NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-18-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: June 18, 2025

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Hola, it's Sarah Gonzalez. At Planet Money, when we say we want you to understand the economy, sure we mean tariffs and global supply chains and interest rates, cosas así, but also we shot a satellite into space. We made our own vodka, became a record label, made a comic book, all to help you make better sense of the world around you. Listen to the Planet Money Podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mataglay. Iranian media are reporting thousands

of people have been fleeing Tehran after President Trump urged Iranians to evacuate the capital. Israel continues targeting Iran's military and nuclear sites. On social media yesterday, after cutting short his trip to the G7 summit in Canada, the president called for Tehran's unconditional surrender over its nuclear program. The State Department says it's established a task force to help Americans caught up in the fighting between Israel and Iran.

As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, currently there's no word on any planned evacuation routes. 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 U.S. 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. New York City Comptroller and Mayoral candidate Brad Lander has been released from custody following his arrest yesterday outside immigration court in Manhattan. As Charles Lane with Member Station WNYC reports, Lander's arrest occurred as immigration officers were attempting

to take a migrant into custody. Video shows Lander being led away in handcuffs by two men who appear to be masked law enforcement officials typical of recent practices by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Lander who's running for mayor said he was escorting a migrant from court and asked to see the person's arrest warrant. And they would not show me the warrant. And I said I'd let go of his arm as soon as they showed it to me. And they did not show it to me.

And you saw what happened. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Lander was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal court officer. For NPR News, I'm Charles Lane in New York City. Homeland Security Secretary Christine Noem was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Washington, D.C. yesterday after having an allergic reaction. A spokeswoman for DHS says Noem was alert and recovering and was transported out of an abundance of caution.

Noem is 53. She previously served as the governor of South Dakota and as a member of Congress. The Federal Reserve is expected to leave U.S. interest rates unchanged when it wraps up its latest policy meeting today. That's despite pressure from President Trump, who wants the Fed to lower rates to help boost economic activity. This is NPR News. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says for the first

time in more than a year, street drug deaths in the U.S. appear to be rising. They include deaths from fentanyl. As NPR's Brian Mann reports, the CDC found roughly 1,400 more drug deaths over a 12-month period. Fatal overdoses are still far below their peak in 2023, but for the first time in 17 months, a new CDC report based on data collected back in January shows a significant rise in drug deaths. In a statement to NPR, the CDC described this as a fluctuation and a slight increase and said researchers are working to better understand the trend.

Some drug policy experts said this could turn out to be a blip in the nation's recovery from fentanyl and other street drugs. But Keith Humphreys, a researcher at Stanford University, said this could be a warning sign that recent dramatic improvements in fatal overdoses could slow or be reversed. This increase comes at a moment when Congress and the Trump administration are considering deep cuts to federal funds for addiction care. Brian Mann, NPR News. The Florida Panthers are celebrating back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. The Panthers won the NHL's championship series last night after beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 on home ice.

Florida took the best of seven series, four games to two. Sam Reinhart scored four goals for the Panthers in game six. Edmonton had reached the Stanley Cup final for the second consecutive year. Wall Street is coming off a down day for stocks as the fighting between Israel and Iran continued. The Dow lost nearly 300 points yesterday. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington. It all starts with listening. To the person in front of you and the person you'll never meet.

To the person living a story and the journalist who helps you see it in a new light. The NPR network is built on listening with microphones in every region so where there any time a voice or sound demands to be heard. Hear stories in the first person, hear the bigger picture on NPR.