NPR News Now: June 24, 2025, 8AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman

1. President Trump Condemns Israel and Iran Over Ceasefire Violations

Timestamp: [00:20]

In the early hours, President Donald Trump publicly denounced both Israel and Iran for what he characterized as violations of a recently announced ceasefire. Trump criticized the prolonged conflict, stating, "both countries have been fighting so long they don't know what they're doing" (00:20).

An Unnamed Analyst offered further insight: "I think they both violated it. I don't think they... I'm not sure they did it intentionally. They couldn't rein people back. I don't like the fact that Israel went out this morning at all. And I'm going to see if I." (00:36)

Trump also took to social media, asserting that Israel would refrain from attacking Iran, although he did not specify his sources for this assurance. He declared, "all planes will turn around and head home" and assured that Iran "won't rebuild its nuclear facilities." These remarks come after Israel accused Iran of breaking the ceasefire by firing into northern Israel, a claim Iran has denied. Israel has indicated it plans to respond to these violations.

2. NATO Summit in The Hague Focuses on Defense Spending

Timestamp: [00:46] - [01:52]

As President Trump prepared to depart for the NATO summit in The Hague, the focus of this year's meeting is centered on enhancing defense budgets among member nations. Eleanor Beardsley reports:

"NATO allies are set to pass an ambitious defense investment plan that will see them stepping up defense spending to 5% of GDP, a big rise from the current 2%." (01:20)

Mark Rutte, NATO's Secretary General, emphasized the critical nature of this initiative, stating, "the war raging in Ukraine is the greatest threat to Europe and those protected by the NATO umbrella." He warned of future vulnerabilities, adding, "Between three, five, seven years from now, Russia will be able to successfully attack us if we do not start investing more today." (01:45) Eleanor Beardsley concluded, "Europe says Rutte has no choice." (01:52)

3. U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Migrant Deportations Amid Rising Heat Concerns

Timestamp: [01:57] - [02:52]

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to allow the Trump administration to continue deporting migrants to countries other than their home nations, overturning a lower court's decision that favored migrants having the opportunity to appeal their cases.

Concurrently, the United States is experiencing extreme heat warnings affecting approximately 160 million people across the central and eastern regions. Stella Mackler from WFAE in Charlotte, North Carolina, highlights the severe impact of the heatwave:

"Carissa Carswell is enjoying the cool air blowing from an AC vent at a financial assistance center in Charlotte. Her air conditioning broke four days ago. She's been buying ice at Walmart to cool off, and she's worried about her kids." (02:32)

In her own words, Carswell expressed her desperation: "It's survival. You can die like that. I ain't trying to be one of them or my children survive." (02:47)

Stella elaborates on the broader issue: "While some cities require landlords to provide AC, most states, including North Carolina, do not. Advocates say this is a serious public health threat, and they're pushing for better protections. In the meantime, Carswell is considering leaving her home and staying with her mother." (02:52)

4. Tragic Boat Accident on Lake Tahoe and NASA's Psyche Mission Update

Timestamp: [03:13] - [04:27]

Korva Coleman reported two significant updates:

• Lake Tahoe Boat Accident: The Coast Guard has located the eighth and final victim in a tragic boat accident on Lake Tahoe, California. The incident occurred during a sudden and powerful storm that even caught weather forecasters off guard. Waves on the lake reached heights of 8 feet, leading to the capsizing of the vessel.

• NASA's Psyche Mission: NASA officials announced that the thrusters on the Psyche space mission have been successfully repaired, allowing the probe to continue its journey towards an unusual asteroid, expected to arrive in 2029. Joe Palka explains:

  "The mission is called Psyche, named for the asteroid it's heading for. In April, mission managers noticed that propellant flow to one of the spacecraft's four small thrusters had decreased. To diagnose the problem, they shut down the thrusters. The answer seemed to be a faulty valve and a propellant line, so they commanded the spacecraft to switch to a backup line. Now NASA says all four engines are working properly." (03:47)

  The Psyche asteroid is of particular interest to planetary scientists because, unlike most asteroids composed primarily of rock, Psyche is largely metallic. Studying it may provide insights into the formation of planets with metal cores, such as Earth.

5. New York City Holds Competitive Mayoral Primary

Timestamp: [04:27] - [04:59]

Today marks a pivotal primary day in New York City, especially for the highly anticipated Democratic mayoral race featuring 11 candidates. Korva Coleman outlines the competitive landscape:

"The most watched contest is the Democratic primary for mayor. There are 11 candidates. Polling suggests a tightening race between former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York Assemblyman Zoran Mamdani." (04:27) Additionally, the current Mayor, Eric Adams, is seeking re-election as an independent, while the Republican side is represented solely by Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels.

6. Market Update and Additional News

• Wall Street: Dow futures are trending higher in premarket trading, suggesting positive investor sentiment for the day ahead.

• Space Exploration: Beyond the Psyche mission, ongoing efforts and developments in NASA's space exploration programs continue to capture public interest.

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