NPR News: 06-29-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: June 30, 2025

Hosted by Jeanine Herbst

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Northern Idaho Shooting Amid Brush Fire

In a tragic incident on a Sunday afternoon, authorities in Coeur d'Alene, northern Idaho, reported that at least two people were killed during a shooting at the site of a brush fire. As firefighters responded to the blaze, they were unexpectedly ambushed, leading to chaos in the lakeside city.

At a news conference, Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris addressed the situation:

"[00:50] Robert Norris: We're developing a plan to be able to suppress these individuals' firefighting capabilities. And when we get that under control, when we have an opportunity to suppress that, then we will continue our removing of people who are on the mountain."

Sheriff Norris indicated that both police and firefighters were under sniper fire while attempting to manage the fire and assist trapped hikers. The motive behind the ambush remains unclear, and state and federal authorities, including the FBI, are actively investigating the origins of the brush fire.

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Senate Debates President Trump's Tax Cut and Spending Bill

The U.S. Senate is currently engaged in a heated debate over President Trump's expansive tax cut and spending bill. Republicans are fervently pushing their members to pass the legislation, while Democrats staunchly oppose it.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voiced strong concerns regarding the bill's implications:

"[01:29] Chuck Schumer: Republicans are about to pass the single most expensive bill in US History to give tax breaks to billionaires while taking away Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and good-paying jobs for millions of people. The CBO just this morning said it will explode the debt by $3.3 trillion."

In contrast, Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, defended the bill, asserting its benefits for American families:

"[01:52] Lindsey Graham: This bill makes the 2017 tax cuts permanent. It avoids a tax increase for your family that's coming in December if we don't act now."

While not all Republicans support the bill, the GOP aims to meet President Trump's self-imposed deadline of July 4th to secure its passage.

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President Trump Discusses TikTok Sale

President Trump addressed the ongoing saga surrounding the social media giant TikTok, announcing that a buyer has been identified:

"[02:26] Donald Trump: We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way. I think I'll need probably China approval and I think President Xi will probably do it."

While the president did not disclose the buyer's identity, he hinted that it comprises "very wealthy people." This statement comes amid Congress's previous approval of a ban on TikTok unless it is sold to a non-Chinese company. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns over Chinese control of TikTok, citing personal and national security threats.

Last year, the Supreme Court upheld Congress's TikTok ban as constitutional. Despite this, Trump has repeatedly delayed the app's prohibition in the U.S. through executive orders. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately one-third of U.S. adults utilized TikTok last year, highlighting the platform's significant user base.

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California's Budget Deal and Health Care for Undocumented Immigrants

Facing a substantial $12 billion budget deficit, California Governor Gavin Newsom has conditionally approved a budget deal that modifies the state's healthcare provisions for undocumented immigrants. Previously, in an effort to expand healthcare access, Newsom had extended coverage to all low-income individuals in California, regardless of their immigration status.

Dana Cronin of KQED reports:

"[03:30] Dana Cronin: Last year, Governor Newsom expanded health care to all low-income people in California, regardless of immigration status. But now with the state facing a $12 billion budget deficit, Newsom's budget deal walks that back for people over 18."

State Senate Budget Committee Chair Scott Weiner acknowledged the necessity of tough decisions:

"[03:50] Lindsey Graham: It could have been enormously worse and we were able to protect health care access for all undocumented people who are currently receiving benefits."

Under the new budget, restrictions including a monthly premium for adults already enrolled in the healthcare system will take effect next year, aiming to address the state's financial challenges while maintaining some level of healthcare access for undocumented individuals.

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Sean "Diddy" Combs' Trial to Begin in NYC

Legal proceedings against hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs are set to commence in New York City tomorrow. Combs faces serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. If convicted on all counts, he faces life imprisonment. The 55-year-old entertainer has pleaded not guilty to the allegations over the weekend.

In related news, Apple has made a significant splash in the film industry with its latest release, "F1."

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Apple's 'F1' Tops Box Office in Blockbuster Debut

Apple's inaugural venture into the summer blockbuster arena, the movie "F1," has debuted at the top of the box office. The film earned an estimated $55 million in its opening weekend and has amassed a total of $144 million worldwide. Produced with a budget of $200 million, "F1" marks Apple's first major foray into high-stakes filmmaking, signaling the tech giant's ambition to diversify its entertainment offerings.

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For more updates, stay tuned to NPR News.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Authorities in northern Idaho say at least two people are dead in a shooting that's occurring at the site of a brush fire. And Pierce, Kirk Zigler reports. Police say firefighters were ambushed as they responded to that fire.

[Kirk Zigler]

The deadly shooting turned a Sunday afternoon into chaos in the lakeside city of Coeur d' Alene. At a news conference, the Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris briefly told reporters that police and firefighters were taking sniper fire as he spoke and hikers were trapped on the mountain where fire crews were also trying to put out a brush fire.

[Robert Norris]

We're developing a plan to be able to suppress these individuals firefighting capability. And when we get that under control, when we have an opportunity to suppress that, then we will continue our removing of people who are on the mountain.

[Kirk Zigler]

Authorities say it appears this is some sort of ambush, but it's not yet clear how the brush fire itself started. State and federal authorities, including the FBI, are mobilizing to the scene. Kirk Zigler, NPR News, Boise.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Senate today is debating President Trump's massive tax cut and spending bill as Republicans push to get their members to pass it. Democrats oppose it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

[Chuck Schumer]

Republicans are about to pass the single most expensive bill in US History to give tax breaks to billionaires while taking away Medicaid, snap benefits and good paying jobs for millions of people. CBO just this morning said it will explode the debt by $3.3 trillion.

[Jeanine Herbst]

But Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says it will be good for Americans.

[Lindsey Graham]

This bill makes the 2017 tax cuts permanent. It avoids a tax increase for your family that's coming in December if we don't act now.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Not all Republicans are on board, but the GOP is hoping to get the bill passed by Trump's self imposed deadline of July 4th. President Trump says there's a buyer for social media giant TikTok. Ten days ago he signed another extension on the sell or ban TikTok law that Congress passed last year year. NPR's Luke Garrett has more.

[Luke Garrett]

President Trump says China will need to approve the sale of TikTok.

[Donald Trump]

We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way. I think I'll need probably China approval and I think President Xi will probably do it.

[Luke Garrett]

Trump didn't say the names, but tells.

[Donald Trump]

FOX News very, very wealthy people. It's a group of very wealthy people.

[Luke Garrett]

Last year, Congress approved a ban on TikTok if the app was not sold to a non Chinese company. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle say Chinese control of TikTok poses both personal and national security threats to Americans. In January, the Supreme Court ruled Congress's TikTok ban was constitutional. But Trump has vowed to keep TikTok operating in the US and has delayed its impending prohibition by executive order three times. According to the Pew Research center, One third of U.S. adults used TikTok last year. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. California Governor Gavin Newsom has conditionally approved a budget deal that includes scaling back health care coverage for immigrants in the state who are in the US Illegally. Dana Cronin of member station KQED has more.

[Dana Cronin]

Last year, Governor Newsom expanded health care to all low income people in California, regardless of immigration status. But now with the state facing a $12 billion budget deficit, Newsom's budget deal walks that back for people over 18. State Senate budget Committee Chair Scott Weiner says tough decisions had to be made.

[Lindsey Graham]

It could have been enormously worse and we were able to protect health care access for all undocumented people who are currently receiving benefits.

[Dana Cronin]

The new restrictions, including a new monthly premium for adults already enrolled in the system, take effect next year. For NPR News, I'm Dana Cronin in San Francisco.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Jury deliberations are set to start in New York City tomorrow in a courtroom for hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs in his sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial. If convicted on all charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. The 55 year old has pleaded not guilty at the weekend box office. Apple's F1. The movie debuted in the top spot with an estimated $55 million in ticket sales. The film took in $144 million worldwide. F1 is the tech company's first foray into summer blockbuster territory and cost $200 million to make. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[Janine Herbst]

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