NPR News Now: June 11, 2025, 6 PM EDT – Detailed Summary

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on June 11, 2025, covering a range of pressing national and international issues. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, structured into clear sections for ease of understanding.

1. Texas Governor Deploys National Guard Amid Immigration Protests

Timestamp: [00:24]

Host Jack Spear kicked off the episode by reporting on Texas Governor Greg Abbott's decision to deploy National Guard troops to San Antonio. This move aims to maintain order during upcoming protests against President Donald Trump's intensified crackdown on illegal immigration.

• San Antonio's Response:

  San Antonio Mayor Ron Nuremberg addressed the deployment, expressing his opposition. "More protests in San Antonio against the immigration raids have so far been peaceful. And San Antonio Mayor Ron Nuremberg says the National Guard troops are unnecessary," Spear reported [00:42]. Nuremberg emphasized that he neither requested nor communicated with Governor Abbott regarding the deployment.

• Local Perspectives:

  David Martin Davies of Texas Public Radio captured the community's sentiment: "You know, it's frustrating. I think our communities work better when we're working together towards common goals. And I believe everyone's goal is to maintain safety and order," [00:57]. Nuremberg echoed this by stating, "Nuremberg says he understands why the protests are happening, but that violent outbursts are counterproductive," highlighting the delicate balance between ensuring security and respecting citizens' rights to protest.

• Governor Abbott's Stance:

  In a statement, Governor Abbott defended the National Guard's presence, asserting that the deployments across Texas are intended "to ensure peace and order," [01:08]. Protest organizers, however, criticized the military presence as exacerbating tensions and potentially inciting violence.

2. Global Confidence in U.S. Leadership Amid Mixed Perceptions

Timestamp: [01:28]

Jack Spear transitioned to international sentiments regarding U.S. leadership, referencing a Pew Research Center survey revealing that over half of individuals in key allied nations—such as France, the U.K., Germany, and Japan—express a lack of confidence in President Trump's handling of world affairs.

• Survey Insights:

  NPR's Frank Langford elaborated, "People in 15 of 24 countries downgraded their ratings of the U.S. according to the survey by the Pew Research Center," [01:44]. A prevalent perception across these nations is viewing President Trump as "arrogant," a sentiment that Richard Wyk of Pew's Global Attitudes team attributes to expectations for the U.S. to engage more collaboratively in tackling global issues like climate change.

• Desire for Cooperative Leadership:

  Davies highlighted that "What people want to see is the US kind of using its enormous power to work with other countries. So when the US is going its own way, it's seen more negatively than when it's working with others," [02:03]. This underscores a global preference for multilateralism over unilateral actions.

• Perceived Strength in Leadership:

  Despite the criticisms, the survey also found that "67% described Trump as a strong leader," [02:13]. Additionally, favorable views of U.S. leadership saw improvement in countries like Israel, India, and Turkey. The survey encompassed responses from over 28,000 individuals, providing a broad perspective on international opinions.

3. Harvey Weinstein Convicted on Sexual Assault Charges

Timestamp: [02:26]

In legal news, former film mogul Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of sexual assault in a retrial held in New York. Jack Spear reported the split verdict, which could lead to a substantial sentence.

• Details of the Verdict:

  Reporter Ilya Merritz explained, "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," [02:38]. The second accusation involved graphic allegations by another accuser, which did not result in a conviction. The court is still deliberating on the third count of third-degree rape.

• Potential Sentencing:

  With the maximum penalty for the first-degree criminal sex act being up to 25 years, Weinstein's future sentencing remains significant. Merritz noted that Weinstein was previously convicted in New York in 2020; however, that verdict was overturned on procedural grounds. Additionally, Weinstein faces a pending sex crimes conviction in California, which he is contesting.

4. Wall Street and Environmental Policy Shifts Impact Markets and Climate Initiatives

Timestamp: [03:16]

The episode then covered economic and environmental developments, starting with a downturn in stock markets and significant policy changes by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

• Market Movements:

  Jack Spear reported, "Stocks lost ground on Wall street today. The Dow fell a point, the NASDAQ down 99 points," [03:16], indicating a slight pullback in the market amidst ongoing economic uncertainties.

• EPA's Deregulatory Actions:

  The EPA announced plans to eliminate regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas power plants. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated the goal is to "remove trillions of dollars of cost while, in his words, working to unleash the use of domestic energy," [03:16]. Additionally, the EPA aims to weaken existing regulations that mandate reductions in mercury and other toxic pollutants from power plants.

• Environmental Backlash:

  Environmental groups have pledged to legally challenge the EPA's deregulatory measures, emphasizing concerns over long-term ecological impacts.

• Seattle's Urban Forestry Challenges:

  Transitioning to local environmental issues, Seattle faces the challenge of balancing housing expansion with tree preservation. Reporter Bellamy Palethorpe highlighted that the city’s urban canopy, crucial for shade and carbon sequestration, is diminishing. "Seattle is under pressure to add more homes, but the latest assessment of its urban canopy... shows the city has been losing trees," [04:04].

  • Policy Adjustments:

    A recent amendment to Seattle's tree protection ordinance now allows developers to remove trees more easily, contingent upon planting additional ones. Cameron Willett, a developer, commented, "Trees make better communities. We all want to save the trees, right? But we also need to be able to get to our max density as well," [04:32].

  • Criticism:

    Critics argue that the policy does not compensate for the loss of mature trees, which provide irreplaceable shade and ecosystem services. They caution that current measures will take decades to restore the urban canopy fully [04:38].

5. Rising Oil Prices Amid Middle East Tensions

Timestamp: [04:52]

Concluding the financial segment, Jack Spear reported a surge in oil prices, attributing it to increased tensions in the Middle East. "Oil gained $3 a barrel today to 68.15 a barrel," [04:52]. This rise reflects the market's response to geopolitical instability, potentially affecting global energy prices and economic forecasts.

Conclusion

The June 11, 2025 episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a multifaceted overview of current events, ranging from local governance issues and international perceptions of U.S. leadership to high-profile legal cases and significant shifts in environmental policy. The program effectively combined factual reporting with expert commentary, offering a nuanced perspective on the complexities shaping today's socio-political and economic landscapes.