NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-05-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: June 5, 2025

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It all starts with listening. To the person in front of you and the person you'll never meet. To the person living a story and the journalist who helps you see it in a new light. The NPR network is built on listening. With microphones in every region so where there any time a voice or sound demands to be heard. Hear stories in the first person, hear the bigger picture on NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman.

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a raft of decisions this morning, several are key. In one case, the court ruled unanimously for an Ohio woman who claimed she was discriminated against at work because she is straight. The high court ruling could affect lawsuits in 20 states and make it easier for people who are straight and white to sue for employment discrimination under federal law. In another decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Catholic charity from Wisconsin in a religious freedom case. It also involves unemployment taxes.

The justices ruled Wisconsin cannot force the organization Catholic Charities to pay unemployment taxes while giving other faith groups an exemption. Wisconsin had argued the charities' day-to-day operations did not involve religious teaching. And in yet a third unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out Mexico's lawsuit against U.S. gun manufacturers. Mexico had claimed gunmakers are helping fuel drug cartel violence in that country. But U.S. laws mostly shield gun makers from lawsuits, with limited exceptions. The high course still tossed out the case.

President Trump says he had a good phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping today. Writing online, Trump says he spoke with Xi for about 90 minutes and focused much of their talk on trade, including rare earth minerals. Yesterday, Trump says he spoke for more than an hour with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump says they talked about the war in Ukraine. The president is scheduled to meet with new German Chancellor Friedrich Mersch today at

the White House. As NPR's Rob Schmitz reports, the two are expected to discuss trade and the war in Ukraine. Mersch's visit comes as President Trump is threatening to impose 50 percent tariffs on goods imported from the European Union and has given the bloc a deadline of July 9th to make a trade deal he sees as beneficial to the U.S. Meritz will also discuss his diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine while trying to maintain Western support for the country. Rob Schmitz and Peer News, Berlin. More than a thousand people held a vigil in Boulder yesterday to honor victims of Sunday's fire bombing. Colorado Public Radio's Alejandro Alonso Garva reports.

People filled the main event room and overflow spaces in Boulder's Jewish Community Center. They sang, held hands, and prayed. Wednesday's event featured numerous speakers, including one of the Byrne victims. It was a walk, just like all our others, until it wasn't. The speaker asked to remain anonymous for security and privacy reasons. They addressed the crowd via a projected video.

I heard a loud noise in the back of my legs, burning, and don't remember those next few moments. Rahel Helpburn walked with the group Sunday, but was not physically hurt. It was a solace to be with people to whom I didn't need to explain how I felt. Fifteen people were injured. Three are still in the hospital. For NPR News, I'm Alejandro Alonso Galva in Denver. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

On the backdrop of Israel's offensive in Gaza, France and Saudi Arabia are leading efforts to promote the international recognition of a Palestinian state. Israel is opposed and blocked the Saudi foreign minister from visiting the occupied West Bank. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Jerusalem. France and Saudi Arabia are sponsoring a conference in two weeks at the United Nations to rally support for recognizing a Palestinian state. Israel opposes a Palestinian state and is threatening retaliation. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharen Haskell.

Unilateral actions may lead to unilateral action on our part as well. That action could include annexing West Bank land claimed by Palestinians, says an Israeli official who was not authorized to discuss that publicly. Israel barred the Saudi foreign minister and other top officials from visiting the West Bank this week, saying the visit would have promoted a Palestinian state. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Jerusalem. A US federal judge has ruled the Trump administration must allow a group of Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador a chance to challenge their removals.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled the Trump administration must provide the migrants the chance to contest their deportations under a rarely used wartime power. He said they must also have the chance to prove they are not members of a notorious gang. He said they must also have the chance to prove they are not members of a notorious gang Boasberg has given the Trump administration a week to specify how the migrants can get their cases heard in the u.s Boasberg is the judge who had ordered the Trump administration to turn deportation flights around if they were violating his previous orders I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News.