NPR News: 07-01-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now
Episode: 07-01-2025 5PM EDT
Release Date: July 1, 2025

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1. Trump’s Tax Bill Passes Senate on Vice President’s Tie-Breaker

Jack Spear opens the episode with a significant legislative update:

"President Trump's big bill of tax breaks spending cuts is now one crucial step closer to clearing Congress and getting to his desk by the Fourth of July."
(00:24)

The Senate narrowly approves the tax bill with a 50-50 vote, where Vice President J.D. Vance casts the decisive affirmative vote:

"On this vote, the yeas are 50, the nays are 50. The Senate being evenly divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative. The bill, as amended, is passed."
(00:44)

2. GOP Leadership Celebrates Passage Amid Internal Divides

Claudia Grisales provides insights into the internal dynamics of the Republican Party:

"Only three Senate Republicans voted against the mega bill, retiring North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, Kentucky's Rand Paul, and Maine's Susan Collins."
(01:03)

Senate Majority Leader John Thune hails the bill as:

"Historic."
(01:20)

3. Upcoming Debates in the House on Tax Cuts and Medicaid

The Republican-led House is set to debate the Senate’s amendments, which include:

"Steeper cuts to Medicaid to pay for extending tax cuts passed during Trump's first term."
(01:33)

This move indicates the ongoing negotiations and potential adjustments to the bill before final approval.

4. Trump vs. Elon Musk: Tax Bill and Immigration Policies Clash

Jack Spear reports on the rekindled feud between President Trump and Elon Musk:

"Musk... has been lashing out at Republicans supporting the administration's massive tax cutting bill. It will run up the debt ceiling by another $5 trillion."
(01:46)

President Trump responds by threatening repercussions for Musk’s opposition:

"President Trump says other states should join Florida in cooperating with the federal government's efforts to deport migrants who don't have legal status."
(01:46)

5. Expansion of Immigration Detention Facilities in Florida

Greg Allen covers President Trump’s visit to a new detention facility alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis:

"Trump joined Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other officials to tour the facility, a training airport that has quickly been converted into a detention camp with room for 3,000 beds."
(02:22)

Governor DeSantis emphasizes the model for other states:

"Red states that should be doing this just as much as Florida is doing. That will increase their numbers. And then what happens is you have a lot of people that will deport on their own because they don't want to end up in an alligator Alcatraz."
(02:40)

DeSantis also proposes deputizing National Guard troops as immigration judges, a move without legal precedent:

"DeSantis has said he wants National Guard troops to be deputized as immigration judges, charges to expedite deportations."
(02:53)

6. High-Profile Trials and Economic Updates

Jack Spear updates listeners on the ongoing trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs:

"Jurors at the sex trafficking and racketeering trial... have reached a verdict on some counts."
(03:03)

In economic news, the Dow Jones Industrial Average sees a significant uptick:

"On Wall street, the dow is up 400 points."
(03:03)

7. Hurricane Flossie Strengthens Off Mexico’s Pacific Coast

Jack Spear reports on the developing situation with Hurricane Flossie:

"Hurricane Flossie appears to be gaining strength in the waters off Mexico's Pacific Coast. Flossie is now a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of about 110 miles an hour."
(03:03)

The National Hurricane Center forecasts further strengthening:

"FAWCITY is expected to gain strength tonight."
(03:03)

8. Amtrak to Restore Gulf Coast Service After Two Decades

Stephen Messaha shares the positive news about Amtrak’s return to the Gulf Coast:

"Amtrak service will be coming back to the Gulf coast for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. A passenger train line will make two round trips a day between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, beginning in mid August."
(04:05)

Knox Ross, head of the Southern Rail Commission, credits persistent advocacy:

"There's some people just didn't give up on it and I think they think it's very important to the coast to make it whole."
(04:18)

The revival was made possible by securing nearly $180 million in federal funds for track upgrades:

"Amtrak got the companies on board in part by securing nearly $180 million in federal funds for upgrades along the line."
(04:26)

9. Passing: Death of Jimmy Swaggart

Jack Spear mourns the passing of renowned Christian pastor Jimmy Swaggart:

"Steve Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart has died. Swaggart, one of several Christian pastors who saw their careers derailed by sex. In a tearful 1988 sermon, he apologized, telling his parishioners, 'I have sinned against you.'"
(04:45)

Swaggart was remembered at 90 years old:

"Jimmy Swaggart was 90 years old."
(04:45)

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This episode of NPR News Now comprehensively covered pivotal national legislative developments, high-profile political disputes, significant economic movements, severe weather updates, infrastructure advancements, and notable passings, ensuring listeners are well-informed on critical events shaping the nation.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

The House of Representatives has approved a White House request to claw back two years of previously approved funding for public media. The rescissions package now moves on to the Senate. This move poses a serious threat to local stations and public media as we know it. Please take a stand for public media [e-mail] thank you.

[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump's big bill of tax breaks spending cuts is now one crucial step closer to clearing Congress and getting to his desk by the Fourth of July. Today, it made it through the Senate by a razor thin margin with Vice President J.D. vance pushing it over the edge.

[Unknown Speaker]

On this vote, the yeas are 50, the nays are 50. The Senate being evenly divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative. The bill, as amended, is passed.

[Jack Spear]

Vice President J.D. vance casting that vote. NPR's Claudia Grisales says the Senate GOP leadership overcame bitter internal party divides to get to this point.

[Claudia Grisales]

Only three Senate Republicans voted against the mega bill, retiring North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, Kentucky's Rand Paul, and Maine's Susan Collins. JD Vance broke the resulting tie to pass the plan, which Senate Majority Leader John Thune called historic.

[Unknown Speaker]

In the end, we got the job done and we're delighted to be able to be partners with President Trump and his agenda, an agenda that is the right one for the American people, the one that they voted for last November.

[Claudia Grisales]

The Republican led House will need to debate the Senate changes, including steeper cuts to Medicaid to pay for extending tax cuts passed during Trump's first term. Claudias, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Jack Spear]

President Trump's on again, off again feud with Elon Musk is back on again. Musk, in posts on social media, has been lashing out at Republicans supporting the administration's massive tax cutting bill. It will run up the debt ceiling by another $5 trillion. Trump, for his part, suggested the billionaire businessman could be punished for his opposition point to the subsidies Musk companies SpaceX and Tesla have gotten. President Trump says other states should join Florida in cooperating with the federal government's efforts to deport migrants who don't have legal status. NPR's Greg Allen reports. Trump visited a new immigration detention facility in the heart of Florida's Everglades.

[Greg Allen]

Trump joined Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other officials to tour the facility, a training airport that has quickly been converted into a detention camp with room for 3000 beds. Another detention facility with 2000 beds is being built at a National Guard camp. DeSantis says he believes Florida is a model for other states We've got very.

[Ron DeSantis]

Red states that should be doing this just as much as Florida is doing. That will increase their numbers. And then what happens is you have a lot of people that will deport on their own because they don't want to end up in an alligator Alcatraz.

[Greg Allen]

Desantis has said he wants National Guard troops to be deputized as immigration judges, charges to expedite deportations, although there's no legal precedent for that. Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami.

[Jack Spear]

Jurors at the sex trafficking and racketeering trial of music mogul Sean Diddy Combs say they've reached a verdict on some counts. Jurors asked to review some of the trial testimony about 75 minutes into their second day of deliberations today. Judge is expected to ask the jury to keep at it. On Wall street, the dow is up 400 points. This is NPR. Hurricane Flossie appears to be gaining strength in the waters off Mexico's Pacific Coast. Fosse Now a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of about 110 miles an hour, according to the National Hurricane Center. At last check, the storm was southwest of Manzanilla, Mexico. Rain is currently affecting parts of the coast as the storm moves northwest at about 10 miles an hour. FAWCITY is expected to gain strength tonight. Amtrak service will be coming back to the Gulf coast for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. A passenger train line will make two round trips a day between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, beginning in mid August. See shahav. The Gulf States newsroom has more.

[Stephen Messaha]

Amtrak had stopped service between the two cities 20 years ago because of damage from the storm. Knox Ross is the head of the Southern Rail Commission, and he says the service restart only happened because of years of pushing from people on the coast.

[Knox Ross]

There's some people just didn't give up on it and and I think they think it's very important to the coast to make it whole.

[Stephen Messaha]

The private railroad companies that owned the tracks opposed Amtrak's return for years, saying it would get in the way of their more profitable freight business. Amtrak got the companies on board in part by securing nearly $180 million in federal funds for upgrades along the line. For NPR News, I'm Stephen Messaha.

[Jack Spear]

Steve Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart has died. Swaggart, one of several Christian pastors who saw their careers derailed by sex. SC In a tearful 1988 sermon, he apologized, telling his parishioners, quote, I have sinned against you. Jimmy Swigert was 90 years old. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Unknown Speaker]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.