NPR News: 06-12-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News: June 13, 2025, 10 PM EDT

Host: Jack Speer
Source: NPR News Now

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1. Israeli Military Launches Operation Rising Lion Against Iran

Reported by Hadil Al Shalchi, Tel Aviv

At [00:35], Hadil Al Shalchi reported that the Israeli military has initiated Operation Rising Lion, targeting numerous sites in Tehran, Iran’s capital. The operation focuses on nuclear plants and military installations, underscoring Israel's longstanding stance against Iran developing nuclear weapons—a claim Iran denies.

Key points from the report:

• Operation Scope: Dozens of targets across Tehran were hit, signaling a significant escalation in regional tensions.
• IAEA Censure: For the first time in two decades, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censured Iran for non-compliance with nuclear inspections, highlighting growing international concerns.
• Domestic Measures in Israel: In response to the attacks, sirens sounded across Israel. The military classified these as preemptive warnings, leading to the cancellation of public gatherings and the closure of schools.
• U.S. Involvement: The U.S. State Department acknowledged awareness of the attack but clarified that the United States was not involved in the operation.

Additionally, Iran state television reported at [01:18] that the head of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is believed to have been killed in the strike, marking a significant blow to Iran’s military hierarchy.

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2. Court Blocks Trump Administration's Deployment of Federal Troops in Los Angeles

Reported by Sergio Martinez Beltran

At [01:35], Sergio Martinez Beltran detailed a critical court ruling where a federal judge in California blocked President Trump from deploying federal troops to Los Angeles. This action pertains to the administration's response to ICE immigration raids that have incited protests across the city.

Highlights from the report:

• Current Situation: Last week, ICE conducted mass raids in Los Angeles, leading to predominantly peaceful protests with some clashes and instances of vandalism, though no fatalities occurred.
• Trump’s Deployment: In an attempt to quell the unrest, President Trump deployed approximately 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the area.
• Court’s Decision: The ruling effectively transfers control of the National Guard from the federal government back to Governor Gavin Newsom. However, the court did not bar federal troops from potentially getting involved in the future.
• Impact on Authorities: This decision limits the Trump administration's direct control over the National Guard in California, signaling potential challenges in managing state-level crises.

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3. Supreme Court Enhances Rights for Disabled Children in Public Schools

Reported by Nina Totenberg, Washington

At [02:30], Nina Totenberg reported on a landmark Supreme Court decision that strengthens the enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal laws ensuring equal educational opportunities for disabled children.

Key aspects of the ruling:

• Unanimous Decision: The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, unanimously ruled that school children denied equal treatment do not need to prove that the school acted with bad faith or gross negligence.
• Standard of Proof: This decision overturns a previous federal appeals court ruling that required parents seeking compensation to meet a higher standard than other disability contexts. According to Roberts, this higher standard was inappropriate and placed undue burden on families seeking justice.
• Implications: The ruling simplifies the process for families to secure equal educational opportunities for disabled children, ensuring that schools adhere strictly to federal disability laws without the need for demonstrating malicious intent.

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4. House Approves Rescission of Funding for Public Broadcasting; Dow Rises

Reported by Jack Speer

At [03:00], Jack Speer announced that the House of Representatives passed a rescission package with a narrow vote of 214-212. This package entails cutting $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which would significantly impact funding for both NPR and PBS.

Additional financial news:

• Stock Market Update: On the same day, Wall Street saw a positive movement with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 101 points, reflecting investor optimism despite the contentious funding cuts.

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5. Tragic Crash of Air India Flight Claims 241 Lives

Reported by Dia Hadid

At [03:28], Dia Hadid reported the devastating crash of an Air India flight shortly after takeoff, resulting in 241 fatalities. This marks the first crash involving a Boeing 787 since its entry into service.

Key details from the incident:

• Casualties: The victims primarily hail from India, with over 50 individuals from the UK, along with passengers from Portugal and Canada. Notably, the crash also resulted in casualties on the ground, including at least four students in the cafeteria of a hostel affiliated with a medical college, indicating that parts of the plane impacted the building.
• Survivors: India's Home Minister confirmed that only one passenger survived the crash, highlighting the severity of the disaster.

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6. Tesla Faces Lawsuit in France Over Alleged Far-Right Associations

Reported by Elena Beardsley, Paris

At [04:10], Elena Beardsley reported that a group of Tesla owners in France has initiated a lawsuit against Tesla Inc., led by CEO Elon Musk. The plaintiffs argue that their vehicles have inadvertently become symbols of the far right, contradicting their initial ecological motivations for purchasing the cars.

Key points of the lawsuit:

• Legal Action: Filed with Paris's commercial court, the lawsuit accuses Tesla of causing direct and concrete harm to the owners' reputations and the perceived image of their environmentally friendly choices.
• Basis of the Claim: The plaintiffs link Musk’s public behavior—such as supporting Donald Trump's presidential campaign and backing Germany's AfD party—to the unintended politicization of Tesla vehicles.
• Specific Incidents: The lawsuit cites instances like Musk’s hand gesture during a Trump inauguration celebration, which some interpreted as resembling the Nazi salute, exacerbating the association with far-right sentiments.
• Market Impact: This legal challenge comes at a time when Tesla sales are experiencing a downturn in key European markets, including France, Britain, Germany, and Italy, suggesting that the lawsuit may have broader implications for the company's market performance.

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Conclusion

This NPR News Now episode covered a diverse range of pressing international and national issues—from escalating Middle Eastern tensions and significant legal battles in the United States to major developments in disability rights, economic updates, tragic accidents, and high-profile corporate lawsuits. Each segment provided in-depth analysis and reported statements from key figures, offering listeners comprehensive insights into the current events shaping our world.

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Summary compiled based on the NPR News Now episode transcript from June 13, 2025.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

From NPR News In Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Israeli military says it has launched an attack in Iran. It comes as tensions in the region have been rising over Iran's increasing N capabilities. NPR's Hadil Al Shalchi reports from Tel Aviv.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

Israel's military says it has launched Operation Rising lion, targeting dozens of targets across the capital, Tehran. It said the Israeli air force was attacking nuclear plants and military targets. Israel has long warned it will not allow Iran to create a nuclear weapon, something that Iran says it doesn't want. On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency, for the first time in 20 years, censored Iran for non compliance with its inspections of nuclear facilities. Sirens also rang throughout Israel. The Israeli military said they were a preemptive warning and canceled public gatherings and schools. On Friday, the U.S. state Department said it was aware of the attack, but that the United States was not involved. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jack Spear]

Iranian state television says the head of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is believed to have been killed in the attack. A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration from deploying federal troops in Los Angeles, where ice immigration raids have sparked problems protests. NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran has more.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Today's court ruling effectively takes away President Trump's control of the California National Guard and returns it to Governor Gavin Newsom. Last week, immigration authorities carried mass raids across Los Angeles, which prompted protests. They've been peaceful for the most part and confined to a few blocks downtown. But there have been some clashes between protesters and police that has led to vandalism. There has been no deaths or major damage to properties. Still, President Trump took control of some 4,000 California National Guard troops and deployed them to LA. Some 700 Marines were also sent to Los Angeles, but the court ruling does not prevent them from getting involved. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

At the Supreme Court today, justices made it easier for children with disabilities to enforce their rights under the Americans with Disabilities act and other federal laws enacted to ensure disabled children get equal opportunities to learn in public school. Here's NPR's Nina Totenberg.

[Nina Totenberg]

Writing for a unanimous court, Chief Justice John Roberts said that school children who've been denied equal treatment by a school system are not required to show that the school acted in bad faith or with gross misjudgment in depriving them of the same access to learning as their peers. Roberts said a federal appeals court was wrong in requiring parents seeking compensation to meet a higher standard than is required by law in other disability contexts. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

The House, on a 214212 vote, has approved a rescission package of funding cuts that would take back $1.1 billion in existing fund from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The move aimed at cutting off funding for NPR and PBS. On Wall street, the Dow is up 101 points. This is NPR. 241 passengers and crew were dead after an Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff today. NPR's Dia Hadid reports. There were also victims on the ground.

[Dia Hadid]

They were mainly from India. More than 50 were from the UK a few from Portugal, one from Canada. But the victims aren't just passengers on the plane. They appear to include at least four students who were in the cafeteria of a hostel that belonged to this medical college. It seems the plane, or at least parts of it, slammed into that building.

[Jack Spear]

India's home minister confirmed a single passenger aboard the plane survived the crash. It marks the first crash of a Boeing 787 since the plane went into service. A small group of Tesla owners in France are suing the carmaker run by Elon Musk. NPR's Elmer Beardsley reports. The owners say their vehicles have become symbols of the far right when they bought them for ecological reasons.

[Elena Beardsley]

In a suit filed with Paris's commercial court, the group claims direct and concrete harm caused by Musk's public behavior after he rallied in support of Donald Trump's presidential bid and Germany's far right AfD party. They say Musk's involvement in the Cost Cutting Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, turned him into a political lightning rod, fueling protests and vandalism at Tesla showrooms in the US And European the group's lawyers also cite the billionaire's hand gesture at a Trump inauguration celebration that drew comparisons to the Nazi salute. The suit comes amidst plummeting Tesla sales in core European markets, including France, Britain, Germany and Italy. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Jack Spear]

And I'm Jack Speier, NPR News, in Washington.

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