NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-31-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: June 1, 2025

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Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like NPR, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants and competent criminals in ridiculous science studies, and call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me Because the Good Names Were Taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called wherever You Get Your Podcasts. Janine Herst Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herst. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. will reposition its policies and military

to deter what he calls a looming threat from China. Speaking at an annual defense forum in Singapore today, he urged U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific to spend more on defense. And here's Anthony Kuhn has more from Singapore. He said that China is intimidating and harassing its neighbors, including Taiwan. It's using gray zone tactics that are short of war but are coercive. And at the same time, he insisted that the U.S. does not seek to strangle or humiliate China. But he said that China's threat is real. Let China, but he said that China's threat is

real. Let's hear what he said. China seeks to become a hegemonic power in Asia, no doubt. It hopes to dominate and control too many parts of this vibrant and vital region. Hexeth also says China's economic leverage over its neighbors complicates things for the U.S. The Trump administration says food security is national security, but the administration's efforts to downsize the federal workforce could put U.S. agriculture

at risk. In Pierce, Andrea Hsu has more. American agriculture has been relatively free of pests and diseases that have afflicted other parts of the world. That's thanks in part to the federal workers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture who work to protect the nation's plants and animals. Kevin Shea worked there for 45 years before retiring in January. That gives us a trade advantage with the rest of the world, and it also creates an abundant and comparatively the cheapest food supply around the world. But now Shea fears the departures of hundreds of key staff could leave farmers and ranchers vulnerable. In a statement, USDA said agriculture secretary

Brooke Rollins is working to make the department more efficient while not compromising its critical work. Andrea Hsu, NPR News. In Kentucky, cleanup is underway after deadly weather over the last two weeks left miles of destruction. The latest yesterday cut across rural Washington County, killing one person and injuring dozens. Karen Zier with Member Station WUKY reports. Chickens that made it through the storm roamed the hillside, their coops broken apart. Mark Weber and his family stood on the foundation of their neighbor's home, which lay in pieces across the field in front of them.

Miraculously, the family that lived there survived. Stuff like that seems like it's not really real. Weber and members of his Mennonite church volunteered in London, Kentucky, where a tornado touched down two weeks ago. Now groups are stepping up to help them here. Churches here in central Kentucky calling already offering their help. So are volunteers from across the country. For NPR News, I'm Karen Zarr in Springfield, Kentucky. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Turkish authorities arrested dozens of people today, including opposition officials and

city mayors. This is the fifth wave of arrests since March, when Istanbul's mayor was jailed on corruption charges that he denies. Go to Sara Çolu, who has more from Istanbul. Responding to the latest arrests, main opposition party CHP leader Özgür Özel said when they can't find any crime after more than 200 days of investigations, then they try to create evidence with new operations. Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, considered President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's main rival, was arrested before he could launch his own planned presidential bid. That sparked nationwide protests, many led by young students.

More than a thousand were detained in the first weeks. The government insists the judiciary acts independently. Still, opposition groups are planning more rallies across Turkey this weekend. For NPR News, I'm Gökçe Saracoglu in Istanbul. Ormaceutical company Moderna says the Food and Drug Administration has approved its new COVID booster vaccine, although the agency did put restrictions on who can get it. This new booster is a lower-dose version that's a step toward next generation coronavirus vaccines.

Moderna says it expects to offer both the new vaccine and its existing COVID-19 shot this fall. The FDA approved new vaccine is for adults 65 and older and for those aged 12 to 64 who are at higher risk from the coronavirus. I'm Janene Herbst, NPR News in Washington.