Trump’s tariffs take effect; Eli Lilly trials experimental weight loss pill

Summary

**Podcast Summary: "Trump’s Tariffs Take Effect; Eli Lilly Trials Experimental Weight Loss Pill"
Title: Here's the Scoop
Host: Yasmin Vossoughian, Morgan Chesky, Brian Cheung
Release Date: August 7, 2025

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1. Introduction

In this episode of "Here’s the Scoop", host Yasmin Vossoughian outlines the day's major topics, including the implementation of President Trump's tariffs, updates on an experimental weight loss pill by Eli Lilly, the Texas redistricting saga, and a groundbreaking moment in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the first female umpire.

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2. Trump's Tariffs Take Effect

Timestamp: [00:00 - 07:18]

Overview:
The episode kicks off with a detailed discussion on the sudden implementation of President Trump's sweeping tariffs, which took effect just after midnight on August 7, 2025. These tariffs include a 10% baseline on most imports and higher rates targeting specific countries, particularly the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa).

Key Points:

• Tariff Details:

  • Average Tariff Rate: Approximately 17% across targeted countries.
  • High-Impact Tariffs:
    • India: 50% tariff imposed due to Russia-India oil dealings and India's stance on Ukraine conflict.
    • Brazil: 50% tariff targeting the administration of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
    • South Africa & China: Tariffs set at 30%, reflecting ongoing tensions and strategic economic positioning.

• Economic and Political Implications:

  • Ryan Chung emphasizes the unprecedented nature of these tariffs, noting, “This is the highest tariff rate that we have seen in almost 100 years” [01:48].
  • The tariffs are seen as both an economic strategy and a form of political leverage against nations perceived as antagonistic to U.S. interests.
  • Impact on Global Economy:
    • Ryan Chung: “We are in Trump's global economy now,” highlighting the ripple effects these tariffs will have worldwide [06:17].
    • Potential strengthening of BRICS alliances as countries band together in response to U.S. economic policies.

• Government Revenue and Deficit:

  • Yasmin Vossoughian: Mentions that the tariffs are generating significant revenue, with $30 billion collected as of last month [05:24].
  • Ryan Chung: Points out the revenue's impact on the national deficit is minimal, casting doubt on the effectiveness of tariffs in deficit reduction [05:37].

• Upcoming Diplomacy:

  • Announcement of a scheduled meeting between President Trump and President Putin to discuss a possible deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine and address impending high tariffs [07:18].

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Chung: “We are in Trump's economy, but we are in Trump's global economy now.” [06:17]
• Yasmin Vossoughian: “So this is day one, essentially, of these tariffs across the board. And we are now in Trump's economy.” [06:01]

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3. Eli Lilly's Experimental Weight Loss Pill

Timestamp: [09:11 - 15:24]

Overview:
The discussion shifts to a promising development in obesity treatment—a new oral GLP-1 weight loss pill developed by Eli Lilly. Unlike existing injectable GLP-1 medications, this pill offers a needle-free alternative, potentially increasing accessibility and affordability.

Key Points:

• Clinical Trial Results:

  • Patients in late-stage trials lost an average of 12% of their body weight over 72 weeks.
  • Dr. Angela Fitch, a primary care clinician and president of the Obesity Medicine Association, highlights that 40% of participants at the highest dose lost over 15% of their weight [11:05].

• Mechanism and Benefits:

  • Traditional GLP-1s are injectable due to their large biological structure, making them hard to absorb orally.
  • The new pill is a small molecule, enabling daily oral administration with easier absorption [10:18].
  • Beyond weight loss, GLP-1 activation shows potential benefits in reducing inflammation and possibly lowering the risk of conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia [14:04].

• Challenges and Side Effects:

  • Common side effects include nausea, consistent with the GLP-1 class of medications [10:57].
  • Dr. Fitch: Emphasizes the chronic nature of obesity and the necessity for long-term treatment, contrasting it with short-term solutions like antibiotics [12:16].

• Accessibility and Future Impact:

  • The pill's manufacturability and stability (e.g., no need for refrigeration) could lead to lower costs, enhancing accessibility [13:35].
  • With over 50% of Americans classified as obese, this medication could significantly impact public health and reduce obesity-related diseases [13:45].

• Regulatory Timeline:

  • The pill could be fast-tracked by the FDA, potentially reaching the market within six months, aiming for a release next year contingent on approval processes [15:00].

Notable Quotes:

• Dr. Angela Fitch: “We just haven't had the financial focus and support on the disease of obesity because we haven't felt it's a real disease.” [11:38]
• Yasmin Vossoughian: “We are talking above 50% of Americans currently that are considered in the obese range.” [13:35]

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4. Headlines

Timestamp: [07:55 - 18:23]

Overview:
The hosts present a series of brief news headlines covering international politics, public health, domestic politics, retail industry challenges, and a historic moment in sports.

Key Highlights:

• Israel's Military Plans for Gaza:

  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced intentions to take control of Gaza to ensure security and eliminate Hamas influence. He stated, “We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there...” [15:37].
  • Netanyahu clarified that Israel does not plan to maintain long-term control over Gaza, aiming to transfer governance to non-hostile Arab forces [15:56].

• Children’s Diets and Health:

  • A CDC report reveals that 62% of daily calories consumed by children and teens come from ultra-processed foods, compared to 53% for adults [15:56].
  • Links were made between high consumption of processed foods and increased risks of depression and diabetes.

• Texas Redistricting Battle:

  • Senator John Cornyn disclosed that the FBI is assisting in locating state Democratic leaders who left Texas to oppose a GOP redistricting plan.
  • The plan could potentially grant Republicans up to five additional seats in Congress next year [16:00].

• Claire’s Bankruptcy:

  • Claire’s, known for accessories like Hello Kitty headbands and friendship bracelets, filed for bankruptcy, closing 18 stores.
  • The company cites heavy debt and stiff competition from online retailers such as Temu, Shein, and Amazon [17:37].

• Historic MLB Umpire Appointment:

  • Jen Powell becomes the first female umpire in MLB, officiating a series between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves [17:00].
  • Powell shares her journey from collegiate softball to MLB, highlighting the long-awaited inclusion of women in major league officiating [17:40].
  • Ryan Chung: “It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it.” [18:16]

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5. Closing Remarks

Timestamp: [18:23 - 18:59]

In the closing segment, Yasmin Vossoughian touches on the current constitutional challenges facing the United States, emphasizing the urgency and gravity of the situation. Additionally, a promotion for Amicus Slate's podcast is made, focusing on the Supreme Court and legal matters.

Notable Quotes:

• Yasmin Vossoughian: “At this very moment, we are living through a series of cascading constitutional crises, rocketing up to the Supreme Court and shaking the foundations of American democracy.” [18:58]

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Conclusion

This episode of "Here’s the Scoop" provided listeners with an in-depth analysis of President Trump's newly implemented tariffs and their global economic and political repercussions. It also showcased a significant advancement in obesity treatment with Eli Lilly's experimental weight loss pill, offering hope for millions battling obesity. The hosts concluded with a roundup of diverse and impactful headlines, ranging from international conflicts to historic milestones in sports. With clear, insightful discussions and expert interviews, this episode effectively kept listeners informed on pressing issues shaping the world today.

Transcript

[Yasmin Vesugian]

McCormick knows unbeatable flavor starts with the right spices. It's why we created Flavour Sealed. So anytime you peel back the seal of McCormick herbs and spices, you can be confident they will pack the same amount of flavor as the day they were packed. The kind of flavor that brings out the best of your favorite recipes and keeps everyone coming back for seconds or maybe even thirds. McCormick flavor sealed for unbeatable flavor. Hey, everybody, and welcome to Here's a scoop from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Vesugian. We've got a lot going on today. We got details about a potential GLP1 pill, updates in the Texas redistricting saga and the first woman to call balls and strikes in the major leagues. Up first, though, it is tariff day. After months of delays and extensions, President Trump's sweeping tariffs took effect just after midnight today. We're talking a 10% baseline tariff on most things that come into the US and steeper rates coming on certain countries that the administration has beef with. Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, also known as brics. And some of those countries are biting back. So for more on this, I want to bring in my co host, Ryan Chung, who when he's not hosting the show, he is NBC's business and data correspondent. All over the TV today. Yeah.

[Ryan Chung]

All overstatement. Every hour on the hour.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

I'm surprised you weren't on starting at midnight when the president was posting on social media. Essentially. Now the money is flowing. This is day one. Right. We've been talking about tariffs for the last couple of months, but this is kind of day one of how these tariffs are going to play out when it comes to the U.S. economy.

[Ryan Chung]

Yeah. And first off, I feel like we have to acknowledge that there have been tariff headlines every day since January 20th.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Absolutely.

[Ryan Chung]

And a lot of people might be wondering, wait, you know, Brian. Yes. I thought that these tariffs happened already. And I think that what we need to talk about here with regards to what's happening on August 7th today, what happened as of midnight is that there are tariff rates that are being put into effect that were negotiated by the White House. And that's why we need to take this more seriously than any other day, because you had some countries that came into the US Shook hands with the president and then walked away with a tariff rate that is still substantially higher than it was prior to the president entering in for his second term. It is a substantial rejiggering of the way that the global economy works. For basically the last few decades, American trade has been as close as you might call it. It wasn't necessarily free. There were many tariffs on specific industries, on specific. But this is the highest tariff rate that we have seen in almost 100 years.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

If you go through the list of countries and the tariffs that we're looking at, the average right now, it seems is around 17%. But you've got 50% tariffs on some countries. And we're talking BRICs here, right. B for Brazil, R for Russia, I for.

[Ryan Chung]

Help me out, India.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

India. C, China. S. South Africa. Right. India, 50% as of yesterday. Because Trump essentially said, listen, you're buying oil from Russia, Russia's not stopping the war in Ukraine, so I'm taxing you with 50%. Brazil. Bolsonaro, my man, you're giving him problems. Former president of Brazil. I'm giving you 50% of tariffs as well. Right. So not only exacting these tariffs for, as the President has seen, as bolstering the US Economy, as he puts it, or sees it, I should say, but also kind of exacting, in a way, political revenge on some of these countries. Walk us through that.

[Ryan Chung]

Yeah. And by the way, South Africa, 30%, and China, even though there's been this kind of kicking of the can down the road, they're continuing negotiations currently, they are still being tariffed at a rate of 30%. So this is substantially higher than some of these other countries that saw these tariffs take effect at midnight. And I think that the reason for this is because of the President's framing of this BRICS alliance as something that threatens the United States. So as you mentioned, those countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, by the way, there are a number of other countries that are kind of on the periphery that also align with the BRICS countries. The President sees them as trying to create this economic but political alliance, really, that is trying to disenfranchise the United States as he frames it. And I think that underscores why he's been hitting them so hard with these substantially higher tariffs than other countries are facing at the moment. But also importantly for the political reasons that you outlined, which might be unique to each of these countries, where you look at a Brazil and you know, Yair Bolsonaro, who is often framed as the Trump of the south of South America.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

But the question is, are they going to back down? Because Prime Minister Narendra Modi essentially has come forward and said, no, we're not backing down. I mean, how far are they going to get pushed?

[Ryan Chung]

Well, and I think that that's why the BRICS conversation is so relevant, because for a lot of people. You're probably thinking, you know, the United States has become such a domestic powerhouse in terms of production. I mean, America is drilling more oil than ever in its history. Why can't India just buy from the United States? Well, it's because there's been a history and a long entrenched economic relationship between Russia and India. That is the reason for why, when you look at what's happening in the international order, yes, we talk a lot about US China, yes, we talk a lot about US Russia and the complications that come from the war in Ukraine. But you have to remember that it does not exist in those vacuums, that the alliance between Russia, China, Brazil, India, South Africa, and a number of these other peripheral countries is something that has been around for decades.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Can we talk about where this money is going? Right. Because the President has said that $11 billion or so is coming in monthly from these tariffs.

[Ryan Chung]

As of last month, 30 billion.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

30 billion as of last month, yeah. Where is it going?

[Ryan Chung]

Yeah. And those numbers are true that, you know, you could fact check a lot about the president, but those, those billions of dollars are true now. Billions. When you're talking about the national deficit, which is what the president has said he would like to use this tariff revenue to close. We're not even in the neighborhood of, of what would close the national deficit. So how seriously to take that proposal remains to be seen.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So this is also a conversation that we've been having, which is in six months, we'll really kind of get a glimpse of where this economy is headed, because as of today, again, it goes back to the beginning, which is this is day one, essentially, of these tariffs across the board. And we are now in Trump's economy.

[Ryan Chung]

We are in Trump's economy, but we are in Trump's global economy now. And I think that's an important point because what happens as a result of these tariffs is going to impact the way that other economies work, too. And if we take it back to the conversation about brics, there is an argument to be made that what Trump is doing with an America first global agenda without really paying mind to the effects of what's going to happen to the other countries, could actually strengthen alliances like brics, as these countries say. You know what? If America's really going to try to stick it to us, then we need to stay to each other even stronger. Maybe Russian oil relationships get even stronger, knowing that perhaps American production can't be relied on in certain parts of the world.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Well, and that's not the only reason that alliance would grow stronger because it's something that we've been anticipating, I think would argue for decades now, a potential kind of alliance outside of the US alliance with kind of European countries. Brian Chung, it's a day.

[Ryan Chung]

It is a day.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Thank you.

[Ryan Chung]

Thanks.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

By the way, the Kremlin said that a meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin had been scheduled for the coming days. The two leaders are set to talk about a deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine and stave off ultra high tariffs that are set to go into effect tomorrow. The White House has proposed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky be a part of any meeting, but the Kremlin has all but dismissed that idea. All right. Coming up, a weight loss pill could be on the horizon. What to know after the break.

[Don Wildman]

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[Ryan Chung]

Do you want to know what it's like to hang out with Ms. 13 in El Salvador?

[Yasmin Vesugian]

How the Russian mafia fought battles all.

[Ryan Chung]

Over Brooklyn in the 1990s?

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

What about that time I got lost.

[Ryan Chung]

In the Burmese jungle hunting the world's biggest meth lab? I'm Sean Williams. And I'm Danny Gold and we're the hosts of the Underworld podcast. We're journalists that have traveled all over.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Reporting on dangerous people and places. And every week we'll be bringing you.

[Ryan Chung]

A new story about organized crime from all over the world, available wherever you get your podcasts.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

And we're back with here's the scoop from NBC News. Well, if you didn't want to take a shot to lose weight, now there's a pill in the works. Drug maker Eli Lilly announced new late stage trial results of its obesity pill that helped patients lose 12% of their body weight at 72 weeks. So if you started at 200 pounds, you were down to 176. This new pill would become the first needle free alternative in the GLP one family for treatment of obesity. Eli Lilly, who also makes injectable drugs like Zepbound Mounjaro and trulicity is among pharmaceutical companies racing to create a new oral form of the drug. This new pill brings hope for accessibility and affordability for a lot of patients out there. Let's talk more about this. I Wanna bring in Dr. Angela Fitch. She is a primary care clinician and the cast president of the Obesity Medicine Association. Hi, Dr. Fitch.

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

Thank you for having me.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So We've been seeing GLP1s everywhere, Dr. Fitch, but injectables. Now we have the potential of this pill hitting the market with this drug trial with Eli Lilly. What is it and how is it affecting folks?

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

So the other GLP1s we have, they're very hard to get into the system, or that's why they're injections, because we can't just swallow it and get it absorbed. Because it's a large biological type molecule. This is a small molecule. It's more like a drug, more like a pill. Right? It's a chemical small molecule that also gets absorbed easier and gets into your system faster so that you can have that GLP1 activation by absorbing it in your stomach instead of having to inject it once a week. But you do have to take it every day. And there are side effects, right? The side effects such as nausea that we see with this class of medications is the biggest side effect that seeing with this pill as well.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

And on average, how much are folks losing in this clinical trial when it comes to the pill form of the GLP1?

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

The important thing to recognize is in these clinical trials, about 40% of people at that highest dose were able to lose greater than 15% of their weight. For some patients, they're able to get even more weight loss, you know, if they're a higher responder to the drug. So it's gonna be important to identify those patients. Cause they're gonna have now an oral agent that they can take, you know, instead of having to take an injection once a week.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

The people that struggle with obesity, for instance, is there essentially a sense that those individuals do not produce enough of the GLP1 hormone?

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

We don't know actually, because we haven't done enough of this research. At a basic science level, there hasn't been a lot of focus on obesity because there's been so much stigma and bias and blame in this space of obesity for so long. There's just been this feeling for so long that it is a patient's fault. Right? We just haven't had the financial focus and support on the disease of obesity because we haven't felt it's a Real disease. Right. We've thought of it as a moral failure. And that's what it's definitely not. Right. It's not a patient's fault that they have a disease, just like it's not their fault that they have psoriasis or cancer or asthma or other types of diseases that they might have.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Dr. Fitch, you're also on a GLP1 medication.

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

I've been on a GLP1 pretty consistently for 12 years. And it's not something that people just can take a medicine, make it go away and be done. It's not like an antibiotic, where you take an antibiotic for your pneumonia and it gets better and then you don't need it anymore. This is something that we need to recognize as a chronic disease and treat that way for the long run.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

And how do you feel now versus how you felt 12 years ago?

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

I would try. I would be on my peloton and doing my things and tracking what I'm eating and exercising and I still would lose five or ten pounds and put it back on. This is the classic story people have because biologically we're not engineered to lose weight. We are engineered to gain weight weight as humans. And so when we lose weight, our body fights back and tries to put that weight back on. With changing these hormones, decreasing our production of GLP1, and then it makes us want to eat more. So having a medication to help you through that journey, it's been very life changing for many patients, including myself.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Talk about how this is going to change the game with the emergence of this pill. I imagine the accessibility of a medication like this will really change the game. For those individuals that were worried, for instance, about injectables or couldn't necessarily afford it because their insurance wouldn't cover it.

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

Our hope is that because it's easier to manufacture, you know, the supply chain doesn't need to be refrigerated, et cetera, that the cost will be significantly cheaper.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

We are talking above 50% of Americans currently that are considered in the obese range. Right. And then you think about cardiovascular disease, all the whole trickle down of how kind of obesity affects individuals and the fact that they can now get this under control, how does that change things?

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

It really changes things dramatically. Right. We know also that there's more and more research coming out that this GLP1 activation is important in multiple areas, in anti inflammatory areas, meaning it decreases inflammation. Many of my patients will say, I just feel so much less achy. Or if they have a autoimmune disease that causes them to have like rheumatoid arthritis or other types of inflammatory diseases. Those, those diseases tend to get better. We have data, for example, that psoriasis tends to get better when patients lose weight, but also when they're on one of these medications. We have research coming out right now on Alzheimer's and potentially a decreased risk of dementia. So there's going to be, there's more and more benefit to this GLP1 activation that we're finding, you know, over the course of time.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So now at the completion of phase three of this drug trial, what is your prediction as to when these pills could actually hit the market for folks?

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

They can fast track it with the fda. If they fast track with the fda, that'll be a six month usually is the usual time frame for fast tracking. Our hope has always been that they will be out sometime next year, but, you know, depends on FDA approval and how long that takes, et cetera.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Dr. Angela Fitch, thank you.

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

All right, let's get to some headlines. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel plans to take control of Gaza. Here he is on FOX News in Jerusalem today. Will Israel take control of all of Gaza?

[Ryan Chung]

We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza and to pass it to civilian governance that is not Hamas and not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel. That's what we want to do.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

In the interview, Netanyahu said Israel would not keep Gaza long term and would ultimately hand the enclave over to Arab forces that did not threaten Israel. This may not come as a surprise to anyone with children, but a new report finds that more than half of their diets are made up of ultra processed foods like sandwiches, chips, pizza, basically food with a lot of salt and a lot of sugar. The CDC found 62% of daily calories eaten by kids and teens are from ultra processed foods. That's compared to 53% for adults. These foods have been linked to potential health problems like depression and diabetes. A redistricting fight is heating up in Texas. Senator John Cornyn says the FBI has granted his request to help find state Democratic leaders who left Texas over the weekend. Those lawmakers left Texas for states like New York, Massachusetts and Illinois to try and block a GOP redistricting plan that could give Republicans up to five seats in Congress next year. Hello Kitty headbands, faux gold anklets and friendship bracelet charms may be harder to find. That is right. Claire's has filed for bankruptcy and will be closing 18 stores. And it's not the first time. The Tween Mall boutique last filed for bankruptcy in 2018. This time around, Klaire says they're struggling with a lot of debt and under sharper competition from online retailers like Temu, Shein and Amazon. Claire says it plans to use this bankruptcy to reorganize the business. And in the meantime, if you want to get your ears pierced, well, there's always the at home route. Seriously, don't do that. And Major League Baseball is calling up its first female ump this Saturday. Yet Jen Powell will be calling the balls and strikes this weekend's series between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves. The 48 year old came up as a softball phenom in New York and New Jersey and says she turned to umping after college ball as a way to stay in the game. Powell spent some time reffing NCAA softball in the 2010s before attending an MLB tryout camp in 2015. More recently, she's been working spring training. It's been a long time coming for the mlb, adding in women referees years after the NFL and NBA made similar moves. But as they say in the classic baseball movie A League of Their Own.

[Ryan Chung]

It'S supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

That's gonna do it for us at Here's a scoop from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Vasugin. We'll be back here tomorrow with whatever the day may. At this very moment, we are living through a series of cascading constitutional crises, rocketing up to the Supreme Court and shaking the foundations of American democracy. This is not a game of chicken where we back down from the Constitution.

[Dr. Angela Fitch]

Like, that's not how this works.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

I'm Dahlia Lithwick, host of Amicus Slate's podcast about the courts, the law and the Supreme Court. I've been writing about SCOTUS and the law for more than 20 years, and each week on Amicus, and we draw on that deep experience to navigate these incredibly uncertain times. Search Amicus that's Amicus to listen.