NPR News: 06-10-2025 2PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: June 10, 2025, 2PM EDT

Hosted by Lakshmi Singh

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President Trump Defends Military Deployment in Los Angeles

[00:19] President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office, defending his decision to deploy military service members to Los Angeles. He asserted, “If the federal government did not get involved, Los Angeles would be burning,” emphasizing the necessity of federal intervention amidst rising tensions.

However, this move has sparked controversy. Critics argue that the deployment exacerbates unrest, particularly concerning the detention of numerous immigrants without due process both in California and nationwide. On Capitol Hill, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced scrutiny regarding the Pentagon budget and the legality of deploying troops domestically.

During a heated exchange, California Congressman Pete Aguilar challenged the move, stating, “The law only allows using troops domestically in case of foreign invasion, rebellion or when police can't enforce laws” [01:14]. An unnamed commentator echoed these concerns, questioning the authority under which the troops were deployed: “Which authority is triggered here? I don't know. You just read it yourself. But it sounds like all three to me” [01:28].

California Governor has publicly opposed the military presence, leading to a lawsuit against the Trump administration, citing that the deployment could cost over $140 million. Currently, nearly 5,000 National Guard members and Marines are stationed in Los Angeles, a move that continues to stir debate. (Reported by Quill Lawrence, NPR News)

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Russia Launches Major Drone and Missile Strikes on Ukraine

[01:40] In escalating tensions, Russia has initiated significant drone and missile attacks against Ukraine, targeting strategic locations including a maternity hospital. NPR's Greg Myre reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault as “one of the heaviest assaults yet on the capital, Kyiv” [01:53].

The attacks involved over 300 drones and several missiles overnight, marking the most intensive phase of the conflict to date. Zelensky has called on the United States and Europe to respond decisively, urging, “Not with silence, but with concrete action” [01:53]. The southern coastal city of Odesa also faced severe impacts, with the maternity hospital strike resulting in more than a dozen injuries.

In retaliation, Ukraine executed a surprise drone strike on June 1 that successfully destroyed Russian warplanes. Since then, Russia has intensified its nighttime attacks, deploying upwards of 300 to 400 drones, the most aggressive campaign observed so far. (Reported by Greg Myre, NPR News)

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New Jersey Gubernatorial Primaries Highlight Immigration and Affordability

[02:36] New Jersey is in the midst of its primary elections, with Democratic gubernatorial candidates pledging to oppose President Trump’s immigration and executive policies. Conversely, Republican frontrunners have committed to continuing Trump’s approaches if elected.

Registered Democrats in New Jersey surpass Republicans by over 800,000 voters. Historical trends suggest that the party not holding the governorship for more than two consecutive terms tends to win the next election. The central theme among all candidates is the pressing need to make the Garden State more affordable for its residents.

WHYYY's David Matthau provides on-the-ground insights into the evolving political landscape in New Jersey, highlighting the bipartisan focus on affordability and the strategies each party employs to resonate with voters. (Reported by David Matthau, WHYYY)

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International Efforts to Protect Global Oceans Progressing

[03:14] At the United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice, France, representatives from dozens of countries are nearing the ratification of a groundbreaking treaty aimed at expanding environmental protections for international waters. Scientists have long warned about the warming of oceans due to climate change, exacerbated by human activities like overfishing and deep-sea mining.

Currently, only 1% of the high seas—a vast two-thirds of the world's oceans—are protected. The proposed treaty would empower countries to establish marine protected areas, a critical step toward conserving marine biodiversity. To date, 49 countries have endorsed the treaty, falling 11 signatures short of the required number for it to come into effect, potentially as early as January.

This international collaboration marks a significant advancement in global environmental policy, reflecting a growing consensus on the need to safeguard oceanic ecosystems against ongoing threats. (Reported by NPR News)

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Muslim Population Surges to 2 Billion Globally

[04:08] In a recent study by Pew Research, it has been revealed that Muslims are now the fastest-growing religious group worldwide. The global Muslim population has reached 2 billion, an increase of nearly 350 million people between 2022 and 2025, constituting over a quarter of the world’s population.

Despite this growth, Christians remain the largest religious group with 2.3 billion adherents, representing approximately 29% of the global population. The study analyzed comprehensive census data and surveys worldwide, noting that while the absolute number of Christians has risen, their relative share has decreased by nearly 2%.

Additionally, the number of individuals with no religious affiliation—referred to as "nones"—is on the rise, now accounting for nearly a quarter of the global population. This shift underscores significant changes in religious demographics and the increasing trend towards secularism in various regions. (Reported by Jason DeRose, NPR News)

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Stay Informed: For more updates and detailed coverage, visit NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump is defending the deployment of military service members to Los Angeles, telling reporters in the Oval Office this afternoon that if the federal government did not get involved, Los Angeles would be burning. But critics argue his actions intentionally stoke the unrest over the detention of many immigrants without due process in California and across the United States. On Capitol Hill today, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth defended sending Marines and National guard members to LA. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports. The governor of California says the LAPD does not need military help.

[Quill Lawrence]

In his first appearance on Capitol Hill since his confirmation hearing, Hegseth mostly answered questions about the Pentagon budget. In one heated exchange, however, California Congressman Pete Aguilar said the law only allows using troops domestically in case of foreign invasion, rebellion or when police can't enforce laws.

[Unnamed Commentator]

Which authority is triggered here? I don't know. You just read it yourself. But it sounds like all three to me. If you've got millions of illegals and you don't know where they're coming from, they're flaving. They're waving flags from foreign countries and assaulting police officers.

[Quill Lawrence]

California is suing the Trump administration for deploying troops against the governor's wishes, say the deployment will cost more than $140 million. Nearly 5,000 Guard and Marines are in Los Angeles. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Russia has unleashed another major drone and missile strike against Ukraine, including an attack on a maternity hospital. NPR's Greg Myhrey reports. Russia has carried out a series of massive air assaults in recent Ukraine's president.

[Greg Myre]

Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired more than 300 drones as well as a smaller number of missiles overnight. He called it one of the heaviest assaults yet on the capital, Kyiv. The president urged the US And Europe to respond not with silence, but with concrete action. The southern coastal city of Odesa was also hard hit, including the strike on a maternity hospital that injured more than a dozen people. Ukraine carried out a surprise drone strike that destroyed Russian warplanes on June 1. Since then, Russia has staged nighttime attacks with upwards of 300 and even 400 drones, the most intensive of the war so far. Greg Myre, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

It's primary day in New Jersey. Here's WHYYY's David Matthau while all six.

[David Matthau]

Democratic gubernatorial candidates are vowing to stand up to President Trump and fight many of his immigration and Doge executive orders and policies, the Republican frontrunners in the race are promising to follow his lead if elected. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in New Jersey by more than 800,000. But historically in the state, whenever one party has held the position for more than two consecutive terms, the other party has won the next election. The top issue for all of the candidates, Republicans and Democrats, is making the Garden State more affordable.

[Lakshmi Singh]

It's NPR News. Dozens of countries are getting closer to ratifying a treaty that would expand environmental protections for international waters. Representatives are gathered in Nice, France, for the UN Oceans Conference. Scientists have been warning that oceans are warming because of climate change exacerbated by human activity such as overfishing and deep sea mining. The high seas make up two thirds of the world's oceans, but only 1% of the waters are actually protected. A new treaty would allow countries to establish marine protected areas. So far, 49 countries have signed on to the treaty, 11 short of what's needed for the pact to take effect, possibly as early as January. Muslims are the fastest growing religious group around the globe. NPR's Jason DeRose reports the finding. As part of a new study from Pew Research.

[Jason DeRose]

The worldwide Muslim population reached 2 billion, adding nearly 350 million people, between the year 22 and 2020, slightly more than a quarter of the overall population. But Christians are still the majority, with 2.3 billion people, nearly 29% of all people. Pew analyzed census data and surveys from around the world to reach its conclusions. Although the overall number of Christians grew, the religion's share of the globe's population fell by nearly 2%. Meanwhile, the number of those with no religious affiliation at all is on the rise. The so called nones, that's n o n e s now make up nearly a quarter of all people. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.

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