NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-02-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: June 2, 2025

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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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Krova Coleman. The Republican-led Senate is taking up a multi-trillion-dollar budget plan that carries the bulk of President Trump's agenda.

NPR's Claudia Grisales reports senators will face a big fight over whether to approve big cuts to Medicaid. Before Congress left for a week-long recess, the Republican-led House passed the plan by just one vote after several brutal months of negotiations. And it's very likely the Senate will make changes to it. It extends tax cuts for individuals and businesses, which comes with a big price tag. It also makes big changes to defense, energy, and immigration policy. Senate Republicans face plenty of internal divide to craft a final package.

Deficit hawks want to install dramatic reductions to Medicaid to find new savings. But moderates say that's a red line. The plan in the Senate also has to get past a major procedural hurdle to fast-track the budget that could shape the bill's provisions. Claudia Rizalas, NPR News. Representatives from Ukraine and Russia are meeting for direct peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey. This is their second set of direct talks.

The first set ended inconclusively. This time both sides are set to exchange written proposals for peace. NPR's Charles Maines reports this comes as Ukraine says it successfully struck Russian military air bases yesterday. Ukraine smuggled remotely operated drones laden with explosives deep into Russia and by deep I mean deep up into the Arctic also into Siberia some 2,700 miles away. Now they did this by hiding the drones in the tops of flatbed trucks which then parked near military bases before lifting off to attack planes on the runway.

NPR's Charles Maines reporting, Ukraine claims it destroyed more than 40 Russian planes. Russia downplayed the impact, saying only several planes caught fire. Russia has also fired nearly 500 drones into Ukraine. Facebook and Instagram owner Meta is planning to automate efforts to review its products for risks, including to the privacy of users. As NPR-Shannon Bond reports, Meta is moving some work toward artificial intelligence rather than relying on humans. For years when Meta launched new features and products, human reviewers evaluated possible

risks to privacy, to teen users, to the prevalence of toxic content. Now the company aims to automate up to 90% of risk assessments using a system powered by artificial intelligence, according to internal documents obtained by NPR. The change will allow product developers to release app updates and features more quickly. Meta says only quote, low risk decisions are being automated.

But the internal documents reviewed by NPR show that Meta is considering automating reviews for sensitive areas, including AI safety and youth risk. Shannon Bond, NPR News. META is a financial supporter of NPR. On Wall Street and pre-market trading, Dow futures are down about 100 points, so is the NASDAQ. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The FBI is helping authorities in Boulder, Colorado, after eight people were set on fire and injured during a peaceful demonstration. Authorities say a 45-year-old suspect used a homemade flamethrower against a group marching

in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The officials allege the suspect yelled, Free Palestine. The attack is being investigated as terrorism. China and the U.S. are accusing each other of breaking the trade agreement both countries signed just last month in Geneva. Last week President Trump accused Beijing of breaking the deal. Now China is accusing the U.S. of violations. As interest in women's sports booms, softball is entering the major leagues.

NPR's Amy Held reports Major League Baseball is investing in a first-of-its-kind partnership with a professional female softball league. Women's sports are taking off, financially and culturally, about a third of adults now watching, according to an AP poll. And Major League Baseball wants in. Partnering with the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, providing financial muscle, it says, will boost exposure and engagement.

This is a huge, huge step for the world of softball. AUSL commissioner Kim Eng told the MLB network, kids will be inspired. For all the little ones now to be able to see professional players, now there is this pipeline for the pro sports. ESPN set to broadcast select games 24 this season, played by four teams, the league says will be assigned to cities next year.

Opening day is Saturday with games in Wichita and outside Chicago. Amy Held, NPR News. And I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.