NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-02-2025 9AM EDT

Episode Date: June 2, 2025

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The news can feel like a lot on any given day, but you can't just ignore it when big, even world-changing events are happening. That's where the Up First podcast comes in. Every morning and under 15 minutes, we take the news and pick three essential stories so you can keep up without getting stressed out. Listen now to the Up First podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, On Korova Coleman, authorities in Boulder, Colorado have arrested a suspect in connection with yesterday's attack on a group of marchers

holding a peaceful demonstration. Authorities say the suspect threw a homemade flamethrower and incendiary devices into the group, walking in support of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Eight people were burned and injured. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser says this appears to be a hate crime. There's too much hate going on. This is just another reminder

of what hate-filled violence looks like, and it's not okay. We've all got to condemn it, and we've got to prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law. The FBI is assisting in the investigation. China is pushing back against President Trump's claim that Beijing broke a trade deal between the two countries.

China says the U.S. is responsible for violating the agreement both sides reached just last month. The deal significantly cut U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent. The White House still says President Trump and Chinese President Xi are set to talk, and Piers Luke Garrett has more. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson says China is withholding critical rare earth metals. He tells CBS News that's a violation of last month's agreement to lower tariffs and give both countries 90 days to reach a trade deal.

What China is doing is they are holding back products that are essential for the industrial supply chains. Besson says he's not sure if this was intentional or not, but the two world leaders are set to discuss the matter. I'm confident that when President Trump and party chairman Xi have a call that this will be ironed out. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett tells ABC News that once this dispute with China is resolved, then trade deals with other countries can move forward. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. The dispute between China and the U.S. comes as President Trump says he is doubling his

tariffs on aluminum and steel imports. These tariffs will go to 50 percent on Wednesday. International activists have begun sailing a relief aid ship toward Gaza, even though Israel is blockading the Palestinian enclave. NPR's Jane Araf reports that last month the group sent an aid ship that was attacked by drones off the coast of Malta. Jane Araf The group includes Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, and European

Parliament member Reema Hassan. In May, another ship launched by the same group was struck and damaged by drones. No one claimed responsibility. The group accused Israel of the attack. Israel blocked food and medicine from reaching Gaza for more than two months. Last week, Israel began its more limited aid effort to distribute food under armed guard. Health officials and witnesses say people were killed and wounded on their way to get food parcels on Sunday.

Witnesses said Israeli forces fired on them. Israel says it fired warning shots. Jane Araf, NPR News, Amman. This is NPR. Representatives from Russia and Ukraine are meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. It's the second round of direct peace talks, but this comes a day after Ukraine struck several air bases very deep inside Russia by remotely piloting drones. Ukraine says it destroyed more than 40 Russian bombers. Russia only said some planes caught fire. The NBA championships are set, and game one is this Thursday. than 40 Russian bombers, Russia only said some planes caught fire.

The NBA championships are set and game one is this Thursday. The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers defeated the New York Knicks Saturday to take the Eastern Conference Championship. Meanwhile pro hockey's final opens Wednesday night. It's a rematch. The Edmonton Oilers will host the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are the defending NHL champions, having beaten Edmonton Oilers will host the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are the defending NHL champions, having beaten Edmonton last year to clinch the Stanley Cup.

In the sport of ultra running, athletes often defy human limits. But one runner, a new mom, recently took it to another level. And Pierce Bill Chappell explains. 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. On Wall Street and pre-market, trading the Dow is down more than 100 points. This is NPR. It all starts with listening. To the person in front of you and the person you'll never meet. To the person living a story and the journalist who helps you

see it in a new light. The NPR network is built on listening with microphones in every region so where there any time a voice or sound demands to be heard. Hear stories in the first person, hear the bigger picture on NPR.