Iran Intelligence, NATO Summit, Trump Judicial Nod

Summary

Up First from NPR - Episode Summary Release Date: June 25, 2025

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1. Iran Intelligence and Airstrikes Impact

The episode opens with a focus on recent developments concerning U.S. airstrikes in Iran. Host Ellen Beardsley introduces the topic, highlighting President Trump's assertion that the strikes "wiped out that country's nuclear program" (02:02). However, differing assessments from U.S. national security sources suggest a more nuanced impact.

Key Discussions:

• Limited Damage: Michelle Martin reports that new intelligence indicates the airstrikes caused only limited damage to Iran's nuclear facilities, particularly the Fordow site (00:02). This assessment comes from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and suggests the nuclear program has been set back by “just a few months” (02:13).

• Government Reactions: White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt vehemently denies the DIA's assessment, calling it "flat out wrong" and implying the report was leaked by someone within the intelligence community (02:24).

• Senate Insights: Virginia Senator Mark Warner underscores the uncertainty, noting, “You could literally move that in about 10 carloads. I have not seen any indication that we know where all of that is” (04:54), highlighting the precarious nature of tracking Iran's highly enriched uranium.

• Iran and Israel's Stance: Iran has not committed to shutting down its nuclear program, with officials stating their intent to continue progress despite the attacks (05:06). Israel remains silent on providing a detailed assessment but acknowledges target priority on Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

Notable Quotes:

• Caroline Levitt (02:24): "This alleged assessment is flat out wrong."
• Mark Warner (04:54): “You could literally move that in about 10 carloads.”

2. NATO Summit and Defense Spending

The discussion shifts to President Trump's meeting with NATO allies in The Hague, Netherlands, focusing on significant defense spending increases.

Key Discussions:

• Summit Goals: President Trump aims to enforce NATO's pledge to increase defense spending from the current 2% of GDP to 5% (07:14). This move is described as a "quantum leap" in response to potential threats from Russia and China (07:25).

• Mark Rutte's Role: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasizes the need for solidarity and shared responsibility among member countries. He notes, “there is no alternative” to the proposed spending increases due to the evolving international security landscape (07:25).

• Trump's Diplomatic Tone: Despite the high stakes, Rutte maintains a balancing act, praising Trump’s decisive actions while managing potential controversies (07:40).

• Article 5 Clarification: President Trump’s ambiguous comments about committing to Article 5, NATO's mutual defense clause, raised concerns. Rutte reassures that NATO remains committed, emphasizing the principle has only been invoked once following 9/11 (08:42).

Notable Quotes:

• Mark Rutte (07:25): "I believe this will be a transformational summit."
• President Trump (06:32): “I don't need help on Iran. I need help on Russia.”

3. Trump's Ambiguity on Article 5

A significant portion of the summit revolves around the interpretation and commitment to Article 5.

Key Discussions:

• Mutual Defense Principle: Article 5, which entails collective defense, is foundational to NATO. Trump's uncertainty about adhering strictly to this clause has elicited concern among allies (08:50).

• Rutte's Assurance: Mark Rutte firmly states, “Of course the US Committed. It’s here,” dismissing Trump's hesitations and reinforcing NATO's solidarity (08:25).

Notable Quotes:

• Mark Rutte (08:25): “Ruta is keeping the US Engaged in Europe and with European security and defense.”

4. Judicial Nomination of Emil Bove

Transitioning from international affairs to domestic issues, the episode delves into the controversial nomination of Emil Bove to a federal appeals court judge position.

Key Discussions:

• Background: Emil Bove, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan, has recently gained notoriety for his role in defending President Trump in multiple criminal cases and orchestrating significant shifts within the Justice Department (10:06).

• Controversial Actions: Bove has been implicated in the politicization and corruption of the Justice Department, including ordering the dropping of corruption cases against New York Mayor Eric Adams, which was seen as a quid pro quo arrangement (10:27).

• Opposition and Support: Critics argue that Bove’s loyalty to Trump undermines his suitability for a lifetime judicial appointment, with Greg Myhrey stating, "He's been the president's lead enforcer and has been deeply involved in the politicization and corruption of the Justice Department" (11:18). Conversely, supporters like Mike Fragoso and Senator Mark Warner commend his legal acumen and contributions to advancing conservative policies (11:56).

• Whistleblower Concerns: A whistleblower has raised alarms about Bove's directives to expedite deportations, potentially disregarding judicial oversight, which Senate Democrats intend to highlight during his confirmation hearing (12:24).

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Myhrey (11:18): “He’s been deeply involved in the politicization and corruption of the Justice Department.”
• Mark Warner (11:56): “He’s going to be a really good judge.”

5. New York City Mayoral Race Update

The episode concludes with an update on the mayoral race in New York City.

Key Discussions:

• Primary Results: Former Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded the Democratic primary to Assemblymember Zoran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic socialist campaigning on reducing living costs for New Yorkers (13:19).

• Election Outlook: Mamdani is set to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the November election. Cuomo has not dismissed the possibility of an independent run, which could further complicate the race (13:40).

• Historical Significance: Should Mamdani win, he would become New York City's first Muslim and first Indian American mayor, marking a significant milestone in the city's political landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Zoran Mamdani (13:29): “A life of dignity should not be reserved for a fortunate few. It should be one that city government guarantees for each and every New Yorker.”

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Conclusion

This episode of Up First from NPR provides a comprehensive overview of pressing national and international issues, including the contested impact of U.S. airstrikes in Iran, strategic shifts within NATO under President Trump's leadership, and the contentious nomination of Emil Bove to the federal judiciary. Additionally, it offers insight into the evolving political dynamics of New York City's mayoral race. Through detailed reporting and expert analysis, the episode equips listeners with a nuanced understanding of these complex topics.

Transcript

[Michelle Martin]

New intelligence says US Airstrikes caused only limited damage to nuclear facilities in Iran.

[Martinez]

So what happened to Iran's supply of highly enriched uranium? And was the nuclear program, as the president said, obliterated or just set back by months?

[Michelle Martin]

I'm Michelle Martin with a Martinez and this is up first from NPR News. President Trump is meeting today with NATO members ready to enact one of his chief priorities, a pledge to increase how much they spend on their own defense. What else is on the agenda?

[Martinez]

And a Justice Department official is in line to become become a federal appeals court judge. But some say he's not suitable for the role.

[Greg Myhrey]

He's been the president's lead enforcer and has been deeply involved in the politicization and corruption of the Justice Department.

[Martinez]

Stay with us. We've got all the news you need to start your day.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

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[Greg Myhrey]

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[Martinez]

Says U.S. airstrikes in Iran wiped out that country's nuclear program and he's pushing back hard against anyone who disagrees.

[Michelle Martin]

But some US national security sources are suggesting something different.

[Martinez]

For more, we're joined by NPR's Greg Myhrey. So, Greg, President Trump's position is pretty clear. Iran's nuclear program was, quote, completely obliterated. So who's saying otherwise?

[Caroline Levitt]

Yeah, a US Official speaking on condition of anonymity, tells our NPR colleague Tom Bowman that the Defense Intelligence Agency believes the damage was limited at Iran's most important nuclear site, Fordo. The official says Iran's program has probably been set back by just a few months or so. Now the Defense Intelligence Agency is part of the Pentagon. This is a preliminary assessment it's considered low confidence at this point. And the DIA doesn't speak for the entire intelligence community. Other intelligence agencies like the CIA are not commenting, but they're also gathering information. There will be multiple assessments that could change and evolve over time.

[Martinez]

All right, so what's the White House saying?

[Caroline Levitt]

Well, they're not happy. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said, quote, this alleged assessment is flat out wrong. But she then went on to say the report was leaked by someone in the intelligence community. So she seems to be confirming its existence. Now, Trump repeated his position today at the NATO summit in the Netherlands. And this is very much in keeping with his desire to portray the US Attack as a brief, conclusive military operation. He doesn't want to see this drag out. And we should stress a, that the ceasefire does seem to be holding in Israel and Iran today during the second day of the cease fire.

[Martinez]

Now, if we can get clarity on these key nuclear sites bombed by the US Would that settle the all important questions about the state of Iran's nuclear program?

[Caroline Levitt]

Well, not entirely. You know, These are the three most important sites. Fordo, Natanz, Isfahan. They're about 100 to 300 miles south of the capital, Tehran. But Iran's nuclear network has many parts. Israel bombed many of them before the US Struck over the weekend. There's no doubt that every piece of Iran's known nuclear program was targeted and apparently suffered at least some damage. But there are still questions. For example, the UN's nuclear watchdog agency, the the International Atomic Energy Agency recently said Iran has about 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium. Now, this would need to be enriched a little bit more, but it could be used to make multiple bombs. This material could be moved fairly easily, and the Iranians may have hidden it before the US And Israeli attacks. Here's Virginia Senator Mark Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, addressing this yesterday on NPR's All Things Considered.

[Mark Warner]

You could literally move that in about 10 carloads. I have not seen any indication that we know where all of that is.

[Mark Rutte]

At this moment in time.

[Martinez]

All right, so what are Iran and Israel saying about the nuclear program?

[Caroline Levitt]

Yeah, Iran has not made any pledges to shut down the nuclear program. And reports in the Iranian media cite officials saying the country will press ahead. Iran will have to make its own damage assessments and figure out the costs and risk of restarting the program. And Israel has not publicly offered a detailed assessment. But Iran's nuclear program was target number one, I'll add. The US and Israel share a lot of intelligence when it comes to Iran, they'll develop a strong sense of where the program is headed, but that's likely to take time. All right.

[Martinez]

That's NPR's Greg Myy. Greg, thanks.

[Caroline Levitt]

Sure thing.

[Martinez]

President Trump will meet with NATO allies today at the summit in the Hague. In the Netherlands, the leaders are expected.

[Michelle Martin]

To announce a large increase in spending to counter possible future threats from Russia and China. New NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who's hosting his first summit, is doing his best to make it controversy free, but President Trump made ways before he even got there.

[Martinez]

Let's go to NPR's Eleanor Beardsley, who's in the Hague. So, Eleanor, bring us up to speed here.

[Mark Rutte]

Well, President Trump arrived last night. He attended the lavish dinner with NATO allies and the king and queen of the Netherlands, and he spent the night in the royal palace. And he just spoke to the media a he did sort of what he calls his weave. He talked about many things. And here he is after he was asked what he would say to Ukraine's President Zelensky when they meet today.

[Greg Myhrey]

No.

[Donald Trump]

Well, we'll discuss the obvious. We'll discuss his difficulties. Get a little difficulty. Zelensky, the nice guy, I mean, I'm going to meet him today. I don't know. I assume we're going to be discussing Ukraine. Yes, it seems like a little flexible.

[Mark Rutte]

Can you restart cops there or anything.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

That you might do?

[Donald Trump]

Well, we're gonna see. I mean, I've spoken to Putin a lot and he actually was very nice. He volunteered help on, as you know, on Iran. I said, no, I don't need help on Iran. I need help on Russia.

[Mark Rutte]

Well, now President Trump will join the summit and they will talk about Russia and the possible threat it poses to NATO countries in the future.

[Martinez]

So tell us about that. I mean, what will leaders announce today?

[Mark Rutte]

There's going to be a quantum leap in spending. That's how NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte put it. They're going to go from 2% of GDP now to a whopping 5% of GDP. And here's what Ruta said this morning.

[Michelle Martin]

I believe this will be a transformational summit. Given the threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative.

[Martinez]

So will this summit come off with no clashes or controversy? And tell us what's already happened, actually?

[Mark Rutte]

Well, a Ruta for months has been getting ready for this summit. It's in his hometown of the Hague. He wants to avoid all these disagreements and mishaps we've seen in the past with President Trump, even visited President Trump in Mar A Lago. He's been criticized for being too accommodating to him. And then yesterday, he sent Trump a personal message that Trump received when he was in his plane and promptly republished on social media. And it went something like this. He said, you're flying into another big success. You've done what no American president has. And he also said, congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran. He called it extraordinary. That was seen as a bit embarrassing for Rutte. But Alexander de Hooppscheffer, the head of the policy think tank the German Marshall Fund of the United States, says Rutte is just doing his job.

[Emil Bove]

The role of the NATO secretary general.

[Michelle Martin]

Is a balancing role.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

It's to balance US And European strategic interests and priorities.

[Mark Rutte]

You know, she says that Ruta is keeping the US Engaged in Europe and with European security and defense, and that's what's important.

[Martinez]

So, speaking of defense, President Trump also brought in a doubt whether the US would respect Article 5. Tell us what that is and why that's important.

[Mark Rutte]

Well, that's the core principle of mutual defense. You know, coming to each other's aid in case of attack. And it's actually only been used once, and that was after 9, 11, when everyone came to the U.S. s aid after the terrorist attack. You know, on the plane over, a reporter asked him if he would commit to this, and he said, well, it depends. Article 5 can mean a lot of things. But Ruta just brushed that off this morning and said, of course the US Committed. It's here. And Rutte was chosen because he's someone who has a relationship with Trump. He knows him well. And I would say there is so far a sense of solidarity here and also a sense among European leaders that they do have to take responsibility for their defense. And this is partly due to the pressure that President Trump has put on NATO.

[Martinez]

All right, that's NPR's Eleanor Beardsley. Thanks a lot.

[Mark Rutte]

Thank you. A.

[Martinez]

A top official at the Justice Department will be making his way to Capitol Hill today for a confirmation hearing.

[Michelle Martin]

He is in line to become a federal appeals court judge, a job that carries a lifetime appointment. The nomination is drawing fresh attention to some highly controversial activities inside the Justice Department this year in which this nominee played a key role.

[Martinez]

NPR justice correspondent Kerry Johnson is here to tell us all about this person. So who is this nominee, Kerry, and what's his background?

[Emil Bove]

His name is Emil Bove. He spent years as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan, but he came to national attention when he helped defend Donald Trump in four different criminal cases over the past few years since January, Bove has been in charge of the day to day operations inside the Justice Department.

[Martinez]

And what kind of things has Beauvais done at the Department of Justice?

[Emil Bove]

A lot. President Trump promised to overhaul the Justice Department. Bovet has been one of the people spearheading that campaign this year. He ordered up a list of FBI agents and analysts who worked on January 6th Capitol riot cases. He also directed prosecutors in New York to drop the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. But those prosecutors refused in part because it looked to them like an unlawful quid pro quo where the mayor would help President Trump with immigration and in exchange, the criminal case against the mayor would go into hibernation. That case was eventually dropped. Adams has denied the charges. Several former prosecutors say Beauvais is more about loyalty to Trump than to the facts and the law. Greg Nunziota was also critical. He's a former Senate aide who helped confirm conservative judges. Here's what he says.

[Greg Myhrey]

He's been the president's lead enforcer and has been deeply involved in the politicization and corruption of the Justice Department. And that kind of background makes him very ill suited for a lifetime federal judgeship.

[Martinez]

Who is supporting Bovet's nomination?

[Emil Bove]

Well, the White House has Beauvais, a talented legal mind and a staunch defender of the Constitution. They say Bovet should be a, quote, shoo in for this job as a federal judge. Mike Fragoso helped confirm judges when he worked for Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Fragoso also offered praise for Beauvais credentials last week.

[Mark Warner]

And I think he's been doing important work during the current administration to try to move a number of controversial but conservative policies over the finish line, which require some pretty creative thinking on the part of the Justice Department. So I think he's everything I've seen makes me think he's going to be a really good judge.

[Martinez]

So he mentions controversial but conservative policies, which probably makes some people wonder about the president's immigration agenda. So how might that come up at the hearing today?

[Emil Bove]

The president's been pushing for more deportations and for them to happen more quickly. Just yesterday, a former DOJ lawyer came forward with a whistleblower complaint. That lawyer was fired after he told a judge that a migrant had been deported in error this year. The whistleblower says shortly before Trump invoked the Alien Enemies act to speed up deportations, Emil Bovet said those planes carrying migrants needed to take off no matter what. The whistleblower then described Bove saying they may need to consider telling judges, bleep you and ignore possible the Justice Department has said no one told people to ignore court orders. But Senate Democrats plan to bring up the issue today and to argue it disqualifies Beauvais from serving as a judge.

[Martinez]

That's NPR's Carrie Johnson. Carrie thanks, thanks. And finally today, an update on the mayor's race in the country's largest city.

[Michelle Martin]

Former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded to 33 year old state Assemblymember Zoran Mamdani in the Democratic primary. Here's Mum speaking to his supporters after the concession.

[Mark Warner]

A life of dignity should not be reserved for a fortunate few. It should be one that city government guarantees for each and every New Yorker.

[Martinez]

Mamdani is a Democratic socialist and he ran a largely grassroots campaign focused on reducing the cost of living for New Yorkers. He'll face current New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who's running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in November's election. Now, Cuomo hasn't ruled out running in the general election either as an independent. If Mandani is elected, he will be New York City's first Muslim and first Indian American mayor. And that's up first for Wednesday, June 25th. Amy Martinez, and I'm Michelle Martin.

[Michelle Martin]

You can listen to this podcast sponsor free while financially supporting public media with Up First Plus. Learn more at plus.NPR.org that's plus.NPR.org Today's.

[Martinez]

Episode of Up first was edited by Kevin Drew, Andrew Sussman, Anna Yukonoff, Jania Williams and Alice Wolfley, was produced by Zia Buch, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Zach Coleman, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

[Greg Myhrey]

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[Eleanor Beardsley]

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