NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-17-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: June 17, 2025

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The best kind of celebrity interview is one where you find out that the person who made a thing you love also thinks in a way that you love. Nothing is more foreign than when Ariel says in The Little Mermaid, I want to be where the people are. I don't want to be where the people are. I just don't. I'm Rachel Martin. Listen to the Wild Card Podcast, only from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. A meeting of President Trump's National Security Team has wrapped up with some indications the administration may be warming to the idea of having the U.S. play a role in Israel's

ongoing strikes against Iran. President Trump's saying he's interested in something much bigger than a ceasefire, though what exactly that means is not entirely clear. The White House has said the U.S. is not joining Israel's attacks on Iran. Some U.S. assets, including a third U.S. Navy destroyer, have been moved to the region. A second U.S. carrier strike group is headed toward the Arabian Sea. President Trump, meanwhile, says Iran's supreme leader is an easy target. But as NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, Iran's supreme leader is an easy target, but as NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, Trump says the leader is safe for now.

President Trump took to social media where he's calling for the unconditional surrender from Iran in its conflict with Israel, which is entering its fifth day of exchanging strikes. Trump said, quote, we have now total and complete control of the skies over Iran. In another post, he said the US knows exactly where the supreme leader is. Quote, we're not going to take him out, at least for now, but we don't want missiles shot at civilians or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, The White House. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested in New York immigration court today

as NPR's Amanda Bustillo reports the Homeland Security Department is alleging he interfered with federal law enforcement. DHS Assistant Secretary for Media Affairs says Brad Lander impeded on a federal officer. Lander is also a candidate in New York City's mayoral race. The incident was caught on video and shows Lander being pushed by several masked men down a hall. The arrest comes after

several other high-profile clashes between Democratic officials and federal immigration officers. Earlier this month Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and briefly handcuffed by federal law enforcement after interrupting Los Angeles press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Christine Ohm. And New York Mayor Ross Baracas was arrested while accompanying Democratic Congress members to visit an immigration detention center in New Jersey. Jimena Bustillo, NPR News. A bigger than expected drop in retail sales last month, NPR's Scott Horsley reports on the latest spending data from the Commerce Department.

Retail spending dropped by nearly a full percentage point in May. Some of that drop was expected after an earlier surge in spending on big ticket items as shoppers rushed to get ahead of tariffs. Spending at gas stations was also down during the month thanks to a drop in gasoline prices. That trend could be changing now as fighting between Israel and Iran pushes pump prices higher, triple A's as the average price of regular gas rose about 3 cents a gallon overnight. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. Stocks slumped amid concerns about the escalating conflict in the Middle East between Israel

and Iran and the weaker retail sales numbers. The Dow fell 299 points today. The Nasdaq dropped 180 points. You're listening to NPR. Senate lawmakers are voting on a new form of cryptocurrency known as stable coins which basically ties crypto to the US dollar. The bill the first of what is expected to be a wave of cryptocurrency friendly legislation under the current administration. While the measure is advanced with bipartisan support, some Democratic members are concerned the

measure does little to address the president's own financial interests in crypto. Measured to be voted on today would establish guardrails and consumer protections for stable coins. Kraft Heinz says it will be removing all artificial food dyes from products sold in the U.S. by the end of 2027. Sam Paris Maria Godoy reports the company also says it will stop making new products with those dyes effective immediately. In a statement, Kraft Hinds said nearly 90% of its U.S. products are already free of synthetic

dyes. It says it has invested in removing the dyes in remaining products or replacing them with natural colors. About a decade ago, the company removed the artificial dyes used to give its Kraft mac and cheese its iconic yellow-orange hue. That color now comes from spices like paprika and turmeric. Kraft Heinz says its ketchup has never used artificial dyes. The company's announcement comes nearly two months after federal health officials said they would work with the food industry to phase out the use of petroleum-based food dyes.

Some studies have linked these dyes to negative effects on children's behavior and mental health. Maria Godoy, NPR News. Oil prices surged again amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East and worries that could affect global supply. Oil was up 4 percent today to close at $74.97 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.