NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-01-2025 7AM EDT

Episode Date: June 1, 2025

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Know that fizzy feeling you get when you read something really good, watch the movie everyone's been talking about, or catch the show that the internet can't get over? At the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, we chase that feeling four times a week. We'll serve you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, and more. From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, catch the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. stuff in between, catch the pop culture happy hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR news in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Millions of Americans under a health alert this weekend because of compromised air quality caused by out of control wildfires in the Canadian province of

Manitoba. NPR's Alana Wise reports that thick clouds of smoke have swept through at least three Northern States. Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota have all issued air quality alerts for their residents. This comes as 17,000 Manitobans have been forced to flee their homes as dangerous fires cut through the province's prized wildlands. The evacuation effort is the largest in recent history for Manitoba. These fires come on the heels of two consecutive years of devastating wildfire seasons. In all three affected states, experts warn that the air quality is unsafe for people like children and the elderly. In Minnesota, which is projected to be

the hardest hit, the air quality will be reduced to the point of danger for sensitive groups and some members of the general public. Alana Wise, NPR News. The U.S. Forest Service says it has sent an air tanker and other equipment as well as more than 150 fire fires to Canada to help fight the fires. Today's the start of the Atlantic hurricane season as NPR's Debbie Elliott reports. National Weather Service forecasters predict above normal hurricane activity this year, following a very busy 2024 that brought 18 named storms, including deadly hurricanes, Helene and Milton.

This year, forecasters say the Atlantic basin could see six to 10 hurricanes, half of which could be major, with winds topping 110 miles per hour. NOAA says several factors are at play including reduced trade winds and warm ocean temperatures that fuel tropical storm formation. The Atlantic hurricane season opens amidst staff cuts at FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which the Trump administration has considered eliminating.

Hurricane season runs through November 30th. Debbie Elliott, NPR News. Russian investigators are blaming Ukrainian sabotage for the collapse of two bridges near the Ukrainian border, the BBC's Paul Adams reports. In one in the Bryansk region, parts of a road bridge collapsed as a passenger train bound for Moscow was passing below. Seven people were killed and dozens wounded. In the neighboring Kursk region, a railway bridge collapsed as a freight train was crossing

it. Russian officials and observers are pointing the finger of blame at Kiev, with a senior member of Russia's upper chamber of parliament describing Ukraine as a terrorist enclave. Ukraine is saying nothing about last night's two incidents inside Russia. By contrast, officials were quick to highlight another attack on a military freight train traveling through occupied southern Ukraine. It says the train carrying fuel and other cargo was successfully derailed. And from Washington, this is NPR News. California transgender high school athlete took home two gold medals at the state high

school track and field championship this weekend competing under a new rule that may be the first of its kind nationally. Critics had called for her to be barred. President Trump had threatened state funding. But Karina Kazada-Adams says the new rule seems to be a fair compromise. I think it's too much and it is an issue. And I think a compromise has been reached and just let the athlete compete with the fair compromise that was reached. Kazada-Adon was at the meet to watch her son compete.

A.B. Hernandez topped the field in the girls' high jump and the triple jump under the new rule she shared first place with her closest competitors. In the sport of ultra running, athletes often defy human limits but one runner, a new mom, recently took it to another level. Here's NPR's Bill Chappell. Canadian Stephanie Case surprised even herself when she won an ultra marathon in Wales earlier this month. She ran the 100 kilometer race in under 17 hours. She stopped three times to breastfeed her six month old daughter.

It's not easy. I feel like I am eating all the time. Photos of Case and her baby went viral. She says it's because people like the idea of not putting limits on mothers. Why not just open up that space and give people the freedom and the choice to just navigate motherhood in the way that's best for them.

Soon, Case's parental leave will end and she'll go back to work as a human rights lawyer. Bill Chappell, NPR News. The Indiana Pacers have reached the NBA finals, finishing off the series with the New York Knicks last night with a 125-108 game-six victory. Indiana will play Oklahoma City for the NBA title. This is NPR. With a major shift in our politics underway in this country, 1A is drilling down on what's at stake for you and our democracy. In our weekly series, If You Can Keep It, we put these changes into focus and answer your questions about the impact of the Trump administration on the U.S.

Join us every Monday for If You Can Keep It on the 1A podcast from NPR and WAMU.