NPR News: 06-07-2025 9PM EDT

Summary

Summary of NPR News Now: June 7, 2025, 9 PM EDT

Released on June 8, 2025

NPR's "News Now" delivered a diverse array of stories in its latest episode, covering significant developments in international affairs, domestic politics, cultural events, and notable obituaries. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key topics discussed.

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1. Wrongful Deportation and Return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Host: Louise Schiavone

The episode opens with the compelling story of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national residing in Maryland who was mistakenly deported to one of El Salvador's most notorious prisons. This alarming error led to Garcia's imminent return to the United States, where he now faces federal criminal charges, including the smuggling of migrants without legal status.

Quote: US Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland emphasized the broader implications of this case, stating at [00:43], “I have repeatedly said that this is not about the man Abrego Garcia. It's about his constitutional rights to due process and that if you trample over his rights, you threaten the rights of everybody who lives in the United States.” Senator Van Hollen lauded the decision to bring Garcia back to court, highlighting the importance of upholding constitutional protections for all individuals.

Garcia is currently being held in a Tennessee county jail near Nashville and is scheduled for arraignment next Friday.

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2. Russian Attack on Kharkiv and Baltic States' Support for Ukraine

Amid ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe, the podcast reports a significant escalation as Russia conducted a large-scale strike on Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv. This attack, occurring over the weekend, marks the most substantial assault since the full-scale invasion began. The assault resulted in at least three fatalities and twenty injuries, according to the city's mayor.

Quote: Terry Schultz elaborates on the international response from the Baltic states, stating at [01:36], “The foreign affairs committees of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania say their countries will support Kyiv until complete victory against Russia, including the liberation of all occupied territories and the punishment of war crime perpetrators.” Schultz further notes that these nations are urging NATO leaders to take definitive political steps towards granting Ukraine membership during the upcoming summit in The Hague. Additionally, they are advocating for the acceleration of Ukraine's negotiations to join the European Union, aiming for completion by 2030. Despite the Baltic states' enthusiasm, the United States maintains a stance of opposition to Ukraine’s immediate NATO membership, though it reiterated a pledge for eventual inclusion at the alliance's last summit in Washington.

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3. World Pride Parade in Washington D.C. Amidst Political Tensions

Reporter: Alana Weiss

Washington D.C. hosted one of the year's most significant events, the Pride Parade, as part of the World Pride celebrations. This year's festivities, however, were markedly influenced by the prevailing political climate.

Alana Weiss reports that while hundreds of thousands typically attend D.C.'s Pride events, this year saw a decline in corporate sponsorship and overall attendance. These changes are attributed to the national political environment, particularly policies from the Trump administration that have rolled back numerous protections for the LGBTQ+ community. Executive orders issued by President Trump have curtailed diversity programs within the federal government and restricted trans individuals' rights.

Despite these challenges, attendees at the parade expressed determination to affirm their presence and continue advocating for queer rights. Weiss highlights that the adversities faced have galvanized participants to uphold the legacy of past defenders of LGBTQ+ rights.

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4. Passing of Arthur Hamilton, Composer of "Cry Me a River"

Reporter: Chloe Veltman

The podcast pays homage to Arthur Hamilton, the esteemed composer behind the iconic torch song "Cry Me a River," who passed away at the age of 98. Hamilton's contributions to music were celebrated by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, of which he was a board member.

"Cry Me a River," originally penned by Hamilton in 1953, gained widespread fame when made popular by American singer and actress Julie London in 1955. The song has since been covered by numerous artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Michael Bublé, and Aerosmith, underscoring its enduring legacy.

Beyond "Cry Me a River," Hamilton's repertoire includes notable works such as "Rainbow," "He Needs Me," and the Oscar-nominated "Love Touches Your Life," featured in the 1970 Western film Madron. His passing marks the end of a remarkable era in American songwriting.

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5. Sovereignty Clinches Victory at the 157th Belmont Stakes

Host: Louise Schiavone

In the world of horse racing, Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby winner, triumphed once again by securing victory at the 157th Belmont Stakes in New York. This repeated success mirrors the intense competition faced at Churchill Downs during the Derby.

Ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado and trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty narrowly bested his rival, Journalism, in a fiercely contested race. The decision by Sovereignty's team to skip the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, was strategic, allowing the three-year-old colt to focus entirely on the Belmont Stakes. The race took place at Saratoga Springs on a fast, dry track, conditions that favored Sovereignty's performance.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now encapsulated a blend of international conflicts, significant political developments, cultural milestones, and notable events within the entertainment and sports arenas. Through insightful reporting and poignant quotes, the podcast provided listeners with a nuanced understanding of the day's most pressing issues.

Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. The Salvadoran national who was living in Maryland and mistakenly deported to El Salvador's toughest prison is back in the United States. Kilmar Abrego Garcia will now face federal federal criminal charges, including smuggling of migrants without legal status. US Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland had aggressively sought the return of Abrego Garcia. He welcomes the development.

[Chris Van Hollen]

I have repeatedly said that this is not about the man Abrego Garcia. It's about his constitutional rights to due process and that if you trample over his rights, you threaten the rights of everybody who lives in the United States. So finally, his case is back in court where it should have been.

[Louise Schiavone]

Abrego Garcia is being held in a Tennessee county jail near Nashville awaiting arraignment next Friday. Russia struck Ukraine's second largest city this weekend, Kharkiv, in what the city's mayor says was the largest attack since the full scale invasion began. At least three people were killed, at least 20 were injured. Meanwhile, lawmakers in the Baltic states are expressing their support for Ukraine's path to membership in NATO, China, the European Union. Terry Schultz reports the statement comes less than three weeks before key summits of both organizations.

[Terry Schultz]

The foreign affairs committees of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania say their countries will support Kyiv until complete victory against Russia, including the liberation of all occupied territories and the punishment of war crime perpetrators. They call on NATO leaders to take concrete political steps toward Ukrainian membership at their summit in the Hague later this month, saying this will strengthen peace in Europe. They also want Ukraine's ongoing negotiations to join the EU, completed by 2030. The US staunchly opposes Ukraine joining NATO for now, although a pledge for eventual membership was reiterated at the alliance's last summit in Washington. For NPR News, I'm Terri Schulz in Brussels.

[Louise Schiavone]

Washington, D.C. is the host for this year's World Pride celebrations, and today marks one of the biggest events of the season, the Pride Parade. NPR's Alana Weiss reports on how the political climate is affecting this year's festivities.

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Hundreds of thousands of people attend DC's popular Pride events every year. This year, however, national politics have complicated the celebration. After decades of hard earned gains for queer civil rights, the Trump administration has aggressively pared back many of those protections. Executive orders from President Trump have cut diversity programs in the federal government and limited trans people's rights. At the parade, corporate sponsorship was down and overall attendance was lower than expected. But among those at the event interviewed by npr, the challenges prompted them to make their presence known at Pride and to pick up the mantle of queer rights defenders from the past. Alana Wise, NPR News, Washington.

[Louise Schiavone]

This is npr. Arthur Hamilton, the composer of the torch song Cry Me a River, has died. He he was 98. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which included Hamilton among its board members, announced the composer's death this week.

[Chloe Veltman]

American singer and actress Julie London made Cry Me a River famous. That was in 1955, two years after Arthur Hamilton wrote the Smouldering Song.

[NPR Sponsor]

Now you say you're lonely.

[Terry Schultz]

You cry.

[NPR Sponsor]

The long night through.

[Chloe Veltman]

The song has been recorded by many artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Streisand, Michael Buble and Aerosmith. Born in Seattle, Hamilton also composed singer Rainbow, He Needs Me and the Oscar nominated to Love. Touch touches your life from the 1970 Western Madron. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

At the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes in New York, it was Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty again for the win. In a repetition of the battle at Churchill Downs. Journalism was in close contention, but bested by the three year old colt ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado and trained by Bill Mott. The Sovereignty team decided to forego the second of the three jewels of the Triple Crown races, skipping the Preakness to focus on the Belmont. The competitors raced at Saratoga Springs on what was considered a fast, dry track. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

[Chris Van Hollen]

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