NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-15-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: June 15, 2025

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The House of Representatives has approved a White House request to claw back two years of previously approved funding for public media. The rescissions package now moves on to the Senate. This move poses a serious threat to local stations and public media as we know it. Please take a stand for public media today at GoACPR.org. Thank you. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Police in Minnesota are asking the public to help with their search for 57 year old Vance Bolter.

He's a suspect in the shootings today of two Minnesota lawmakers. At this time we would ask the public if you do locate him to see him to call 911. Do not approach him. Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in one shooting while State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were injured in a separate incident. Police found Bolter's car at the scene of the second shooting. This weekend, the Army celebrated its 250th year of existence and President Trump had his own cause for celebration. It was his 79th birthday. MPR's Alana Wise reports on

the controversial parade that marked the dates. The Army had been planning for at least a year to hold a public celebration in honor of its 250-year anniversary. The date of the Army commemoration coincided with the president's birthday, leading critics to wonder if the parade was still purely about celebrating the armed forces. Thousands of protests across the country accused Trump of politicizing the military. But the Washington DC event went off without any major interruptions. More than 6,000 service members marched in the National Mall, highlighting the Army's growth over the years. Towards the end of the event,

Trump was gifted a folded American flag, which is a tradition usually reserved for the family of fallen soldiers. Fireworks lit up D.C.'s night sky, marking an end to the contentious celebration. Alana Wise, NPR News, Washington. Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities across the country on Saturday to protest the Trump administration. In Atlanta, some 5,000 people gathered in front of the state capitol, and hundreds of others were turned away because of size limitations MPR's Brian Mann attended a protest in rural vermont and filed this reports

These protests are happening in big cities across the united states, but they're also happening in tiny rural towns. I'm in virgin's Vermont and there is just a huge crowd packed along the main street here Waving american flags holding signs that say we have a Constitution, not a King, King free since 1776. One of the people I spoke with was Ellie Wilkinson Sacks, she's 17 years old. I think we need more love in this country and less hate. I don't agree with where money is going or the legal actions that are being taken. I think it's something that a king would do and I don't think that we should have a king in America. That's why we founded it.

All of the people here say they're frightened by the direction President Trump is taking the country. Brian Mann, NPR News, Virgins, Vermont. Police in Salt Lake City say they now have one person in custody following a shooting in Salt Lakes downtown area. The shots were heard during a no-kings protest underway there. Police don't know if the shooting was connected with the demonstration. Some 10,000 people were marching to a federal office building when the shots were fired. One person was critically injured. You're listening to NPR News.

Pope Leo XIV has used a baseball stadium to reach out to Americans in his first broadcast directed at the U.S. He offered a video message on the Jumbotron during the Chicago White Sox game on Saturday. The pope told young people they can find hope and meaning in their lives through God and their service to others. Chicago is Leo's hometown and he's a big White Sox fan. A bread pop group has reached the top of the UK album charts. It's the first time that's happened in 27 years.

Vicki Barker reports from London. Entitled More, this is the first album from the group Pulp in 24 years and its first UK number one album since 1998. The Sheffield band, fronted by Jarvis Cocker, never had a top 40 US hit during its heyday. But this single, Spike Island from the Moore album, did reach number 32 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart earlier this month. One UK reviewer's given the album four stars also noting that the passage of time has seen a band that once mused about cuckoldry as an act of class war now addresses how divorce impacts your potential to find love

again. For NPR News I'm Vicki Barker in London. Sam Burns is leading the US Open Golf Tournament underway in Pennsylvania this weekend. He shot a 69 in Saturday's third round and sits at four under par. He has a one stroke lead over JJ Spahn and Adam Scott. Victor Hovland, meanwhile, is the only other player sitting under par at one under after a third round 70. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. This is Ira Glass with This American Life. Each week on our show, we choose a theme, I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.