NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-03-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: June 4, 2025

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Before talking to computational social scientist Sandra Matz, I asked her to spy on me. I did some snooping around your online life yesterday night, which was extremely fun to do. Our lack of digital privacy, especially in the age of AI, and what we can do about it. I'm Manusha Zomorodi. That's on the TED Radio Hour Podcast from NPR. Live from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Trump administration has formally asked Congress to cancel billions of dollars in foreign aid funding. More from NPR's Fatma Taunus.

The White House Office of Management and Budget said in a memo to Congress that the request reflects the administration's need to, quote quote cut wasteful foreign assistance. The cuts outlined in the memo include millions in funding for HIV AIDS and other global health programs, 135 million in funding for the World Health Organization, millions in contributions to the United Nations, and cuts to other programs related to women and gender issues. The process is called a rescission request, and it would codify the slashes the administration already made to the United States Agency for International Development earlier this year as it dismantled the aid agency. Congress has 45 days to pass the request, which would only require a simple majority.

Fatma Tanis, NPR News. Education Secretary Linda McMahon appeared before a Senate subcommittee today. NPR's Corey Turner reports she defended President Trump's latest budget proposal. Secretary McMahon told senators as she helps close the Department of Education her goal is clear. Make education better, fairer, and more accountable by ending federal overreach and empowering families, schools schools and states who best know the needs of their students.

The problem for McMahon is that the department's budget proposal would cut funding by 15 percent, which means eliminating programs that enjoy bipartisan support. For example, Pell grants for low-income college students would face a steep cut. McMahon also got tough questions from Democrats and Republicans about ending the TRIO and GEAR UP programs, which help low-income and first-gen students access college. Corey Turner, NPR News. The Army has reached its recruiting goal for the year, four months early.

Tom Bowman reports the Army recruited 61,000 future soldiers. The 61,000 recruits, that's more than 10 percent above the 55,000 brought in last year, according to Army officials. Recent recruiting momentum has seen average contracts per day exceeding last year's levels by as much as 56 percent. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said he was incredibly proud of recruiters and drill sergeants, pointing to what he'd call President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegson's decisive leadership in equipping, training, and supporting the future soldiers. The administration has said the president's election has led to a so-called Trump bump in recruiting, but the Army says changes in its recruiting efforts have led to jumps in

recruiting for more than two years. Tom Bowman, NPR News. President Trump has signed an executive order boosting tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to a total of 50 percent, with those new higher tariffs expected to go into effect tomorrow. Stocks gained ground on Wall Street, the Dow was up 214 points. This is NPR. A day after Ukraine launched a drone strike that is reported to have destroyed a number

of Russian warplanes and other facilities, Russia appears to have retaliated with a rocket attack against the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy. Authorities there say the attack could have killed at least four people and wounded more than two dozen others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the attack shows Russia has no intentions of ending the now three-year-old war. Local authorities say the rocket barrage hit apartment buildings and a medical facility in the center of the city. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Secret Service says it blew up a key bridge. In a year of tariff turmoil, some shoppers are tightening budgets, but one company stands apart from many retailers because it is forecasting a better year ahead.

That company is Dollar General, the largest dollar store chain in the U.S. Here's NPR's Aline Seljuk. Historically, dollar stores thrive during tough economic times as more people look for cheaper places to shop. At Dollar General so far this year, sales in the latest quarter rose 2.4% from last year, leading to a higher sales forecast for the rest of the year. Executives say shoppers are trading down from more expensive stores.

They're seeing more lower-income and middle-income shoppers. In company surveys, two-thirds of Dollar General shoppers say they expect to cut back spending this year even on necessities. Dollar General officials say they hope to mitigate tariff costs, but might have to raise prices as a last resort. Alina Seluk, NPR News. Crypto futures prices continue to gain ground amid ongoing tensions between oil producer Russia and Ukraine, oil up 89 cents a barrel to 60, 340 a barrel in New York.

I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. With WISE, you can send, spend, or receive money across borders all at a fair exchange rate. No markups or hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit WISE.com. T's and C's apply.