NPR News Now: Episode Summary – June 11, 2025

Released on June 11, 2025

1. Federal Prosecutions Targeting Immigration Protestors

Host: Lakshmi Singh introduces the segment at [00:17].

Reporters: Martin Costi provides in-depth coverage.

Federal prosecutors in the Central District of California have charged at least nine individuals in connection with recent immigration protests and associated unrest in the Los Angeles region. U.S. Attorney Bill Asale has highlighted cases involving two men accused of possessing explosives during separate protests in Paramount and Los Angeles. Martin Costi reports on the expanding scope of these charges, noting that "the FBI is still collecting videos of the protests and is looking at, quote, hundreds of people" (00:55). The authorities suggest that these actions represent attempts to make a statement against immigration enforcement efforts, emphasizing that "you can make a statement, but you can't throw bombs or Molotov cocktails" (00:44).

2. Harvey Weinstein Convicted in Second Sex Crimes Trial

Host: Lakshmi Singh reports from New York at [01:04].

Reporter: Ilya Merritt covers the verdict.

Former film producer Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of a sex crime in his second trial in New York. The jury delivered a split verdict: Weinstein was convicted of one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree for assaulting a young TV producer in 2006, but acquitted on a second alleged assault from the same year. Ilya Merritt explains, "The judge said the jurors will continue to deliberate" on a third count of third-degree rape related to another incident. This verdict could result in a significant sentence, with the maximum penalty for the convicted charge being up to 25 years (01:18). Weinstein's initial 2020 conviction in New York was overturned on procedural grounds, and he is currently challenging a separate sex crimes conviction in California.

3. Insurance Discounts Promote Climate-Resilient Homes

Host: Lakshmi Singh introduces the topic at [01:57].

Reporters: Steven Basaha and Stephen Messaha provide insights.

In response to increasingly destructive hurricanes and wildfires driven by climate change, several states are implementing insurance discount programs to encourage homeowners to fortify their residences. Alabama serves as a model with its program offering a "$10,000 grant to build a hurricane-resistant roof and get a break on insurance" (02:16). Stephen Messaha reports on Ron Watson, whose home in Alabama now features a tougher roof, resulting in substantial annual savings. In contrast, California's program, which offers discounts for fire-resistant home improvements, is less popular due to the complexity of preparations and the relatively smaller discounts available (02:43). Stephen Thompson highlights the effectiveness of such incentives, noting, "That's a big incentive. Homeowners insurance now has been through the roof because of the storms we've had through here" (02:36).

4. Taiwan Hit by Significant Earthquake

At 02:59, Lakshmi Singh reports that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Taiwan. Preliminary reports indicate no major damage, and cell phone alarms reportedly went off mere seconds before the quake, offering brief warnings to residents.

5. Social Media Star Khaby Lema Detained by ICE

Lakshmi Singh shares at 02:59 that Khaby Lema, a Senegalese-Italian influencer with over 160 million TikTok followers, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Las Vegas for allegedly overstaying his visa. To avoid a deportation order that could bar him from re-entering the United States for up to a decade, Lema voluntarily departed the country. Known for his silent, comedic life hack spoofs, Khaby Lema left the UAE-hosted 1 billion follower summit early, stating, "I just tried to put some light in this moment" (03:00).

6. Music Charts Highlight Resurgent and New Artists

Reporter: Stephen Thompson discusses the music scene at 04:07.

Morgan Wallen holds the number one spot on the Billboard albums chart with "I'm the Problem." The K-pop group Seventeen ("17") and pop star Miley Cyrus have debuted in the top five with their latest releases. Notably, Taylor Swift also remains in the top five, propelled by her strategic move to purchase the masters of her first six albums, including "Reputation." Thompson remarks, "Reputation leaps from number 78 to number five, not because of any new songs or fresh physical additions. It's back in the top five because Taylor Swift got some good news" (04:34), highlighting the impact of artist ownership on chart performance.

7. Stock Market Sees Dow Decline

Host: Lakshmi Singh provides a brief market update at 04:48.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 52 points, the NASDAQ decreased by 127 points, and the S&P 500 was down 25 points, reflecting a downturn in the stock market.

Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on the news content.

For more detailed updates, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to "NPR News Now" on their preferred podcast platforms.