NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-15-2025 4AM EDT

Episode Date: June 15, 2025

NPR News: 06-15-2025 4AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

With a major shift in our politics underway in this country, 1A is drilling down on what's at stake for you and our democracy. In our weekly series, If You Can Keep It, we put these changes into focus and answer your questions about the impact of the Trump administration on the U.S. Join us every Monday for If You Can Keep It on the 1A podcast from NPR and WAMU. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine in a call on Saturday. As NPR's Franco Ordoniez reports, the two leaders spoke for about an hour. President Trump says Putin called him to quote, very nicely wish him a happy birthday, but also to talk about Iran.

Trump said the two spoke at length about the conflict and both agree that this quote war in Israel should end soon. Trump says they spent less time discussing the war in Ukraine, but confirm that Putin plans to move forward with an arranged prisoner swap with Ukraine. Trump said there will be more discussions about the war in Ukraine next week. It was not clear what he was referring to, though Trump is attending the G7 summit in Canada where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with leaders. Franco, Ordonez, NPR News. The U.S. Army celebrated its 250th anniversary Saturday in Washington, D.C. with a big parade

filled with tanks and more than 6,000 troops. President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance spoke briefly at the close of the parade. NPR's Frank Langford was on the National Mall. People wearing American flag shirts are pressed up against the fence here as tanks roll by, they're cheering them on, tanks are sometimes revving their engines, and the parade really has the feel of almost like a military festival. There are a lot of MAGA hats, but there are even more American flags here.

NPR's Frank Lankford reporting. On a day of nationwide protest, thousands of demonstrators withstood a steady rain in New York City to voice their displeasure with Trump administration policies. Bruce Convizer has more on the No Kings rally. The dreary weather didn't dampen a crowd that blue whistles carried placards and flags enchanted. Donald Trump has got to go! Patrick Stefano from Rochester, New York says the moral component that underpins democracy

is under attack. We can't stand with someone who must be a king, a logart. It's not how you treat humans. It's not how America should be. It's wrong. President Trump has alienated some with his efforts to dismantle or cut federal agencies like Veterans Affairs, USAID, and the Centers for Disease Control.

And the use of the military to support aggressive immigration enforcement efforts in Los Angeles has fueled protests. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Convice, or in New York. Police in Minnesota are continuing their search for a man that's suspected of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers on Saturday. They've identified 57-year-old Vance Bolter of Greenisle as the possible shooter. Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman

and her husband were both killed in the shootings. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is calling the incident a politically motivated assassination. You're listening to NPR News. Gaza's Health Ministry says another 40 people have been killed since Friday while they were trying to get food. NPR's Anas Baba reports on the risks some of Gaza's 2 million people are taking due to extreme hunger and Israeli restrictions on aid.

The UN says most of its aid allowed by Israel into Gaza this past month has been taken off trucks by hungry people. Fatima Abdul Aal says her son Muhammad was desperate to get a sack of flour for his six children who she says haven't eaten bread in over a month and are surviving of only lentils. She told NPR from the morgue he was killed by Israeli fire with a bag of flour in hand from a UN truck. Gaza's health ministry says nearly 300 people have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to access food aid since late May. Most have died near Israelis and US-backed, privately run sites where food boxes have been distributed in the military zones of Gaza.

Israel says its forces have fired warning shots. Anas Baba, NPR News, Gaza. It's a six-way tie for first at the LPGA Classic underway in Belmont, Michigan this weekend. Lexi Thompson had to birdie two of the final three holes to make it into the group of six. She shot a four-under, 68 for the day. Brad Marchand scored twice, and Sam Bennett had his NFL playoff leading 15th goal on Saturday night as the Florida Panthers beat the Edmundon Oilers 5-2. The

Panthers lead the race for the Stanley Cup 3-2 and could win the trophy on Tuesday night if they win Game 6 on their home ice. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.