NPR News Now: June 19, 2025, 12 PM EDT
Presented by NPR
1. Rising Tensions: Calls for Assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader
Lakshmi Singh opens the episode by highlighting escalating tensions in the Middle East. In Israel, calls for the assassination of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, are intensifying.
Hadil Al Shalchi reports from Holon, the hardest-hit suburb of Tel Aviv, where Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that eliminating Khamenei is a strategic objective of the current conflict. Katz emphasized the necessity of Khamenei’s removal to achieve Israel’s war goals:
“Killing Iran's supreme leader is a goal of the war. This man certainly cannot continue to exist.” [00:38]
Earlier, Katz had labeled Khamenei a “dickhead dictator” and threatened to strike him “everywhere” following an Israeli military strike on an Iranian state TV studio. Meanwhile, President Trump indicated on Truth Social that the U.S. knows Khamenei’s location but is withholding action for the time being:
“We know exactly where he is, but we are not going to take him out, kill, at least for now.” [00:38]
2. U.S. Military Strikes on Iran: Uncertainty Remains
The discussion shifts to the broader implications of potential U.S. military action against Iran. Michael Knights, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, provides insights into Iran's nuclear program and the international community’s limited understanding due to restricted inspection access:
“The International Atomic Energy Agency is clear about what it doesn't know... because the inspection access has not been what it wanted it to be.” [01:47]
Knights highlights the IAEA's criticisms of Iran ahead of the Israeli strike, underscoring the precarious situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
3. Aviation Safety Alert: Engine Smoke Hazard
In aviation news, Joel Rose reports on an urgent recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concerning engines used on several passenger jets. Following incidents in December 2023 where smoke entered cockpits after bird strikes, the NTSB is urging immediate action:
“We want to address the possibility of smoke entering the cockpit or cabin.” [02:25]
The recommendation targets planes equipped with CFM LEAP engines, including the Airbus 320 Neo and Boeing 737 Max models. The NTSB advises flight crews to be vigilant about this potential hazard and calls on aviation regulators to examine other variants of the LEAP engine for similar issues.
4. Hurricane Eric Makes Landfall in Southern Mexico
Lakshmi Singh updates listeners on Hurricane Eric, which has made landfall in southern Mexico as a Category Three storm with top sustained winds of 125 miles per hour. The storm's impact is being closely monitored as it moves inland, bringing significant rainfall and strong winds to affected regions.
5. TikTok's Future in the U.S. Extended by Executive Order
In technology news, President Trump has signed an executive order extending TikTok's operation in the United States for an additional 90 days—the third such extension. The administration continues to press Chinese company ByteDance to divest ownership of the popular short-form video app, citing concerns over:
- Chinese government influence
- American privacy and security
This extension delays any potential ban, allowing more time for negotiations and evaluation of TikTok's compliance with U.S. regulations.
6. Juneteenth Celebrations in Omaha Under New Leadership
Cassidy Arena of Nebraska Public Media reports on the evolving significance of Juneteenth in Omaha, Nebraska. The city recently elected its first Black mayor, John Ewing Jr., marking a historic milestone.
Ewing, whose term began ten days prior, has revitalized Omaha’s Juneteenth celebrations. He envisions the city setting a national example by fostering unity and progress:
“We can be like the rest of the country and have all of the fighting and all of the anger and have that be counterproductive, or we can look at how we can be great together.” [04:23]
Despite losing sponsors due to previous diversity, equity, and inclusion rollbacks mandated by the Trump administration, organizers report that this year’s Juneteenth parade is the largest yet, continuing a tradition that began in the 1980s.
For more updates, visit NPR.org.
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