NPR News: 07-10-2025 2PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 10, 2025 | 2PM EDT

Hosted by NPR

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1. Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship

[00:16]

Nora Ram reports that a federal judge in New Hampshire has halted the enforcement of President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship—the automatic granting of U.S. citizenship to individuals born on American soil. This decision marks the latest challenge to Trump's efforts to modify the citizenship policy.

Juliana Kim elaborates that the ruling emerged from a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups just hours after the Supreme Court limited nationwide injunctions. Despite the Supreme Court's stance, these class action lawsuits can effectively pause presidential policies affecting large regions.

Juliana Kim stated, “The judge granted both” the class action certification and the preliminary injunction, while also “staying his order for seven days to give the federal government a chance to appeal” [00:34].

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2. Election Officials Express Concerns Over Federal Security Cuts

[01:14]

Nora Ram highlights growing unease among election officials nationwide regarding the Trump administration's reductions in funding for federal election security services. A recent survey by the Brennan Center for Justice reveals significant apprehensions among local election administrators.

Ashley Lopez reports that over 60% of respondents are particularly worried about cuts to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Additionally, nearly 90% believe that state and local governments will need to “step in and provide additional resources” to compensate for the diminished federal support in securing elections.

The survey also indicates widespread concern about potential political interference in elections and the proliferation of misinformation on social media platforms.

Ashley Lopez concluded, “An overwhelming majority of local officials also said they're worried about political leaders interfering with their jobs as well as false information about elections spreading on social media” [01:28].

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3. International Efforts Focus on Ukraine’s Post-War Recovery

[02:05]

Nora Ram reports that Ukraine's allies are convening in Rome for a conference dedicated to the country's post-war reconstruction. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is advocating for a recovery strategy modeled after the Marshall Plan—the U.S. economic aid initiative that facilitated Europe's rebuilding after World War II.

Joanna Kakisis shares that in his opening remarks, Zelenskyy emphasized the interconnectedness of Ukraine’s recovery with global economic health. He stated, “It's also about your countries, your companies, your technology, your jobs. The way we rebuild our country can also modernize your infrastructure and industries” [02:29].

The conference discussed utilizing frozen Russian assets, estimated at around $300 billion, to fund Ukraine's reconstruction. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU has secured agreements to invest $12 billion in Ukraine’s Recovery and Economic Convergence (REC) program. Meanwhile, Russia continues its ongoing assault on Ukraine, with sustained airstrikes targeting Ukrainian cities.

Joanna Kakisis reported from Kyiv, “Frozen Russian assets, roughly $300 billion, can be used to finance Ukraine's recovery. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU has signed agreements to invest $12 billion in Ukraine's REC” [02:42].

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4. Strong Job Market and Elon Musk's New Political Venture

[03:09]

Nora Ram provides an update on the U.S. job market, noting that the Labor Department has reported a decrease in jobless claims. The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a seasonally adjusted 227,000 last week, surpassing economists' forecasts.

In the political arena, entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced the formation of a new political party, the “America Party,” positioning it as a centrist alternative aimed at voters seeking a middle ground. NPR's Elena Moore discusses the potential implications of this move, especially in the context of the upcoming midterm elections.

Elena Moore explains, “Third parties often take away votes from major parties in close races. That could be a problem in the midterms.” She further highlights the significance of young men as a target demographic, noting their critical stance towards both major political parties.

Conservative analyst Dan Cox adds, “We still don't have a great idea of where young men are going to go. Like where are Gen Z men going to be in 20 years when it comes to their politics?” [04:03]

Elena Moore concludes, “Though he's unsure if Musk's party can attract these voters, he says there's a huge opportunity to engage with them” [04:12].

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5. Federal Appeals Court Upholds New York’s Gun Liability Law

[04:24]

Nora Ram reports that a federal appeals court has affirmed the legality of a New York state law that permits the suing of gun manufacturers for damages resulting from gun violence. This decision counters previous attempts by companies like Glock and Smith & Wesson to claim immunity under federal law, which they argued should shield them from civil liabilities when their products are used in crimes.

The appeals court's ruling supports the state's public nuisance approach, allowing victims and their families to hold gun manufacturers accountable for their role in gun-related incidents.

Nora Ram summarized, “The appeals court today found the New York law is legal” [04:24].

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Stay Informed: For more updates and detailed reporting, visit NPR.org.

Transcript

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[Nora Ram]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ram. A federal judge in New Hampshire has blocked the enforcement of President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship. It's the latest setback in Trump's effort to end automatic citizenship to people born in the U.S. nPR's Juliana Kim reports.

[Juliana Kim]

The ruling stems from a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups. That suit was filed last month just hours after the Supreme Court's decision to limit nationwide injunctions. Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, class action lawsuits can still block the president's policies across large sections of the country. So so on Thursday, the groups asked the court to certify their case as a class action and to issue a preliminary injunction against Trump's executive order. The judge granted both. The judge also stayed his order for seven days in order to give the federal government a chance to appeal. Juliana Kim, NPR News.

[Nora Ram]

Election officials across the country say they're worried about the Trump administration's cuts to federal election security services. This according to a survey of local officials released today. NPR's Ashley Lopez reports.

[Ashley Lopez]

The Brennan center for justice, which has been critical of the president, found that more than 60% of election administrators are specifically concerned about cuts to services provided by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, also known as CISA. The group also found that almost 90% of officials said it's going to be important for state and local governments to step in and provide additional resources to make up for the loss of support they were getting from CISA to secure their election. An overwhelming majority of local officials also said they're worried about political leaders interfering with their jobs as well as false information about elections spreading on social media. Ashley Lopez, NPR News.

[Nora Ram]

Ukraine's allies are holding a conference in Rome today devoted to the country's Post War Recovery. NPR's Joanna Kakisis reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling for an approach based on the Marshall Plan, the U.S. economic aid program that helped Europe rebuild after World War II.

[Joanna Kakisis]

In opening remarks at the conference, Zelensk, he said Ukraine's recovery is not just about Ukraine.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]

It's also about your countries, your companies, your technology, your jobs. The way we rebuild our country can also modernize your infrastructure and industries, he said.

[Joanna Kakisis]

Frozen Russian assets, roughly $300 billion, can be used to finance Ukraine's recovery. European Commission President Ursula von der leyen said the EU has signed agreements to invest $12 billion in Ukraine's REC. Meanwhile, Russia is continuing its three and a half year full scale assault on Ukraine, pummeling Ukrainian cities with airstrikes. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Nora Ram]

You're listening to NPR News in Washington. The Labor Department reported this morning that the number of Americans applying for jobless benefits fell last week to A seasonally adjusted 227,000. That's lower than many economists had expected. With his eyes on the midterm elections, Elon Musk says he's starting a new political party. He's calling it the America Party and says voters want a middle ground option. As NPR's Elena Moore reports, it's something that could appeal to a key group Trump made gains with last fall, young men.

[Elena Moore]

Third parties often take away votes from major parties in close races. That could be a problem in the midterms. Plus, men under 30 are a valuable group for Republicans to hold onto. They were key to Trump's win last fall, but they're not reliable Republican voters. Polling shows that young men are uniquely critical of both political parties.

[Dan Cox]

We still don't have a great idea of where young men are going to go. Like where are Gen Z men going to be in 20 years when it comes to their politics?

[Elena Moore]

That's Dan Cox with the conservative leaning American Enterprise Institute. Though he's unsure if Musk's party can attract these voters, he says there's a huge opportunity to engage with them. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Nora Ram]

A federal appeals court today upheld a New York law that allows the gun industry to be sued for harm done by gun violence. Companies such as Glock and Smith and Wesson had sued, saying the state public nuisance law was preempted by a federal law that protects the firearms industry from civil liability when its products are used in a crime. The appeals court today found the New York law is legal. I'm Nora Ram, NPR News in Washington.

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