NPR News: 06-14-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of the June 14, 2025 Episode

Release Date: June 14, 2025 | Host: Louise Schiavone | Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

---

1. Threat to Public Media Funding

[00:00] Unknown Speaker:
The episode opens with an urgent announcement regarding the House of Representatives' approval of a White House request to reclaim two years of previously allocated funding for public media. This rescission package is now headed to the Senate, sparking significant concern among public media advocates.

"This move poses a serious threat to local stations and public media as we know it."
— Unknown Speaker, [00:00]

Listeners are urged to take action to support public media by visiting goacpr.org.

---

2. Fatal Shooting in Minnesota: A Political Assassination?

[00:25] Louise Schiavone:
NPR's Louise Schiavone reports from Washington, highlighting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's characterization of the recent fatal shooting of State Representative Melissa Hortman as a political assassination.

[00:41] Clay Masters (Minnesota Public Radio):
Clay Masters elaborates on Hortman's significance, emphasizing her role as a stabilizing force in the House of Representatives.

"Representative Hortman had served as speaker, was serving in kind of this co-speakership. She was one of the most steady hands in making sure a deal could get done."
— Clay Masters, [00:41]

---

3. President Trump's Response to the Shootings

[00:51] Louise Schiavone:
The report continues with President Trump's reaction to the Minnesota shootings.

[01:00] Franco Ordonez (NPR):
Franco Ordonez details Trump's statements and the ongoing manhunt for the gunman.

"Such horrific violence will not be tolerated."
— President Trump, [01:00]

The shooter, posing as a police officer, murdered Melissa Hortman and her spouse and wounded another state senator and his wife. President Trump assured that the FBI is assisting in the investigation and vowed that those responsible would be prosecuted fully.

---

4. The 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army and Associated Protests

[01:43] Louise Schiavone:
Celebrations are underway in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with President Trump's birthday. The festivities include a grand parade featuring tanks, soldiers, parachute jumps, and flyovers scheduled for 6:30 PM on the National Mall.

[02:13] Forrest Brandt (via Bill Reinhart, WVXU):
Army veteran Forrest Brandt expresses skepticism about the true intentions behind the parade.

"People don't see it as a celebration of the Army's 250th. They see it as Donald Trump's birthday party."
— Forrest Brandt, [02:21]

Brandt criticizes the federalization of the National Guard in California without the governor's request, labeling it a dangerous break from precedent.

[02:49] Louise Schiavone:
Expanding the narrative, Schiavone reports on overseas protests against the military parade. Demonstrations occurred in Lisbon's Restorer Square and across various European cities, with slogans like "Fascism not in America."

"Fascism not in America."
— Unknown Protester, [03:01]

---

5. Pulp's Triumphant Return to the UK Charts

[03:09] Louise Schiavone:
Shifting to lighter news, NPR's Vicki Barker reports from London on the Britpop band Pulp achieving their first UK number one album in 27 years.

[03:35] Vicki Barker (London):
Highlighting the band's comeback, Barker notes the album "Moore" and its hit single "Spike Island."

"One UK Reviewer's given the album four stars, also noting that the passage of time has seen a band that once mused about cuckoldry as an act of class war now addresses how divorce impacts your potential to find love again."
— Vicki Barker, [04:02]

---

6. Legal Developments: Trump's Civil Judgment Upheld

[04:20] Louise Schiavone:
In legal news, Schiavone reports from London on a significant court decision. A federal appeals court unanimously upheld a $5 million civil judgment against President Trump in the case brought by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll.

"The panel said that that would not be appropriate in hockey."
— Unknown Speaker, [04:20]

The judgment stems from a 2023 trial where Trump was found to have sexually abused Carroll in 1996. Trump's legal team had sought to have the appellate court reconsider the ruling, which was denied.

---

7. Sports Update: Stanley Cup Final Tied

[05:04] Louise Schiavone:
The episode briefly touches on the sports scene, mentioning that the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers are tied 2-2 in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final.

---

Conclusion

The June 14, 2025 episode of NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive roundup of pressing national issues, from political violence and funding threats to cultural comebacks and legal battles surrounding prominent figures. The episode concludes with a nod to ongoing sports events, maintaining NPR's commitment to covering diverse facets of current affairs.

For more detailed updates, listeners are encouraged to access the full episode or visit NPR's website.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

The House of Representatives has approved a White House request to claw back two years of previously approved funding for public media. The rescissions package now moves on to the Senate. This move poses a serious threat to local stations and public media as we know it. Please take a stand for public media [e-mail] thank you.

[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. In Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz is calling the fatal shooting of State Representative Melissa Hortman a political assassination. Minnesota Public Radio's Clay Masters says she was consequential.

[Clay Masters]

Representative Hortman had served as speaker, was serving in kind of this co speakership. She was one of the most steady hands in making sure a deal could get done.

[Louise Schiavone]

President Trump is calling the Minnesota shootings a targeted attack. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. A manhunt is underway for the gunman.

[Franco Ordonez]

President Trump says he's been briefed on the shootings that killed a Minnesota state representative and her husband. A state senator and his wife were also shot and wounded. Taking to social media, Trump said, quote, such horrific violence will not be tolerated. A man posing as a police officer shot and killed Melissa Hortman, a former Minnesota House speaker, and her spouse at their home. A second lawmaker, Senator John Hoffman, and his wife were shot multiple times. Separately, Trump said the FBI is assisting state and local law enforcement with the investigation. He said anyone involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

Festivities are already underway in Washington, D.C. to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. army on the National Mall. And tonight, starting at 6:30, parade will march through the streets of the capital city. Tanks and soldiers, parachute jumps and flyovers are among the display of military might slated for the big event. Demonstrators across the country are protesting. From member station WVXU, Bill Rinehart has more.

[Forrest Brandt]

Today is the Army's 250th anniversary. It's also President Trump's birthday. Army vet Forrest Brandt worries that's the real reason for the parade.

[Unknown Speaker]

People don't see it as a celebration of the Army's 250th. Let's get that sham out there right now. They see it as Donald Trump's birthday party. You know, Lincoln and Washington earned birthday parties.

[Forrest Brandt]

Brandt has no problem with the National Guard getting called up ahead of demonstrations. But he calls Trump's decision to federalize the Guard in California without a request from the governor a dangerous violation of past precedent. For NPR News, I'm Bill Reinhart in Cincinnati.

[Louise Schiavone]

Expats overseas are also demonstrating against the military parade through Washington, D.C. a couple of hundred showed up in Restorer Square in Lisbon, Portugal, earlier today.

[Unknown Protester]

Fascism not in America. Fascism not in America.

[Louise Schiavone]

Similar expat protests are being held across Europe, including those in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Greece and Denmark. This is NPR News in Washington. A Britpop group has reached the top of the UK album charts for the first time in 27 years. Vicki Barker has details from London entitled More.

[Vicki Barker]

This is the first album from the group Pulp in 24 years and its first UK number one album since 1998. The Sheffield band, fronted by Jarvis Cocker, never had a top 40 US hit during its heyday, but this single, spike island from the Moore album, did reach number 32 on the billboard Adult Alternative airplay chart earlier this month.

[Unknown Speaker]

Dead to My Tracks.

[Vicki Barker]

One UK Reviewer's given the album four stars, also noting that the passage of time has seen a band that once mused about cuckoldry as an act of class war now addresses how divorce impacts your potential. Find love again. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker.

[Louise Schiavone]

In London, a federal Appeals court voted 8 to 2 not to reconsider its ruling to uphold a $5 million civil judgment against President Trump in the case of advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. A jury had found in a 2023 trial that in 1996, in what started out as a friendly department store encounter, Trump had sexually abused the writer. Trump's lawyers had petitioned the full appellate court to rehear the case. In the Friday decision, the panel said that that would not be appropriate in hockey. The Edmonton Oilers play the Florida Panthers tonight for game five of the Stanley Cup Final. They're tied 2 2. I'm Luis Schiavone, NPR News.

[Unknown Speaker]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR news now at plus.NPR. that's plus.NPR.org.