NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-17-2025 6PM EDT

Episode Date: June 17, 2025

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President Trump has spent the first few months of his term testing the limits of presidential power. He's tried to upend decades of established trade policy and foreign policy, and taken over powers long ceded to Congress. NPR's podcast, Trump's Terms, curates the network's coverage of the Trump administration. It helps you follow the latest and understand what it means. Trump's Terms. Listen in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Jack Spear Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Senate Republicans are considering adjustments to the bill that acts as the cornerstone of President Trump's agenda, including further extending the 2017 tax cuts. As NPR's Barbara Sprott explains, new provisions are setting up a possible collision course in the House.

Barbara Sprott The Senate Finance Committee released the With NPR's Barbara Spraun explains, new provisions are setting up a possible collision course in the House. Barbara Spraun The Senate Finance Committee released the highly anticipated legislative text, which addresses programs like Medicaid, clean energy tax credits, and other hotly disputed items. This comes after the House passed its version of the bill in May, after narrowly overcoming internal divisions. Some of those House members who are at the center of the negotiations have already said the latest text from the Senate crosses their red lines, like not enough of a deduction

for state and local taxes. Some senators are also concerned the Senate language makes too many adjustments to Medicaid. Senate Republicans want to pass the bill by July 4th. Barbara Sprint and Pure News, Washington. Israel is claiming to have killed a top Iranian general as the two sides continue to trade strikes. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump today again warned residents of Tehran they should evacuate as he seemed to suggest the U.S. has given up on negotiations between the two

sides. Trump left a group of seven meeting in Canada early, citing the need to return to Washington to deal with the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Trump has said he wants a real end to the conflict, which has claimed lives on both sides over the past several days. The State Department has set up a task force to help Americans caught up in the Israel-Iran war, but so far there's no word on any planned evacuation routes, as we hear from NPR's Michelle Kellerman. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce says the Middle East Task Force is working around the clock. We continue to monitor the

complex and rapidly evolving situation on the ground as we continue to assess and address the needs of US citizens. She stopped short of announcing any plans for evacuating Americans from Israel where the main international airport is closed. There are hundreds of thousands of Americans there, but the State Department won't say how many are reaching out for help. The State Department has issued travel warnings throughout the region and has authorized the departure of family members and non-essential employees at the embassy in Israel. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News, the State Department.

At least 51 Palestinians were killed, over 200 wounded in the Gaza Strip while waiting for UN and commercial trucks to enter the territory with desperately needed food. That's according to Gaza's health ministry and a local hospital. Palestinian witnesses told the Associated Press Israeli forces have fired on people as they've been waiting for food and other goods there. Stocks slumped amid concerns about the escalating conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. A weaker than expected retail sales report also sparked investor concerns today. The Dow was down 299 points. The Nasdaq fell 180 points today.

You're listening to NPR. Burlington, Vermont's City Council has voted to rename its main commercial thoroughfare Canada Street. As Mikhail Lafracq with Member Station Vermont Public tells us, as the relationship between the U.S. and Canada remains strained, border towns are making an effort to foster goodwill with their northern neighbors. The brick-lined road of shops and restaurants formerly known as Church Street is now Canada Street, at least for the summer tourism season. Kathy Davis is the head of Lake Champlain Chamber, which supports the change.

We really want to do our part to make sure that Canadians who do choose to come down to Vermont feel welcome. When you're ready, we'll be here. President Trump's trade policy and 51st state rhetoric have led to a downturn in Canadian tourism in Vermont. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 98,000 people crossed from Quebec to Vermont by car in April, down from 147,000 last April.

The Chamber reports that hotel occupancy in the Burlington area is down 12 percent this year. For NPR News, I'm Mikala Lafrac in Burlington. Bruce Springsteen as a musician has been deliberate in his career, seeking to keep narrative flow to his work and avoid repetition, whatever that has resulted in some material being left on the shelf. Now, the boss says he intends to release some of those songs in the form of seven so-called lost albums. It paints the rocker in a new light as some of the material includes Bruce fronting a country combo, Bruce as a crooner and even Springsteen with a mariachi band.

Oyer was more than 4% today to $74.97 a barrel. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.