NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of June 26, 2025, 11 AM EDT Episode

Hosted by NPR, "NPR News Now" delivers the latest news in five minutes, updated hourly. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the June 26, 2025, 11 AM EDT episode.

Supreme Court Upholds South Carolina’s Exclusion of Planned Parenthood from Medicaid

Host: Korva Coleman

The U.S. Supreme Court rendered a significant decision allowing South Carolina to remove Planned Parenthood from its state Medicaid program. South Carolina had objected to the organization's involvement in providing abortions, although Medicaid funds are generally restricted from financing such procedures. Governor Henry McMaster had previously excluded Planned Parenthood from state Medicaid offerings. The Supreme Court affirmed this exclusion in a 6-3 decision, emphasizing the state's authority in this matter.

Key Quote:

“Medicaid funds generally cannot be used to fund the procedure,” Coleman reported at 00:16.

Senate Republicans Face Setback on Tax Cuts and Spending Bill

Host: Korva Coleman

Senate Republicans encountered a hurdle in their ambitious efforts to pass a substantial tax cut and spending bill. The nonpartisan Senate parliamentarian ruled against a pivotal provision related to Medicaid providers and their taxation. This decision threatens to derail the GOP's plan to offset tax cuts by altering Medicaid provider taxes. The parliamentarian stated that the GOP’s approach did not comply with existing Senate rules, potentially preventing a vote on the bill by week's end.

Key Quote:

“The plan to change how Medicaid providers are taxed was intended to help offset the costs of the bill's tax cuts,” explained Coleman at 00:16.

CDC Director Nominee Susan Menarez Addresses Vaccine Policies in Senate Hearing

Reporting By: Selena Simmons-Duffin

President Trump's second nominee for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Susan Menarez, appeared before a Senate panel amid intense scrutiny over vaccine policies. The hearing prominently featured discussions on vaccines, a focal point previously championed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance. Menarez navigated questions regarding her position, affirming her support for vaccines despite not being directly involved in recent policy decisions.

Key Quotes:

Susan Menarez: “I think vaccines save lives. I think that we need to continue to support the promotion of utilization of vaccines. I wasn't involved in that decision making. If I'm confirmed as a CDC director, I will certainly look into it.” (01:56)

Selena Simmons-Duffin: “Manares is the rare insider to be elevated under Kennedy. She is not a physician. Her doctorate is in microbiology.” (02:08)

Menarez's confirmation could signify continuity in pro-vaccine policies within the CDC, addressing concerns raised by her predecessor’s controversial views.

Defense News: U.S. Strikes Iran’s Nuclear Sites and NATO’s Defense Spending Disputes

Host: Korva Coleman
Reporting By: Deepa Shivaram

U.S. Military Actions: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities were destructive, citing reports from various groups, including a UN agency. However, he admitted a lack of intelligence regarding whether Iran had relocated its uranium prior to the strikes.

Key Quote:

“US attacks on Iran's nuclear sites were destructive,” stated Hegseth at 02:18.

NATO Defense Spending: NATO leaders unanimously agreed to significantly increase their defense budgets, a move welcomed by President Trump. However, underlying tensions persist between the U.S. and its NATO allies. Notably, Spain's reluctance to meet the agreed-upon defense spending increases has strained relations.

Key Quote:

“There are still some lingering questions from allies about how reliable the US is,” Shivaram reported at 02:47.

Trump expressed frustration with Spain, labeling their stance as “terrible and unfair,” and threatened economic reprisals through increased tariffs, highlighting potential strains in future NATO collaborations.

Weather Update: Midwest and East Coast Heat Wave Easing

Host: Korva Coleman

The National Weather Service announced a relief from the prolonged heat wave affecting much of the Midwest and East Coast. While numerous heat records were broken this week, cooler temperatures are expected to prevail over the weekend. Nonetheless, approximately 130 million people remain under some form of heat advisory, emphasizing the continued need for caution.

Key Information:

“Prolonged heat wave should start to ease today,” reported Coleman at 03:10.

Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Set to Reopen, Power Microsoft’s Data Centers

Reporting By: Jackson White

Plans to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania are advancing faster than anticipated. Microsoft has secured a 20-year agreement to utilize electricity from the plant to power its data centers, supporting its ambitious goal to become carbon negative.

Key Quotes:

Joe Dominguez, Constellation CEO: “We made a mistake in shutting down this plant, but we're not here to dwell on that mistake. We're here to look to the future.” (04:10)

“Microsoft is agreeing to purchase the energy produced at the facility for 20 years in part to meet its climate target of becoming carbon negative,” White added at 04:17.

The plant, now renamed Crane Clean Energy Center, is slated to reopen in 2027, marking a rare instance of a previously shuttered nuclear facility being refurbished to support cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Sports Highlight: Faith Kipyegon’s Historic Attempt to Break the Four-Minute Mile

Host: Korva Coleman

Kenyan runner and three-time Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon is set to attempt a historic feat in Paris—becoming the first woman to break the four-minute mile barrier. To achieve this, Kipyegon must improve her world record time by nearly eight seconds, a challenging yet inspirational endeavor.

Key Information:

“She will need to cut a little less than eight seconds off her own world record time to achieve this,” Coleman reported at 04:27.

Economic Snapshot: Dow Jones Industrial Average Surges

Host: Korva Coleman

In financial news, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a notable increase, climbing more than 300 points. This surge reflects investor optimism and positive market movements amidst the day's broader economic developments.

This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key topics covered in the June 26, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, ensuring listeners stay informed on the latest national and international events.