NPR News Now: June 27, 2025, 8 PM EDT

Release Date: June 28, 2025

NPR's "News Now" delivers a comprehensive overview of the day's most pressing issues, ranging from international trade tensions and significant Supreme Court rulings to high-stakes legal battles and economic milestones. Below is an in-depth summary of the key topics discussed in the June 27, 2025, episode.

1. U.S.-Canada Trade Relations: Termination of Tariff Talks

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Danielle Kurtzleben
Timestamp: [00:20] - [01:21]

President Donald Trump has announced a decisive move in U.S.-Canada trade relations by terminating all ongoing trade discussions. This decision stems from Canada's implementation of a digital services tax, which targets revenues generated by U.S.-based tech giants from Canadian users.

In a statement on social media, Trump declared, “the U.S. is, quote, hereby terminating all discussions on trade with Canada, effective immediately over Canada's digital services tax that takes effect on June 30” (00:40). Furthermore, he intimated forthcoming tariff rate adjustments on Canadian goods, set to be communicated within the next week. Additionally, Trump hinted at the possibility of revising the July 9 deadline for increasing tariffs on multiple countries, noting that negotiations have only yielded a single deal with the United Kingdom thus far. This development marks a significant escalation in trade tensions between the two North American neighbors.

2. Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act's Preventative Care Provisions

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Selena Simmons Duffin
Timestamp: [01:21] - [02:17]

In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld key components of former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically those mandating that preventative services, such as cancer screenings, be provided free of charge to patients.

Selena Simmons Duffin reports that the Court reinforced the role of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a body of volunteer experts, in determining which preventive measures are evidence-based and should be covered by health insurers without cost to patients. The challenge to this provision came from Braidwood Management, a Texas-based company with Christian conservative affiliations, which contested the requirement to cover HIV prevention medications. The Court, however, maintained the status quo in a 6-3 decision, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh penning the majority opinion. Kavanaugh emphasized that the Health Secretary, currently Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holds the authority to review and act upon the Task Force's recommendations. This ruling represents the Supreme Court's latest effort to preserve the foundational elements of the ACA.

3. Governor Gavin Newsom Sues Fox News for Defamation

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Marisa Lagos
Timestamp: [02:17] - [03:07]

California Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Fox News and one of its hosts, Jesse Waters. The lawsuit alleges that Fox News disseminated false information regarding a phone call between Newsom and President Trump, thereby tarnishing the governor's reputation.

Marisa Lagos reports that the lawsuit contends Fox News and Waters lied about the timing of the phone conversation, which occurred amidst heightened immigration raids and protests in Los Angeles—actions that led President Trump to deploy armed troops to the city against Newsom's directives. The governor, addressing the issue via his Substack platform, has publicly demanded an apology, stating, “You can't maliciously slander someone. You can't defame someone by altering facts, editing facts knowingly” (02:51). In response, a Fox News spokesperson dismissed the lawsuit as a “transparent publicity stunt” and pledged to vigorously defend the network against the allegations.

4. Financial Markets Achieve Record Highs

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [03:07] - [03:30]

Today's financial markets witnessed significant milestones as both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices reached unprecedented record highs. The Nasdaq, in particular, saw a notable increase, rising by 105 points to conclude the session at $65.52 per barrel for crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange. This bullish trend reflects investor confidence and potential positive economic indicators in the technology and energy sectors.

5. World's Poorest Countries Falling Further Behind

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [03:30] - [04:08]

A sobering report from the World Bank highlights that the world's poorest nations are increasingly lagging behind in economic development. This assessment, the first comprehensive review of 39 countries grappling with fragile and conflict-affected situations, spans regions from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific to Mozambique in Africa. The data reveals that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, these nations have experienced an average annual decline in economic outlook per person by 1.8%, starkly contrasting with the 2.9% average individual output growth observed in other developing countries. This divergence underscores the exacerbating challenges faced by the most vulnerable populations globally, as they struggle to recover and sustain economic progress amidst ongoing crises.

6. Colorado Funeral Home Owner Sentenced for Fraud and Corpse Abuse

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Dan Boyce
Timestamp: [04:08] - [04:46]

In a disturbing case of fraud and corpse abuse, John Holford, owner of a funeral home in Colorado, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Dan Boyce reports that Holford was convicted for misappropriating nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 aid funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of luxury cars and funding extravagant vacations. Simultaneously, Holford improperly stored approximately 190 bodies in a dilapidated rural building for years, deceiving grieving families by providing them with fake ashes. The illicit activities came to light in 2023, leading to Holford's guilty plea.

Holford also faces an upcoming sentencing in August for a state case involving 191 charges related to corpse abuse. His wife, Carrie Holford, is scheduled for hearings concerning both their federal and state cases in September. This case underscores the critical importance of oversight and accountability in the management of public funds and services, particularly in sensitive sectors such as funeral services.

7. Crude Oil Prices Surge

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [04:46] - [04:59]

Crude oil markets remained robust today, with futures prices climbing by 28 cents per barrel. The New York Mercantile Exchange reported that oil concluded the session at $65.52 per barrel. This upward movement reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply chain dynamics that continue to influence global energy prices.

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, introductory remarks, and non-content segments to focus solely on delivering the essential news and insights discussed during the episode.