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Episode Date: June 4, 2025

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Find us wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. The Senate is back this week debating President Trump's massive legislative package that includes tax cuts and border security funding. Tucked away in the bill is a provision on artificial intelligence, and that's dividing some Republican members, as NPR's Steve Schiveron reports. In the bill the House passed, there's a provision that says that most laws about artificial intelligence that states have passed will be paused for 10 years.

Republicans in favor of the provisions say there's inconsistency in how states have addressed AI protections and they don't want limits on AI innovation as the US competes with China over the technology. But if state laws are paused, then there are virtually no legal protections against potential abuses of AI. Congress has been debating over passing federal regulation for years, but still hasn't acted. Republican senators like Missouri's Josh Hawley and Tennessee's Marsha Blackburn have vocally opposed the provision as the upper body deliberates. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News. Elon Musk is running up against President Trump's mega tax and spending bill on social media.

Musk called the measure a disgusting abomination. Musk marked the end of his role, leading the effort to cut government costs last week. White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt says the Trump administration's trade representative is reminding U.S. trading partners of a Wednesday deadline to submit proposals that might help them avoid what President Trump called his Liberation Day tariffs from taking effect next month. USTR sent this letter to all of our trading partners just to give them a friendly reminder that the deadline is coming up. And they are in talks, Ambassador Greer, Secretary Bessen, Secretary Lutnick are in talks with

many of our key trading partners. The deadline for proposals falls on the same day that it will get more expensive to import steel and aluminum. President Trump announced a tariff hike to 50 percent last week and signed an executive order late Tuesday evening. The family of Mohammed Solomon, the suspected terrorist in the attack in Boulder, Colorado, has been taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Homeland Security Department says it will investigate to what extent his family knew about the attack, as St. Peter's-Chasmin Garst reports. Details are still unclear, but in a series of posts on social media, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that the family of Mohammed Solomon has been taken into custody. Solomon was arrested on site after attacking peaceful

demonstrators in Boulder who were calling for a release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. He used a makeshift flamethrower and through Molotov cocktails 12 people were injured. He's being charged with a hate crime. Authorities say Solomon is an Egyptian national who overstayed a tourist visa. Noam says DHS is investigating whether the family had any knowledge or provided support for the attacks. Jasmine Garst, NPR News, New York. And you're listening to NPR News. The US-backed group distributing food aid in Gaza says its distribution centers will be closed on Wednesday.

The move to shut down for a day follows three deadly incidents over the past three days. Dozens of Palestinians on their way to seek aid were killed. The Israeli military is warning that routes leading to the aid sites are deemed combat zones. South Korean opposition party candidate Lee Jae-myeong was one to snap presidential elections by a comfortable margin after his predecessor was impeached and removed from office for briefly imposing martial law six months ago. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports on his victory.

In a victory speech, Lee Jae-myeong pledged to restore democracy and prevent another military coup. The first mission you gave me is to overcome the insurrection once and for all, he said. Former President Yun Song-yol is currently on trial for insurrection and faces a possible death penalty or life sentence if convicted. Anger over the martial law decree helped Yi maintain a solid lead throughout the campaign. Yi has promised pragmatic centrist policies, including maintaining a firm alliance with the U.S. He's also pledged to reach out to North Korea, but he's admitted that an inter-Korean

summit seems unlikely anytime soon. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul. The South Korean stock market is leading the way in Wednesday trading in Asia following its election victory. South Korean stocks at a 10-month high, jumping more than 2%. Japan's benchmark Nikkei up 1% in the midday break. I'm Jai El Snider. This is NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast This is NPR News.