NPR News: 06-13-2026 8PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — June 13, 2026, 8 PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst | Duration: 5 minutes
Main Theme: Key developments in U.S. politics, international diplomacy, tech regulation, global health, and European religious affairs

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Presidential Nomination: James McDonald for SDNY

[00:16–01:12]

• President Trump intends to nominate James McDonald, a former assistant U.S. attorney and one of his ex-personal lawyers, as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
  • McDonald is known for working on Trump’s defense during the hush money conviction appeal (regarding payments to Stormy Daniels).
  • He also served in the Trump administration and previously within the White House under George W. Bush.
• Context: McDonald would replace Jay Clayton, nominated as the new Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
• Backdrop: Trump’s prior DNI pick, Bill Pulte, was criticized for lacking intelligence experience.
  • Quote:
    "Trump's decision comes after pushback for his original pick for director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, who had no intelligence experience."
    — Deepa Shivaram [01:10]

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U.S.–Iran Peace Deal Uncertainty

[01:12–02:14]

• Both the U.S. and Iran assert a peace deal is near, but dispute the signing date.
  • President Trump claims the deal will be signed "tomorrow" (Sunday), and stated the crucial Strait of Hormuz "will be open to all."
  • Pakistani officials mediating talks expect the agreement "within 24 hours" and say it will be signed electronically.
  • An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson was less optimistic, stating:
    • Quote:
      "We will have to wait and see about the exact date, adding it will not be Sunday."
      — Carrie Khan [01:41]
• Deal details:
  • Iran would open the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The U.S. would lift its blockade.
  • 60-day ceasefire extension.
• No further specifics from either side.

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Anthropic AI Models Banned for Foreign Nationals

[02:14–03:12]

• Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company, abruptly shut down its latest advanced models (Fable 5 and Mythos 5) to foreign nationals after a U.S. government directive.
  • The ban affects all foreign workers (inside and outside the U.S.) and is based on unspecified national security concerns.
• Notable background:
  • Mythos 5 previously withheld from public release over fears it could aid hackers.
  • Fable 5, with increased safeguards, was released recently.
• Anthropic expressed disagreement with the directive:
  • Quote:
    "Anthropic says it thinks the government is concerned that there may be a way to jailbreak the model to get around those safeguards. But Anthropic says it disagrees with the ban."
    — John Ruich [03:00]

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U.S. Aid Cuts Worsen Child Malnutrition in Senegal

[03:12–04:19]

• Sharp reductions in U.S. foreign aid (2025) have triggered life-threatening shortages in therapeutic food for malnourished children in Senegal.
  • Ready-to-use therapeutic food previously distributed widely through aid programs and local health workers.
  • Families now face increased relapse of child malnutrition due to intermittent access.
• Perspectives from the ground:
  • Quote:
    "So sometimes they have no access to the product, so they just fall down ill again."
    — Carrie Khan, reporting [04:01]
• State Department offered no comment on the ongoing shortages.

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Pope Leo’s Stranded Flight and Migration Focus

[04:19–End]

• Pope Leo’s return from Spain was delayed due to technical difficulties, but Spain’s King Philip offered his personal jet.
• Papal visit highlights:
  • Pressed for more humane migration policy.
  • Inaugurated the new tower of the Sagrada Familia in Rome.
  • Large, rival protests greeted the Pope in Spain, centered on European Union migration policies and new rules.
• Summary note:
  • The trip was described as a success despite travel setbacks, reflecting ongoing European divisions about migration.

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Notable Quotes (With Timestamps)

• Deepa Shivaram [01:10]: "Trump's decision comes after pushback for his original pick for director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, who had no intelligence experience."
• Carrie Khan [01:41]: "We will have to wait and see about the exact date, adding it will not be Sunday."
• John Ruich [03:00]: "Anthropic says it thinks the government is concerned that there may be a way to jailbreak the model to get around those safeguards. But Anthropic says it disagrees with the ban."
• Carrie Khan (from Senegal segment) [04:01]: "So sometimes they have no access to the product, so they just fall down ill again."

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• 00:16 — White House nominations and background
• 01:12 — U.S.–Iran peace talks coverage
• 02:14 — Anthropic AI ban
• 03:12 — Senegalese malnutrition and U.S. aid cuts
• 04:19 — Pope Leo’s travel saga and spotlight on European migration tensions

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This fast-paced episode provides a global snapshot: high-stakes White House appointments, volatile U.S.–Iran relations, urgent questions about tech regulation, humanitarian fallout from U.S. policy shifts, and the intersection of religion and politics in the EU migration debate—all in under five minutes.

Transcript

[NPR Reporter]

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[NPR Host]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump says he intends to nominate one of his former personal attorneys to serve as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. James McDonald was a former U.S. assistant U.S. attorney there. NPR's Deepa Shivaram has more.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Trump posted on social media that he'll nominate McDonald to replace Jay Clayton, who's Trump's pick to be the new director of National Intelligence. McDonald formerly worked for Trump in the case of Trump's hush money conviction appeal. That case was around Trump concealing payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He also worked in the first Trump administration and in the White House counsel's office under President George W. Bush. Trump's decision comes after pushback for his original pick for director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, who had no intelligence experience. Deepa Shivaram, NPR news.

[NPR Host]

Both the U.S. and Iran say the signing of a peace deal is imminent, but they disagree on when it will happen. President Trump posted on social media it will happen tomorrow, but a top Iranian official doesn't think it will be that soon. NPR's Carrie Khan has more.

[Carrie Khan]

Trump posted that a deal to end fighting between the US And Iran is, quote, scheduled to get signed on Sunday. And he added that the Strait of Hormuz, a key transport route for the world's oil and gas supply, will be, quote, open to all. Pakistani officials who have been key. Mediators said a deal was expected within 24 hours and would be signed electronically. But on Saturday, a spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry said a deal was coming, but, quote, we will have to wait and see about the exact date, adding it will not be Sunday. Neither side has provided details of an agreement other than Iran would open the strait, the US Would lift its blockade, and the current ceasefire would be extended for 60 days. Carrie Khan, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[NPR Host]

Anthropic abruptly shut down its latest AI models. This after the Trump administration banned the use of those models by foreign nationals yesterday. NPR's John Ruich reports.

[John Ruich]

According to a statement from Anthropic, the government's directive cited unspecified national security concerns. It ordered a suspension of access by foreign nationals to Anthropic's Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models. That includes foreigners inside and outside the US and even foreigners working for Anthropic. The Mythos AI model has been a source of buzz in recent months. Anthropic decided not to release it to the public in March because the company believed it could potentially help hackers exploit computer security flaws. So it came up with a Fable 5 and advanced model with extensive safeguards was released this week. Anthropic says it thinks the government is concerned that there may be a way to jailbreak the model to get around those safeguards. But Anthropic says it disagrees with the ban. John Ruich, NPR News.

[NPR Host]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. In Senegal, roughly 1 in 10 children are acutely malnourished in US foreign aid helped get life saving therapeutic food to those children. But as NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports, aid cuts are causing food shortages.

[NPR Reporter]

Ready to use therapeutic food can bring a malnourished child back from the brink. Historically, families in Senegal had to go to a doctor to get this, but US Foreign aid helped equip community health workers to bring this product closer to kids. The Trump administration's massive cuts to foreign aid in 2025 have led to shortages that are still affecting families. Tenning, Noem's malnourished nephew, had been getting better through the program.

[Carrie Khan]

So sometimes they have no access to the product, so they just fall down ill again.

[NPR Reporter]

Health officials say that this kind of relapse is happening to children across the region as a result of the aid cuts. The State Department did not respond to questions about the shortages. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[NPR Host]

Pope Leo's flight home from his visit to Spain ended out being grounded because of technical problems yesterday. But Leo didn't have to worry about finding a ride home. Spain's King Philip left, let him catch a ride on his private jet. The pontiff's week long trip to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands was successful as Leo pressed his migration message and he also inaugurated the new tower of the Sagrada Familiar Basilica in Rome. Thousands gathered for rival protests over the issue of migration and new European Union rules on the issue. You're listening to NPR News.