NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-03-2025 2PM EDT

Episode Date: June 3, 2025

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Shortwave thinks of science as an invisible force, showing up in your everyday life. Powering the food you eat, the medicine you use, the tech in your pocket. Science is approachable because it's already part of your life. Come explore these connections on the Shortwave Podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was joking when he said he wasn't aware of hurricane season. That's according to a Department of Homeland Security official.

NPR's Jeff Brady reports that explanation comes as what's forecast to be a busy Atlantic hurricane season, which began this week. FEMA staff told several news organizations that acting Administrator David Richardson said he wasn't aware hurricane season existed. Now the Department of Homeland Security, which includes FEMA, says that was just a joke. Previous reporting backs that up. There are quotes of Richardson discussing hurricane season. The kerfuffle comes as FEMA faces questions about its future. Last month,

another acting administrator, Cameron Hamilton, was pushed out after he told a congressional committee that he thought FEMA should not be eliminated. That contradicted President Trump, who's called for many of FEMA's disaster response duties to be transferred to states. Jeff Brady, NPR News. The White House is taking a hard stance after a violent attack on peaceful demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday. A man has been charged with using a makeshift flamethrower and hurling Molotov cocktails into a crowd calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Several people, mostly senior citizens, were treated for burns and smoke inhalation. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says the suspect will be held accountable. The victims at the incident location in Boulder were there to rally in support of Israeli hostages who remain in Hamas captivity. The Department of Justice has already filed federal hate crime charges against the alleged perpetrator and he will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The suspect identified as an Egyptian national is now facing a federal hate crime charge and 16 counts of attempted murder. Officials say the man had overstayed his tourist visa.

Health officials say 27 Palestinians have been killed today and dozens of others were injured by the Israeli military. NPR's Hadil Al-Shalchi reports. It was another day of chaos and confusion as thousands of Palestinians tried to receive food from a site delivering supplies in the south of Gaza. Witnesses who were approaching the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation or GHF site said the Israeli military shot into the crowd. The Israeli military said that it initially fired warning shots to disperse a crowd that had gotten too close to troops and then directed fire near individuals who continued to approach them. The military said it was aware of casualties and was investigating. GHF insisted there was

no shooting in its facility and said the incident took place beyond their quote secure distribution site. The United Nations said that aid distribution has become a quote death trap. Hadil Alshalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR News in Washington. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a severe heat alert for the United States warning that this summer could be one of the most dangerous in decades. The agency says above average temperatures are expected across nearly the entire country, including parts of Alaska. Everything old is new Again on Broadway.

Today, producers of the musical Beetlejuice, which played twice on Broadway, announced it would return in October for 13 weeks. Mamma Mia, which played for 14 years on Broadway, is returning in August for six months. Jeff London reports. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. The musical based

on the Tim Burton film is returning to Broadway for the third time. Hey folks, begging your pardon. Excuse me, sorry to barge in. Now let's skip the tears and start on the whole, you know, being dead fit. The national tour of the show currently playing in San Francisco will move to the Palace Theatre this fall for a limited run. Mamma Mia! The ABBA musical, which has been playing continuously in London for 26 years, comes back to Broadway in August to play in its original home, the Winter Garden Theatre.

For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York. Winzer Johnston. Tours are resuming along the slopes of Mount Etna, one day after its largest eruption in four years. Monday's eruption began in the early morning local time following volcanic tremors. I'm Winzer Johnston, NPR News in Washington. Listen to this podcast, sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or a free free