NPR News: 07-08-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – July 8, 2025

Presented by NPR

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1. Central Texas Prepares for Additional Rainfall Amid Ongoing Flood Recovery

Host: Shea Stevens introduces the segment at [00:20].

Reporter: Sergio Martinez Bertrand

At [00:40], Sergio Martinez Bertrand provides a vivid account of the devastation caused by the Guadalupe River in Kerry County, Texas:

"Right in front of me is the Guadalupe River, which ravaged through communities in Kerry County, Texas, on Friday morning. There's a lot of debris still in this area, but we're starting to see cleanup operations kick off."

Central Texas is bracing for more heavy rain overnight following catastrophic flash floods that claimed over a hundred lives during the recent holiday weekend. Recovery efforts are in full swing, with cleanup operations removing cars, trees, and other debris from the river. Search and rescue teams continue their mission to locate survivors amidst the wreckage. Additionally, Highway 39, a critical artery along the Guadalupe River, has been closed to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles through the affected areas.

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2. U.S. Imposes New Tariffs on 14 Countries Effective August 1

Host: Shea Stevens transitions to the next story at [01:12].

Reporter: Daniel Kurtzleben

At [01:28], Daniel Kurtzleben outlines the administration's latest trade measures:

"Those countries' goods will have 25% tariffs, but some countries will now face tariffs of 40%."

Effective August 1, the United States will implement new tariffs on exports from at least 14 countries, including major trading partners like Japan and South Korea. This move follows months of uncertainty surrounding President Trump's trade policies. Previously, on April 2nd, Trump imposed tariffs on nearly every country, only to retract them to 10% days later after market backlash. He had initially promised to restore higher tariffs within 90 days, targeting a July 9 deadline. However, recent developments indicate a delay, with some tariffs set to revert to their previous rates starting August 1. The administration has shifted from negotiating deals to formally notifying affected countries via letters about the impending tariff changes.

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3. CDC Vaccine Policy Reforms Lead to Lawsuits Against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Host: Shea Stevens introduces the health segment at [02:12].

Reporter: Will Stone

At [02:24], Will Stone reports on the legal challenges facing the CDC:

"The lawsuit takes aim at Secretary Kennedy for removing healthy children and pregnant women from the COVID-19 vaccine schedule."

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is at the center of controversy following his decision to revise the CDC's COVID-19 vaccine schedule. Several prominent medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public Health Association, have filed lawsuits against Kennedy. The lawsuit alleges that Kennedy's reforms exclude healthy children and pregnant women from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, thereby undermining public trust in vaccination programs. Additionally, the suit criticizes Kennedy's removal of a panel of experts from a federal vaccine committee, further challenging his commitment to evidence-based policy-making. The plaintiffs are seeking judicial intervention to reverse the changes made to the vaccine schedule and restore the inclusion of previously eligible groups.

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4. Federal Agents Conduct Raids in Los Angeles and Review Jeffrey Epstein Files

Host: Shea Stevens updates listeners at [02:59].

Federal Raids in Los Angeles: Federal authorities executed a raid in a predominantly immigrant area of Los Angeles, employing various methods including foot patrols, horseback units, and military vehicles. Approximately 90 California National Guards members were present to secure and protect the officers involved. The park targeted was largely empty at the time of the raid, though specific reasons for the operation were not disclosed in the transcript.

Jeffrey Epstein File Review: In a significant development, a Trump administration review of files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein concluded that there is no evidence he maintained a client list or engaged in blackmail of his wealthy and influential associates. The Justice Department and FBI stated that their investigation found no indications that Epstein's New York jail cell was accessed in the hours leading up to his death in August 2019. Epstein had been awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges at the time and had previously been convicted in 2008 on similar charges.

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5. Typhoon Strikes Taiwan, Resulting in Casualties and Widespread Damage

Reporter: Jan Cummington Brimby

At [04:05], Jan Cummington Brimby reports from Taipei on the severe weather impacting Taiwan:

"Schools and offices across Taiwan were closed as rainfall caused landslides and flooding. Unusually, the typhoon made landfall on the island's more populated and flatter western side, increasing its impact."

A powerful typhoon has hit Taiwan, bringing heavy rainfall and winds reaching up to 80 miles per hour. The storm has caused at least two fatalities and injured hundreds more. Unlike typical typhoons that affect Taiwan's mountainous regions, this one made landfall on the island's western side, which is more populated and less elevated, exacerbating the potential for landslides and extensive flooding. In response, the President's office has called for precautionary evacuations in areas identified as high-risk for landslides. Thousands of residents from mountainous areas have already been relocated to safer zones. Schools and businesses remain closed as the government mobilizes resources to manage the crisis and aid those affected.

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6. Elon Musk Announces Plans to Establish the "America Party"

Host: Shea Stevens introduces the final segment at [04:32].

Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur known for his ventures in space and satellite technology, has declared his intention to form a new political party named the "America Party." Frustrated by President Trump's new tax and spending plan, Musk criticized the administration's fiscal policies, asserting that they would "bankrupt the US." In a statement posted on his social media platform, X, Musk condemned the current political landscape as a "one party system of waste," highlighting his dissatisfaction with the existing bipartisan dynamics and signaling a desire for significant political change. Musk's new party aims to address what he perceives as inefficiencies and excessive government expenditure, although specific policy proposals have yet to be detailed.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the July 8, 2025 episode of NPR News Now. For comprehensive coverage and real-time updates, listeners are encouraged to tune into NPR's hourly news broadcasts.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Parts of Central Texas are bracing for more heavy rain overnight, the region still reeling from catastrophic flash floods that claimed more than a hundred lives over the holiday weekend. As NPR's Sergio Martinez Bertrand reports, search and recovery operations are ongoing.

[Sergio Martinez Bertrand]

Right in front of me is the Guadalupe river, which ravaged through communities in Kerry County, Texas, on Friday morning. There's a lot of debris still in this area, but we're starting to see cleanup operations kick off. We've seen trucks pulling out cars, trees and other forms of debris out of the river. Search and rescue operations are also ongoing. Highway 39, which is one of the main arteries along the Guadalupe river here in Kerry county, has been closed so emergency vehicles can make their way through.

[Shea Stevens]

Sergio Martinez Bertrand reporting. At least 14 countries will face new tariffs on their exports to the U.S. beginning August 1, as NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben reports. The news follows months of uncertainty over the president's trade policy.

[Daniel Kurtzleben]

In a series of social media posts, President Trump released letters to the leaders of several foreign countries, including major trading partners Japan and South Korea. Those countries goods will have 25% tariffs, but some countries will now face tariffs of 40%. Trump had imposed tariffs on nearly every country on April 2nd. He pulled them back to 10% days later after markets panicked, saying tariffs would go back up in 90 days on July 9. He had said he would make deals with countries before then, but in recent days has said he would simply send letters informing countries of their rates. In addition, the White House announced Trump would delay his July 9 tariff deadline to August 1, at which point some tariffs would bounce back upwards. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The White House health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is standing by his reforms at the CDC. As NPR's Will Stone reports, several medical groups are suing Kennedy over his vaccine policy.

[Will Stone]

The lawsuit takes aim at Secretary Kennedy for removing healthy children and pregnant women from the COVID 19 vaccine schedule. More broadly, the suit critiques what it describes as his efforts to undermine trust in vaccines. The groups behind the lawsuit include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians and the American Public Health association, as well as a pregnant physician who says they've been unable to get a Covid shot because of Kennedy's actions. The suit also cites Kennedy's removal of a panel of experts on a federal vaccine committee. It asks for the court to reverse Kennedy's changes to the COVID vaccine schedule. Will Stone, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Federal agents raided a park in a largely immigrant section of Los Angeles today. The agents fanned out on foot, horseback and military vehicles. Although the park was largely empty. Around 90 California National Guards members were also on hand to protect the officers. This is npr. A Trump administration review of files on Jeffrey Epstein finds no evidence that the late sex offender kept a client list. The Justice Department and FBI also say they found no indication that Epstein blackmailed his wealthy and influential associates. The agencies say no one entered Epstein's New York jail cell in the hours before he was found dead in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Epstein had already been convicted in 2008 on sex crimes charges. In Florida, A typhoon has caused at least two deaths and hundreds of injuries on Taiwan. As John Kaminson Broubeam reports from Taipei. The storm is pounding the island with rain and 80 mile per hour winds.

[Jan Cumminton Brimby]

Schools and offices across Taiwan were closed as rainfall caused landslides and flooding. Unusually, the typhoon made landfall on the island's more populated and flatter western side, increasing its impact, the president's office said in a statement. The president has urged the government to carry out precautionary evacuations in areas with increased risk of landslides. Thousands of people have already been relocated from mountainous regions. For NPR News, I'm Jan Cumminton Brimby in Taipei.

[Shea Stevens]

Millionaire Elon Musk says he's moving ahead with plans to create a new political party, which he plans to call the America Party. Musk, whose space and satellite companies receive millions of dollars in government grants, is upset over President Trump's new tax and spending plan, saying it will bankrupt the US In a message on his social media site X, Musk says the US Is a one party system of waste.

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