NPR News: 07-11-2025 11AM EDT

Summary

NPR News: July 11, 2025, 11AM EDT

Hosted by Jeanine Herbst

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State Department Faces Major Layoffs Amid Reorganization

NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports on significant cuts at the State Department.

In what the State Department describes as its largest reorganization in decades, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has initiated substantial layoffs, affecting hundreds of employees at the Washington, D.C. headquarters. This move includes the termination of 246 Foreign Service officers and 1,107 civil servants. According to Michelle Kellerman (00:32), these layoffs, combined with staff opting for early retirement, achieve the department's target of a 15% reduction in personnel.

Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have expressed concerns, stating that such significant cuts could "undermine US national security" and provide adversaries like China an opportunity to "expand their diplomatic reach." The implications of this reorganization suggest a shift in the United States' global diplomatic strategy, raising questions about the long-term impact on international relations and national security.

President Trump Visits Texas Amid Ongoing Flood Crisis

Steve Futterman provides on-the-ground coverage of President Trump's visit to disaster-stricken Texas.

President Trump is scheduled to visit Central Texas to assess the aftermath of last week's devastating flash floods, which have resulted in over 100 deaths and left more than 170 individuals missing. Steve Futterman (01:25) describes the scene as "an area still reeling from the July 4th disaster," highlighting the severity of the situation with "dozens of people still missing with virtually no hope that anyone is going to be found alive."

The President's visit is a "painstakingly slow examination" of the affected regions, with local authorities emphasizing a "methodical search" to ensure thorough coverage of every affected area. Scheduled for approximately three hours, the trip arrives amidst scrutiny over the preparedness and response strategies employed before and immediately after the disaster, raising questions about potential areas for improvement in disaster management.

Debunking Trump's Tariff Claims on Canada and Fentanyl

NPR's Brian Mann examines the validity of President Trump's tariff measures against Canada.

President Trump has announced a new 35% tariff on Canadian goods, slated to commence on August 1, as a punitive measure for what he claims is Canada's failure to curb the flow of deadly street fentanyl into the United States. However, Brian Mann (02:27) reports that this assertion has been "debunked again in a new study."

The President's claim, which he reiterated in a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, asserts that "Canada is a major source of street fentanyl killing Americans." Contrarily, extensive research and data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency indicate that "almost no fentanyl is smuggled south from Canada into the U.S." A recent study by the Manhattan Institute corroborates these findings, revealing that Canada is "not a significant factor in US Fentanyl deaths." The study concludes that the proposed tariffs "cannot be justified as a response to the threat of fentanyl," challenging the rationale behind the trade measures.

Wildfires in Manitoba Escalate, Affecting U.S. Neighboring States

Frank Langfitt reports on the intensifying wildfire situation in Manitoba and its cross-border impact.

Officials in Manitoba, Canada, have declared a second emergency of the year as over 100 wildfires rage across the central province, with at least a dozen fires deemed "out of control." The increasing intensity is attributed to higher temperatures and numerous lightning strikes, which have been the primary triggers.

The wildfires have led to the evacuation of thousands and have had environmental repercussions extending into the United States. Smoke and ash from the fires are currently affecting states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, where Republican lawmakers have "complained to Canadian officials," urging them to take measures to mitigate the fires. These wildfires are on track to become the most extensive in these U.S. states in 31 years, disrupting summer activities and raising concerns about cross-border environmental management.

Surge in Threats Against Local School Officials

Frank Langfitt discusses a Princeton University study on the rise of harassment targeting educational leaders.

A comprehensive study from Princeton University's Bridging Divides initiative has revealed a disturbing increase in threats and harassment directed at local school officials. According to Frank Langfitt (04:01), incidents have "nearly tripled" in recent years, particularly between November 2022 and April 2023 compared to the same period two years prior. The study highlights that these threats span the political spectrum and often center around contentious issues such as DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives and LGBTQ rights.

Previously, school board meetings were characterized as "polite, often dull affairs." However, the pandemic has transformed these gatherings into battlegrounds over mask mandates and other policies, leading to increased polarization. The surge in harassment is causing anxiety among school officials, who fear it may "persuade school board members to quit or shy away from engaging on controversial topics," potentially hindering educational discourse and governance.

Crude Oil Prices Rise Amid Market Movements

NPR's Jeanine Herbst provides a quick update on the financial markets.

In financial news, crude oil prices have seen a notable increase, "jumping 2.2% to $68.08 a barrel" on the New York Mercantile Exchange. This rise reflects broader market dynamics and may have implications for both consumers and industries reliant on oil and petroleum products.

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Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Hundreds of State Department employees are being laid off today, as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. It's part of what the department is calling the biggest reorganization in decades.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cut many offices at the State Department and now is letting go hundreds of staffers. They include 246 Foreign Service officers and 1,107 civil servants, all based at the Washington, D.C. headquarters. His aides say that if you add that to the staff that took early retirement, they have reached their goal of a 15% cut at the agency's home base. Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee say that this will undermine US national security. They warn that as the US Retreats, China and other adversaries are expanding their diplomatic reach. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump is headed to Central Texas today to survey the damage from the catastrophic flash floods last week that left at least 100 people dead, more than 170 missing. Steve Futterman has more.

[Steve Futterman]

The president is coming to an area still reeling from the July 4th disaster. Dozens of people are still missing with virtually no hope that anyone is going to be found alive. It's a painstakingly slow examination. Jonathan Lamb is with the Kerrville Police Department. It is a methodical search which ensures that every area in an area to be searched is covered and searched and that no stone is left unturned. The president is scheduled to spend around three hours here. His trip comes as more questions are being raised, a few about whether more could have been done before the disaster and immediately afterwards. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Kerrville, Texas.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump says a new 35% tariff on goods from Canada, set to begin Aug. 1, is punishment for that country failing to stop the flow of deadly street fentanyl into the U.S. but Trump's false claim linking Canada and fentanyl has been debunked again in a new study. NPR's Brian Mann reports.

[Brian Mann]

Trump has often said Canada is a major source of street fentanyl killing Americans. The statement was repeated in a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media Thursday. Trump accused Canada of failing to stop fentanyl pouring into the U.S. but numerous studies and data from the U.S. customs and Border Protection Agency have shown almost no fentanyl is smuggled south from Canada into the U.S. a new study published this month by the conservative leaning Manhattan Institute analyzed large drug seizures and found the same Canada isn't a significant factor in US Fentanyl deaths. In their report, the authors concluded that tariffs on Canada cannot be justified as a response to the threat of fentanyl. Brian Mann, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Wall Street's trading lower at this hour. The dow is down 258 points. You're listening to NPR News. In Canada, officials in Manitoba have declared the second emergency this year as more than 100 wildfires are burning across the central Canadian province, with at least a dozen considered to be out of control. Thousands have been evacuated. The fires are fueled by higher temperatures, and most of the blazes were triggered by lightning strikes. Smoke and ash from the fires are blowing into Minnesota and Wisconsin, where Republican lawmakers complained to Canadian officials, telling them to mitigate the fires because it's limiting their summer activities. In those states. The fires are on pace to burn the most land there in 31 years. Threats and harassment of local school officials have nearly tripled in recent years, according to a new study from Princeton University. NPR's Frank Langfit has more.

[Frank Langfitt]

School board meetings used to be polite, often dull affairs. The pandemic changed that, setting off battles over mask mandates as Covid ebbed. Princeton's Bridging Divides initiative says new flashpoints emerged over DEI and LGBTQ rights. The comprehensive study found threats and harassment of school Officials grew by 170% between November 2022 through April 2023 and the same period two years later. Researchers say the targets included officials across the political spectrum. They worried that such pressure could persuade school board members to quit or shy away from engaging on controversial topics. Frank Lankfitt, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Crude oil prices are jumping on Wall street, up 2.2% at $68.08 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News.

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