NPR News Now: July 9, 2025 – Comprehensive Summary
Released on July 9, 2025
1. Texas Flash Flooding: Death Toll Exceeds 100
Reporter: Frank Morris
Timestamp: [00:22]
In the aftermath of last week's devastating flash floods in Texas, the death toll has tragically surpassed 100, with more than 160 individuals still missing. Search and rescue operations continue along the Guadalupe River near Ingram, where the deluge submerged victims under vast amounts of logs and steel debris.
Frank Morris reports that the challenging terrain has significantly hampered recovery efforts. Mark Edwards, the field operation manager for Texas Equisearch, shared insights into the ongoing search:
“Some of those tree piles were 30 and 40 feet tall, wrapped in RVs and cars up against the trees. There are miles and miles of scenes like this along the Guadalupe River,”
[00:39]
Edwards emphasizes that locating all the missing bodies is expected to take weeks, given the extensive and obstructed search areas.
2. Supreme Court Clears Way for Federal Workforce Reductions
Reporter: Nina Totenberg
Timestamp: [01:21]
The Supreme Court has lifted a lower court injunction, thereby allowing the Trump administration to proceed with plans to significantly reduce the federal workforce. The core legal question revolves around whether President Trump possessed the authority to implement these layoffs without Congressional approval.
Nina Totenberg delves into the events leading up to the court's decision:
“In February, Trump detailed an extensive plan instructing federal agencies to prepare for large scale reductions in force known as RIFs. At the same time, the administration issued a memorandum alleging that the federal government is costly, inefficient and deeply in debt,”
[01:40]
The administration attributed the purported inefficiencies to "unproductive and unnecessary programs" benefiting various interest groups. However, unions and nonprofit organizations challenged the plan in court, arguing that it would eliminate essential programs and jeopardize hundreds of thousands of federal jobs.
3. President Macron's Historic State Visit to the United Kingdom
Reporter: Lauren Freer
Timestamp: [02:19]
French President Emmanuel Macron is embarked on his first state visit to Great Britain, marking the inaugural visit by any European leader since the UK's departure from the European Union. The visit underscores the renewed diplomatic ties post-Brexit.
During the ceremony at Windsor Castle, Macron participated in traditional honors alongside King Charles, including a horse-drawn carriage procession and a military guard review.
Addressing a joint session of the UK Parliament, Macron made a poignant appeal for international cooperation:
“We need to work together like we did in the aftermath of World War II, to show the world that our alliance can make all the difference,”
[02:59]
The discussions are set to continue with a bilateral summit scheduled for Thursday between Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, focusing on issues such as illegal migration across the English Channel and support for Ukraine amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
4. Philadelphia's Blue-Collar Strike Enters Eighth Day
Reporter: Shea Stevens
Philadelphia is grappling with an ongoing strike by blue-collar city employees, now in its eighth day. Approximately 9,000 members of the AFSCME District Council 33 have walked off their jobs, protesting over wage disparities and workplace rules.
The union represents essential city service workers, including those involved in trash collection and 911 dispatches. Negotiations have recently resumed in an effort to reach a resolution, but tensions remain high as both parties seek to address longstanding labor concerns.
5. Remembering Playwright Richard Greenberg
Reporter: Jeff London
Timestamp: [03:17]
The theater community mourns the loss of Richard Greenberg, a renowned Tony-winning playwright, who passed away at the age of 67 in a nursing home in New York.
Jeff London offers a heartfelt remembrance:
“Richard Greenberg's plays crackled with brilliant language. His work was staged off-Broadway and in regional theaters, but several of his plays made it to Broadway, among them 'Three Days of Rain,' which starred Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper, 'Eastern Standard,' and most notably, 'Take Me Out,'"
[03:53]
"Take Me Out," which debuted on Broadway in 2003, explored the life of a major league baseball player coming out as gay. The play not only earned Greenberg a Tony Award but also enjoyed a successful revival in 2022, highlighting its enduring impact on contemporary theater.
6. Surge in Real Estate Investor Purchases in New York
Reporter: Shea Stevens
Timestamp: [04:35]
In a significant shift within the New York housing market, investors have acquired more than a quarter of all U.S. homes sold in the first three months of the year, according to data from Batch Data. This marks an increase from an 18.5% market share held by investors between 2020 and 2023.
The surge is attributed to a sluggish housing market, where elevated prices and high borrowing costs have deterred individual buyers, making properties more accessible to investment entities. This trend raises concerns about housing affordability and availability for first-time homebuyers in the region.
This summary provides an overview of the key news topics discussed in the July 9, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. For more detailed coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full podcast episode.