NPR News: 07-09-2026 5PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — July 9, 2026, 5PM EDT

Episode Overview

This fast-paced five-minute bulletin delivers the latest national and international news as of July 9, 2026, featuring major updates in U.S. politics and foreign policy, significant state-level National Guard maneuvers, UK political shakeups, a pop culture loss, and new environmental policy proposals. NPR reporters provide concise on-the-ground perspectives.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Dramatic Shift on Iran

(00:00–01:05)

• Diplomatic Whiplash: President Trump sharply reverses his rhetoric towards Iranian leaders, calling them “scum” at the NATO summit in Turkey, weeks after publicly praising them.
  • Franco Ordonez notes, “It’s part of a pattern with the president, who often swings between praise and threats in an effort to almost will this war to an end.”
    (00:46, Franco Ordonez)
• Notable Quotes from President Trump:
  • Praise (three weeks prior):
    “They were strong people, smart people.”
    (00:34, President Trump)
  • Recent condemnation:
    “I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum. You know what scum is? They’re scum. They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people.”
    (00:40, President Trump)
• Ongoing Concerns: Trump assures reporters there will not be a re-ignition of war with Iran.

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2. Minnesota and Michigan Reverse National Guard Deployments in D.C.

(01:05–02:10)

• Governor Tim Walsh of Minnesota pulls National Guard troops from Washington, D.C. earlier than scheduled.
  • Troops were initially deployed for America’s 250th celebrations around the National Mall.
  • Troops were seen patrolling outside their intended zones, leading to the early withdrawal.
• Context & Tension: Heavy National Guard presence in D.C., largely from Republican-led states, as part of President Trump’s ongoing “anti-crime task force.”
  • Kat Lansdorf explains, “Governor Walsh’s office told NPR that the decision was made to pull his troops early after they had been seen participating in those presence patrols far from the National Mall, something they were not supposed to be doing.”
    (01:47, Kat Lansdorf)
• Potential Wider Implications: Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer threatens to take similar action regarding her state’s troops.

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3. U.K. Politics: No-Contest Race for Labour Leadership

(02:10–02:53)

• Andy Burnham’s Candidacy: The “King of the North”—Andy Burnham, former Manchester Mayor—has announced his bid to replace Keir Starmer as the head of the Labour party and Prime Minister.
  • Fatima Al Kassab: “Burnham now looks all but set to reside in 10 Downing Street in less than two weeks, replacing Keir Starmer, who resigned last month amid historically low poll ratings.”
    (02:40, Fatima Al Kassab)
  • Burnham’s statement: Burnham posted, “it’s all starting to feel very real.” (02:33)
• Broader Context: Burnham may become the seventh UK Prime Minister in ten years, highlighting ongoing volatility in British politics.

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4. Remembering Bonnie Tyler

(02:53–04:01)

• Obituary: Renowned British singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” dies at 75.
  • Isabella Gomez Sarmiento:
    “Her musical signature, heartrending over the top belting that pushed her gravelly voice to its limit, often captured the soaring drama of anything she sang about, whether it was a crushing heartbreak or her undying faith in love.”
    (03:21, Isabella Gomez Sarmiento)
  • Tyler’s collaborations with Jim Steinman symbolized 1980s pop-rock excess.

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5. Trump Administration Proposes Loosening Environmental Rules

(04:01–04:40)

• EPA Policy Change: Trump administration seeks to roll back Biden-era rules that aim to cut emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, including postponement of provisions for emissions technology.
  • The move is part of broader deregulatory efforts and is welcomed by trucking industry groups.
  • “The proposal is part of a series of deregulatory efforts by the Trump administration that have rolled back emissions standards for new vehicles...”
    (04:23, Jeanine Herbst)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump’s abrupt reversal on Iran:
  “I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum. You know what scum is? They’re scum.”
  (00:40, President Trump)

• Kat Lansdorf on National Guard pullout:
  “The decision was made to pull his troops early after they had been seen participating in those presence patrols far from the National Mall, something they were not supposed to be doing.”
  (01:47, Kat Lansdorf)

• Isabella Gomez Sarmiento’s tribute to Bonnie Tyler:
  “Her musical signature, heartrending over the top belting that pushed her gravelly voice to its limit, often captured the soaring drama of anything she sang about...”
  (03:21, Isabella Gomez Sarmiento)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:00–01:05 — U.S. Foreign Policy: Trump on Iran
• 01:05–02:10 — National Guard Withdrawals in Washington, D.C.
• 02:10–02:53 — UK: Andy Burnham Unopposed for Labour Leader & PM
• 02:53–04:01 — Obituary: Bonnie Tyler
• 04:01–04:40 — EPA Rule Changes by Trump Administration

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NPR News Now continues to provide concise, authoritative updates on the biggest stories shaping the day, blending political drama, governance, international affairs, cultural legacies, and policy proposals.

Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. In another dramatic shift in tone, President Trump is calling Iranian leaders scum just weeks after praising them as smart and rational people. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports on the diplomatic whiplash that has come to define Trump's approach to global affairs.

[B]

Three weeks ago, President Trump described the Iranians as brave people who wanted to change the direction of their country for the better.

[C]

We're dealing with people that I think are very rational people. They were nice to deal with. They were strong people, smart people.

[B]

But he delivered a much different characterization yesterday at the Naido summit in Turkey.

[C]

I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum. You know what scum is? They're scum. They're sick people. They're led by sick people.

[B]

It's part of a pattern with the president, who often swings between praise and threats in an effort to almost will this war to an end. But you can also hear Trump struggling with that balance, insisting to reporters later that the war will not start again. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[A]

Minnesota Governor Tim Walsh is pulling his National Guard troops out of Washington, D.C. earlier than planned. The move comes after several Democratic governors added members of their National Guard to the city for America 250th celebrations, joining the thousands of troops already there. This amid President Trump's ongoing anti crime task force. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf has more.

[D]

There are a little more than a hundred National Guard troops from Minnesota in D.C. which Governor Walsh sent specifically to help ahead of the America 250 celebrations around the National Mall. It's pretty routine for states to send guard troops ahead of big national events. But D.C. is not operating as usual these days, as thousands of troops, mostly from Republican led states, have been patrolling all around the city for months. Governor Walsh's office told NPR that the decision was made to pull his troops early after they had been seen participating in those presence patrols far from the National Mall, something they were not supposed to be doing. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has also threatened similar action for her 160 troops in the city. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Washington.

[A]

In a few weeks, Britain gets its seventh prime minister in 10 years. NPR's Fatima Al Kasab reports. Former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham threw his hat in the ring to be the leader of the ruling Labour Party, and so far he has no challengers.

[E]

The popular former mayor of Manchester, nicknamed the King of the north, confirmed he has submitted his nomination to lead the UK's governing Labour Party and become the next prime minister, writing on social media that it's all starting to feel very real. Burnham now looks all but set to reside in 10 Downing street in less than two weeks, replacing Keir Starmer, who resigned last month amid historically low poll ratings. Fatima Al Kassab, NPR News, Wall street,

[A]

higher by the closing bell, the Dow up 117 points. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Bonnie Tyler, the British musician behind bombastic 1980s hits including total Eclipse of the Heart, has died following an illness. She was 75 years old. NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento has more.

[F]

Bonnie Tyler had a penchant for songs that feel larger than life. Her musical signature, heartrending over the top belting that pushed her gravelly voice to its limit, often captured the soaring drama of anything she sang about, whether it was a crushing heartbreak. Or her undying faith in love. Tyler's career spirit spans more than 50 years, but the excess and anguish of her 1980s collaborations with producer Jim Steinman came to define the maximalist pop rock of the decade. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News.

[A]

The Trump administration wants to change what it calls unnecessary and unworkable Biden era environmental rules designed to cut pollution from heavy duty vehicles, including buses and large trucks. The EPA wants to scale back and postpone two provisions designed to ensure emissions reducing technology keeps working over the life of the vehicle. The proposal is part of a series of deregulatory efforts by the Trump administration that have rolled back emissions standards for new vehicles, including changes welcomed by trucking groups. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[G]

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