NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of Episode Released on June 11, 2025

Overview On the evening of June 10, 2025, NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the latest national and international events. Hosted by Jack Spear and featuring contributions from Michelle Kellerman and Nate Perez, the episode delved into significant developments ranging from protests in Los Angeles to legislative actions affecting foreign investments. This summary encapsulates the key topics discussed, enriched with notable quotes and structured for clarity.

1. Protests and National Guard Deployment in Los Angeles

Jack Spear opened the episode with a report on ongoing protests in Los Angeles, which have persisted for five days. Demonstrators have been rallying against President Trump's immigration policies, leading to significant disruption in the city's infrastructure.

"Authorities in Los Angeles are ordering demonstrators to stop blocking thoroughfares as protests against President Trump's immigration policies have entered a fifth day," [00:23].

In response to the escalating situation, nearly 4,000 National Guard troops were deployed to assist immigration agents in making arrests. California Governor Gavin Newsom sought an immediate restraining order against the deployment and requested an additional 700 Marines. However, a U.S. District Court Judge declined to issue the restraining order on the day of the report but scheduled a hearing for the following Thursday.

Michelle Kellerman added further context:

"The curfew will be in place tonight from 8 PM until 6 AM," [00:39], she reported, emphasizing the administration's efforts to restore order amid the unrest.

2. Indictment of Congresswoman LaMonica McIver

Jack Spear reported significant political news involving a Democratic House lawmaker from New Jersey, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver. McIver was indicted on charges of forcibly impeding immigration officers at a New Jersey detention facility. The indictment, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, includes two assault charges related to a May 9 visit to a Newark detention center.

"McIver denied the allegation, calling the charges a brazen attempt at political intimidation," [01:38].

This development highlights the tense intersection of politics and immigration enforcement, raising questions about the conduct of elected officials in such charged environments.

3. U.S. Sanctions on Israeli Officials

The episode also addressed international relations, particularly the U.S. stance on sanctions imposed by several allies against Israeli officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the sanctions imposed by the U.K., Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two members of the Israeli Cabinet, Itamar Ben GVIR and Betsolil Smotrich.

"These sanctions do not advance U.S. efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza," [01:52], Rubio stated, underscoring the administration's position.

Michelle Kellerman elaborated on the matter:

"The British government says its sanctions are meant to pressure the Israeli government to stop expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank," [01:55]. The sanctioned officials are accused of inciting extremist violence and committing serious abuses against Palestinian human rights.

This diplomatic tension reflects the complexities of international alliances and the challenges in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

4. Lawsuit Against 23andMe Over Genetic Data Usage

A significant legal development was reported concerning the biotech company 23andMe. The State Department, along with 27 states and the District of Columbia, filed a lawsuit aiming to halt the sale of genetic data without explicit customer approval.

"The suit potentially involves the personal data of more than 15 million people," [02:25], Jack Spear explained.

Cara Demare from Colorado Public Radio provided additional insights:

"23andMe declared bankruptcy back in March and said the company would sell the genetic data collected from customers who took their popular at-home DNA test," [02:30]. Concerns escalated when Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced plans to acquire 23andMe's data for $256 million, sparking fears over privacy breaches despite the company's assurances to comply with existing privacy policies.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser emphasized the gravity of the situation:

"Genetic and health information cannot be sold off like this," [02:42].

This lawsuit underscores the growing concerns over data privacy and the ethical implications of selling sensitive genetic information.

5. Impact of the Trump Administration's Legislation on Foreign Investments

In a critical analysis of the Trump administration's legislative actions, Jack Spear discussed a provision within the administration's so-called "big beautiful bill." This provision allows the federal government to impose taxes on foreign-parented companies and investors from countries perceived to levy unfair taxes on U.S. firms.

"New analysis has estimated the provision could cost the US as much as $55 billion annually over 10 years and cost the country 360,000 jobs," [03:05].

This legislative move aims to protect domestic industries but faces criticism for its potential economic repercussions, including reduced foreign investment and job losses, which could impede the administration's goals of fostering a favorable business environment.

6. Delay in Multilingual Emergency Alerts by the FCC

Emergency preparedness and communication were also highlighted, particularly the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) delayed efforts to update evacuation alerts to multiple languages. These updates were intended to include the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S., such as Korean and Arabic.

"The FCC was supposed to begin updating its emergency alert system in multiple languages in January, but it has yet to do that," reported Nate Perez [04:01].

Nate Perez further noted the practical implications of this delay:

"Around 12,000 Asian Americans needed language assistance during the LA wildfires earlier this year. UCLA Professor Paul Ong says having multilingual emergency alerts could have helped," [04:16].

Jack Spear echoed the importance of cultural diversity in emergency communications:

"Among Asian Americans, we find literally dozens of languages spoken, and that speaks to the cultural diversity of this population," [04:27].

Despite multiple requests for comment, neither the FCC nor the White House provided additional information, leaving the issue unresolved at the time of reporting.

7. Crude Oil Prices Decline

Concluding the episode, Jack Spear provided a brief update on the energy markets:

"Crude oil futures prices fell today. Oil down 31 cents a barrel to $64.98 a barrel," [04:46].

This drop in oil prices reflects ongoing fluctuations in the global energy market, influenced by various geopolitical and economic factors discussed earlier in the episode.

Conclusion The June 10, 2025, episode of NPR News Now delivered a multifaceted overview of current events, addressing domestic protests, political indictments, international sanctions, data privacy lawsuits, legislative impacts on the economy, emergency preparedness, and energy market dynamics. Through detailed reporting and insightful commentary, the episode provided listeners with a thorough understanding of the pressing issues shaping the national and global landscape.