NPR News Now: June 11, 2025, 2PM EDT

Hosted by NPR

1. Passing of Brian Wilson, Co-Founder of the Beach Boys

Timestamp: [00:16]

The music world mourns the loss of Brian Wilson, the legendary co-founder of the Beach Boys, who passed away at the age of 82. Wilson, a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer, significantly influenced the transformation of pop music into a respected art form. His innovative work with the Beach Boys positioned him as America's counterpart to The Beatles' Lennon and McCartney.

Lakshmi Singh reported, "The singer, songwriter and producer helped transform pop music into high art. He became America's answer to the Beatles, Lennon and McCartney in the process." (00:16)

Wilson's family has yet to disclose the cause of death, choosing instead to announce his passing through his official website.

2. Tensions Between Mexico and U.S. Over California Protests

Timestamps: [00:16] – [01:56]

A diplomatic spat has emerged between Mexico and the United States following accusations from U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who charged Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum with inciting violent protests in California.

Zeta Peralta from NPR reported: "President Claudia Sheinbaum said those were, quote, total lies in front of President Trump." (00:16)

Sheinbaum vehemently denied these claims, stating, "Shane Bomb denounced all violence. Noem was quite simply lying." (01:56)

The tension stems from U.S. lawmakers' ongoing efforts to implement taxes on remittances sent to Mexico. While Sheinbaum previously mentioned that Mexico would "mobilize" in response, she maintains that her administration has not called for protests and remains committed to defending Mexican nationals in the U.S.

3. Update on U.S.-China Trade Deal

Timestamps: [01:56] – [02:55]

President Donald Trump has declared the trade negotiations with China "done" following an announcement that both nations are reverting to a trade framework established in London last month.

Emily Fang of NPR detailed the developments: "China says its talks with the U.S. were, quote, reasonable and substantial, resulting in 55% tariffs on Chinese goods and 10% on U.S. goods going to China." (02:14)

Trump highlighted in a Truth Social post that China agreed to supply rare earth minerals, which are crucial for various industries and previously dominated by Chinese exports. This agreement marks a significant shift, especially considering China's prior limitations on rare earth supplies to the U.S. and Europe.

Additionally, Trump appears to reverse a prior State Department stance on revoking visas for Chinese students: "We will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students, using our colleges and universities, which has always been good with me." (02:14)

This move aims to ease tensions and foster continued academic collaboration between the two nations.

4. U.S. Consumer Prices and Education Funding Concerns

Timestamps: [02:55] – [04:20]

The U.S. Labor Department released a report indicating that consumer prices increased by 2.4% in May compared to the previous year. Notably, the month-over-month rise slowed by 0.1% from April to May, signaling a potential easing in inflationary pressures.

Lakshmi Singh reported: "The Labor Department has released a report today showing consumer prices rose 2.4% in May compared to the year before." (02:55)

In related fiscal news, the Trump administration's budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 proposes restructuring federal education funding. Lee Gaines explained that this proposal would eliminate specific requirements on how federal funds are allocated to schools, particularly affecting the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This act currently ensures federal resources and protections for students experiencing homelessness.

Maura McInerney from the Education Law Center in Pennsylvania expressed strong opposition: "The proposal is devastating." (03:51)

She further stated, "The reality is that states and school districts typically do not direct resources towards homeless students unless dedicated funding is set aside for that purpose." (03:57)

Advocates fear that without earmarked funding, fewer students will be identified as homeless, depriving them of essential protections and support mandated by federal law.

5. Unrest in Northern Ireland

Timestamp: [04:20]

Northern Ireland faces continued unrest following a second night of riots in Ballymena. Initially peaceful protests erupted after two Romanian-speaking teenagers appeared in court on allegations of sexual assault. The situation escalated into violence, with hundreds participating in mass protests that led to homes and vehicles being torched.

The riots are under scrutiny as potential racially motivated hate crimes, with authorities actively investigating the motives behind the attacks.

6. U.S. Stock Market Update

Timestamp: [04:20]

The U.S. stock market showed mixed results during the reporting hour. The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a slight uptick, while the Nasdaq experienced a decline of 100 points.

Note: This summary excludes non-content segments such as advertisements, intros, and outros to focus solely on the news discussed during the episode.