NPR News: 06-12-2025 4AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – June 12, 2025

Release Date: June 12, 2025

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1. Protests Against Federal Immigration Authorities

Spokane, Washington:
In the early hours of Wednesday, over 30 individuals were arrested during a protest in Spokane opposing federal immigration actions. The demonstration occurred outside a facility where immigration authorities were detaining two men slated for transfer to an ICE detention center in western Washington. According to Doug Nadvornick of Spokane Public Radio, the situation escalated when protesters conducted a sit-in near the vehicle intended for the detainees, leading to vandalism of the vehicle.

Key Developments:

• Police Reaction: Officers issued warnings for the protesters to disperse. When compliance was not forthcoming, authorities deployed smoke canisters to encourage dispersal, resulting in arrests for those who remained. (Timestamp: 00:35)
• Curfew Implementation: Mayor Lisa Brown responded by declaring a curfew in downtown Spokane, which helped dissipate the crowd within a few hours.
• Link to Larger Movement: This incident preceded a planned protest in a nearby park, indicating a broader movement against federal immigration policies.

2. Anti-ICE Protests and Curfew in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California:
Protests against federal immigration enforcement have surged across multiple U.S. cities for the second consecutive night. In Los Angeles, the downtown area witnessed hundreds of arrests over recent days, prompting Mayor Karen Bass to enforce a strict curfew from 8 PM to 6 AM starting Tuesday.

Notable Insights:

• Mayor Karen Bass: Affirmed the continuation of the curfew, noting significant police action on the first night, where "dozens were taken in by police." (Timestamp: 01:35)
• Police Statement: An unnamed official highlighted that over 100 arrests were made, primarily for "failure to disperse" and "curfew violations," rather than for looting or vandalism. The intent was to send a clear message of enforcement seriousness. (Timestamp: 01:45)
• Legal Proceedings: Of those arrested, four individuals face charges: two for assaulting a federal officer during confrontations and two for using Molotov cocktails. (Timestamp: 01:59)
• Reporter: Steve Futterman provided detailed coverage from Los Angeles.

3. Treasury Secretary Defends Trade Policies in Congressional Hearing

Trade and Economic Policies:
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee to defend the Trump administration's trade and economic strategies. He discussed the possibility of extending the 90-day pause on higher tariffs imposed on key U.S. trading partners.

Key Points:

• Bessant’s Statement: "There are 18 important trading partners. We are working toward deals on those, and it is highly likely that those countries that are negotiating or trading blocks, as in the case of the EU who are negotiating in good faith, we will roll the date forward to continue the good faith negotiations." (Timestamp: 02:34)
• Current Agreements: The White House has a formal trade agreement with the United Kingdom and a framework in place for negotiations with China.
• Market Reaction: Following the hearing and related economic news, U.S. futures declined in after-hours trading, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipping slightly due to losses in Asian markets.

4. Environmental Policy Shifts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA's Regulatory Changes:
The Environmental Protection Agency is contemplating the repeal of stringent pollution controls established during the Biden administration. The proposed changes target coal and gas-fired power plants, aiming to ease requirements for reducing emissions of toxic pollutants linked to health issues such as heart problems.

Context and Impact:

• Community Concerns: Former President Biden had instituted tighter emissions standards to mitigate industrial pollution, particularly impacting low-income and minority communities.
• Current Proposal: The EPA’s move suggests a shift towards less restrictive environmental regulations, a response to changing administrative priorities.

5. Labor Department Reports on Inflation

Economic Indicators:
The Labor Department released data indicating a slight increase in consumer prices for May. Inflation rose by less than the anticipated 0.1%, marking a modest uptick.

Detailed Insights by Scott Horsley:

• Monthly Inflation: "Consumer prices rose just 1/10 of 1% between April and May, despite sweeping tariffs on nearly everything the U.S. imports. Imports. Falling gasoline prices helped offset the rising cost of rent and groceries last month." (Timestamp: 03:54)
• Annual Perspective: Over the past year, consumer prices have increased by 2.4%, a marginal rise compared to the previous month when excluding volatile food and energy prices, the core inflation rate stands at 2.8%.
• Federal Reserve Outlook: Despite these inflation figures, the Federal Reserve is expected to maintain current interest rates in the upcoming meeting, countering President Trump's calls for a rate reduction. An unnamed Fed official expressed concerns that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration might reignite inflationary pressures in the future. (Timestamp: 04:27)

6. UK Economy and Trade with the United States

Economic Downturn:
The United Kingdom experienced a contraction in its economy, shrinking by 0.3% in the last month following growth in the first quarter. The UK Office for National Statistics reported a significant decline in exports to the United States, dropping approximately $2.7 billion in April—the largest monthly decrease on record.

Implications:

• Trade Relations: This sharp reduction in exports underscores potential challenges in UK-US trade relations, possibly influenced by evolving economic policies and global market dynamics.
• Broader Economic Impact: The contraction reflects broader challenges within the UK economy, potentially signaling the need for strategic policy adjustments to stimulate growth and stabilize trade.

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant national and international events, including civil unrest related to immigration policies, economic strategies and their repercussions, shifts in environmental regulations, and critical economic indicators affecting both the U.S. and the UK. Through detailed reporting and authoritative quotes, the episode equips listeners with a nuanced understanding of the current socio-political and economic landscape.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Police in Spokane, Washington, say more than 30 people were arrested Wednesday night during a protest against the actions of federal immigration authorities.

[Doug Nadvornick]

Doug.

[Shea Stevens]

Nat Vornick from Spokane Public Radio has details.

[Doug Nadvornick]

A small number of people had gathered Wednesday afternoon outside a building where immigration authorities had detained two men. The men were to be loaded into a van and driven to an ICE detention center in western Washington. That was delayed when a group of people staged a sit in near the vehicle, which was also vandalized. Officers warned the protesters to move away from the building. When some remained, police fired a round of smoke canisters to move them away. The those who stayed were arrested. This event happened just a short time before a planned protest a few blocks away in a park was to begin. That crowd dispersed within a few hours. Mayor Lisa Brown declared a curfew for several blocks of downtown Spokane. For NPR News, I'm Doug Nadvornick in Spokane.

[Shea Stevens]

Protests over federal immigration sweeps have spread to several US Cities for a second straight night. Steve Futterman reports that Los Angeles is under a curfew following hundreds of arrests during anti ice protests in the city's downtown area over the last several days.

[Karen Bass]

Mayor Karen bass says the 8pm to 6am curfew that went into effect Tuesday is still in place. On night one, dozens were taken in by police.

[Unnamed Police Official]

There were over 100 arrests, but they weren't for looting, they weren't for vandalism. They were for failure to disperse as well as a curfew violation. So what I'm hoping is, is that people got the message that we're serious.

[Karen Bass]

Four people who were arrested earlier have been charged by the U.S. attorney. Two are accused of assault on a federal officer during the confrontations. Two others are charged with using a Molotov cocktail. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. treasury Secretary Scott Bessant defended the Trump administration's trade and economic policies during a congressional hearing on Wednesday. Bessant told members of the House Ways and Means Committee that the administration may be open to extending its 90 day pause on higher tariffs for top US trading partners.

[Scott Bessant]

There are 18 important trading partners. We are working toward deals on those, and it is highly likely that those countries that are negotiate or trading blocks, as in the case of the EU who are negotiating in good faith. We will roll the date forward to continue the good faith negotiations.

[Shea Stevens]

The White House has a formal trade agreement with Britain and a framework for a deal with China. US Futures are lower in after hours trading on Wall street following Wednesday's losses. The Dow edged a point lower on Asia Pacific markets. Shares are mostly lower. This is npr. The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a repeal of Biden era restrictions on pollution from coal and gas fired power plants. The agency also is proposing easing at a requirement that plants lower their emissions of toxic pollutants that are linked to heart problems. Former President Biden proposed the tighter emissions rules in order to address industrial pollution in mostly low income and minority communities. The Labor Department is reporting a slight uptick in consumer prices last month. Inflation rose a less than expected 10th of a percent in May. NPR Scott Horsley has details.

[Scott Horsley]

Consumer prices rose just 1/10 of 1% between April and May, despite sweeping tariffs on nearly everything the U.S. imports. Imports. Falling gasoline prices helped offset the rising cost of rent and groceries last month. Over the last 12 months, consumer prices are up 2.4%. That's a slightly larger annual increase than the previous month, stripping out volatile food and energy prices. Core inflation for the last 12 months was 2.8%. The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates steady when policymakers meet next week, despite urging from President Trump to lower rates.

[Unnamed Fed Official]

The Fed.

[Scott Horsley]

The Fed is worried that Trump's tariffs could rekindle inflation in the months to come. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

The British economy shrank 0.3% last month after expanding in the first quarter. The UK Office for National Statistics says April saw the largest monthly decline in exports to the U.S. those exports fell by roughly $2.7 billion in April. It was the largest decline on record. This is NPR News.

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