NPR News: 07-11-2025 12PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 11, 2025, 12PM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston
Producer: NPR
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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1. Catastrophic Flooding in Texas

[00:16]
Windsor Johnston opens the episode by reporting on President Donald Trump's visit to Texas to assess the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck the state a week prior. The disaster has resulted in a tragic death toll, with at least 120 fatalities and over 170 individuals still missing. Rescue operations are ongoing as teams work tirelessly to find survivors amidst the widespread destruction.

2. President Trump's Response and Future Flood Mitigation

[00:45]
Tamara Keith provides an in-depth look at the ongoing search efforts, highlighting the severe impact on communities, including the tragic loss of lives at Camp Mystic. President Trump is scheduled to meet with affected families, local leaders, and first responders. In an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker, Trump emphasized the importance of future safety measures:

“Installing an alarm system of some kind to alert people of future flood events would make sense”
—President Donald Trump, [00:52]

He also conveyed a message of compassion:

“I love those people... I feel so terribly for them.”
—President Donald Trump, [01:10]

3. Reversal of FEMA Phase-Out Plan

[01:28]
The White House has reversed a proposed plan to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Deanne Criswell, FEMA Administrator under the Biden administration, addressed the necessity of federal support:

“Texas is probably the most capable state that's out there, lots of resources... If this were to happen in another state that doesn't have that much capability, it would just make it that much harder for response.”
—Deanne Criswell, [01:44]

Criswell stressed the importance of streamlining the recovery process to facilitate faster rebuilding for affected communities.

4. Escalating Violence in the West Bank

[02:05]
Windsor Johnston shifts focus to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reporting that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank since the commencement of the Gaza war. The violence has escalated, with 23 Israelis also losing their lives. Hadil Al Shalchi of NPR details recent incidents:

• Setters attack near Taiba: Fire set near an ancient church and cemetery.
• Kafr Malik incident: Last month, settlers attacked and set fire to the village, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinians.

Al Shalchi notes the lack of accountability:

“Israeli officials rarely prosecute offenders, and when they do a very small percentage end in conviction.”
—Hadil Al Shalchi, [02:28]

Additionally, the demolition of Palestinian homes has led to the largest displacement in the West Bank since 1967. The Israeli military maintains that these actions are part of efforts to root out militants.

5. State Department Layoffs and Legal Action Against the Trump Administration

[03:12]
The episode highlights significant changes within the federal workforce:

• Hundreds of State Department employees are being laid off, amounting to a 15% reduction.
• The reorganization plan is now moving into the implementation phase following a favorable ruling by the Supreme Court.

In related news, a Columbia University graduate student, Mahmoud Khalil, is suing the Trump administration for $20 million, alleging long-term harm from his arrest and detention during the administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists. Juliana Kim reports:

“Khalil accused immigration agents of arresting him without probable cause and under false pretenses.”
—Juliana Kim, [03:30]

Khalil claims he lost 15 pounds due to stress and inadequate food and missed the birth of his first child. The Department of Homeland Security has denied these allegations, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin calling them "absurd."

6. Immigration Policy Changes and Economic Update

[04:30]
The Trump administration announced a policy to restrict illegal immigrants' access to the Head Start program, a federally funded preschool initiative. This move is part of a broader strategy to limit federal benefits for individuals lacking legal status in the United States.

In the economic sphere, Wall Street showed mixed results at the time of reporting:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Down by 267 points.
• NASDAQ: Increased by 11 points.

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Notable Quotes:

• President Donald Trump: “Installing an alarm system of some kind to alert people of future flood events would make sense.” ([00:52])
• Deanne Criswell: “If this were to happen in another state that doesn't have that much capability, it would just make it that much harder for response.” ([01:44])
• Hadil Al Shalchi: “Israeli officials rarely prosecute offenders, and when they do a very small percentage end in conviction.” ([02:28])
• Mahmoud Khalil: “I lost 15 pounds due to stress and inadequate food, as well as that I was forced to miss the birth of my first child.” ([03:30])

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This summary captures the key discussions and insights presented in the July 11, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing a comprehensive overview for those who did not listen to the original broadcast.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump is traveling to Texas today to survey the damage left behind by catastrophic flooding one week ago. The death toll continues to rise as rescue team search for survivors. At least 120 people have died and more than 170 others are still missing. NPR's Tamara Keith reports. The president will meet with families, local leaders and first responders.

[Tamara Keith]

Teams are still searching for the missing after dangerous floodwaters tore through homes, campsites and summer camps, including Camp mystic, where so many children perished. A White House official says President Trump will meet with family members affected by the tragedy. The president is also set to meet with first responders and get a briefing from local leaders. In an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker last night, Trump said installing an alarm system of some kind to alert people of future flood events would make sense. Trump told NBC his message to the people of Texas would be one of love. I love those people, he said, adding that he feels so terribly for them. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

The White House is walking back a plan that would have phased out the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Deanne Criswell serves as the administrator of FEMA under the Biden administration. She says states like Texas need federal funds in addition to their own resources.

[Deanne Criswell]

Texas is probably the most capable state that's out there, lots of resources, but they also requested resources through the state to state mutual aid compact. But those types of resources also get reimbursed by fema. If this were to happen in another state that doesn't have that much capability, it would just make it that much harder for response.

[Windsor Johnston]

Criswell says the focus now needs to be on how to help states streamline the recovery process so communities can rebuild faster. Israeli forces and Jewish settlers in the occupied west bank have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians since the beginning of the war in Gaza. NPR's Hadil Al Shouji reports. 23 Israelis have been killed in the conflict.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

The number of Palestinians killed in the occupied west bank rises as Israeli settlers set fires near an ancient church and cemetery in the Palestinian town of Taiba this week. Last month, settlers attacked Palestinians and set ablaze the village of Kafr Malik, north of Ramallah. Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in that incident, according to Palestinian health officials. Israeli officials rarely prosecute offenders, and when they do a very small percentage end in conviction? Demolition of homes by Israeli forces has also displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians, the largest displacement in the west bank since Israel captured it in the 1967 Mideast war. The Israeli military says it's rooting out militants. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is npr. Hundreds of State Department employees are being laid off today. It's a 15% cut. The reorganization plan is moving into the implementation phase. The Supreme Court cleared the way for the administration to move ahead with mass federal job cuts this week. A Columbia University graduate student is suing the Trump administration for 20 million. NPR's Juliana Kim reports. The lawsuit alleges long term harm from his arrest and detention.

[Juliana Kim]

Mahmoud Khalil claims he experienced lasting harm while in immigration detention. Khalil is one of the first students arrested in the Trump administration's crackdown on pro Palestinian activists. He was detained for some hundred days before being released last month. In his filing, Khalil accused immigration agents of arresting him without probable cause and under false pretenses. He also claimed that he lost 15 pounds due to stress and inadequate food, as well as that he was forced to miss the birth of his first child. In a statement, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin called his claims absurd, asserting that the government acted within its authority. Juliana Kim, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

The Trump administration says it will restrict immigrants in the country illegally from enrolling in Head Start, the federally funded preschool program. It's part of a broader effort to limit access to federal benefits for immigrants who lack legal status. Stocks are trading mixed on Wall street at this hour. The dow was down 267 points. The NASDAQ up 11. This is NPR News.

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