NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-18-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: June 18, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. The U.S. Embassy in Israel remains closed as the Israel-Iran war continues into its sixth day. Israeli officials believe the U.S. will join the military attack on Iran. NPR's General Estrin has more from Tel Aviv. A person briefed on the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, tells NPR that Israel thinks the US will join the military offensive in Iran and is waiting for a US decision.

President Trump has said he seeks, quote, unconditional surrender and other statements that are fueling speculation over whether he seeks active US involvement. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, says any US attack will have, quote, dire and irreparable consequences. The U.S. embassy in Israel has been closed since Tuesday and says it will stay closed for the next several days for security reasons. Some U.S. visitors have been leaving Israel by land to Jordan and Egypt. There are no departing passenger flights from Israel.

Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. New York City Comptroller and Mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested yesterday outside an immigration court. From member station WNYC, Charles Lane reports Lander was detained as immigration officers were trying 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. A federal appeals court panel heard arguments yesterday about whether President Trump acted within the law when he deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles for immigration enforcement. California officials say Trump did not consult the governor, and so they sued.

Trump said they were needed to stop violence in LA. There is a vigil planned for tonight at the Minnesota State Capitol. It's for the four people shot over the weekend. Former State House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed. Fellow Democrat and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were seriously wounded. Many people are grieving. Natalie Cherne worked with Melissa Hortman. We lost somebody really good.

We lost somebody who actually cared about Minnesotans, not just somebody who cared about the sound bite. We lost somebody who loved this state. Authorities in Minnesota say the suspect in the shooting had carried a list of dozens of lawmakers and most of them were Democrats. He is facing both state and federal murder charges. You're listening to NPR.

In Georgia, the mother of a brain dead and pregnant woman who was kept on life support tells Atlanta TV station WXIA the woman's baby was delivered prematurely by C-section last Friday. She was about six months pregnant. The baby is now in intensive care. WXIA is reporting the woman was about eight weeks pregnant when she was first declared brain-dead,

but her family says Georgia's near total ban on abortion required them to keep her on life support for months. Her mother says she was taken off life support yesterday. Results are in from yesterday's primary election in Virginia. From member station VPM, Jod Khalil reports on the major party gubernatorial candidates. For the Democrats, former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger made herself out to be a defense against President Donald Trump. Over the last couple of weeks, one thing has been made clear.

The role of governor has never been more important. And Republican nominee Winsome Earl Sears offered her own type of stability. She told voters to look at her time as Lieutenant Governor under Governor Glenn Youngkin. We haven't come this far to only go this far. And forward is the only way I know. Virginia's economy has grown significantly in that time. But economists say job growth due to federal workforce cuts put that in jeopardy.

For NPR News, I'm Jad Khalil in Richmond. The Florida Panthers have successfully defended their title as NHL champs. They won the Stanley Cup last night, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 at home. Florida clinched the best of seven series, beating Edmonton four games to two. This is NPR.