NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-04-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: June 4, 2025

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This is Ira Glass with This American Life, each week on our show. We choose a theme, tell different stories on that theme. All right, I'm just going to stop right there. You're listening to an NPR podcast, chances are you know our show. So instead, I'm going to tell you, we've just been on a run of really good shows lately. Some big epic emotional stories, some weird funny stuff too. Download us, This American Life. Live from NPR News, I'm

Giles Snyder. United Nations spokesman Stefan Dusharik is calling for an investigation into the new aid system in Gaza following reports that dozens of Palestinians have been killed seeking aid. We are witnessing unthinkable loss of life in Gaza. The Secretary General condemns the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza. It is unacceptable. Civilians are risking and in several instances losing their lives just trying to get food. There have been three incidents over the past three days near distribution sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

The GHF says it has shut down operations for 24 hours. Later Wednesday, the UN Security Council expected a vote on a demand for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to allow access to aid across Gaza. Elon Musk blasting President Trump's mega tax and spending bill. The legislation would extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts and cut spending on programs like Medicaid. NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports on Musk's criticism as a House-backed bill works its way through the Senate. Musk calls the bill, quote, a disgusting abomination, adding he believes it will, quote, massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit.

The Tesla CEO recently ended his stint with the team known as the Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to find savings in government. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Senate Republicans will forge ahead despite Musk's grievances. We obviously respect everything that Elon did with Doge. On this particular issue, we have a difference of opinion.

The bill has caused rifts among Republicans in both chambers. Thune is pushing to get the bill to President Trump's desk by July 4th. Barbara Sprint and PR News, The Capitol. The wife and five children of the man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at demonstrators in Boulder are in federal custody. The White House says they could be quickly deported. Justice Department says it has charged two Chinese researchers for allegedly attempting to smuggle a fungus into the United States. The charges come as the Trump administration has said it will revoke visas for Chinese

students. Here's MPR's Ryan Lucas reporting. The two Chinese nationals are accused of smuggling into the U.S. a fungus that prosecutors say can be classified as a potential agroterrorism weapon. It causes head blight in wheat, barley, maize, and rice. Court papers say one of the defendants was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan. Last summer, her boyfriend, who is also a researcher, allegedly brought samples of the fungus into the U.S. during a visit from China. Court papers say he initially denied knowledge of the samples, but later acknowledged having

them and said he intended to continue his research while in the US. The pair face several charges, including conspiracy, smuggling, and false statements. One of the defendants is in custody. The other is believed to be in China. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR. The new US ambassador to China met with China's top diplomat in Beijing at a time that China's foreign minister calls a critical juncture. This week the US and China accused each other of breaking a trade truce, NPR's Emily Fang reports.

Businessman David Perdue was confirmed as US Ambassador to China last month. And at his meeting this week with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Wang said Perdue needed to get relations on quote, the right track. The US temporarily paused most of its 145% tariffs on China last month, and China followed suit, but both countries say the other has violated that trade truce. The US by limiting certain critical software to Chinese semiconductor companies, and China by failing to allow rare earth exports to ramp up. Purdue is a longtime business executive and former Georgia senator who has long relied

on global trade and outsourcing to Asia, but has come to support a more hawkish stance against China. Emily Fang, Pure News. South Korean stock market is leading the way in Wednesday trading in Asia. Following E.J. Myong's election victory, they hit a 10-month high in South Korea, up more than 2.5%. After taking office Wednesday, he said in his inaugural address that he will pursue dialogue with rival North Korea, but will deal with potential North Korean aggression based on the military alliance with the U.S.

Two Americans preparing to play against each other at the French Open Tennis Tournament. Former U.S. Open champion Coco Golf set to play this year's Australian Open champion Madison Keys. Their quarterfinal match set to get underway in a few hours. This is MP. The Constitution, the border, the rising costs of everything. Issues this important can't be explained in a one-way conversation. Sometimes you need to talk things out. Every day on the 1A Podcast, we bring together experts and public figures to discuss the topics at the top of your mind so you hear more sides of a story and understand why it matters.

Listen to the 1A Podcast from NPR and WAMU.