NPR News: 06-17-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: June 17, 2025, 2AM EDT

Host: Shea Stevens
Source: NPR
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes
Release Date: June 17, 2025

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1. Middle East Crisis Escalation

Timestamp: [00:18] - [01:15]

Shea Stevens opens the episode with breaking news on the escalating crisis in the Middle East:

• President Trump is returning to the United States from the G7 summit in Calgary to address the situation.
• Israel claims to have "largely eliminated Iran's air defenses," asserting its capability to bomb Iran without restrictions.

Greg Maibre, reporting for NPR, provides a detailed analysis:

• Israel's missile defense: Currently intercepting approximately 90% of Iran's incoming ballistic missiles, aligning with expectations.
• Recent attacks: Multiple missiles struck Israel on Monday morning, resulting in civilian casualties in apartment buildings and significant damage at an oil refinery.
• Defense Systems: Israel utilizes two primary systems against ballistic missiles:
  • Arrow
  • David's Sling
• Iron Dome: While widely recognized, it is primarily designed for short-range rockets, differentiating it from the Arrow and David's Sling systems used against high-altitude, fast-moving ballistic missiles.

"Israel is shooting down about 90% of Iran's incoming ballistic missiles, and that's roughly what was expected."
— Greg Maibre [00:43]

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2. Legal Battle Over NIH Research Grants

Timestamp: [01:15] - [02:18]

Shea Stevens transitions to a significant legal development in Boston:

• A federal judge has ruled that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) illegally canceled approximately 800 research grants.
• These grants predominantly focused on areas disfavored by the Trump administration, including diversity and transgender issues.

Craig Lemolt from NPR's member station GBH reports:

• Judge's Ruling: The cancellations were deemed arbitrary and capricious.
• Order: NIH must resume funding the previously terminated research.
• Legal Representation: Rachel Meeropol of the ACLU represented the plaintiffs.

Rachel Meeropol underscores the judge's findings:

"The judge looked at the agency's explanation for why it would not fly these categories of research and said that they were wholly without reason and without reasoning."
— Rachel Meeropol [01:48]

Craig Lemolt further elaborates:

"The judge went on to say the government's actions in the case amounted to racial discrimination and discrimination against the LGBTQ population, saying he's never seen anything like this in his 40 years on the bench."
— Craig Lemolt [01:58]

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3. Investigation into Minnesota Political Attacks

Timestamp: [02:18] - [03:15]

Shea Stevens reports on the ongoing investigation into recent attacks targeting political figures in Minnesota:

• Suspect: Vance Belter is under scrutiny for the weekend's violent acts.
• Evidence: Investigators discovered multiple notebooks listing dozens of Democratic officials and abortion rights supporters as targets.

Fred Clarkson from Political Research Associates provides context on Belter's background:

• Affiliations: Videos indicate Belter was involved with the Christ for the Nations Institute in Texas.
• Ideological Ties: Suggests a link to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a decentralized neo-charismatic movement aiming to establish Old Testament biblical governance globally.

Odette Youssef, reporting for NPR, adds:

• Rhetoric Escalation: There has been a noticeable increase in violent rhetoric from apostolic leaders in the U.S.

Fred Clarkson connects historical patterns:

"Some NAR leaders were involved in organizing and fomenting anger among Trump's base in the period leading to the January 6th attack on the Capitol."
— Fred Clarkson [03:05]

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4. Natural Disasters and Corporate Settlements

Timestamp: [03:15] - [04:02]

Shea Stevens covers two major stories:

1. Flooding in West Virginia:

   • Death Toll: At least six confirmed fatalities, with two persons missing.
   • Damage: Over 60 homes, numerous businesses, and infrastructure, including roads, have been affected in the state's northern panhandle.
   • Statement: Governor Patrick Morrissey addresses the ongoing emergency.

2. Purdue Pharma Settlement:

   • Company Status: Bankrupt oxycodone manufacturer Purdue Pharma reaches a multi-billion dollar settlement with all 50 states.
   • Terms: The Sackler family, owners of Purdue, will contribute financially and relinquish control of the company as part of the agreement.

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5. Catholic Church Affiliation and Beliefs

Timestamp: [04:02] - [04:41]

Jason DeRose discusses findings from a Pew Research Center report on Americans' connection to the Catholic Church:

• Statistics:

  • 20% identify as Catholic.
  • 9% describe themselves as culturally Catholic.
  • Another 9% are former Catholics.
  • An additional 9% have indirect connections, such as having a Catholic parent or spouse.

• Beliefs and Practices:

  • 70% prioritize a personal relationship with Jesus.
  • 50% are devoted to Mary.
  • Just under 50% focus on helping the poor or receiving the Eucharist.
  • Less than a third consider opposing abortion, caring for immigrants, or belonging to a parish as essential.

Jason DeRose concludes:

"Nearly half of all Americans have some connection to the Catholic Church. But it doesn't mean that they always align with church teachings."
— Jason DeRose [04:02]

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6. Financial Markets Update

Timestamp: [04:41] - [04:56]

Shea Stevens provides a brief overview of the financial markets:

• U.S. Futures: Lower in after-hours trading following gains in Asian markets on Monday.
• Global Shares: Mostly down, with a slight increase in Tokyo, signaling cautious investor sentiment.

"U.S. futures are lower in after hours trading on Wall street following Monday's gains on Asia Pacific markets."
— Shea Stevens [04:41]

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Closing Note

The episode concludes without additional content following the final market update, adhering to NPR's format of omitting advertisements, intros, and outros in detailed summaries.

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Notable Quotes

1. Greg Maibre:
   "Israel is shooting down about 90% of Iran's incoming ballistic missiles, and that's roughly what was expected."
   — [00:43]

2. Rachel Meeropol:
   "The judge looked at the agency's explanation for why it would not fly these categories of research and said that they were wholly without reason and without reasoning."
   — [01:48]

3. Craig Lemolt:
   "The judge went on to say the government's actions in the case amounted to racial discrimination and discrimination against the LGBTQ population, saying he's never seen anything like this in his 40 years on the bench."
   — [01:58]

4. Fred Clarkson:
   "Some NAR leaders were involved in organizing and fomenting anger among Trump's base in the period leading to the January 6th attack on the Capitol."
   — [03:05]

5. Jason DeRose:
   "Nearly half of all Americans have some connection to the Catholic Church. But it doesn't mean that they always align with church teachings."
   — [04:02]

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key points, discussions, and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on June 17, 2025. It is structured to provide clarity and depth for listeners seeking an in-depth understanding of the covered topics.

Transcript

[Sponsor Announcement]

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump is heading back to the United states from the G7 gathering in Calgary to deal with the crisis in the Middle East. Israel says it has largely eliminated Iran's air defenses and says it can now bomb much of that nation without restriction. But NPR's Greg Maibre reports that Iran is unleashing waves of missiles on a nightly basis, and some of them are landing.

[Greg Maibre]

Israel is shooting down about 90% of Iran's incoming ballistic missiles, and that's roughly what was expected. Several of these missiles hit in Israel on Monday morning, killing civilians in apartment buildings and causing a huge blaze at an oil refinery in Israel has two of its own defense systems for ballistic missiles. One is called the Arrow, the other is David's Sling. Both are geared for these missiles that fly very high and very fast. The best known system, of course, is Iron Dome, but that's designed for short range rockets.

[Shea Stevens]

NPR's Greg Myra reporting. A federal judge in Boston says the National Institutes of Health's decision to cancel roughly 800 research grants was illegal. From member station GBH in Boston, Greg Lamolt reports that the terminated grants focused on topics the Trump administration dislikes, including diversity and transgender issues.

[Craig Lemolt]

The federal Judge ruled the NIH's terminations of those grants were arbitrary and capricious, and he ordered the agency to start paying for that research again. Attorney Rachel Meeropol of the ACLU represented plaintiffs in the case.

[Rachel Meeropol]

The judge looked at the agency's explanation for why it would not fly these categories of research and said that they were wholly without reason and without reasoning.

[Craig Lemolt]

The judge went on to say the government's actions in the case amounted to racial discrimination and discrimination against the LGBTQ population, saying he's never seen anything like this in his 40 years on the bench. And he invited the plaintiff's attorneys to offer evidence of harm to those populations so he could weigh in on that. For NPR News, I'm Craig Lemolt in Boston.

[Shea Stevens]

Investigators are combing through numerous notebooks belonging to the suspect in the weekend attacks on political figures in Minnesota. As NPR's Odette Youssef reports, they say Vance Belter had a list of dozens of Democratic officials and abortion rights supporters.

[Fred Clarkson]

Videos of Vance Belter sermonizing in Africa and his reported connection to the Christ for the Nations Institute in Texas suggest that Belter may be involved with a new apostolic reformation. NAR is a decentralized neo charismatic movement that seeks to establish top down Old Testament biblical governance across the globe. Fred Clarkson is with Political Research Associates.

[Odette Youssef]

There's been a decided uptick in the rhetoric and vision of violence in the United States from apostolic leaders for some time.

[Fred Clarkson]

Some NAR leaders were involved in organizing and fomenting anger among Trump's base in the period leading to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Odette Youssef, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

This is npr. The death toll from flooding in West Virginia has risen to at least six in the state's northern panhandle. Governor Patrick Morrissey says two other people are missing. At least 60 homes and dozens of businesses and roads were damaged by flooding in the state. Bankrupt oxy content maker Purdue Pharma has reached a multi billion dollar settlement with all 50 states under the deal. The Sackler family, which owns Purdue, will pay a portion of the it will also relinquish control of the company. A report from the Pew Research center finds that nearly half of all Americans have some connection to the Catholic Church. But NPR's Jason DeRose reports that it doesn't mean that always aligns with church teachings.

[Jason DeRose]

20% of US adults said they're Catholic when asked about their current religion. An additional 9% said they were culturally Catholic. Another 9% said they were former Catholics. And yet another 9% said they had some other connections, such as a Catholic parent or spouse when it comes to what's essential to their faith. The report found that seven in 10 said a personal relationship with Jesus. Half responded devotion to Mary, and just under half said helping the poor or receiving the Eucharist. Less than a third of Catholics said opposing abortion, caring for immigrants or belonging to a parish was essential. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are lower in after hours trading on Wall street following Monday's gains on Asia Pacific markets. Shares are mostly lower, but up a fraction in Tokyo. This is NPR News.

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