NPR News: 06-25-2026 2PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – June 25, 2026, 2PM EDT

Episode Overview

This concise newscast delivers the top headlines of June 25, 2026, covering significant developments in U.S. election law, a devastating earthquake in Venezuela, an extreme heatwave in Europe, the death of a legendary musician, and controversy surrounding the Kennedy Center. Each story is given clear, factual coverage, embodying NPR’s straightforward and informative style.

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Key News Stories & Insights

1. Federal Judge Blocks Part of Trump’s Mail-In Voting Order

• [00:16 – 01:19]
• Summary: A federal judge in Boston has blocked sections of President Trump’s executive order which sought to limit mail-in voting by requiring the U.S. Postal Service to only deliver ballots to people on newly compiled lists of eligible voters. The ruling affects 23 mostly Democratic-led states.
• Legal Reasoning: Judge Indira Talwani found the order exceeded presidential authority, stressing that federal election rules are the purview of state legislatures and Congress.
• Impacts & Next Steps: The order has not yet materially affected mail-in voting this cycle, but an appeal by the Trump administration is expected. Meanwhile, Democrats continue to challenge the order in other courts.
• Notable Quote:

  “Trump’s order exceeds his authority under the Constitution, which gives power to state legislatures and Congress, not the president, to set federal election rules.”
  — Hansi Lo Wang [00:47]

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2. Major Earthquakes Devastate Venezuela

• [01:19 – 02:16]
• Summary: At least 160 people have died following consecutive earthquakes in Venezuela. Rescue operations are underway, with international teams arriving from Mexico, Chile, and the U.S.
• International Aid: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted ongoing U.S. support, including the provision of search and rescue teams and aerial imagery to assess damage, particularly in less accessible coastal regions.
• Extent of Damage: Dozens of buildings collapsed in La Guaira; the nation’s main airport is closed.
• Notable Quotes:

  “That’s their most immediate need right now is search and rescue efforts. And then we’re also helping them with some overhead imagery, especially in coastal areas where they don’t have full visibility.”
  — Marco Rubio [01:51]

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3. Europe Swelters Under Massive Heat Wave

• [02:16 – 03:11]
• Summary: An intense heat wave continues across Western Europe, with Florence, Italy, reaching 96.8°F. The Uffizi Gallery had to suspend ticket sales as its air conditioning failed, though guests with prior reservations are admitted in staggered groups.
• Regional Impact: Italy’s health ministry placed 16 major cities under the highest heat alert. The World Meteorological Organization notes that Europe is warming at twice the global average.
• Memorable Moment:

  “The air conditioning at the Uffizi Gallery buckled in the extreme temperatures... new ticket sales have been suspended until Monday.”
  — Ruth Sherlock [02:28]

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4. Remembering David Clayton Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

• [03:11 – 04:23]
• Summary: Vocalist David Clayton Thomas has died at age 84. Starting in difficult circumstances in Toronto, he rose to fame as the frontman of the Grammy-winning band Blood, Sweat & Tears. The band’s controversial State Department-sponsored tour of Eastern Europe in 1970 contributed to their eventual decline.
• Legacy: Thomas later dedicated himself to a solo career and advocacy for restorative youth justice.
• Notable Quote:

  “What goes up must come down.”
  — Felix Contreras, referencing one of the band’s hit lyrics [03:30]

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5. Kennedy Center Judge’s Inquiry Into Trump Name Removal

• [04:23 – 04:55]
• Summary: The Kennedy Center’s exterior is still covered by a tarp after reportedly removing President Trump’s name from the landmark. Federal Judge Christopher Cooper is demanding an official report on the incident and on the ongoing construction work, with a deadline at the end of July.
• Key Query:

  “The judge is asking for a report by no later than the last day of July. And specifically... to explain the purpose and status of the tarp and scaffolding.”
  — Louise Schiavone [04:39]

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Useful Timestamps

• Voting By Mail Court Rulings: [00:16 – 01:19]
• Venezuela Earthquakes & Rescue Efforts: [01:19 – 02:16]
• Western Europe Heat Wave: [02:16 – 03:11]
• David Clayton Thomas Obituary: [03:11 – 04:23]
• Kennedy Center Controversy: [04:23 – 04:55]

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Noteworthy Quotes

• “Trump’s order exceeds his authority under the Constitution...”
  — Hansi Lo Wang [00:47]
• “That’s their most immediate need right now is search and rescue efforts...”
  — Marco Rubio [01:51]
• “The air conditioning at the Uffizi Gallery buckled in the extreme temperatures...”
  — Ruth Sherlock [02:28]
• “What goes up must come down.”
  — Felix Contreras [03:30]

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This episode delivers a rapid yet insightful sweep of the day’s major news, with succinct on-the-ground reporting and pointed legal and policy discussions, true to NPR’s trusted, balanced tone.

Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. A federal judge in Boston has blocked parts of President Trump's executive order to restrict voting by mail. The ruling applies to the 23 mainly Democratic led states that challenge the order. Plus, Washington, D.C. nPR's Hansi Lo Wang has details.

[Hansi Lo Wang]

A key part of President Trump's order from March calls for the U.S. postal Service to come up with lists of eligible voters and deliver mail in ballots only to people on those lists. USPS has financial support of NPR. U.S. district Judge Indira Talwani in Boston found that Trump's order exceeds his authority under the Constitution, which gives power to state legislatures and Congress, not the president, to set federal election rules. So far, the order has not directly affected mail in voting for this year's elections, but the judge's ruling sets up an expected appeal by the Trump administration in similar lawsuits Based in Washington, D.C. democrats are appealing a decision by another federal judge who last month refused to put out an emergency order that would block parts of Trump's election order because the Trump administration had not carried them out yet. Hansi Loang, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

Venezuela's president says that at least 160 people have been killed in back to back earthquakes that hit the country. Rescue workers are searching for survivors as help begins to arrive from nearby countries. Manuel Rueda has more Major earthquakes are

[Manuel Rueda]

relatively rare in Venezuela in the past hours. Latin American countries that have more experience with big quakes, including Mexico and Chile, have said they're sending rescue teams and medical equipment there. And U.S. secretary of State Marco Rubio said rescue teams from Virginia and California are also on the way.

[Marco Rubio]

That's their most immediate need right now is search and rescue efforts. And then we're also helping them with some overhead imagery, especially in coastal areas where they don't have full visibility over what the damage has been and what the impact has been.

[Manuel Rueda]

Venezuela's acting president Del Sir Rodriguez said dozens of buildings collapsed in the coastal city of La Guaira and the nation's main airport has been closed. For NPR News, I'm Manuel Rueda in Bogota.

[Louise Schiavone]

A massive heat wave continues to grip much of Western Europe. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports. The Uffizi Gallery in Italy suspended ticket sales as the air conditioning system there gave up.

[Ruth Sherlock]

The air conditioning at the Uffizi Gallery buckled in the extreme temperatures that have reached 96.8 Fahrenheit in Florence, operations are underway. Mend the units, but in the meantime, new ticket sales have been suspended until Monday. The gallery says those with existing reservations can enter, but only at staggered times to reduce crowding. This has created long, snaking lines of visitors waiting outside in the heat. Italy's health ministry has placed 16 cities, including Florence, Milan, Rome, Turin and Verona on its highest heat alert. The World Meteorological Organization says Europe is warming at twice the global average. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

The Dow is up 78, the NASDAQ off 161. This is NPR. Vocalist David Clayton Thomas has died at the age of 84. He led the 1960s rock band Blood, Sweat and Tears. NPR's Felix Contreras reports. The band went from Grammy winning heights to a controversial end.

[Felix Contreras]

What goes up must come down.

David Clayton Thomas had a rough start in music, having taught himself guitar while in a reformatory as a teen in Toronto. After eventually making his way from Canada to New York, he was heard by the leader of the then fledgling band Blood, Sweat and Tears. And before too long, they were selling millions of records. A controversial trip to eastern Europe in 1970, sponsored by the US State Department, put them in the crosshairs of a political cultural war that pretty much caused the demise of the band. David Clayton Thomas continued as a solo act, performing and recording with smaller jazz bands while advocating for restorative youth justice programs in Canada. Felix Contreras, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

A tarp still covers the exterior wall of the Kennedy center, where workers reportedly removed President Trump's name. Now federal Judge Christopher Cooper wants to know why that is and what the administrators of the performing arts landmark planned for the rest of the year. The judge is asking for a report by no later than the last day of July. And specifically, Cooper ordered the Kennedy center to explain the purpose and status of the TARP and scaffolding over the front of the arts complex. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

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