NPR News Now: June 25, 2025, 8PM EDT Summary
Release Date: June 26, 2025
US Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites
Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [00:20]
At the recently concluded NATO summit in The Hague, President Donald Trump asserted that the U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities over the past weekend had “completely and fully obliterated the country's nuclear capabilities” (00:20). This strong statement contrasts with the initial U.S. intelligence assessment, which suggested that the strikes would “only set back Iran's efforts by a few months”.
President Donald Trump further emphasized the severity of the attack during his remarks:
“When I saw them starting to question the caliber of the attack, was it bad? Well, it was really bad. It was devastating. They were obliterated. Like you can't get into the tunnels. They just put that over. That just came out. They can't. There's nothing. There's no way you can even get down. The whole thing has collapsed in a disaster.”
— Donald Trump 00:46
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a rare statement supporting the administration's position, declaring that Iran's nuclear program was “severely damaged by the U.S. airstrikes” (01:04). Administration officials have defended the president's claims by labeling the initial intelligence assessment as “preliminary”.
CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee Reexamines Vaccine Schedule
Reporter: Ping Wang
Timestamp: [01:30]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) influential vaccine advisory committee has initiated a comprehensive review of the current vaccine schedule for children and adolescents. This shift follows significant changes in the committee's composition and tone.
Martin Koldorff, a biostatistician and the newly appointed chair of the committee, stated:
“The number of vaccines that our children and adolescents receive today exceed what children in most other developed nations receive.”
— Martin Koldorff 01:44
These recommendations are pivotal as they guide state and local vaccine policies and influence insurance coverage. The overhaul comes after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. replaced the committee members two weeks prior, appointing individuals some of whom have expressed skepticism about vaccines. This move is seen as a potential “significant shift in vaccine policy” (01:30).
Cuts to Foreign Aid and Public Media Funding
Reporter: Deidre Walsh
Timestamp: [02:09]
President Trump's budget director, Russ Vogt, defended the administration's proposal to claw back over $9 billion in foreign aid and funding for public media. The focus is particularly on a $1 billion cut aimed at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Senate Proceedings:
Senators from both parties have engaged in a press vote to discuss the impact of these cuts on emergency services and local news, especially in rural areas. Senate Chair Susan Collins expressed concerns about ideological bias in some content but noted that most funds support local stations rather than national content:
“Addressing that bias at NPR than rescinding all of the funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.”
— Susan Collins 02:46
The House has narrowly approved the administration's request, while the Senate must decide by July 18. Failure to approve the cuts would require the administration to release the funds for targeted programs (02:56).
Economic Updates and Corporate Developments
Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [03:09]
-
Wall Street: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down by 106 points, while the Nasdaq saw a modest increase of 61 points.
-
Bumble Layoffs: The dating app Bumble announced it would lay off approximately 30% of its workforce, equating to around 240 employees. The company cited the need to realign operations and aims to save about $40 million annually, which will be reinvested into product and technological development.
Controversy Surrounding US Agency for Global Media
Speaker: Kari Lake
Timestamp: [03:54]
During a House hearing, former Trump ally Kari Lake likened the US Agency for Global Media to a “rotten fish”, advocating for its dissolution. She argued that the agency “needs to be scrapped”.
Democratic Response:
Michelle Kellerman of NPR reported that Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized Lake for disseminating falsehoods to advance her agenda against organizations like Voice of America (VoA). Lake accused VoA of being under the undue influence of the Chinese Communist Party, a claim Democrats refuted.
Susan Collins supported the idea of restructuring the agency:
“President Trump has the right idea. We need to eliminate this agency, find what's salvageable and move it over to the Department of State.”
— Susan Collins 04:16
Democrats countered that China and Russia welcomed the Trump administration's attempts to silence news organizations that provided trusted information to repressive regimes (04:23).
Entertainment News: Barbra Streisand's New Record
Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [03:09]
In lighter news, iconic singer Barbra Streisand is set to release a new album titled "Partners, Volume 2: The Secret of Life". The project features collaborations with music legends such as Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and James Taylor. Streisand described the recording process as overcoming a “shot” voice, showcasing her resilience and dedication to her artistry (03:54).
This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode aired on June 25, 2025. For more detailed coverage, listening to the full episode is recommended.