NPR News: 06-11-2025 3PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – June 11, 2025

Released on June 11, 2025

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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.

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Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

From NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Federal prosecutors say they have charged at least nine people in connection with immigration protests and and unrest in the Los Angeles region. NPR's Martin Costi reports. The prosecutors say more cases are in the works.

[Martin Kosti]

The U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Asale highlighted two men who've been charged with possessing explosives during separate protests in Paramount and Los Angeles.

[HomeTap Representative]

This was an attack on law enforcement. Presumably, they're motivated by our immigration enforcement efforts and wanting to make a statement, which you can make a statement, but you can't throw bombs or Molotov cocktails.

[Martin Kosti]

Isai says the FBI is still collecting videos of the protests and is looking at, quote, hundreds of people. Martin Kosti, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Former film mogul Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of sex crimes for a second time today in New York. Reporter Ilya Merritt says Weinstein's retrial resulted in a split verdict that could nonetheless come with a hefty sentence.

[Ilya Merritt]

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 produce 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 Illa Maritz in New York.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Some states are using insurance discounts to encourage homeowners to fortify their houses against disasters. That's as a hotter climate is making hurricanes and wildfires more destructive. Steven Basaha of the Gulf States newsroom says those discounts are working better in some states than others.

[Stephen Messaha]

States are modeling new insurance discount programs after Alabama, where homeowners can get a $10,000 grant to build a hurricane resistant roof and get a break on insurance. Ron Watson's home is just a short drive from Alabama's coast, and it's one of more than 50,000 in the state with a tougher roof. Watson now saves hundreds each year.

[Stephen Thompson]

That's a big incentive. Homeowners insurance now has been through the roof because of the storms we've had through here.

[Stephen Messaha]

California has an insurance discount for making a home more fire resistant, but the program is less popular in part because preparing a home for wildfires is more complicated and the discount is significantly less. For NPR News, I'm Stephen Messaha in Mobile, Alabama.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The USGS says Taiwan was hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of at least 5.9. The Associated Press reports cell phone alarms went off seconds before the quake struck. There were no immediate reports of major damage. This is NPR News. Social media megastar Khaby Lema has left the US after he was detained by ICE in Las Vegas for for allegedly overstaying his visa. More than 160 million people on TikTok alone. Follow the Senegalese Italian influencer for his spoofs of overcomplicated life hacks without saying a word. But at the UAE hosted 1 billion follower summit, LeMay had a lot to say when he talked about first posting content during the pandemic. I just tried to put some light in this moment. In that moment, Loma voluntarily left the country to avoid deportation order that could have prevented him from being allowed back into the US for as long as a decade. Illegal wins put a familiar face back in the top five on the Billboard albums chart. NPR's Stephen Thompson says this week's full of perennial chart favorites.

[Stephen Thompson]

Morgan Wallen holds at number one with I'm the Problem, while the K Pop Band 17 and pop star Miley Cyrus debut in the top five with their latest albums. Taylor Swift is in the top five, too, which is nothing new. But how she got there is unusual. It follows her announcement that she'd purchased the masters for her first six albums, including 2017's Reputation.

[Lakshmi Singh]

What you just made me do. Look what you just made me do.

[Stephen Thompson]

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. Stephen Thompson, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The dow is down 52 points. The NASDAQ is off 127. The S&P is down 25. It's NPR.

[HomeTap Representative]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now. [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.