NPR News: 06-26-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of the June 26, 2025, Episode

Released on June 26, 2025, at 6 PM EDT

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1. Supreme Court Ruling on Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood (00:18 - 01:13)

Host: Jack Speier

NPR News Now opened with a significant legal development affecting healthcare services in South Carolina. The Supreme Court ruled that states have the authority to eliminate Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, a decision advanced by South Carolina State.

Report by Mayan Schechter:

• Impact on Healthcare Access: The ruling compels low-income patients to rely on a limited number of providers within the state that accept Medicaid.

• Scope of Medicaid Benefits: While Medicaid does not cover abortion procedures, it continues to fund essential services such as birth control, cancer screenings, and other medical tests.

Key Insights:

• Heather Bauer's Concerns: South Carolina House Democratic lawmaker Heather Bauer expressed apprehension about the ruling's implications. She stated at [00:57], "They're continuing to find ways to chip away at affordable and accessible healthcare." Bauer emphasized that the court's decision, coupled with proposed Medicaid cuts, would exacerbate health disparities for lower-income residents in a state already grappling with poor health outcomes.

• Future Outlook: Bauer further noted at [01:03], "And they're going to continue to do that," indicating ongoing legislative efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of the ruling.

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2. Senate Republicans' Roadblock on Tax and Spending Package (01:13 - 02:05)

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Elena Moore

As the July 4th deadline approached, Senate Republicans encountered a significant hurdle in their attempts to pass a comprehensive tax and spending package.

Key Points:

• Parliamentarian's Ruling: The Senate parliamentarian, a nonpartisan adviser, determined that several proposed changes to Medicaid did not comply with the budget process rules necessitating a simple majority for passage.

• Proposed Medicaid Changes: Among the contentious modifications was a requirement for states to reduce taxes on Medicaid providers. These changes faced division among Republican lawmakers, primarily over the need to secure fiscal savings.

Notable Quote: Elena Moore reported, "The Senate office has determined many of the proposed changes to Medicaid cannot pass with a simple majority of Republicans," highlighting the procedural challenges faced by the party.

Political Pressure: The Republican party is under increasing pressure from President Trump to broker a deal, emphasizing the high stakes involved in the legislative process.

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3. Pew Research Study on the 2024 Presidential Election and Voter Turnout (02:05 - 03:01)

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Domenico Montanaro

A new study by the Pew Research Center provides intriguing insights into the 2024 presidential election, particularly focusing on the potential impact of voter turnout.

Study Findings:

• Trump's Strength Among Non-Voters: The study revealed that among the thousands surveyed who did not vote in the 2024 election, 44% preferred President Trump, while 40% favored Democrat Kamala Harris.

• Voter Turnout Implications: Historically, higher turnout has favored Democrats due to their support base among younger and non-white voters, who typically vote at lower rates. However, the study suggests a potential shift. If all eligible voters had participated, Trump's narrow victory in the popular vote could have widened from a 1.5 percentage point margin to a 3 percentage point advantage.

Heather Bauer's Analysis: At [02:18], Heather Bauer provided context, stating, "Historically, higher turnout was thought to be better for Democrats because younger voters and non-white voters lean left and they traditionally vote at lower rates." She further explained the reversal observed in the current study results.

Contextual Background: This finding deviates from the patterns seen in the previous two presidential elections, where non-voters typically leaned towards Democratic candidates.

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4. Stock Market Update and Obituaries (03:01 - 04:06)

Host: Jack Speier

Market Overview:

• Record Highs: Wall Street approached new record highs with the Dow Jones Industrial Average surging by 404 points, the Nasdaq increasing by 194 points, and the S&P 500 rising by 48 points.

• Investor Sentiment: The market rally occurred despite investors' cautious outlook amid challenging economic indicators.

Obituary: Bill Moyers (03:30 - 04:06)

• Legacy: Former White House press secretary Bill Moyers passed away after battling cancer. Moyers was renowned for his extensive journalism career, including roles as a newspaper publisher, senior news analyst for CBS, and a prominent figure in public television.

• Contributions: His notable work encompassed "Bill Moyers' Journal," which featured hundreds of stories, and his book "Listening to America: A Traveler Rediscovers His Country." Moyers, who described himself as a "citizen journalist," was 91 years old. His passing was confirmed by his son, with his wife of over 70 years, Judith Davidson, by his side.

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5. Anna Wintour to Step Down as Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue (04:06 - 04:51)

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Elizabeth Blair

In a major shift in the fashion industry, Anna Wintour announced her decision to relinquish her long-held position as Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue after 37 years. She will, however, continue her influential roles as Chief Content Officer for Conde Nast and Global Editorial Director for Vogue.

Key Details:

• Legacy and Influence: Wintour's tenure at Vogue began in 1988, during which she launched successful editions such as Teen Vogue and Men's Vogue. She has been a pivotal figure in shaping fashion journalism and the broader media landscape.

• Cultural Impact: Anna Wintour is widely believed to be the inspiration for Miranda Priestley, the formidable editor character in "The Devil Wears Prada," a novel turned blockbuster movie, penned by one of her former assistants.

Future of Vogue: Elizabeth Blair highlighted that the next Editor-in-Chief of Vogue will inherit a legacy of elegance and sophistication, as stated by Vogue, "The shoes the next Vogue editor in chief will need to fill will certainly be elegant and expensive."

Current Responsibilities:
In addition to her editorial duties at Vogue, Wintour oversees Conde Nast's other prominent brands, including Wired, Vanity Fair, and GQ, demonstrating her expansive influence within the publishing house.

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Conclusion

The June 26, 2025, episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with comprehensive coverage of pivotal national issues, ranging from healthcare policy changes and legislative challenges to electoral dynamics and significant cultural shifts. The episode underscored the interconnectedness of political decisions, economic indicators, and societal trends, offering insightful analysis backed by expert reporting and authoritative quotes.

Transcript

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[Jack Speier]

In Washington, I'm Jack Speier. The Supreme Court has ruled that states can cut off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. The case was advanced by South Carolina State. South Carolina Public Radio's Mayan Schechter reports. The ruling will force low income patients there to seek care from a small group of providers in the state who accept Medicaid.

[Mayan Schechter]

Medicaid benefits do not cover abortion procedures, but they do COVID patient access to birth control, cancer screenings and other testing. South Carolina House Democratic lawmaker Heather Bauer worries that the decision will make matters worse for a state with poor health outcomes for lower income residents.

[Heather Bauer]

They're continuing to find ways to chip.

[Elena Moore]

Away at affordable and accessible health care.

[Jack Speier]

And they're going to continue to do that.

[Mayan Schechter]

Bower says the court's decision, along with proposed cuts to Medicaid will compound the problem. For NPR News, I'm Mayan Schechter in Columbia, South Carolina.

[Jack Speier]

Senate Republicans have hit a major roadblock in their effort to pass a massive tax and spending package just days before their self imposed deadline of July 4th. NPR's Elena Moore reports. The Senate office has determined many of the proposed changes to Medicaid cannot pass with a simple majority of Republicans.

[Elena Moore]

The decision was made by the Senate parliamentarian, a nonpartisan professional staffer who advises lawmakers on the chamber's rules. She said that some of the Republicans proposed changes don't meet the rules for the budget process they're using to pass the bill, including a requirement that states decrease the amount they tax providers of Medicaid, the federal health coverage program for low income and disabled Americans. Lawmakers have been divided on making changes to the program, but supporters say it's needed to find savings. It all comes as the party faces cease serious pressure from President Trump to make a deal. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

Even if everyone in the country who's eligible who vote had done so, President Trump still would have won. That is from a new study by the Pew Research center to examine the 2024 presidential election. Here's NPR's Domenico Montanaro.

[Heather Bauer]

Historically, higher turnout was thought to be better for Democrats because younger voters and non white voters lean left and they traditionally vote at lower rates. But of the thousands of people that Pew interviewed who didn't vote in the 2024 presidential election, 44% preferred Trump, while 40% said they would have rather seen Democrat Kamala Harris in the White House. So even if everyone who could have voted did, Trump's overall very narrow popular vote win would have expanded from 1.5 percentage points to 3. That's a reversal from the last two presidential elections when non voters said they preferred the Democratic candidates. The finding was part of an almost 9,000 person Pew survey conducted in the weeks after the presidential election. Domenico Montanaro, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Speier]

Stocks ran right up to the edge of new record highs on Wall street today as investors looked at bearing economic numbers. The Dow jumped 404 points. The Nasdaq was up 194 points. The S&P rose 48 points. You're listening to NPR. Former White House press secretary Bill Moyers, whose journalism career also included work as a newspaper publisher, a senior news analyst for CBS and an extensive career in public television, has died after a fight with cancer. Moyer's death was confirmed to NPR by his son. His wife of more than 70 years, Judith Davidson, was at his side. Moyer's work included Bill Moyer's journal. It featured hundreds of stories and along with his bus ride around the country that became a book, listening to America. A traveler rediscovers his country. Bill Moyer has often called himself a citizen journalist. He was 91 years old. Anna Wintour has announced that after some 37 years she'll move away from the editor in chief position at American Vogue. Wintour will continue in her roles as chief content officer for Conde Nast and global editorial director for Vogue. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports.

[Elizabeth Blair]

Anna Wintour is believed to be the inspiration for the boss from Hell character Miranda Priestley in the novel and movie the Devil Wears Prada. The novel was written by one of Winter's former assistants. The shoes the next Vogue editor in chief will need to fill will certainly be elegant and expensive, according to Vogue. Winter told staff today about a new job opening. Head of editorial content for American Vogue. Winter's plate has been full in recent years. In addition to the day to day editing of American Vogue, she oversees sees almost all of Conde Nast's other brands including Wired, vanity fair and GQ. Winter joined Vogue as editor in chief in 1988. She went on to launch Teen Vogue and Men's Vogue. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

And I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.

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