NPR News: 06-11-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of June 12, 2025, Episode

Release Date: June 12, 2025
Host: Shea Stevens

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1. Immigration Protests and Public Opinion

Timestamp: 00:18 - 01:12

Protests have surged across the United States in response to the Trump administration's intensified immigration sweeps. Large crowds have convened in major cities, leading to nearly 400 arrests since the previous weekend. Concerns escalate over the potential activation of additional National Guard and military personnel to manage the situation.

Domenico Montanaro provides insight into public sentiment:

"This is all about those increased border crossings we saw during the Biden administration in 2017 when Trump first took office. Gallup found that 35% said they wanted immigration decreased. Gallup's latest data from last year showed that went up 20 points. That was the highest in the survey since October of 2018."
(00:46)

Recent polls indicate a slight majority of Americans support President Trump's immigration policies, reflecting a significant shift in public opinion compared to previous years.

2. President Trump's Plan to Eliminate FEMA

Timestamp: 01:12 - 02:04

President Trump has announced his intention to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), advocating for greater state-level responsibility in managing disasters. These reforms could be implemented by the end of the year.

Rebecca Hersher elaborates on the administration's strategy:

"President Trump has repeatedly said the Federal Emergency Management Agency should not exist in its current form. Speaking in the Oval Office, he reiterated states should take on more responsibility for responding to extreme weather and other disasters."
(01:25)

Trump emphasized the decentralization of emergency management:

"We want to wean off of FEMA and we want to bring it down to the state level."
(01:41)

A task force of high-level officials has been appointed to develop a FEMA replacement by mid-November, with significant changes anticipated as early as December. FEMA currently faces budget constraints and staffing shortages exacerbated by this year's severe hurricane and wildfire seasons.

3. Wildfires Affecting the Pacific Northwest

Timestamp: 02:04 - 02:35

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has declared a state of emergency for regions impacted by the Rowena Fire, which spans both sides of the Columbia River Gorge. Over a thousand homes have received evacuation orders. Concurrently, a separate wildfire in Washington state has led to the closure of an eight-mile stretch of the state highway along the Columbia River for the second time this year.

4. Harvey Weinstein's Split Verdict in Retrial

Timestamp: 02:35 - 03:14

In a significant development, a New York jury convicted former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein on one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree, sentencing him to up to 25 years in prison. However, the jury acquitted him of a second alleged assault from 2006. The third charge of third-degree rape remains pending as jurors continue deliberations.

Ilia Marritz reports:

"The jury found Harvey Weinstein did assault a young TV producer in his apartment in 2006. But they found Weinstein not guilty of a second alleged assault also in 2006, which was described in graphic detail by another accuser."
(02:35)

Weinstein's initial 2020 conviction in New York was overturned on procedural grounds, and he is currently appealing a separate sex crimes conviction in California.

5. State Department Staff Reductions Amid Middle East Tensions

Timestamp: 03:14 - 03:49

The U.S. State Department is reducing its personnel at certain embassies in the Middle East due to escalating tensions. Non-essential staff and their families have been instructed to depart from embassies in Baghdad, Bahrain, and Kuwait, citing potential unrest in the region.

6. Updates on Sean Combs' Sex Trafficking Trial

Timestamp: 03:14 - 04:30

In the ongoing trial of Sean Combs, an alleged sex trafficking victim faced intensified cross-examination. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento details the proceedings:

"Testifying under the pseudonym Jane, a woman who dated the hip hop mogul returned to the witness stand for her fifth day of testimony last week. Jane testified that Combs pressured her into sexual encounters with escorts."
(03:49)

Defense attorney Tenny Garagos challenged Jane by presenting text messages that suggested she had reciprocated affection towards Combs, including messages where she referred to him as a "blessing" in her life and expressed gratitude for his love and support. Jane admitted her love for Combs but also revealed efforts to suppress memories of her experiences with sex workers. The cross-examination is set to conclude the following day.

7. Passing of Brian Wilson, Beach Boys Co-Founder

Timestamp: 04:30 - 04:56

The music world mourns the loss of Brian Wilson, the 82-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer, best known as the visionary co-founder of the Beach Boys. Wilson was instrumental in creating iconic 1960s hits such as "California Girls," "Surfing USA," and "Good Vibrations." He was the last surviving member of the trio that formed the band's core. The family has confirmed his passing but has not released additional details.

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This summary has been crafted to provide a comprehensive overview of the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on June 12, 2025. For the full audio experience, listeners are encouraged to access the episode directly through NPR's platforms.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Protests continue around the nation amid concerns that the Trump administration will activate more National Guard and military personnel. Large crowds have been gathering in several major cities to protest immigration sweeps, prompting nearly 400 arrests since last weekend. As NPR's Dominica Montanaro reports, recent polls show a slight majority of Americans approve of President Trump's immigration policy.

[Domenico Montanaro]

This is all about those increased border crossings we saw during the Biden administration in 2017 when Trump first took office. Gallup found that 35% said they wanted immigration decreased. Gallup's latest data from last year showed that went up 20 points. That was the highest in the survey since October of 2018. That was a month after 9 11. But it was also the last time encounters at the southern border were as high as they had been in the last couple of years.

[Shea Stevens]

NPR's Domenico Montanaro reporting. President Trump has confirmed plans to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management agency, known as FEMA. As NPR's Rebecca Hersher reports, the changes could come by the end of the year.

[Rebecca Hersher]

President Trump has repeatedly said the Federal Emergency Management Agency should not exist in its current form. Speaking in the Oval Office, he reiterated states should take on more responsibility for responding to extreme weather and other disasters.

[Donald Trump]

We want to wean off of FEMA and we want to bring it down to the state level.

[Rebecca Hersher]

The president has appointed a group of high level officials to come up with a replacement for the agency by mid November. Major changes to the agency could come as soon as December. FEMA is facing some budget cuts and personnel shortages amid this year's hurricane and wildfire seasons. Rebecca Hersher, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has issued an emergency declaration for areas affected by the Rowena fire that's burning on both sides of the Columbia River Gorge. More than a thousand homes have received evacuation notices. Meanwhile, a separate blaze burning in Washington state has prompted the closing of 8 miles of state highway along the Columbia river for the second time. A jury in New York has convicted former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. As Ilia Marich reports, Weinstein's retrial resulted in a split split verdict.

[Ilia Marritz]

Up to 25 years is the maximum penalty for the one count of criminal sex act in the first degree. The jury found Harvey Weinstein did assault a young TV producer in his apartment in 2006. But they found Weinstein not guilty of a second alleged assault also in 2006, which was described in graphic detail by another accuser. The third count against Weinstein, third degree rape, is yet to be decided. The judge said the jurors will continue to deliberate. Weinstein was first convicted in New York in 2020, but that verdict was overturned on procedural grounds. He also has a sex crimes conviction in California, which he is challenging. For NPR News, I'm Ilia Merritz in New York.

[Shea Stevens]

This is NPR. The State Department is decreasing its staff at some U.S. embassies amid rising tensions in the Middle East. All non essential staff and family members have been ordered to leave embassies in Baghdad, Bahrain and Kuwait, citing the potential for unrest in the region. An alleged sex trafficking victim in the trial of Sean Combs faced additional cross examination today. As NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reports, defense attorneys confronted the witness with text messages implying that she willingly stayed in the relationship.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiento]

Testifying under the pseudonym Jane, a woman who dated the hip hop mogul returned to the witness stand for her fifth day of testimony last week. Jane testified that Combs pressured her into sexual encounters with escorts. And for years, defense attorney Tenny Garagos cross examined Jane on many loving text messages she sent Combs after those encounters. In some of them, Jane calls Combs a blessing in her life and thanks him for all of his love and affection. Jane told Garagos she loved Combs, but that she spent much of her time trying to block out what happened on those, quote, hotel nights with sex workers. Jane's cross examination will end tomorrow. Isabela Gomez Sarmento, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Singer, songwriter and producer Brian Wilson has died at the age of 82. Wilson was the visionary co founder of the Beach Boys, best known for the 1960s hits including California Girls, Surfing USA and Good Vibrations. Wilson was the last of three musical brothers who helped make up the Beach Boys. His family has confirmed his death, but offered no further details. This is NPR News.

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