NPR News: 06-12-2025 3PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: June 12, 2025, 3PM EDT

Hosted by NPR

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1. Tragic Plane Crash in Ahmedabad, India

Timestamp: [00:01]

NPR's Lakshmi Singh opens the episode with heartbreaking news of a plane crash in Ahmedabad, a northwest town in India. The emergency response efforts are ongoing into the night as local authorities confirm at least one survivor—possibly the sole survivor—from the tragic incident.

• Casualties: Over 240 people on board were lost, including nationals from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada.
• Impact on Ground: The Boeing aircraft tragically hit a doctor's hostel shortly after takeoff, resulting in fatalities on the ground as well.
• Destination: The flight was en route to London's Gatwick Airport.
• Aftermath: Relatives and friends are grieving and gathering at the crash site.

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2. Rising Tensions Between the US and Iran

Timestamp: [00:01] - [02:25]

Host: Michelle Keleman reports on the escalating geopolitical tensions involving President Donald Trump and Iran.

• Diplomatic Efforts: President Trump expresses a preference for a diplomatic agreement with Iran over an Israeli military strike targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

  Donald Trump [01:09]: "There's a chance of massive conflict. We have a lot of American people in this area and I said we got to tell them to get out because something could happen soon."

• Potential Agreement: The President believes he's nearing a "pretty good agreement" with Iran, with his envoy scheduled to visit Oman for further discussions.

• Military Precautions: Amid rising tensions, the State Department is reducing the US mission footprint in Iraq. Notably, while staffing remains steady in Bahrain and Kuwait, CENTCOM has approved the withdrawal of military dependents throughout the Middle East.

• Strategic Downsizing: This move includes pulling family members of American servicemen and women and scaling back diplomatic presence in the region.

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3. Blockade of California's Emission Regulations

Timestamp: [01:51] - [02:53]

Host: Lakshmi Singh discusses President Trump's recent actions against California's progressive automotive emission standards.

• Government Action: President Trump signed measures to block California's rule that aimed to end the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. This move is part of a broader effort to dismantle state-level regulations targeting car emissions.

  Donald Trump [02:25]: "We officially rescue the US Auto industry from destruction by terminating California electric vehicle mandate once and for all."

• Additional Measures: Alongside the California rule, Trump also signed measures halting state rules that restrict diesel vehicles and other emission standards adopted by 17 states.

• Political Tensions: These legislative changes come amidst Trump's public conflicts with California Governor Gavin Newsom. In response to protests against his immigration policies, Trump has deployed the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, a move opposed by Newsom.

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4. EPA's Repeal of Greenhouse Gas Emission Limits

Timestamp: [02:53] - [03:29]

Host: Lakshmi Singh reports on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) latest decision affecting climate policy.

• Policy Reversal: The EPA announced plans to repeal existing rules that cap greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas-powered plants.

• Implications: If finalized, there will be no regulatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions for both existing coal-fired power plants and new natural gas facilities.

  Jeff Brady [03:12]: "If this rule is finalized, there will be no limits on greenhouse gases for existing coal-fired power plants and new gas-fired ones."

• Administration's Stance: This repeal aligns with President Trump's strategy to pivot away from the climate policies of the previous Biden administration and focus on increasing the exploitation of domestic fossil fuel resources.

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5. Impact of President Trump's Tariffs on Drug Supply and Quality

Timestamp: [03:29] - [04:31]

Host: Scott Macioni delves into the consequences of Trump's tariff policies on the pharmaceutical industry.

• Research Findings: Johns Hopkins University researchers warn that tariffs imposed on countries like China and India could force drug manufacturers to compromise on quality to maintain profitability.

  Mariana Socal [03:56]: "So one of the problems of tariffs on generic products is not necessarily high prices, which could also happen, but also manufacturing quality problems from the possibility that manufacturers may want to cut corners."

• Potential Outcomes: Reduced quality standards could lead to factory closures due to inferior products, disrupting the drug supply chain.

• Market Response: In anticipation of these tariffs, US drug distributors have been stockpiling brand-name medications from overseas. Notably, imports from Ireland—a hub for many pharmaceutical companies—increased fivefold since the tariffs were proposed in March.

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6. Financial Markets Update

Timestamp: [04:31]

Lakshmi Singh provides a brief overview of the stock market's performance:

• Dow Jones: Increased by 93 points.
• Nasdaq: Rose by 46 points.
• S&P 500: Climbed 20 points.

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NPR News Now provides timely updates on the latest national and international news, ensuring listeners stay informed in just five minutes.

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Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The emergency response at the site of today's plane crash in India is continuing well into the night. There, local authorities are confirming one survivor, perhaps the sole survivor from today's plane crash in the northwest Indian town of Ahmedabad. Local media show the man hospitalized. The airline says they don't think anyone else made it. More than 240 lives on board from India, the UK Portugal and Canada lost. The crash also killed people on the ground after the Boeing aircraft flew into a doctor's hostel shortly after takeoff. It was bound for London's Gatwick Airport. Relatives and friends are gathering there, too. President Trump says he would prefer a diplomatic deal with Iran, not an Israeli military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. But with tensions rising in the region, he's pulling family members of American servicemen and women out and downsizing the diplomatic presence in Iraq. NPR's Michelle Keleman reports.

[Michelle Keleman]

President Trump says he thinks he's fairly close to, in his words, a pretty good agreement with Iran. His envoy is expected to go to Oman this weekend for more talks on that. But Trump is also signaling that an Israeli strike is possible.

[Donald Trump]

There's a chance of massive conflict. We have a lot of American people in this area and I said we got to tell them to get out because something could happen soon.

[Michelle Keleman]

The State Department says it's reducing the footprint of the US Mission in Iraq. Staffing has not changed at the embassies in Bahrain and Kuwait, but CENTCOM has authorized the departure of military dependents in those countries and across the Middle East. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The president signed a measure today blocking a California rule ending the sale of gas powered cars. It was part of a ceremony where he signed three resolutions blocking state laws aimed at curbing car emissions that contribute to climate change. More from NPR's DanielleBen.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

The California rule would have stopped sales of new gas powered cars by 2035. Trump also signed measures blocking state rules restricting diesel vehicles as well as a California rule restricting car emissions. Seventeen other states had adopted those emission standards to some degree.

[Donald Trump]

We officially rescue the US Auto industry from destruction by terminating California electric vehicle mandate once and for all.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

The bills come as Trump publicly fights with California Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump has sent the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles to curb protests against his immigration policies. Newsom opposes that. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, the White House.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks are trading higher with the Dow up 93 points. This is NPR News. The Environmental Protection Agency has announced plans to repeal rules that limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas. NPR's Jeff Brady has details.

[Jeff Brady]

If this rule is finalized, there will be no limits on greenhouse gases for existing coal fired power plants and new gas fired ones. And this is all part of President Trump's effort to move away from the climate policies of the Biden administration and refocus on exploiting more domestic fossil fuels.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR's Jeff Brady reporting. Researchers have been looking at what effects President Trump's sweeping tariffs might have on future drug supplies and prices, as well as quality. Scott Mascioni with member station WYPR reports.

[Scott Macioni]

Johns Hopkins University researchers warn that tariffs imposed on countries like China and India may lead drug companies there to drop quality standards to keep up with profits. Mariana Socal is a professor at jhu.

[Mariana Socal]

So one of the problems of tariffs on generic products is not necessarily high prices, which could also happen, but also manufacturing quality problems from the possibility that manufacturers may want to cut corners.

[Scott Macioni]

SoCal says cutting those corners could cause factories to close because of poor quality. Drug distributors in the US have been stockpiling brand name drugs from overseas. According to the researchers, drug imports from Ireland, which host many drug companies, have increased fivefold since the tariffs were proposed in March. For NPR News, I'm Scott Macioni.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Nasdaq is up 46 points, the S&P's climbed 20, and the Dow is up 91. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.