NPR News: 07-03-2025 5AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 3, 2025, 5AM EDT

Hosted by Dave Mattingly

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1. Capitol Hill: Republican Tax and Spending Cut Bill

Timestamp: [00:15]

NPR's Dave Mattingly reports from Washington, highlighting the House's anticipated vote on the Republican tax and spending cut bill. This legislation, which narrowly passed the Senate with Vice President Vance's tie-breaking vote, encompasses several key areas:

• Tax Cuts and Regulations: Extends tax cuts from President Trump's first term and aims to reduce regulations.
• Border Security and Defense: Increases funding for border security and national defense.
• Fiscal Responsibility: Advocates for lighter government spending and a crackdown on waste.

Notable Quote:

Tom McClintock, Republican Congressman from California: “?Mean lower taxes, lighter regulations, a secure border, more frugal spending and a war on waste.”
[00:40]

Opposition: Democratic lawmakers counter the GOP's plan, arguing that it includes significant cuts to essential programs like Medicaid and nutrition assistance. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office warns that the bill would add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.

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2. Judicial Ruling on Asylum Seekers at the Southern Border

Timestamp: [00:48]

The episode delves into a federal judge's decision that President Trump's administration lacks the authority to deny entry to asylum seekers at the U.S. southern border.

Details:

• Proclamation: Issued by President Trump on his first day in office to restrict asylum seekers.
• Legal Challenge: LAWSU intervened on behalf of over a dozen individuals detained or removed without their asylum claims being considered.
• Judge’s Ruling:

  “The president does not have the power to create an alternative immigration system.”
  — Judge Randolph D. Moss
  [01:21]

The ruling is set to take effect in two weeks, providing the administration time to appeal the decision.

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3. Sean "Diddy" Combs Convicted on Lesser Charges

Timestamp: [01:59]

In New York City, hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs faces legal consequences following a split verdict in his trial.

Trial Outcome:

• Acquitted: Of major charges including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
• Convicted: On lesser charges related to prostitution.

Impact:

• Community Response:

  Sam Stigger, local resident: “Do you see any signs? Anybody celebrating? Anybody saying go did he? Because it's wrong.”
  [02:40]

• Prosecutors' Claims: Accused Combs of orchestrating a criminal enterprise to exploit women near the Apollo 3 theater.
• Victims' Perspective:

  Denver Williams: “I wouldn't know how to feel if I was those victims.”
  [02:59]

Combs maintains his innocence and faces up to 20 years in prison for the convictions. Samantha Max from WNYC provides on-the-ground reporting from Harlem.

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4. Skydiving Plane Crash in Southern New Jersey

Timestamp: [03:09]

A single-engine Cessna plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Cross Keys Airport, carrying 15 skydivers.

Incident Details:

• Pilot's Report: Experienced engine trouble and attempted an emergency landing.
• Outcome: The plane collided with trees during the landing attempt.
• Casualties: No fatalities, but injuries ranged from minor to critical.
• Location: Cross Keys Airport, approximately 20 miles southeast of Philadelphia.

The National Transportation Safety Board is actively investigating the cause of the crash.

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5. Clayton Kershaw Achieves 3,000 Career Strikeouts

Timestamp: [03:59]

In Major League Baseball news, Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Clayton Kershaw has become the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000 career strikeouts.

Highlights:

• Milestone Achievement: Reached the 3,000 strikeout mark during the Dodgers' 54th win against the Chicago White Sox.
• Game Moment:

  “Strikeout number 3,000 for Clayton Kershaw. History at Dodger Stadium.”
  — Dodger Radio Network
  [04:11]

• Significance:
  • First Dodgers pitcher since Max Scherzer in 2021 to achieve this feat.
  • At 37 years old, Kershaw's accomplishment is a strong indicator of his eventual induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
  • Overcoming major injuries in recent years adds to the impressiveness of his milestone.

Steve Futterman reports from Los Angeles, celebrating Kershaw's historic achievement.

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End of Summary

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For more updates, visit NPR's website

Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly on Capitol Hill. The House is expected to vote this morning on the Republican tax and spending cut bill. Lawmakers are debating the legislation, which narrowly cleared the Senate after Vice President Vance cast the tie breaking vote. Republican Congressman Tom McClintock of California says congressional passage of the GOP bill will.

[Tom McClintock]

Mean lower taxes, lighter regulations, a secure border, more frugal spending and a war on waste.

[Dave Mattingly]

The bill extends tax cuts passed during President Trump's first term in the White House and increases funding for border security and national defense. Democratic lawmakers oppose the Republican plan, citing funding cuts to Medicaid and nutrition programs. The Congressional Budget Office says the package will add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years. A federal judge says the Trump administration does not have the authority to turn away asylum seekers at the US southern border. Here's NPR's Jasmine Garsd.

[Jasmine Garsd]

The proclamation to deny entry to asylum seekers at the southern border was issued by President Trump on his first day in office. A LAWSU sought to halt the policy on behalf of more than a dozen people who'd been detained or removed from the US without their asylum claims being addressed. Lawyers said some of their clients were fleeing government torture in their home countries. In his ruling, Judge Randolph D. Moss said the president does not have the power to create an alternative immigration system. The ruling will take effect in two weeks in order to give the Trump administration time to appeal. Jasmine Garsd, NPR News, New York.

[Dave Mattingly]

A judge in New York City is denying bail to hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs after jurors delivered a split verdict. In his trial, Combs was acquitted of the most serious counts, sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He was convicted on lesser charges related to prostitution. Samantha Max with member station WNYC reports from Harlem.

[Samantha Max]

It was business as usual here after a jury convicted Combs on two counts and acquitted him of more serious charges. Vendors sold clothing, ambulance sirens blared and commuters waited for the bus. Sam Stigger says Combs means nothing to the local community.

[Sam Stigger]

Do you see any signs? Anybody celebrating? Anybody saying go did he? Because it's wrong.

[Samantha Max]

Prosecutors have accused Combs of creating a criminal enterprise to abuse women outside the famed Apollo 3 theater. Denver. Williams says the verdict is disheartening.

[Denver Williams]

I wouldn't know how to feel if I was those victims.

[Samantha Max]

Combs has denied breaking the law. He faces up to 20 years in prison. For NPR News, I'm Samantha Max in New York.

[Dave Mattingly]

This is NPR News from Washington. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of a skydiving plane in southern New Jersey with 15 people aboard. Nobody was killed, but authorities say the injuries of those on the flight ranged from minor to critical. The pilot of the single engine Cessna reported having engine trouble shortly after takeoff from Cross Keys Airport and tried to make it back to the Runway. The plane ended up in some trees during the attempted landing. The airport is about 20 miles southeast of Philadelphia. In Major League Baseball, Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers is now the 20th pitcher in league history to record 3,000 career strikeouts. As Steve Futterman reports, Kershaw reached that milestone last night in the Dodgers 54 win over the Chicago White Sox.

[Steve Futterman]

Entering Wednesday night's game against the Chicago White Sox, Clayton Kershaw needed just three strikeouts to reach the magic 3,000 mark in the sixth inning. He did it.

[Dodger Radio Network]

One, two pitch, strike three called. There it is. Strikeout number 3,000 for Clayton Kershaw. History at Dodger Stadium, the call on.

[Steve Futterman]

The Dodger Radio Network. Kershaw is the first pitcher to achieve the historic feat since 2021, when Max Scherzer, also pitching for the Dodgers, recorded his 3,000th strikeout. Kershaw is 37 and has faced major injuries in recent years. 3,000 strikeouts is a virtual guarantee of eventual entry into the hall of Fame. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[Dave Mattingly]

I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.

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