NPR News: 06-14-2025 9PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – June 14, 2025

Released on June 15, 2025

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1. Tragic Shooting in Minnesota Targets Lawmakers

[00:21]
Host Douahalisai Kowtow opened the episode with a grim report from Minnesota, where a violent attack has left the state’s political landscape shaken.

Meg Anderson reported:

"Officials have named a suspect in the shooting that targeted two lawmakers at their homes in Minnesota, killing one state representative and her husband and wounding a state senator and his wife. The suspect is still at large."

The suspected shooter, 57-year-old Vance Bolter, is deemed armed and dangerous. Authorities have yet to determine his motive but discovered a list of individuals in his car, including targeted lawmakers such as State Senator John Hoffman and State Representative Melissa Hortman. Interestingly, no "King's flyers" related to anti-Trump protests were found, prompting Minnesota officials to caution residents against attending nationwide protests linked to these incidents.

2. U.S. Army Celebrates 250th Anniversary with Grand Parade

[01:28]
The United States Army marked its 250th anniversary with a spectacular parade in Washington, D.C., as covered by Frank Langford.

Frank Langford described the scene:

"People wearing American flag shirts are pressed up against the fence here as tanks roll by. They're cheering them on. Tanks are sometimes revving their engines. And the parade really has the feel of almost like a military festival. There are a lot of MAGA hats, but there are even more American flags here."

The event saw participation from more than 6,000 troops, with President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance making brief appearances at the parade’s conclusion.

3. Nationwide Protests Against Trump’s Immigration Policies

[02:11]
Tensions rise across the United States as cities host rallies opposing President Trump’s stringent immigration measures. Liz Baker provided an in-depth report from Los Angeles.

Liz Baker reported:

"Thousands of people have taken to the streets of downtown LA in what city officials expect will be the largest of all the protests this week. In a park across from City Hall, a huge baby Trump balloon slowly inflates."

One protester, Monica Mendez, shared her motivations:

"She had to come out after seeing footage of California Senator Alex Padilla being handcuffed at a Department of Homeland Security press conference."

Another participant, Melissa Wellman, emphasized the personal stakes:

"People like her grandmother who came here from Indonesia, just wanted to make sure to represent our family and people that don't have a voice. She says she hopes the message of resistance will make its way from the streets of LA to the White House."

These demonstrations aim to counteract President Trump’s portrayal of the protests as violent uprisings, underscoring a significant pushback against his administration’s immigration stance.

4. Escalating Tensions Between Israel and Iran

[03:17]
In international news, Douahalisai Kowtow highlighted escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

Kowtow reported:

"It is early morning in the Middle East and Israel and Iran are again launching missiles at each other. The Israeli military says more air defense systems were fired to shoot down missiles from Iran. And there are reports of fresh fires and flames visible in the sky over Tehran."

The conflict has serious implications:

• Israel’s military confirmed the elimination of nine of Iran's top nuclear scientists in previous strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities.
• Iran's UN ambassador announced significant casualties in Dubai, stating, "At least 78 people were killed and more than 320 people were injured."

These developments have derailed the planned nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S., which were scheduled for Sunday in Oman, now canceled amidst the rising tensions.

5. Sean Combs’ Assistant Testifies in Racketeering Case

[03:17]
Shifting to domestic legal matters, Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reported on a significant development in the high-profile trial against music mogul Sean Combs.

Sarmiento detailed:

"Jonathan Perez worked for Sean Combs from 2021 until September 2024. On the witness stand, Perez said part of his job included obtaining drugs for Combs and setting up hotel rooms for, quote, 'king nights.'"

Testimonies revealed disturbing practices:

• Perez described the "king nights" as "drug-fueled sexual performances" where Combs allegedly coerced women to engage with male prostitutes.
• He added, "I did not know the details of what happened in these rooms and considered it Combs' private life."
• A witness, referred to as Jane, testified that she "did not seem hesitant about participating in these nights."

The trial is intensifying, with another former assistant slated to testify next week, potentially providing more insight into the alleged racketeering activities.

6. Ongoing Conflicts and Domestic Unrest

Throughout the episode, Kowtow provided updates on various conflicts, underscoring a week marked by political violence, military displays, and civil unrest. From the Midwest tragedy to the clashing international powers and high-stakes legal battles, the episode encapsulated a tumultuous period in both national and global arenas.

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Notable Quotes:

• Vance Bolter Description:
  "Officials have named a suspect in the shooting that targeted two lawmakers at their homes…" — Meg Anderson [00:21]

• Parade Atmosphere:
  "The parade really has the feel of almost like a military festival." — Frank Langford [01:52]

• Protester Motivation:
  "I had to come out after seeing footage of California Senator Alex Padilla being handcuffed…" — Monica Mendez [02:54]

• Legal Testimony:
  "Part of my job included obtaining drugs for Combs and setting up hotel rooms for, quote, 'king nights.'" — Jonathan Perez [04:17]

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This episode of NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive overview of pressing events, offering listeners detailed insights into the complexities shaping the current socio-political landscape.

Transcript

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[Douahalisai Kowtow]

Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Douahalisai Kowtow. Officials have named a suspect in the shooting that targeted two lawmakers at their homes in Minnesot, killing one state representative and her husband and wounding a state senator and his wife. NPR's Meg Anderson reports. The suspect is still at large, according to authorities.

[Meg Anderson]

The suspect officials are seeking is 57 year old Vance Bolter. They urged anyone who believes they have seen him to consider him armed and dangerous and to call 91 1. Authorities have yet to determine a motive for the attack that killed Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and wounded State Senator John Hoffman and his w. They did indicate that they found a list of individuals inside Bolter's car that included Hoffman, Hortman and other lawmakers. Authorities also indicated that they found no King's flyers in the car, a reference to the anti Trump protests happening around the country Saturday. Minnesota state officials urged residents in the state to not attend those protests as a result. Meg Anderson, NPR News.

[Douahalisai Kowtow]

The U.S. army celebrated its 250th anniversary today in Washington, D.C. more than 6,000 troops attended with tanks rolling in. Washington, D.C. president Trump and Vice President J.D. vance spoke briefly at the close of the parade. NPR's Frank Langford is at the National Mall.

[Frank Langford]

People wearing American flag shirts are pressed up against the fence here as tanks roll by. They're cheering them on. Tanks are sometimes revving their engines. And the parade really has the feel of almost like a mil military festival. There are a lot of MAGA hats, but there are even more American flags here.

[Douahalisai Kowtow]

NPR's Franklin Fit. Cities across the country today are seeing rallies in protest of President Trump's immigration policies. In Los Angeles, NPR's Liz Baker reports. Demonstrators there hope to show the administration that they will resist Trump's attempts to paint the week's protests there as violent uprisings.

[Liz Baker]

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of downtown LA in what city officials expect will be the largest of all the protests this week. In a park across from City Hall, a huge baby Trump balloon slowly inflates. Monica Mendez waits for her photo op with the balloon saying she had to come out after seeing footage of California Senator Alex Padilla being handcuffed at a Department of Homeland Security press conference two.

[Douahalisai Kowtow]

Days ago if they're doing this to.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiento]

Representatives, what are they doing to people?

[Liz Baker]

Melissa Wellman came out to stand up for the city's immigrants. People like her grandmother who came here from Indonesia, just wanted to make sure to represent our family and people that don't have a voice. She says she hopes the message of resistance will make its way from the streets of LA to the White House. Liz Baker, NPR News, Los Angeles.

[Douahalisai Kowtow]

This is npr. It is early morning in the Middle east and Israel and Iran are again launching missiles at each other. The Israeli military says more air defense systems were fired to shoot down missiles from Iran. And there are reports of fresh fires and flames visible in the sky over Tehran. Israel's military now says it killed nine of Iran's top nuclear scientists since its days old strikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran's UN ambassador says at least 78 people were killed and more than 320 people were injured in Dubai. Nuclear talks between Iran and the US that were scheduled for Sunday in Oman are now canceled. A former assistant of Sean Combs testified in his trial Friday. The assistant is part of the government's racketeering case against Combs. NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reports. And a warning. This report contains mention of sexual coercion.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiento]

Jonathan Perez worked for sean combs from 2021 until September 2024. On the witness stand, Perez said part of his job included obtaining drugs for Combs and setting up hotel rooms for, quote, king nights. Other witnesses have testified these were drug fueled sexual performances in which Combs allegedly coerced women to have sex with male prostitutes. Perez said he did not know the details of what happened in these rooms and considered it Combs private life. He also said one of the alleged victims, a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane, did not seem hesitant about participating in these nights. Another former assistant of Combs will testify next week.

[Douahalisai Kowtow]

This is NPR News.

[Meg Anderson]

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[NPR Sponsor]

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