NPR News Now: July 8, 2025, 11 PM EDT Summary

Released on July 9, 2025

Central Texas Flooding Death Toll Reaches 109

Host: Shea Stevens kicks off the episode with breaking news on the devastating floods in Central Texas. The death toll has tragically risen to at least 109, with over 160 individuals still unaccounted for.

Governor Greg Abbott's Response: Governor Abbott addressed the situation, staunchly defending the state's response to the disaster. Speaking after an aerial survey of the ravaged Kerr County, he stated, “State officials acted on the information they received” (00:21). Despite mounting criticism, Abbott remains confident in the measures taken by his administration.

Comparative Impact: An unknown speaker emphasizes the severity by comparing the fatalities to those of Hurricane Harvey: “Just in the Kerr and Kendall counties alone, there are far more fatalities than there were in Hurricane Harvey. That's how catastrophic this is” (00:43). This comparison underscores the unprecedented nature of the current flooding.

Supreme Court Clears Path for Mass Government Layoffs

Supreme Court Decision: Shea Stevens reports that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned a lower court’s ruling, allowing the Trump administration to proceed with its executive order on mass government layoffs. This decision aims to reduce the size of the federal workforce.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's Dissent: In a notable dissenting opinion, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson described the decision as “hubristic and senseless” (00:59). Her dissent highlights significant disagreements within the high court regarding the president's authority to mandate such extensive job cuts.

Opposition and Challenges: Labor unions, advocacy groups, and local governments have vocally opposed the layoffs, challenging both the methodology and the executive power invoked. The contentious ruling marks a significant moment in the administration’s efforts to reshape government structure.

State Department Faces Cybersecurity Threats

Cybersecurity Breaches: Michelle Kellerman updates listeners on the State Department's ongoing cybersecurity investigations. The department is grappling with multiple threats, including a sophisticated phishing campaign involving fake accounts impersonating Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Tammy Bruce's Statement: State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed the issue, explaining, “The department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously take steps to improve the department's cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents” (01:59). She confirmed that the department is actively investigating the origins of the imposter accounts but withheld specific details regarding the initial report.

Russian-Linked Phishing Campaign: The investigation has also uncovered a phishing campaign linked to Russian actors, which utilized counterfeit State Department emails to deceive foreign ministers. Bruce emphasized the seriousness of these breaches and the department's commitment to enhancing its defenses against such sophisticated threats (02:10).

Environmental Concerns Over Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells

Environmental Risks: Shea Stevens transitions to environmental news, highlighting the problems posed by the nation’s abandoned oil and gas wells. These wells, if not properly sealed, can leak hazardous chemicals into the surrounding environment.

Economic and Logistical Challenges: Camilla Domonosky reports on the high costs associated with properly plugging these wells. Ted Bettner from the Ohio River Valley Institute explained, “The status quo is just to keep on drilling more wells than we're plugging and that liability is just going to continue to grow and grow and grow” (02:52).

Government and Industry Responsibilities: Despite the federal government allocating billions of dollars to address the issue, Bettner and other advocates argue that these funds are insufficient compared to the massive number of wells needing attention. Bettner insists that “the oil industry should be footing the bill” (03:00), advocating for greater industry responsibility in mitigating environmental impacts.

Wall Street Closes Mixed

Market Overview: Shea Stevens provides an update on the stock market’s performance. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 165 points, whereas the Nasdaq Composite Index saw a modest gain of 5 points. The S&P 500 experienced a slight dip of 4 points. U.S. futures remained flat in after-hours trading influenced by fluctuations in Asia Pacific markets (03:12).

TSA to End Shoe Removal at Security Checkpoints

Policy Change: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is set to phase out the long-standing requirement for passengers to remove their shoes during airport security screenings. This policy change will be fully implemented by Sunday, reversing the measure introduced in 2006 following a significant security threat.

Historical Context: The original shoe removal policy was enacted after a passenger was caught hiding a bomb in his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami, underscoring the administration’s commitment to passenger safety over the past two decades.

Audiobooks vs. Traditional Reading: A Scientific Perspective

Public Perception: A recent NPR-Ipsos poll reveals that 40% of U.S. adults do not consider listening to an audiobook as a form of reading. This misconception is addressed by NPR’s Andrew Limbong through insights from experts in learning styles.

Research Findings: Beth Rogowski, a professor at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, discusses her research on auditory and visual learning. In a 2016 study co-authored by Rogowski, it was found that there was no significant difference in comprehension between listening to an audiobook and reading from an electronic device (03:56). This finding supports the notion that audiobooks can be an effective alternative to traditional reading methods.

Implications for Learning: Further research by Rogowski focused on school-aged children, leading to the conclusion that while audiobooks are effective for comprehension, traditional reading experiences are still crucial for those learning to read. Rogowski emphasizes the importance of diverse reading methods to support various learning styles (04:19).

Conclusion: The discussion highlights the evolving nature of reading and learning in the digital age, advocating for a balanced approach that incorporates both auditory and visual learning tools to enhance educational outcomes.

End of Summary

Note: All timestamps correspond to the original podcast transcript provided.