NPR News: 06-20-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of Episode Released on June 21, 2025

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Release Date: June 21, 2025
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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1. U.S. Foreign Policy: Israel-Iran Conflict

Speaker: Deepa Shivaram
Timestamp: [00:36]

President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which erupted a week prior with a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran. Trump acknowledged the complexities of the situation, stating, "it's hard right now to make the request to Israel to stop their attacks" ([00:36]). However, he expressed a potential openness to a ceasefire contingent upon successful negotiations. Additionally, Trump revealed that he would decide within two weeks whether the United States would intervene directly, quoting, "to see whether people come to their senses" ([00:36]).

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2. National Guard Control in California

Speaker: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [01:09]

A federal judge has temporarily halted further rulings on the deployment of the National Guard in California, maintaining President Trump's authority over the state's guard forces. This decision follows a procedural victory for Trump at the appeals court level, which allows him to retain control amid California's legal challenges. However, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Fryer has requested both parties to submit additional briefs for consideration ([01:09]).

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3. Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Display Law

Speaker: Aubrey Yuhas
Timestamp: [01:44]

A Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel in New Orleans unanimously declared a Louisiana law mandating public colleges and schools to display the Ten Commandments as unconstitutional ([01:44]). This ruling supports a lower court's decision that prevented the law from taking effect in January. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Merrill contended that the law should apply only to the five parishes involved in the lawsuit and advocated for its broader implementation. In response, Merrill stated, "I strongly disagree with the Fifth Circuit's ruling and plans to appeal, if necessary, all the way to the US Supreme Court" ([01:44]).

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4. Health Study: Breast Cancer Treatment and Alzheimer's Risk

Speaker: Jon Hamilton
Timestamp: [02:29]

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network analyzed over 70,000 breast cancer survivors in Korea to assess the long-term risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Contrary to concerns, the findings indicated that cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation do not increase, and may even slightly decrease, the likelihood of Alzheimer's. Specifically, patients were 8% less likely to receive an Alzheimer's diagnosis compared to cancer-free individuals. Notably, while chemotherapy and hormone therapy showed no significant impact, radiation therapy was associated with a reduced risk, potentially due to its role in protecting certain brain cells ([02:29]).

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5. Business Update: Kroger Supermarkets Closure

Speaker: Alina Selyuk
Timestamp: [03:36]

Kroger Supermarkets announced the closure of 60 locations nationwide following the collapse of its proposed merger with Albertsons, which was thwarted by the Biden administration in December ([03:36]). The merger's failure led to reduced opportunities for Kroger to reorganize and streamline its operations, particularly concerning underperforming stores. Despite these closures, Kroger reported a 3.2% growth in sales (excluding fuel) in the latest quarter, attributing this to increased home dining trends. Additionally, Kroger anticipates minimal impacts from tariffs, as it has limited affected items and is actively managing costs by engaging suppliers and discontinuing select products ([03:36]).

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6. Natural Events and Economic Indicators

A. Kilauea Volcano Eruption in Hawaii

Speaker: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [04:19]

The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island is actively erupting, with lava fountains reaching heights of up to 1,000 feet. The eruption follows a period of sporadic lava overflows and minor activity. Kilauea remains one of the world's most active volcanoes, having erupted dozens of times since December 2024 ([04:19]).

B. Crude Oil Prices

Speaker: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [04:19]

Crude oil prices saw a slight decline, closing the day 0.2% lower at $75 per barrel. This minor decrease reflects ongoing market adjustments amid global economic and geopolitical factors ([04:19]).

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode, providing listeners with a clear and detailed overview of the day's most significant news stories.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump says it would be difficult to ask Israel to call off its airstrikes on Iran, but he says he might be okay with a se ceasefire while negotiations take place. NPR's Deepa Shivaram has more.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Trump says he might support a ceasefire during talks to negotiate the conflict between Israel and Iran, which began one week ago when Israel attacked Iran with a wave of airstrikes. He said Israel is, quote, doing well in terms of war and it's hard right now to make the request to Israel to stop their attacks. Trump said Thursday he would decide whether or not the US Would get involved in the conflict and directly strike Iran, quote, within two weeks. He says the two week period is to, quote, see whether or not people come to their senses. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

A federal judge is holding off on any additional rulings on the National Guard in California for now, leaving it in Trump's control. This after an appeals court yesterday gave Trump a key procedural victory, saying he can keep control of the state's guard during California's court challenge. U.S. district Court Judge Charles Fryer asked lawyers, though, for both sides to file briefs. On Monday, a federal appeals court says a Louisiana law requiring public colleges and schools to display the Ten Commandments violates the Constitution. Aubrey Yuhas of member station WWNO has more.

[Aubrey Yuhas]

A three judge panel on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled unanimously that the law is plainly unconstitutional. The decision upholds a lower court's ruling that blocked Louisiana from enforcing the law when it took effect in January. Louisiana's attorney General, Liz Merrill argues that it only applies to schools in the five parishes named in the suit and that the Ten Commandments should be displayed in all other classrooms. Murrell says in a statement that she strongly disagrees with the Fifth Circuit's ruling and plans to appeal, if necessary, all the way to the US Supreme Court. For NPR News, I'm Aubrey Yuhas in New Orleans.

[Jeanine Herbst]

New research shows people treated for breast cancer are slightly less likely to develop Alzheimer's. NPR's Jon Hamilton reports on a study in the journal JAMA Network.

[Jon Hamilton]

Open breast cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiation can cause short term problems with memory and thinking. But a study of more than 70,000 breast cancer survivors in Korea found the treatments did not increase a person's long term risk for Alzheimer's. Patients followed for up to nine years after surgery were about 8% less likely to be diagnosed with the disease than similar cancer free individuals. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy were not associated with any change in risk, but radiation therapy appeared to decrease the chance of a diagnosis. The study's authors say that may be because radiation can improve cognitive function by protecting certain brain cells. John Hamilton, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Wall street ended the day in mixed territory. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Dozens of Kroger Supermarkets across the US are going out of business. NPR's Alina Selyuk reports. The food grocery giant says it has to reorganize after its plans to acquire a major rival collapsed.

[Alina Selyuk]

Kroger's mega merger with Albertsons fell apart in December, losing in court to the Biden administration. The deal was pending over two years, and in that time, Kroger says it did not close any of its underperforming stores like it normally would. So so now comes a wave of those closures. 60 locations will close across the country, though no specific details yet in its earnings report. Kroger also says sales, excluding fuel, grew 3.2% in the latest quarter as people are eating at home more often. And on tariffs, Kroger forecast a, quote, minimal impact, saying few of its items have been affected, and it's pushing suppliers to eat new costs and discontinuing some items to avoid tariff hikes. Alina Seluk, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In Hawaii, the Kilauea volcano is erupting again, sending lava fountains shooting 1,000ft into the air as lava flows erupt. The USGS's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says this episode was preceded by small, sporadic sputtering and lava overflows. Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It's located on the Big island, and it's been very active in the past several months, erupting dozens of times just since December. Crude oil prices lower by the close, down about 0.2%, ending at $75 a barrel even. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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