NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-17-2025 7PM EDT

Episode Date: June 17, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has updated an estimate for how much the House of Representatives tax and spending bill will cost. As NPR's Elena Moore reports, it's expected to add roughly $2.8 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. That's a higher number than what the CBO originally projected the bill would cost. The new estimate factors in expected economic growth from the bill but it also includes costs from increased interest rates. The CBO's projection deals with the House bill passed narrowly last month and the Senate

may make changes that could increase the estimate again. But the estimate also undermines GOP promises that their tax cut plan would grow the economy. Republicans have tried to discredit the nonpartisan CBO, but the latest figures could create further issues for some Republican fiscal hawks who have criticized the bills. Alaina Moore, NPR News, Washington. An environmental law group says it will file a suit against Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company AXI. NPR's John Ruich reports the suit filed on behalf of the NAACP alleges XAI violated federal environmental law.

The Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of the NAACP gave XAI a 60-day notice. It says it intends to sue under the Clean Air Act, which it says the company violated by installing dozens of polluting methane gas turbines at its data center in Tennessee. XAI was established in 2023 and built a huge data center in South Memphis in 2024 with the goal of creating what it called the world's largest supercomputer. To power it, XAI installed methane gas generators. The Southern Environmental Law Center says they lack permits and public oversight and violate the law.

In a statement, XAI says the temporary power generation units are operating in compliance Southern Environmental Law Center says they lack permits and public oversight and violate the law. In a statement, XAI says the temporary power generation units are operating in compliance with all applicable laws. John Ruech, NPR News. In Los Angeles, the city's lifted its curfew imposed last week following days of confrontations between police and protesters. Steve Futterman reports. Mayor Karen Bass, who imposed the curfew, said tensions here in the downtown area have been reduced. In a written statement she said the curfew

and other crime prevention efforts have been successful in protecting stores, restaurants, businesses and residential areas. When the curfew first went into effect, LA was enduring nightly confrontations with police at times using non-lethal explosives, tear gas, and declaring unlawful assemblies. Although the nightly protests and confrontations have essentially ended, there are still some troops in place protecting a number of downtown federal buildings. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles. The interest rate setting Federal Reserve has kicked off a two-day meeting in Washington

where the job market is still strong and inflation fairly well contained. Most economists expect the Fed will keep rates steady for now. On Wall Street, stocks moved lower today. This is NPR. The Food and Drug Administration says it intends to begin offering a fast track for the review of some new medicines to better align with the Administration's priorities for Americans' health. The new program aims to review certain select drugs in just one or two months instead of the current lengthy process.

FDA Commissioner Marty Mockery says it's all part of an FDA effort to arrive at faster cures for health problems. A major pop star joins the race to score 2025's unofficial Song of the Summer. Here's NPR's Stephen Thompson. 2024 gave pop fans a crowded race for the year's unofficial Song of the Summer, as major stars and new faces flooded the market with massive pop hits. This year, it's been slower, as the pop charts have been loaded with last year's hits, alongside new ones from the country star Morgan Wallen and the ever-present hit Ordinary by the singer Alex Warren.

This week, the song of the summer sweepstakes finally gets a rowdy pop contender, Sabrina Carpenter's Man Child. Man Child is off to a good start. It debuts on this week's Billboard Hot 100 at number one. Stephen Thompson, NPR News. Actor Tom Cruise has been nominated for Oscars a number of times, but has not won one until now. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announcing today the actor will be among those recognized with an honorary

Oscar statuette at the annual Governor's Awards in November also being recognized choreographer Debbie Allen and singer Dolly Parton. You're listening to NPR.