NPR News: 07-05-2025 11AM EDT

Summary

NPR News: July 5, 2025 – Comprehensive Episode Summary

Host: NPR
Release Date: July 5, 2025

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1. Devastating Floods in Texas Hill Country

Reporter: Nora Raum

Rescue operations are in full swing in the Texas Hill Country following catastrophic floods that struck the region yesterday. Utilizing helicopters, boats, and drones, rescue teams are tirelessly searching for individuals who are missing or trapped. The floods have tragically resulted in at least 24 fatalities, with the situation becoming even more dire as two dozen girls remain missing after their church camp was submerged.

Governor Greg Abbott has expressed unwavering commitment to the rescue efforts, stating, “they won't give up” (00:19). The Guadalupe River experienced a 26-foot rise in just 45 minutes, exacerbating the disaster. Authorities warn that heavy rainfall is expected to continue today, with flash flood warnings and watches issued for various parts of Central Texas.

2. Trump's Tax Cut and Spending Bill Under Scrutiny

Reporter: Matt Bloom

President Donald Trump signed a significant tax cut and spending bill into law yesterday, which is poised to deliver substantial financial benefits primarily to affluent Americans. The legislation not only permanently enacts trillions of dollars in cuts previously approved during Trump's first term but also introduces new deductions for seniors and tip earners.

During the signing ceremony on the White House lawn, President Trump proclaimed, “Not only will we have the strongest economy on earth, we're also going to have the strongest borders on earth. And last month, did you see the number 0 people crossed our border?” (01:39) This statement underscores the administration's focus on economic growth and border security.

However, the bill faces criticism from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which warns that the tax cuts will increase the national debt. Additionally, there are concerns that health care costs for the poorest Americans may rise due to intended reductions in Medicaid and federal food aid programs (01:51).

3. BRICS Summit: Shaping the Global South's Agenda

Reporter: Carrie Kahn

Leaders from some of the world's foremost developing economies are converging in Rio de Janeiro for the annual BRICS summit, scheduled to commence tomorrow. The BRICS group, representing the emerging Global South, aims to position itself as a formidable counterpart to the Western-dominated G7 economies. Recently expanded to include countries like Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, BRICS is navigating the complexities of a more diverse membership.

Iran's participation signifies its desire for solidarity in the wake of its recent 12-day conflict, where BRICS members notably rebuked airstrikes. However, the inclusion of nations with stronger ties to the U.S. has led to challenges in achieving consensus, potentially diluting BRICS' collective influence. Brazilian leader Luisa Naciolula da Silva, concluding Brazil's one-year BRICS presidency, emphasizes a return to the group's foundational goals: “global development and combating climate change” (02:28).

4. Escalation in Ukraine: Military Strikes and Drone Attacks

Reporter: Nora Raum

Tensions continue to escalate in Ukraine as the Ukrainian military reports that its special forces have successfully struck a Russian military airfield, identifying it as a pivotal base for fighter jets. In retaliation, Russia has intensified its long-range assaults on Ukraine, deploying 322 drones and decoys into western regions overnight (03:13). This ongoing conflict underscores the volatile security situation in Eastern Europe and the persistent volatility between Ukraine and Russia.

5. Evolutionary Decline of Olfactory Genes in High-Altitude Mammals

Reporter: Nell Greenfield Boyce

A recent scientific study has uncovered that mammals inhabiting high-altitude mountainous regions exhibit a significantly diminished sense of smell compared to their lowland counterparts. Researchers discovered a loss of key olfactory receptor genes in species such as yaks and mountain goats (03:48).

Nathan Clark, a biologist at the University of Pittsburgh, elaborates, “They were consistently losing the genes that... allow them to detect odorants smelling” (04:08). The study, published in Current Biology, suggests that the harsh, cold, and dry air of high altitudes may contribute to the reduced necessity for a keen sense of smell, as odors are less prevalent and disperse quickly in such environments.

6. Philadelphia's Fifth-Day City Workers' Strike Impacts Urban Services

Reporter: Nora Raum

Philadelphia is enduring significant disruptions as a city workers' strike enters its fifth day. The strike has led to a backlog in trash collection, with the city halting curbside pickups in response. Residents are advised to utilize designated collection sites for their waste management needs. Beyond sanitation, the strike is affecting street maintenance and has even impacted 911-dispatch call handling, highlighting the strike's broad implications for urban infrastructure and public safety services (04:35).

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and developments presented in the NPR News episode aired on July 5, 2025. For a more in-depth understanding, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full broadcast.

Transcript

[Capital One Representative]

This message comes from Capital One with the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles on everything you buy, plus get premium benefits at a collection of hotels when booking through Capital One Travel. What's in your wallet? Terms apply [e-mail] live from NPR News.

[Nora Raum]

In Washington, I'm Nora Raum. Rescue teams are using helicopters, boats and drones to search for those missing or trapped after devastating floods in the Texas Hill country yesterday. After at least 24 people died, two dozen girls are missing after their church camp was flooded. Texas Governor Greg Abbott says they won't give up.

[Capital One Representative]

We will stop at nothing to ensure that every asset and person and plane and whatever is needed is going to be involved in the process of rescuing every last person and ensure everybody involved in this is going to be fully accounted for.

[Nora Raum]

Officials say the Guadalupe river rose 26ft in just 45 minutes. More heavy rain is expected today. Flash flood warnings and watches are in effect for parts of Central Texas. Wealthy Americans are set to see some of the biggest savings from the tax cut and spending bill signed by President Trump yesterday. NPR's Matt Bloom has more.

[Matt Bloom]

The measure makes permanent trillions of dollars of cuts approved during Trump's first term and adds new deductions for seniors and tip earners. During a signing ceremony on the White House lawn Friday, Trump said his one big beautiful bill will be a boon to households.

[Donald Trump]

Not only will we have the strongest economy on earth, we're also going to have the strongest borders on earth. And last month, did you see the number 0 people crossed our border?

[Matt Bloom]

The bill also increases ice and defense spending. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says the tax cuts will saddle the country with more debt. And the poorest Americans could see health care costs rise due to planned reductions to Medicaid and federal food aid. Matt Bloom, NPR News.

[Nora Raum]

Leaders from some of the world's leading developing economies are arriving in Rio de Janeiro this weekend for the annual BRICS summit set to begin tomorrow. Billed as the emerging Global South's counterweight to the West's G7 economies, BRIC has recently undergone a rapid expansion. NPR's Carrie Kahn reports.

[Carrie Kahn]

BRICS expansion will be on full view during the two day meeting as well as its growing pains. Newly admitted Iran will attend, hoping to find solidarity. Finding its recent 12 day war, Brics had issued a strong rebuke of airstrikes. But given some of its newest members, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have closer ties to the U.S. the group stopped short of directly criticizing the U.S. its growing ranks is also making consensus more difficult, weakening BRICS alternative clout say critics. Brazil's leader Luisa Naciolula da Silva, who wraps up the country's one year BRICS presidency, hopes to bring the group back to its roots with global development and combating climate change top of the agenda. Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

[Nora Raum]

This is NPR News in Washington. The Ukrainian military says its special forces struck a Russian military airfield today, describing it as the home base of fighter jets. Meanwhile, Russia stepped up its long range attacks on Ukraine overnight, firing 322 drones and decoys into western Ukraine. Mammals that live up mountainous high altitude regions seem to have a worse sense of smell. It turns out they've lost key genes related to olfaction. NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce explains scientists made.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

This unexpected discovery when they looked at the genetic codes of a bunch of high altitude species like yaks and mountain goats and compared them to mammals that lived live at lower elevations. Nathan Clark is a biologist with the University of Pittsburgh. He says animals that live high up had significantly fewer olfactory receptor genes.

[Capital One Representative]

They were consistently losing the genes that.

[Donald Trump]

Allow them to detect odorants smelling.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

He and his colleagues report on their findings in the journal Current Biology. It's unclear why the sense of smell deteriorates, he says maybe there's just less to smell in bare high altitude regions and odors don't travel well in the cold, dry air. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Nora Raum]

A strike by city workers in Philadelphia is now in its fifth day and the trash is piling up. The city says it won't be collected curbside as long as the strike lasts, but directs residents to bring their trash to collection sites in the meantime. The strike is also affecting street maintenance and 911-dispatch calls. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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