NPR News: 06-12-2026 7PM EDT - NPR News Now

Loading summary

Transcript14 lines

[00:01]
A
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. A federal judge has extended a block on President Trump's $1.8 billion fund that the administration says could pay allies who claim they've been targeted by the government. The judge said the move was necessary despite statements from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that the fund was not moving forward. The judge is giving the Justice Department one week to provide a, quote, clear, unambiguous declaration that under penalty of perjury that the fund will not move ahead. A federal judge has refused to stop the White House from staging a UFC mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn this weekend. The Trump administration calls the lawsuit baseless, saying it's no different from many other events hosted at public forums in the Capitol. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.
[00:45]
B
A watchdog group has filed a lawsuit attempting to halt the fight, noting the money that UFC stands to make off the event and that Trump owns up to $50,000 of stock in the company that owns UFC. The DOJ has responded, saying in part it would be too disruptive to halt an event a year in the making and noting past presidents White House events. White House spokesperson Davis Engel insisted to NPR there are no conflicts of interest and added that Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children.
[01:15]
A
NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reporting. The U.S. men's National Soccer team plays its first game of the World cup tonight in Los Angeles. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports. They'll take on Paraguay.
[01:25]
C
U.S. soccer has been planning for this World cup for, for a long, long time. After the Americans failed to qualify for the World cup back in 2018, they cleaned house and a new staff brought in a whole new generation of young players to develop. The 2022 tournament was a first test for the young squad. They reached the round of 16. Now they're older, the core is in their prime and they're playing here at home. Here's midfielder Tyler Adams.
[01:50]
D
This is like for me, the biggest opportunity to just really grow the game, like to inspire people to show that American players are at the level of, of the rest of the world.
[01:58]
C
Paraguay is the first of the team's three group stage matches. Next up will be Australia, then Turkey, then the team hopes a run in the knockout round. Becky Sullivan in PR News, Los Angeles,
[02:09]
A
oil settled at its lowest price in months today after President Trump once again promised that a deal with Iran is imminent. As NPR's Camilla Dominoski reports, gas prices are also coming down.
[02:20]
E
Global crude oil prices were north of $100 a barrel for much of this conflict. The global benchmark for crude is now well under doll, lower than it's been at any point since early March. That's largely because of hopes for a deal. The US Also says it's been helping some tankers move covertly through the Strait of Hormuz. Lower crude prices have helped ease pressure at the gas pump. The national average for regular gasoline is now $4.11 per gallon, down more than 40 cents from a month ago. Camila Dominosky, NPR News.
[02:53]
A
U.S. stocks rose today. The Dow added nearly three quarters of a percent. This is NPR News. A coalition of renewable energy groups is suing the Pentagon over its failure to complete national security reviews for new wind farms. They say it's an unlawful freeze that jeopardizes $47 billion in investments. The suit says 106 wind projects are affected by the delays. So far, the Pentagon says it's evaluating projects to make sure they don't hurt national security. Women in the US Are having fewer babies, and a new paper suggests smartphones may be partly responsible. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the BIR rate has tumbled more than 20% since the iPhone was introduced.
[03:35]
F
Social scientists have been puzzled by the persistent drop in birth rates over the last two decades. At first they thought it was a temporary response to the Great Recession, but even after the economy bounced back, births did not. So economist Caitlin Myers at Middlebury College went looking for other explanations.
[03:51]
G
When we look for the candidates, we should be looking for things that were large shocks that started around 2007 and are affecting a lot of people.
[03:58]
F
When Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, service was initially limited to AT and T. By comparing birth rates in areas with and without AT and T coverage, Myers found a strong link between smartphone penetration and fewer babies. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
[04:15]
A
An Ohio labor union has filed a grievance over the use of goats to clear brush at a water reclamation plant in Columbus. According to Local CBS affiliate 10TV, Ashmelocal 1632 says the city has a blatant disregard for labor by not notifying it about these subcontractors. The scabs in question, Kevin Wilson and Marty and several dozen others don't pay dues and don't complain about long hours. This is npr.
[04:40]
H
This message comes from Data iq. AI is everywhere, but companies struggle to prove results. For that, they need people, orchestration and governance working as one. Data IQ is the platform for AI success, built to bring it all together. Visit D A taiku.com, nPR.

Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – June 12, 2026, 7PM EDT
Host: Ryland Barton

Episode Overview

This episode delivers NPR’s hallmark concise roundup of the day’s top U.S. news stories. The newscast covers key legal battles involving the Trump administration, the kickoff of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team’s World Cup campaign, shifting oil prices amid diplomatic moves with Iran, a lawsuit affecting wind energy, new research into U.S. birth rates, and an unusual labor dispute involving goats in Ohio.

Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. Federal Judge Extends Block on Trump Administration’s $1.8 Billion Fund

[00:00–00:45]

U.S. District Judge extends halt on a $1.8 billion fund backed by the Trump administration. The fund purports to compensate allies who claim government targeting.
The judge demands the Justice Department produce within a week a “clear, unambiguous declaration under penalty of perjury” that the fund will not proceed.
- Noteworthy: Despite Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s assurances, the judge insists on legal documentation.
Additional ruling: the judge refused to halt a planned UFC mixed martial arts event on the White House South Lawn, rejecting a challenge from a watchdog group.
The Trump administration framed the lawsuit as “baseless,” likening the event to other public gatherings at the Capitol.
- Notable Quote: “The DOJ has responded, saying in part it would be too disruptive to halt an event a year in the making...” (Danielle Kurtzleben, [00:45])
- White House spokesperson: No conflict of interest, asserts Trump’s assets are in a trust handled by his children.

2. U.S. Men’s Soccer Kicks Off World Cup at Home

[01:14–02:09]

NPR’s Becky Sullivan reports from Los Angeles as the U.S. takes on Paraguay in its first World Cup group stage match.
The U.S. team composition has transformed since failing to qualify in 2018, now fielding a more seasoned young core.
Midfielder Tyler Adams highlights the significance:
- Notable Quote:
  “This is like for me, the biggest opportunity to just really grow the game, like to inspire people to show that American players are at the level of the rest of the world.”
  – Tyler Adams ([01:49])
Upcoming matches: Australia, then Turkey; ambitions set for knockout rounds.

3. Oil Prices Drop to Lowest in Months Amid Iran Deal Optimism

[02:09–02:53]

Oil prices and gas prices have significantly dropped.
President Trump’s public suggestion that an Iran deal is imminent drives investor optimism; crude futures fall under $100/barrel for the first time since March.
The U.S. reportedly assists tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, easing supply concerns.
“The national average for regular gasoline is now $4.11 per gallon, down more than 40 cents from a month ago.”
– Camila Domonosky ([02:19])

4. Lawsuit: Wind Farm Approvals Delayed by Pentagon

[02:53–03:34]

Renewable energy coalition sues the Pentagon for failing to complete national security reviews tied to construction of new wind farms.
106 wind projects, representing $47 billion in investment, are reportedly frozen pending approval.
The Pentagon maintains ongoing project evaluations to address security concerns.

5. Study Links Drop in U.S. Birth Rates to Smartphones

[03:34–04:15]

NPR’s Scott Horsley highlights research tying a 20% U.S. birth rate decline to smartphone adoption post-2007.
Caitlin Myers (Middlebury College) pinpoints the introduction of the iPhone as a major social shift:
- Notable Quote:
  “When we look for the candidates, we should be looking for things that were large shocks that started around 2007 and are affecting a lot of people.”
  – Caitlin Myers ([03:50])
Analysis found lower birth rates in areas with early AT&T coverage—the iPhone’s original carrier.

6. Ohio Union Files Grievance Over Goats Used as “Subcontractors”

[04:15–04:40]

A labor union in Columbus, Ohio, objects after goats are used to clear brush at a water reclamation plant.
The animals ("scabs," jokingly nicknamed Kevin Wilson and Marty) are called out for lack of dues and workplace complaints.
Lighthearted concluding note, blending labor dispute with humor about the goats’ work ethic.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

“This is like for me, the biggest opportunity to just really grow the game…” – Tyler Adams, U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team ([01:49])
“The DOJ has responded, saying in part it would be too disruptive to halt an event a year in the making...” – Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR ([00:45])
“When we look for the candidates, we should be looking for things that were large shocks that started around 2007 and are affecting a lot of people.” – Caitlin Myers, Middlebury College ([03:50])

Timestamps for Notable Segments

[00:00] Federal Judge Blocks Trump Fund/White House UFC Event Ruling
[01:14] U.S. Soccer Team’s World Cup Opener and ambitions
[02:09] Oil Prices Fall; Gas Prices Drop
[02:53] Lawsuit Over Pentagon Delays to Wind Energy Projects
[03:34] Smartphone Adoption Linked to Declining U.S. Birth Rate
[04:15] Union Grievance Over Goats as Brush-Clearing “Workers”

Summary Tone

The episode carries NPR’s balanced reporting style, mixing serious legal, political, and economic news with lighter, human-interest angles, offering listeners both insight and levity within a brisk five minutes.

Loading summary

Transcript14 lines

[00:01]
A
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. A federal judge has extended a block on President Trump's $1.8 billion fund that the administration says could pay allies who claim they've been targeted by the government. The judge said the move was necessary despite statements from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that the fund was not moving forward. The judge is giving the Justice Department one week to provide a, quote, clear, unambiguous declaration that under penalty of perjury that the fund will not move ahead. A federal judge has refused to stop the White House from staging a UFC mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn this weekend. The Trump administration calls the lawsuit baseless, saying it's no different from many other events hosted at public forums in the Capitol. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.
[00:45]
B
A watchdog group has filed a lawsuit attempting to halt the fight, noting the money that UFC stands to make off the event and that Trump owns up to $50,000 of stock in the company that owns UFC. The DOJ has responded, saying in part it would be too disruptive to halt an event a year in the making and noting past presidents White House events. White House spokesperson Davis Engel insisted to NPR there are no conflicts of interest and added that Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children.
[01:15]
A
NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reporting. The U.S. men's National Soccer team plays its first game of the World cup tonight in Los Angeles. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports. They'll take on Paraguay.
[01:25]
C
U.S. soccer has been planning for this World cup for, for a long, long time. After the Americans failed to qualify for the World cup back in 2018, they cleaned house and a new staff brought in a whole new generation of young players to develop. The 2022 tournament was a first test for the young squad. They reached the round of 16. Now they're older, the core is in their prime and they're playing here at home. Here's midfielder Tyler Adams.
[01:50]
D
This is like for me, the biggest opportunity to just really grow the game, like to inspire people to show that American players are at the level of, of the rest of the world.
[01:58]
C
Paraguay is the first of the team's three group stage matches. Next up will be Australia, then Turkey, then the team hopes a run in the knockout round. Becky Sullivan in PR News, Los Angeles,
[02:09]
A
oil settled at its lowest price in months today after President Trump once again promised that a deal with Iran is imminent. As NPR's Camilla Dominoski reports, gas prices are also coming down.
[02:20]
E
Global crude oil prices were north of $100 a barrel for much of this conflict. The global benchmark for crude is now well under doll, lower than it's been at any point since early March. That's largely because of hopes for a deal. The US Also says it's been helping some tankers move covertly through the Strait of Hormuz. Lower crude prices have helped ease pressure at the gas pump. The national average for regular gasoline is now $4.11 per gallon, down more than 40 cents from a month ago. Camila Dominosky, NPR News.
[02:53]
A
U.S. stocks rose today. The Dow added nearly three quarters of a percent. This is NPR News. A coalition of renewable energy groups is suing the Pentagon over its failure to complete national security reviews for new wind farms. They say it's an unlawful freeze that jeopardizes $47 billion in investments. The suit says 106 wind projects are affected by the delays. So far, the Pentagon says it's evaluating projects to make sure they don't hurt national security. Women in the US Are having fewer babies, and a new paper suggests smartphones may be partly responsible. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the BIR rate has tumbled more than 20% since the iPhone was introduced.
[03:35]
F
Social scientists have been puzzled by the persistent drop in birth rates over the last two decades. At first they thought it was a temporary response to the Great Recession, but even after the economy bounced back, births did not. So economist Caitlin Myers at Middlebury College went looking for other explanations.
[03:51]
G
When we look for the candidates, we should be looking for things that were large shocks that started around 2007 and are affecting a lot of people.
[03:58]
F
When Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, service was initially limited to AT and T. By comparing birth rates in areas with and without AT and T coverage, Myers found a strong link between smartphone penetration and fewer babies. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
[04:15]
A
An Ohio labor union has filed a grievance over the use of goats to clear brush at a water reclamation plant in Columbus. According to Local CBS affiliate 10TV, Ashmelocal 1632 says the city has a blatant disregard for labor by not notifying it about these subcontractors. The scabs in question, Kevin Wilson and Marty and several dozen others don't pay dues and don't complain about long hours. This is npr.
[04:40]
H
This message comes from Data iq. AI is everywhere, but companies struggle to prove results. For that, they need people, orchestration and governance working as one. Data IQ is the platform for AI success, built to bring it all together. Visit D A taiku.com, nPR.