NPR News: 06-19-2026 11AM EDT

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NPR News Now 5 min 8 speakers 6 chapters transcribed 3 months ago
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What recent developments occurred between Israel and Hezbollah?

Windsor Johnston 0:00
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The U.S. says Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group, have agreed to a ceasefire. The continued fighting in Lebanon had scuttled a signing ceremony of an interim peace plan scheduled for today in Switzerland between the U.S. and Iran. NPR's Carrie Khan reports from Tel Aviv.
Kerry Kahn 0:23
A senior U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed to NPR that Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire starting 4 p.m. local time. The announcement comes as clashes between Israel and the militants escalated overnight with intensified Israeli bombardments, killing at least 47 people and injuring 97, according to Lebanese health officials.

How is the U.S. Department of Education helping student loan borrowers?

Kerry Kahn 0:47
Four Israeli soldiers were killed by Hezbollah. Israel says it will not withdraw troops from southern Lebanon, where it occupies a great swath of the country. The mayor of Nabatea told NPR immediately following the 4 p.m. start of the ceasefire, multiple Israeli airstrikes hit targets in the area lasting at least 20 minutes, including one in the heart of his Lebanese city. Carrie Khan, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
Windsor Johnston 1:13
The U.S. Department of Education says it's offering student loan borrowers a temporary discount on interest. That's if they sign up for automatic payments, as NPR's Corey Turner reports.
Corey Turner 1:25
Hoping to entice millions of borrowers back into regular repayment, the department is offering a full percentage point off their interest rate. So a borrower with a 6% rate on their loans...

What concerns have been raised about the Census Bureau's data privacy protections?

Corey Turner 1:35
would see it drop temporarily to 5%. The offer begins July 1st, and the rebate would last for two years until summer 2028. Borrowers who are already enrolled in AutoPay don't need to do anything. They'll automatically get the discount. The Education Department says borrowers will have until the end of September to sign up and qualify. Corey Turner, NPR News.
Windsor Johnston 1:56
Researchers and other data advocates are calling for the Trump administration to revoke a new ban on a certain type of data privacy protection at the Census Bureau. NPR's Hansi Lowong reports.
Hansi Lewong 2:10
Federal law requires the Census Bureau to keep people anonymous in its statistics. The Trump administration has banned one of the main ways the Bureau has done that, adding what's known as statistical noise to make certain data fuzzy, especially data about local areas and minority populations who could be easy to identify.

What changes is the Trump administration proposing for Title X funding?

Hansi Lewong 2:26
In a statement, Commerce Department spokesperson Kristen Eichemer says the indiscriminate use of noise infusion has undermined confidence in the department's products and cast doubt on their integrity. Eichemer did not respond when NPR asked for examples. Beth Jaris of the Association of Public Data Users is concerned the ban comes with little explanation.
Beth Jaris 2:43
It takes the public out of the process. It takes the experts out of the process. This feels very much like a political choice.
Hansi Lewong 2:50
The Census Bureau took down multiple pages about data privacy protections from its website. Anzila Wong, NPR News.
Windsor Johnston 2:57
This is NPR. An association representing thousands of reproductive health centers are suing the Trump administration.

How are communities across the U.S. celebrating Juneteenth?

Windsor Johnston 3:07
They say the White House is trying to change a program designed to provide access to birth control. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin has more.
Claire Coleman 3:16
The program is called Title X. It was signed into law by President Nixon, and for five decades, it has helped fund free birth control for millions of patients. This spring, the Trump administration issued an unusual call for Title X funding.
The word contraception is mentioned exactly once in the 60-plus page document.
Claire Coleman 3:36
That's Claire Coleman, president of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association. She says applicants face new political alignment rules.
You're required to both follow the Title X regulation and you're required to follow the president's executive orders on anti-DEI and anti-gender ideology. We think it's impossible.
Claire Coleman 3:56
Coleman's group sued, asking a federal judge to block those requirements.

What is the significance of Juneteenth in American history?

Claire Coleman 4:01
Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News.
Windsor Johnston 4:03
Juneteenth celebrations are taking place across the U.S.

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