NPR News: 07-05-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 5, 2025, 6 PM EDT – Detailed Summary

Released on July 5, 2025

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1. Devastating Flash Floods in Central Texas

[00:19] Jeanine Herbst

In a tragic incident in Central Texas, rescue teams are diligently searching for over two dozen children missing from a summer camp after flash floods swept them downstream along the Guapnaupa River. The catastrophe has resulted in at least 32 fatalities, including 18 adults and 14 children.

[00:41] Governor Greg Abbott addressed the situation, stating, “Throughout the process, we'll assess the damage to public infrastructure. Currently, 1,800 people remain without power, and while water supplies are still available, there has been significant damage to bridges and roads. Thankfully, the dams held their integrity.”

[00:58] Jeanine Herbst emphasized the broader climatic factors at play, noting, “Climate change is driving more extreme rainfall events across most of the US, making dangerous flooding increasingly likely. In Texas, the heaviest rainstorms now drop about 20% more rain than they did in the late 1950s, according to the National Climate Assessment.” The National Weather Service has also forecasted additional rainfall for the day, exacerbating the rescue efforts.

Governor Abbott is proactively seeking a federal disaster declaration to mobilize more resources. Meanwhile, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reaffirmed that the top priority remains the search for the missing individuals.

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2. President Trump's Diplomatic and Trade Endeavors

[01:32] Danielle Kurtzleben

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House on Monday, marking his third visit this year. This visit aligns with President Trump's ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, aiming to stabilize the region amidst escalating tensions.

On the trade front, President Trump is set to send letters to countries worldwide on Monday, informing them of impending tariff rates on their goods. This move follows his initial tariff imposition in April, which was later reduced to 10% in response to market volatility. Trump has set a July 9 deadline for countries to enter tariff agreements, threatening to increase tariffs if deals aren't reached. To date, agreements have been secured with the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

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3. BRICS Summit Highlights Expansion and Challenges

[02:11] Jeanine Herbst [02:30] Carrie Conn

Leaders from major developing economies are convening in Brazil for the annual BRICS summit, anticipated to start the following day. Originally seen as a formidable counterbalance to the G7, BRICS has recently expanded its membership, a move some analysts believe has diluted its influence.

[02:30] Carrie Conn reported, “The inclusion of new members like Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE has introduced complexities. While Iran seeks solidarity in the wake of a recent 12-day war and BRICS’ condemnation of airstrikes, the other new members maintain closer ties with the United States, leading the group to avoid direct criticism of U.S. policies. This expansion is making consensus more challenging and may weaken BRICS' alternative clout.”

Brazil's President, Luisa Naciolula da Silva, who is concluding her one-year BRICS presidency, aims to refocus the group on its foundational goals of global development and combating climate change.

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4. Literary Success: Mel Robbins' "Let Them Theory" Tops the Charts

[03:14] Jeanine Herbst [03:30] Mel Robbins

Self-help author Mel Robbins has achieved notable success with her book, "The Let Them Theory," currently hailed as the best-selling book of the year, boasting 1.7 million print copies sold as per NPD BookScan.

In an interview with ITV earlier this year, Robbins succinctly explained her philosophy: “Any moment you feel stressed out, worried, annoyed, frustrated in life, you just say, 'let them.' That's it. You don't even need to buy the book.”

The book's success is complemented by other top sellers, including Suzanne Collins' "Sunrise on the Reaping," the second book in The Hunger Games prequel series, and all three books in Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series, each selling 10,000 copies. Additionally, Dr. Seuss' classic, "Oh the Places You'll'll Go," continues to resonate, adding another 436,000 copies to its sales, making it the seventh best-selling book in 2025 so far.

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5. Major Vehicle Recall Issued by Nissan

[04:17] Jeanine Herbst

Nissan has announced a significant recall affecting nearly 500,000 vehicles across the United States and Canada. The recall targets specific models, including 2021-2024 Nissan Rogues, 2020 Altimas, and various 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50s and QX55s.

The issue stems from potential manufacturing defects in the VC turbo engines, specifically in the bearings, which could lead to engine failure. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is overseeing the recall process, urging affected vehicle owners to contact their dealers for inspection and necessary repairs.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-essential segments to focus solely on the core news content presented in the podcast episode.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. In Central Texas, rescue crews are searching for more than two dozen children missing from a summer camp after being swept downstream after flash flooding hid the Guapnaupa River. Officials say at least 32 people are dead, 18 adults and 14 children. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says the number one priority is to find the missing.

[Governor Abbott]

And also, you know, throughout the process, we'll get into what damage was done to public infrastructure, what may have been done to I know we have 1800 people that are still without power. What I understand is people still have water, but we do have damage to bridges and to roads. Thankfully, dams held.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Governor Abbott says he's asking the White House for a federal disaster declaration. Climate change is driving more extreme rainfall events across most of the US Making dangerous flooding more likely. In Texas, the heaviest rainstorms now drop about 20% more rain than they did in the late 1950s. That's according to the National Climate Assessment. And the National Weather Service says more rain is in the forecast today. President Trump is spending today at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, but he's facing a busy week with tariffs and foreign NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House on Monday as Trump pushes for a ceasefire in the conflict in Gaza. This would be Netanyahu's third visit to the White House this year. Trump will also turn his attention to trade, where he says he will on Monday start sending letters to countries worldwide informing them of the tariff rates the US Will impose on their goods. In April, Trump had imposed tariffs on most countries, then dialed all those tariffs back to 10% when markets panicked. He set a deadline of July 9, when tariffs would jump back up unless he signed tariff deals with all those countries by then. Thus far, he has announced two deals with the UK And Vietnam. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Leaders from some of the world's leading developing economies are in Brazil this weekend for the annual BRICS summit set to begin tomorrow. Billed as the emerging global South's counterweight to the West G7 economies, it recently underwent a rapid expansion that some analysts say diluted its relevance. NPR's Carrie Conn reports.

[Carrie Conn]

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 Conn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News. Self help writer Mel Robbins is winning at the bookstore. Her book the Let Them Theory is currently the best selling book of the year. So so far, NPRO's Andrew Limbong has more.

[Mel Robbins]

Here's how Mel Robbins explained her Let Them theory to ITV earlier this year.

Any moment you feel stressed out, worried, annoyed, frustrated in life, you just say, let them. That's it. You don't even need to buy the book.

Of course, people did buy the book. It sold 1.7 million print copies in 2025, according to Sir Kana Bookscan. In second place is the Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, and all three books in Rebecca Yarros Empyrean series made 10. Another author still moving product after many years is Dr. Seuss. Oh, the Places yous'll Go sold another 436,000 copies, making it the seventh best selling book in 2025 so far. Andrew Limbong, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Nissan says it's recalling nearly a half million vehicles in the US And Canada because of possible manufacturing defects that could cause engine failure. The Recall covers certain 2021-2024 Nissan Rogues to 2020 Altimas, along with a number of 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50s and QX55s. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the vehicles impacted have the specific VC turbo engines that may have manufacturing defects in their bearings. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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