you know what, Scott? No one came to me and said, Jill, I have seen this moment at, you know, blankety blank. No one came to me and said that." [01:35]
Dr. Mehmet Oz on Ebola quarantine logistics:
"There's many places we can send folks, but sending them across the world... is probably not the wisest move." [03:17]
Selena Simmons Duffin on Tylenol during pregnancy:
"...patients shouldn't try to tough it out as President Trump had suggested." [03:55]

Timestamps for Key Segments

Bill Pulte's appointment: [00:00–00:58]
Jill Biden on Biden’s health: [00:58–01:54]
NCAR climate lab injunction: [01:54–02:50]
Primary elections & Ebola plan: [02:50–03:34]
Tylenol safety in pregnancy: [03:34–04:36]

This episode provides a rapid, informative overview of evolving stories in U.S. politics, policy, and public health, with authoritative reporting and direct quotes from those involved.

Loading summary

Transcript14 lines

[00:00]
A
In Washington. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Libby Casey. President Trump is naming housing official Bill Pulte to a new role in addition to his existing titles, acting director of National Intelligence. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports. Pulte will replace Tulsi Gabbard, who has announced she will resign at the end of the month.
[00:19]
B
Pulte is currently the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which support the US Mortgage market. Pulte's biography on the agency's website lists no intelligence experience with the bulk of his career experience in the housing sector. He is a Trump loyalist who in his current role last year accused Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud. Cook has denied wrongdoing. Trump subsequently attempted to fire Cook from the board. The Supreme Court is set to rule on that case. Pulte's not the only official to serve in multiple roles circumstances. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also the current acting national security adviser. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
[00:59]
A
Doctors examined President Joe Biden after his disastrous debate performance against President Trump in 2024. That's according to former first lady Jill Biden, who told NPR's Scott Detrow she was worried in the moment that Biden was suffering a stroke.
[01:14]
C
Jill Biden says doctors evaluated the president after he walked off the stage. Once they cleared him, Joe and Jill Biden went on to multiple campaign stops. The former first lady says she never saw her husband like that any other time before or since. That's despite reports quoting former White House staffers claiming they saw the president that tired and addled at other moments.
[01:35]
D
Never. Never. And you know what, Scott? No one came to me and said, Jill, I have seen this moment at, you know, blankety blank. No one came to me and said that.
[01:49]
C
Jill Biden is promoting a new memoir called View from the East Wing. Scott Detrow, NPR News, Washington.
[01:54]
A
In Colorado, a federal judge has halted President Trump from dismantling the country's largest federal climate lab for now. NPR's Kirk Ziegler reports. The lab successfully got a preliminary injunction to stop the administration's plans while a broader lawsuit moves forward.
[02:10]
E
President Trump's budget czar Russell Vogt, has been targeting the national center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, since last year, calling it a, quote, premier research strong stronghold for left wing climate lunacy. Ncar, which is operated by a consortium of major public universities, houses one of the world's largest weather supercomputers. Its forecasting research has lately been used directly by utilities that have had to make split second decisions whether to turn off power lines when major wind events elevate wildfire danger. In a statement, the lab's director said the Judge's decision recognizes NCAR's importance to public safety and national security. Kirk Zigler, NPR News.
[02:51]
A
It's primary Election Day in six states, including New Jersey, Iowa, Montana and South Dakota. This is npr. The Trump administration is defending its plan to send Americans who may be exposed or infected with Ebola to a facility in Kenya that appears to be on hold after it was blocked by a Kenyan court. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of Medicare and Medicaid Services, says sending patients back to the US Is too far.
[03:17]
F
We are confident, and the State Department is working on this diligently that they're going to be able to work out something with Kenya. There has already been a fair amount of communication around this issue. There's many places we can send folks, but sending them across the world, especially when we're not sure what's going on with them, is probably not the wisest move.
[03:34]
A
Medical experts say the plan is unprecedented. President Trump has thrown doubt on the safety of Tylenol during pregnancy, asserting that it could be linked to conditions like autism and ADHD. As NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports, a major medical society released an updated position statement finding that using Tylenol during pregnancy is safe.
[03:55]
G
The Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine represents physicians that care for patients with high risk pregnancies. For many years, acetaminophen, or Tylenol, has been the first line treatment for pain and fever in pregnant patients. When President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr asserted that it was actually unsafe, the medical association began a new assessment of the evidence. On Monday, the society concluded that acetaminophen is safe to use in pregnancy. The new position statement points out that untreated fever and pain comes with health risks, especially early in pregnancy, and that patients shouldn't try to tough it out as President Trump had suggested. Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News.
[04:36]
A
This is NPR News in Washington.
[04:40]
H
Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to NPR News now sponsor free through Amazon Music. Or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get NPR plus@plus.NPR.org that's plus.NPR.org.