NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-04-2025 4PM EDT

Episode Date: June 4, 2025

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Winzer Johnston, NPR News. President Trump says he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone today. NPR's Franco Ordonio reports Trump says they discussed Ukraine's recent strikes on Russian aircraft. President Trump says on social media that the two leaders spoke for about an hour and 15 minutes about Ukrainian and Russian strikes, as well as the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran. He wrote, quote, It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.

Indeed, Trump said Putin told him, using strong language, that Russia will have to respond to the recent attacks on its airfields. Trump also says he told Putin that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Trump says he believes, Putin agrees with him on that. According to Trump, Putin suggested that he could help facilitate those discussions. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, The White House. Smoke from wildfires burning across central Canada is spreading from the Midwest to the East Coast, prompting air quality alerts.

NPR's Jeff Brady reports authorities in Pennsylvania are asking residents to drive less and conserve electricity to reduce air pollution. Wildfires in Canada forced more than 27,000 people to evacuate their homes. The smoke prompted warnings in Minnesota and Wisconsin and has now spread to Pennsylvania, where the Department of Environmental Protection, or DEP, says warm weather is increasing ozone pollution. In the Philadelphia area, Susquehanna Valley and Lehigh Valley, the DEP declared a code orange air quality action day. People with breathing problems, children, and the elderly were advised to stay indoors.

Wildfire smoke is a growing health problem across the U.S. as human-caused climate change increases the risk and intensity of fires. Jeff Brady, NPR News, Philadelphia. The UN Security Council is meeting at this hour to consider a resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports the Trump administration is expected to veto it. The draft put forward by the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council demands a, quote, immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, respected by all parties. It calls on Hamas to release all hostages and Israel to lift a blockade on aid.

The U.S. argues that the resolution undermines its efforts to reach a ceasefire that reflects the realities on the ground, and it draws a quote, false equivalence between Israel and Hamas. An official calls that wrong and dangerous. The official, who is not authorized to speak publicly, says the U.S. tried to make changes to the draft, adding that it's not an outcome the Trump administration wanted. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR News. The Pentagon is planning to rename the U.S. NS Harvey Milk, a Navy ship named after the

pioneering gay rights icon. The Department of Defense is considering a list of possible name changes for other ships as well. Possible replacements include the names of the late U.S. Supreme Court justices Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In a statement to NPR, the Pentagon said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DoD installations and assets are, quote, reflective of the commander-in-chief's priorities and the nation's history.

There's a new number one song in America, and it's A Fresh Face and PR Steven Thompson has the story. This year familiar stars like Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Morgan Wallen have dominated the top of the Billboard charts but on the Hot 100 Singles chart there's a new name at number one. After a four-month rise Alex Warren has finally topped the chart with Ordinary. With its mix of soaring pop and signifiers of praise music, the uplifting love song tops the chart just in time for the height of wedding season. Ordinary had to leapfrog three songs by country star Morgan Wallin in order to hit number one. Wallin's new record, I'm the Problem, tops the album chart

for a second straight week. Steven Thompson, NPR News. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.