NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-03-2025 12PM EDT

Episode Date: June 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The White House is turning up the pressure on Senate Republicans to approve a massive budget bill that narrowly passed the House last month. NPR's Tamara Keith reports the legislation slashes federal spending and extends tax cuts passed during President Trump's first term in office. There are the usual lengthy social media posts, but Trump is also picking up the phone to push for what he's calling the one big beautiful bill. A senior White House official tells NPR an all-out advocacy effort is underway to get

Republican senators to support the sweeping legislation already passed by the House without making too many changes. The official, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said there's not a lot of room to maneuver because it passed so narrowly in the House. The official said to expect a succession of big names from the administration up on the Hill making the case. Tamara Keith, NPR News. Jewish groups across the United States are speaking out about Sunday's assault on peaceful

protesters marching for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. NPR's Jason DeRose reports they're raising concerns about the rise in anti-Semitic attacks. The attack on the March for their Lives event on Sunday in Boulder, along with the killings at the Jewish Museum in D.C. last month, and the arson attack on the home of the Jewish governor of Pennsylvania, have many American Jews on edge. Amy Spitalnik with the Jewish Public Affairs Council says there's a need for more than just the fortifying of synagogues and Jewish community centers.

But investment in things like hate crimes prevention grants, in building the sort of inoculation to extremism in the first place that prevents people from showing up and committing acts of violence like this one. Spitalnik says the Boulder attack was clearly anti-Semitism, but she doesn't want to see it exploited by the Trump administration to undermine core democratic norms and the rule of law. Jason Derose, NPR News. International forecasters are warning of slower economic growth in the United States and around the world.

NPR's Scott Horsley reports tariffs are partly to blame. A new forecast from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development projects the U.S. economy will grow just 1.6 percent this year, down from 2.8 percent last year. The OECD says President Trump's trade war is also weighing on global growth. Economic worries have been very good for Dollar General, as anxious customers go hunting for bargains at the discount retailer. Dollar General's most recent quarterly sales hit a record, topping $10 billion. The chain reported better than expected quarterly profits and raised its earnings forecast for the full

year. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR News. One of a pair of famous eaglets that's living in the mountains of Los Angeles has left its nest for the first time. Madison Alment from Member Station KVCR reports tens of thousands of viewers tuned in to the livestream for the eaglets' first flight. Sunny and Gizmo, who hatched in March, have become internet celebrities like their parents Jackie and Shadow.

The pair of eaglets, believed to be females, were perched on a branch when Sonny flapped away. Sandy Steers, who operates the livestream, says it's a bittersweet moment. She flew from the nest and that gives her a much higher chance of success in life. But at the same time, it means we won't fear as much. Steers says the duo has been practicing for weeks by jumping and flapping their wings. She says eagles can fledge between 10 and 14 weeks and says gizmo, who's several days younger, could fly soon too. For NPR News, I'm Madison Aument.

Smoke from a series of wildfires burning across central Canada is drifting south into the United States. The smoke is affecting the air quality across the Midwest and eastern seaboard. Minnesota has issued red and purple air quality readings, meaning unhealthy and very unhealthy across much of the state. Alerts are also in effect from the upper Midwest down to the Gulf Coast, with haze and the scent of smoke

noticeable in cities like Cincinnati and as far south as Florida. Health officials are advising residents, especially those with breathing problems, to limit outdoor activities and use air purifiers. I'm Windsor Johnston and PR News in Washington.