NPR News: 06-08-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: June 8, 2025, 6 PM EDT

Hosted by Jeanine Herbst

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Federalizing the National Guard in California Amid Immigration Protests

At the outset of the episode, Jeanine Herbst reports from Washington on President Donald Trump's decision to federalize the National Guard in California. Responding to escalating tensions between immigration agents and protesters in Los Angeles, the administration has deployed 2,000 troops to the area. This move follows days of clashes and culminated in Trump labeling the situation a "riot."

Donald Trump [01:03]: "Nobody's going to spit on our police officers. Nobody's going to spit on our military, which they do is a common thing... They get hit very hard."

Governor Gavin Newsom has publicly opposed Trump's actions, expressing concerns over the deployment's implications. Trump also hinted at the possibility of deploying additional troops to other cities across the United States to maintain order.

Rift Between President Trump and Elon Musk Deepens

The fallout between President Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk continues to intensify. NPR's Luke Garrett delves into the deteriorating relationship following Musk's criticisms of Trump's policies and his calls for the president’s impeachment.

Musk, a significant donor to Trump's 2024 reelection campaign, has recently voiced concerns that tariffs could lead the U.S. into a recession and that Trump's legislative agenda might result in "debt slavery." In response, Trump has issued a warning to Musk:

Donald Trump [01:38]: "I have, quote, no intention of speaking to Elon Musk."

Trump further stated that he holds the power to cancel government contracts with Musk's companies, such as SpaceX, which is crucial for NASA's operations, though he mentioned this as a possibility rather than an immediate action. When directly questioned about the future of their relationship, Trump responded cautiously:

Donald Trump: "I would assume so. Yeah."

Violence at Food Aid Sites in Gaza

Shifting focus to international affairs, Jeanine Herbst reports on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Health officials have confirmed that at least six Palestinians were killed today while attempting to reach food aid distribution points managed by private U.S. contractors. This incident adds to the growing casualties, with over 100 people reported dead in the past two weeks alone due to attempts to access these aid sites.

Daniel Estrin provides on-the-ground insights from Tel Aviv, explaining that the U.S. and Israel-backed food program aims to supplant United Nations' aid efforts and isolate Hamas. However, irregular opening hours of these sites have led to confusion and unintended confrontations.

Daniel Estrin [02:37]: "The Israeli military warned civilians not to approach the sites before opening hours, but the food sites have had erratic opening hours."

Estrin also notes that the Israeli military had to fire warning shots as suspects approached the aid distribution points prematurely, highlighting the ongoing volatility in the region.

Controversy Surrounding Iconic Vietnam War Photo

The episode also revisits a historical moment with Mandalit Barco's report on the famous 1972 Vietnam War photograph depicting a young girl, Kim Phuc, fleeing a napalm attack. This image, which won a Pulitzer Prize, has recently come under scrutiny.

Mandalit Barco explores the emerging controversy surrounding the true photographer of the iconic photo. While Nick Ut, an Associated Press photographer, has long been credited with capturing the moment, a new documentary titled The Stringer alleges that another Vietnamese photographer present that day was the actual photographer. Ut's attorney, Jim Hornstein, is preparing a defamation lawsuit to defend his client's legacy.

Donald Trump [04:17]: "What we have here is a film that's based on an unreliable witness."

Despite the documentary's claims, both the AP and over 400 photographers, including eyewitnesses, continue to support Nick Ut's authorship of the photograph.

World Pride 2025 Concludes in Washington, D.C.

Concluding the episode, Jeanine Herbst covers the final day of World Pride 2025 in Washington, D.C. Under overcast skies, thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for rallies and a protest march. The event serves as a platform for the LGBTQ+ community to voice their support and concerns, particularly in anticipation of the challenges posed by President Trump's second administration.

Herbst highlights that the speeches emphasized bipartisan frustrations, criticizing both parties:

Jeanine Herbst: "Democrats have wilted under the pressure of Republican control of the White House and both houses of Congress."

This sentiment underscores the community's resolve to continue advocacy amidst a politically charged atmosphere.

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Note: This summary captures the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on June 8, 2025. For a comprehensive understanding, listening to the full episode is recommended.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump has federalized the National Guard in Calif. California, sending 2,000 troops to Los Angeles after days of clashes between immigration agents and protesters. Trump calling what's happening a, quote, riot. This after dozens of people were detained by immigration agents Friday. Some 300 of the guard are already on the ground at three locations in LA. That's according to Governor Gavin Newsom, who is against Trump's actions. Speaking to reporters as he left New Jersey for Camp David today, Trump appeared to suggest protesters who spread spit on ice agents without offering evidence will face consequences.

[Donald Trump]

And I told him, nobody's going to spit on our police officers. Nobody's going to spit on our military, which they do is a common thing. They get up to them this far away and then they start spitting in their face. That happens. They get hit very hard.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Trump says so far he doesn't think there's an insurrection. He also alluded to deploying more troops to CITIES in the U.S. the fallout between Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk continued today. Trump warned Musk that he would face, quote, serious consequences if he funded Democrats in upcoming elections. NPR's Luke Garrett has more.

[Luke Garrett]

President Trump said Saturday he has, quote, no intention of speaking to Elon Musk, once a close advisor to the president. Musk has since called for Trump's impeachment and criticized his domestic policies, saying tariffs will cause a recession and his legislative agenda will drive the country into, quote, debt slavery. During a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said he's allowed to cancel government contracts with Musk's companies like SpaceX, which NASA relies on heavily. But the president said he hasn't given the action much thought. Musk donated more than a quarter of a billion dollars to Trump's reelection campaign in 2024, making him one of the nation's top political donors. When asked if his relationship with Musk was over, Trump said, quote, I would assume so. Yeah. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Health officials in Gaza say at least six Palestinians were killed today while trying to reach food aid sites run by private US Contractors. Israel's military says it fired warning shots. And Pierce Daniel Estrin has more from Tel Aviv.

[Daniel Estrin]

The new food program in Gaza is backed by the US And Israel. It's meant to replace aid distributed by the United nations and to isolate Hamas. But hunger remains severe in Gaza. In the last two weeks, Gaza health officials say more than 100 people have been killed trying to access these food sites. The Israeli military warned civilians not to approach the sites before opening hours, but the food sites have had erratic opening hours. One site announced an early opening and crowds gathered early at another site. Military officials say troops fired warning shots a distance away from two aid sites Sunday as suspects approached troops. Gaza health officials report more than 100 people killed in Israeli strikes this weekend. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. One famous image of the Vietnam War in 1972 galvanized the anti war movement and won a Pulitzer prize. But as NPR's Mandalita Barco reports, there are questions about who shot the photo of a 9 year old Vietnamese girl and other children running from a napalm bomb attack.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

Kim Phuc often recounts the day 53 years ago when the South Vietnamese army mistakenly bombed her village. The fire burned off all my clothes. On the scene was Nick ut, then a 21 year old photographer for the Associated Press.

[Donald Trump]

I saw a girl with her arm running, screaming.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

Utt won a Pulitzer Prize and other awards for that photo. But a new documentary called the Stringer credits another Vietnamese man who was there that day with a camera. Utt's attorney, Jim Hornstein, says he's now preparing a defamation law, knows he took the picture.

[Donald Trump]

What we have here is a film that's based on an unreliable witness.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

In response to the Stringer World Press photo pulled Nick Utt's attribution, but the AP and more than 400 photographers, including eyewitnesses, support Ut's photo credit. Mandalit Del Barco, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

It's the final day of World Pride 2025, this year's host city, Washington, D.C. thousands gathered under gray skies this morning at the Lincoln Memorial for a rally and protest march. And as the community gathers its strength for a looming fight under President Trump's second administration. The speech has targeted the administration of both parties, saying Democrats have wilted under the pressure of Republican control of the White House and both houses of Congress. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News.

[Luke Garrett]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.