NPR News: 07-09-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 9, 2025, 4 PM EDT

Released on July 9, 2025

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1. Public Media Funding Faces Rescission

[00:00] A public media representative announced that the House of Representatives has approved the White House's request to claw back two years of previously approved funding for public media. This rescission package now advances to the Senate, posing a significant threat to local stations and the broader public media landscape.

“This move poses a serious threat to local stations and public media as we know it.”
— Unnamed Public Media Representative [00:00]

The representative urged listeners to advocate for public media by visiting goacpr.org.

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2. Devastating Floods in Texas Leave Hundreds Missing

[00:25] In the aftermath of the 4th of July weekend, floods have ravaged the Hill Country region of Texas, with search operations extending for miles. More than 160 people remain missing, and the death toll has risen to at least 115 statewide. Among the casualties are over two dozen campers and counselors from an all-girls summer camp.

Sheriff Larry Lietha addressed the public amid scrutiny over the urgency of flood warnings:

“Those questions are going to be answered. I believe those questions need to be answered to the family of the missed loved ones, to the public...we're not going to hide from anything that's going to be checked into.”
— Sheriff Larry Lietha [00:50]

[01:09] Dominic Anthony Walsh reports on the tragic losses at Camp Mystic. The Texas Department of State Health Services stated that while camps are required to have emergency plans, Camp Mystic's plan was only certified to include mandatory elements like evacuation routes, leaving the camp responsible for its development. The Associated Press highlighted that state inspectors approved the camp's emergency plan just two days before the flooding. Camp Mystic has yet to comment on the situation.

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3. Escalation of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

[02:06] Tensions escalate as Russia launched over 700 drones against Ukraine, marking what Ukrainian officials describe as the heaviest aerial assault in the ongoing war. This attack follows President Trump's promise to provide Kyiv with additional defense weapons, intensifying the conflict's dynamics.

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4. Leadership Changes at Elon Musk's X Platform

[02:32] Linda Yaccarino, CEO of Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has announced her decision to step down. While she did not disclose her reasons, her departure coincides with significant changes within the company.

NPR's John Ruich elaborates on Yaccarino's tenure:

“Yaccarino has a background in advertising and was brought in two years ago at a time when advertisers were fleeing following Musk's purchase of the platform formerly known as Twitter.”
— John Ruich [02:32]

Her exit follows controversies surrounding Grok, X's AI chatbot, which began disseminating racist and anti-Semitic content after Musk directed the AI to not shy away from politically incorrect claims as long as they are well substantiated. Since leaving her role at the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has refocused on his various enterprises.

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5. U.S. Stock Market and Corporate Developments

[03:14] The U.S. stock market closed higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 217 points (nearly half a percent), reflecting positive investor sentiment.

[03:28] In corporate news, T-Mobile has informed the Trump administration of its decision to terminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, both in name and substance. The company is also seeking regulatory approval for two major deals, signaling strategic shifts in its business operations.

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6. New Non-Opioid Painkiller Faces Accessibility Challenges

[03:32] A significant advancement in pain management has emerged with the FDA's approval of Journavix, a non-opioid pain medication designed for severe acute pain by blocking pain signals at the source. Initially studied for post-surgical patients, the drug offers hope as an alternative to opioids, which carry a high risk of addiction.

However, Cyndi Lupkin highlights the accessibility issues:

“Surgeons were very excited about the option to have a non opioid pain medicine for our patients. Unfortunately, I have yet to meet a surgeon that's been able to prescribe it.”
— Dr. Jessica Burgess [04:16]

Only 38% of individuals currently have insurance that covers Journavix, according to mmit, a healthcare analytics firm. Despite this, coverage is gradually improving, offering cautious optimism for broader patient access in the future.

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7. Legal Proceedings for Hip Hop Mogul Sean Combs

[04:39] Sean Combs, the renowned hip hop tycoon, is slated for sentencing in October. He faces up to 20 years in prison following his conviction on two prostitution-related charges. However, in a significant development, a New York jury acquitted him of the more severe charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

“I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.”
— Lakshmi Singh [04:39]

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Note: The episode contained a promotional segment from Shopify at [05:04], which has been excluded from this summary in adherence to content guidelines.

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For the latest updates, visit NPR News Now.

Transcript

[Unnamed Public Media Representative]

The House of Representatives has approved a White House request to claw back two years of previously approved funding for public media. The rescissions package now moves on to the Senate. This move poses a serious threat to local stations and public media as we know it. Please take a stand for public media [e-mail] thank you.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Search operations stretch for miles in the flood ravaged Hill country region of Texas. More than 160 people are believed to be missing from the 4th of July weekend flash floods. Local authorities are being peppered as well with questions about whether flood warnings could have gone out sooner. At a news conference today, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Lietha promised transparency.

[Larry Lietha]

Those questions are going to be answered. I believe those questions need to be answered to the family of the missed loved ones, to the public, you know, to the people that put me in this office. Those need to be. And I want that answer. And we're going to get that answer. And I know that's going to be asked over and over. Please understand that, you know, we don't have we're not running. We're not going to hide from anything that's going to be checked into.

[Lakshmi Singh]

At least 115 deaths are now reported statewide. More than two dozen campers and counselors at an all girls summer camp were found dead after the flooding. Houston Public Media's Dominic Anthony Walsh reports. A Texas department that inspected Camp mystic says the quality of its emergency plans were the responsibility of the camp.

[Dominic Anthony Walsh]

The Riverside camp was required by state law to maintain an emergency plan. The Texas Department of State Health Services says its inspectors only certify that the plan includes mandatory elements such as evacuation routes and emergency shelters and that the camp is responsible for its development. The statement to Houston Public Media comes after the Associated Press reported state inspectors signed off on the camp's emergency plan just two days before the flooding. Camp mystic did not respond to requests for comment. I'm Dominic Anthony Walsh in Houston.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Russia unleashed more than 700 drones on Ukraine overnight hours after President Trump promised Kyiv more defense weapons. Ukrainian officials described it as a heaviest such assault of the war. The CEO of Elon Musk's social media platform X says she's stepping down. Linda Yaccarino did not say why she was leaving, but as NPR's John Ruich tells us, her departure comes at a time of change for the platform.

[John Ruich]

Yaccarino has a background in advertising and was brought in two years ago at a time when advertisers were fleeing following Musk's purchase of the platform formerly known as Twitter. In an announcement posted on X, Yakirino Carino did not explain why she was leaving, though she said she was proud of the X team and the business's turnaround. Her departure comes just days after Grok, the site's AI Chatbot, began spewing racist and anti Semitic content. That followed an update ordered by Musk that included instructions not to shy away from politically incorrect claims, quote, as long as they are well substantiated. Since leaving his role in the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge, Musk has been turning his attention back to his companies. John ruich, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks end the day higher with the dow closing up 217 points, or nearly half a percent. This is NPR News. T Mobile has notified the Trump administration that it's ending its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, not just in name, but in substance. The wireless carrier is seeking regulatory approval for two major deals. A new kind of painkiller offers patients hope for an alternative to opioids, which come with a risk of addiction. But NPR's Cyndi Lupkin tells us not everyone is able to get it.

[Cyndi Lupkin]

The Food and Drug Administration approved a new non opioid drug earlier this year. It's a pill called Journavix, and it's for severe acute pain. Journavix works by blocking pain signals from where someone hurts. It was studied in patients after surgery, but insurance coverage has been slow. Dr. Jessica Burgess is a surgeon at Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Surgeons were very excited about the option to have a non opioid pain medicine for our patients. Unfortunately, I have yet to meet a surgeon that's been able to prescribe it.

[Cyndi Lupkin]

About 38% of people currently have insurance that covers it, according to the healthcare analytics firm mmit. Other doctors NPR spoke to said coverage has been steadily improving. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Hip hop tycoon Sean Combs is due to be sentenced this October. He faces a possibility of as long as 20 years in prison for his recent conviction on two prostitution related counts. However, a New York jury acquitted him of the most serious sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.

[Unnamed Public Media Representative]

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[Dominic Anthony Walsh]

Today.