NPR News: 06-06-2025 4AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – June 6, 2025

Released: June 6, 2025

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1. Trump and Elon Musk's Public Fallout

Host: Dan Ronan

The episode opens with a significant development in the strained relationship between former President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Dan Ronan reports that President Trump is threatening to terminate government contracts currently held by Musk's companies. This escalating discord marks a notable shift in an alliance that was once considered mutually beneficial.

2. Impact on Tesla's Stock Market Performance

Host: Dan Ronan
Contributor: Camila Domonosky

The fallout between Trump and Musk has had immediate repercussions on Tesla's financial standing. As Dan Ronan explains, "Tesla stock tanked on Thursday afternoon, falling by more than 14% at the close of business," citing the sharp decline following the public disputes between the two figures (01:08).

Camila Domonosky provides further insight, stating, "The company's total value dropped by more than a billion in just four hours" (01:32). She elaborates that the tensions have not only affected investor confidence but also highlighted potential vulnerabilities in Musk's focus, particularly regarding his involvement with other ventures like Dogecoin (DOGE). Domonosky also notes Musk's assertion, "We without me, Trump would have lost the election," emphasizing his substantial financial backing for the 2024 election (00:38).

3. FAA's Suspension of Flights for Trump's Army Anniversary Parade

Host: Dan Ronan
Contributor: Joel Rose

Attention then shifts to aviation and national security. Dan Ronan reports that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will suspend passenger flights near Washington, D.C., to accommodate President Trump's upcoming army anniversary parade. Joel Rose provides additional details, mentioning, "All arrivals and departures at Reagan Airport in Northern Virginia will be suspended during the peak of the celebration" (02:23). This decision is precautionary, especially considering the proximity of Reagan National Airport to the parade route and the historical context of the January mid-air collision incident.

4. Trade Talks Between the U.S. and China

Host: Dan Ronan

The episode also covers international relations, highlighting a recent dialogue between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Dan Ronan notes that the two leaders discussed tariffs and the global supply of rare earth minerals. Trump described the conversation as "very positive" (03:03), whereas China's Foreign Ministry responded by urging Trump to "remove the negative measures the US has taken against China." Despite these discussions, trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing remain stalled since early May.

5. Supreme Court Ruling on Mexican Lawsuit Against U.S. Gun Manufacturers

Host: Dan Ronan
Contributor: Nina Totenberg

A significant legal update is presented regarding gun control and international law. Dan Ronan outlines that the Supreme Court has unanimously vetoed a lawsuit brought by the Mexican government against U.S. gun manufacturers. Nina Totenberg elaborates, explaining, "The Mexican government noted that 90% of the guns retrieved at crime scenes in Mexico came from the United States" and sought "billions of dollars in damages" (03:54). However, the Court ruled that under the 2004 law, gun manufacturers are protected from liability unless there is evidence they intentionally participated in illegal gun sales—a standard that was not met in this case.

6. Decline in Gasoline Prices Amid Summer Driving Season

Host: Dan Ronan

Concluding the episode on an economic note, Dan Ronan shares positive news for consumers: gas prices are on the decline as the summer driving season progresses. The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has dropped by 2 cents to $3.14 (04:33), making pump prices 36 cents cheaper compared to the previous year. This decrease is attributed to various market factors, including increased supply and stabilization efforts in the energy sector.

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Transcript

[Capital One]

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[Dan Ronan]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. President Trump is threatening to end government contracts that Elon Musk has. As their fractured alliance on Thursday escalated into a bitter dispute, the president and his one time advisor, who is also the world's richest man, have been attacking each other publicly. NPR's Daniel Kurtzbom reports. There are big risk for both men going forward.

[Capital One]

There have been business consequences. Shares of Tesla plummeted. Another point is that there are very tight margins to pass that big beautiful bill on Capitol Hill. So if Musk has some pull with even a few Republicans, that could very much hurt that bill's chances of passing. But there's one more really important point here amid all of this. Musk posted, quote, we without me, Trump would have lost the election. Now that's a reminder. He's saying that he dumped more than a quarter of a billion dollars into the 2024 election.

[Dan Ronan]

Tesla stock tanked on Thursday afternoon, falling by more than 14% at the close of the business. On Wall street, the sharp drop in the value started after a blistering exchange of words between the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk and the president. As NPR's Camilla Dominesky reports, the company's total value dropped by more than billion in just four hours.

[Camila Domonosky]

Tesla stocks soared after the election as investors hoped Musk's closeness with Trump would pay off for his companies. But shares fell as they began to worry instead that Musk's work at Doge was alienating customers and distracting him from being a CEO. Now the two men have very publicly fallen out. Trump said he was disappointed in Musk. Musk accused Trump of ingratitude. Trump threatened to cancel government contracts with Musk's companies. And now Musk says the reason the file on convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein is being kept secret is because Trump's in that file. Tesla stock saw one of its largest single day drops in years. Camila Domonosky, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

The Federal Aviation Administration says it will suspend passenger flights near Washington, D.C. during President Trump's army anniversary parade next week. More on the story from NPR's Joel Rose.

[Joel Rose]

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport says the FAA will likely suspend airline OPER to accommodate aircraft flyovers along the parade route and a fireworks display. The long planned celebration to mark the 250th anniversary of the US army is scheduled for the evening of June 14, which is also President Trump's birthday. It's expected to last for three hours. The FAA says all arrivals and departures at Reagan Airport in Northern Virginia will be suspended during the peak of the celebration. The airport, located just a few miles from the parade route on the National Mall, was the scene of a deadly mid air collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet in January. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Dan Ronan]

Thursday on Wall Street, US Stocks moved lower. Traders are looking forward to Friday's jobs report. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President Trump on Thursday held a conversation with China's leader Xi Jinping, where the two men discussed tariffs and the global supplies of rare earth minerals. Trump described the conversation as very positive, while China's Foreign Ministry says that Xi Trump to remove the negative measures the US has taken against China. Trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing stalled in early May. At the Supreme Court on Thursday, the justices vetoed a lawsuit brought by the Mexican government against gun manufacturers for allegedly edding and abetting in the illegal invasion of guns from the U.S. into Mexico. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

[Nina Totenberg]

The Mexican government brought the suit, noting that 90% of the guns retrieved at crime scenes in Mexico came from the United United States. And it sought billions of dollars in damages, contending that gun traffickers purchased firearms in the US Often illegally and in bulk, and delivered them to cartels in Mexico. But the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that under a law enacted by Congress in 2004, the gun manufacturers are shielded from liability unless they can show that the gun makers not only participate in the illegal gun sales, but also want them to happen. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Dan Ronan]

AAA says as the summer driving season is now well underway, the price of a gallon of gasoline is falling. The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded dropped by 2 cents to $3.14 a gallon. This is pump prices are 36 cents less expensive than they were this time a year ago. From Washington, this is npr. I'm Dan Ronan. This message comes from NPR sponsor Viori. Featuring the core short receive 20% off.

[Joel Rose]

Your first purchase on any US orders.

[Dan Ronan]

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[Joel Rose]

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