NPR News Now: June 12, 2025, 9AM EDT – Detailed Summary

Hosted by NPR, this episode of NPR News Now delivers the latest news updates from around the globe, covering significant events from a tragic airplane crash in India to intense immigration-related operations in the United States.

1. Tragic Air India Flight Crash in Western India

[00:16]

Reporter: Korva Coleman introduces a devastating incident involving an Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, western India. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, met a catastrophic end, with local police confirming that all aboard have likely perished.

[00:35] Reporter: Dia Hadid provides a harrowing report from Mumbai, describing footage from Press Trust of India showing the plane sinking over a residential area, followed by an explosion and a massive fireball. Emergency responders were seen rushing through streets adorned with casualties. The Air India chairman expressed deep sorrow, and the Associated Press notes this as the first crash of its kind for the Boeing 787. Reuters adds that the aircraft issued a mayday call before the tragic descent. The last Air India crash occurred in 2020, claiming over 20 lives.

Notable Quote:

"It's just heartbreaking."
— Teresa Romero, United Farm Workers [02:30]

2. Immigration Raids and Federal Military Deployment in Los Angeles

[01:19]

Reporter: Korva Coleman shifts focus to Los Angeles, where the overnight curfew in downtown has lifted. The city remains tense after days marked by violent clashes between protesters opposing federal immigration raids and law enforcement. President Trump has deployed thousands of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to LA, asserting that the city would have descended into chaos without intervention. In response, California authorities are taking legal action to halt these deployments.

[01:50] Speaker: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticizes the federal actions, emphasizing their detrimental impact on community safety.

Notable Quote:

"When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you're not trying to keep anyone safe. You're trying to cause fear and panic."
— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles [01:50]

[02:03] Reporter: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addresses a U.S. Senate panel, hinting at the possibility of further military deployments to additional U.S. cities if deemed necessary. Concurrently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intensifies its operations, targeting several farms in California’s heartland.

3. ICE Raids on California Farms Amidst Community Backlash

[02:03]

Reporter: Teresa Romero from the United Farm Workers details recent ICE actions targeting at least three Californian farms. Union members have reported witnessing these raids, and social media videos depict ICE agents aggressively pursuing workers in agricultural fields.

Notable Quote:

"It is just horrible what's happening to our people in our communities, to people who have been working in every culture for decades, putting food on our tables, families being separated, children living in fear. It's just heartbreaking."
— Teresa Romero, United Farm Workers [02:30]

[03:06] Reporter: The United Farm Workers did not receive an immediate comment from ICE regarding the raids. Joshua Yeager reports from Bakersfield, California, highlighting the emotional and social toll these operations are taking on farming communities.

4. States Restricting Purchases with Federal Food Assistance

[03:13]

Reporter: Katia Riddle reports on the increasing trend of states limiting the types of food items eligible for purchase with federal assistance programs like SNAP. Under waivers granted by the Trump administration, states such as Utah, Idaho, and Arkansas have implemented restrictions targeting sugary foods and beverages, aiming to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

[03:28] Speaker: Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins discusses the rationale behind these changes, emphasizing the public health benefits.

[03:43] Speaker: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoes concerns about these policies, citing the removal of options like soda and candy from eligible purchases.

Notable Quote:

"Purchase unhealthy items like soda, candy and other junk food."
— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles [03:43]

[03:47] Reporter: With six states currently enforcing such policies and over a dozen more considering similar measures, the initiative faces criticism from health experts. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. indicates plans to further restrict ultra-processed foods. However, experts caution against the ambiguity in defining "ultra-processed" and the lack of conclusive data linking these restrictions to improved health outcomes.

5. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant’s Senate Hearing and Solar Orbiter Mission Breakthrough

[04:14]

Reporter: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant returns to Capitol Hill for a Senate hearing following his testimony to a House panel. He previously mentioned that President Trump might pause the designation of global terrorists from certain countries, contingent on those nations' cooperation in securing new U.S. trade agreements.

[04:14] Scientist Update: In an exciting scientific development, the European Union Space Agency's Solar Orbiter mission has captured unprecedented images of the sun’s south pole. These unique perspectives are expected to deepen understanding of the sun’s atmosphere and the formation of solar wind patterns.

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided comprehensive coverage of pressing global and national issues, from a devastating aviation tragedy in India to complex and often contentious immigration enforcement actions within the United States. Additionally, the discussion extended to public health policies affecting federal assistance programs and highlighted significant advancements in space exploration. Through expert reporting and firsthand accounts, the podcast offers listeners a nuanced understanding of current events shaping our world.