NPR News: 07-11-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 11, 2025, 6 PM EDT

Your comprehensive summary of today's top stories, delivered by NPR.

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1. Catastrophic Flooding Devastates Central Texas

[00:01] Windsor Johnston opens the episode with a report on the severe flooding in Central Texas. President Donald Trump personally inspected the devastated regions from the air, receiving briefings from both state and local officials. The catastrophe has tragically claimed the lives of at least 120 people, with ongoing searches for over 170 missing individuals.

Governor Greg Abbott expressed gratitude towards the federal response:

[00:27] Greg Abbott: "This is the fastest that I'm aware of of any administration responding so swiftly, so collaboratively, so coordinated as we have in response to this. Thank you for that major disaster declaration. It ensures that we're going to be able to more effectively respond and help rebuild."

The swift approval of federal funding has been pivotal in accelerating recovery efforts, as officials work tirelessly to assist affected communities in rebuilding their lives.

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2. High-Stakes US-China Summit on the Horizon

The geopolitical landscape remains tense as Secretary of State Marco Rubio hints at a probable summit between President Trump and China's leader, Xi Jinping.

[00:45] Secretary Rubio, on his maiden trip to Asia since his appointment, stated:

[01:08] Marco Rubio: "Both the US and Chinese sides want a meeting between Trump and Xi, so the odds are high."

However, Rubio emphasized the necessity of establishing the right conditions for the meeting and agreeing on tangible outcomes:

"They have to create the right atmosphere for the meeting and agree on deliverables. No date has been discussed so far."

During a side meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Wang criticized US tariffs, labeling them as "typical unilateral bullying behavior" that undermines "free trade and global supply chains."

[01:48] Anthony Kuhn of NPR News in Beijing provides further context on the delicate negotiations, highlighting the complexities both nations face in fostering a conducive environment for dialogue.

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3. Virginia Embraces Artificial Intelligence to Slash Regulations

In a pioneering move, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline and reduce state regulations by 25%. This initiative marks the first of its kind nationally.

[02:04] Governor Youngkin announced:

Glenn Youngkin: "Artificial intelligence played a role in helping reduce 25% of Virginia's regulations."

Under his directive, Virginia's regulatory office is required to produce AI-generated reports evaluating all existing regulations. State employees will utilize AI for legal reviews and to analyze regulatory frameworks of neighboring states, aiming to bolster Virginia's competitive edge in attracting new businesses. Moreover, the initiative seeks to simplify the language and guidance within regulations.

Executive agencies are given an eight-week window post-report to begin implementing the AI-driven recommendations. As Youngkin approaches the end of his tenure in January, he is determined to achieve a reduction of over a third in state regulations.

[02:42] Jad Khalil from NPR’s Richmond office reports on the significant strides Virginia is making towards regulatory efficiency through technological advancement.

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4. Wall Street Dips Amid Economic Uncertainties

Stock markets showed a downturn today, reflecting investor anxiety and broader economic uncertainties.

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Dropped 279 points to 44,371
• NASDAQ Composite: Fell by 45 points
• S&P 500: Declined 20 points

These declines signal potential concerns over market stability and the lingering effects of recent global events.

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5. Gaza Faces Deadly Challenges in Aid Distribution

Efforts to deliver essential food and supplies to Gaza have become increasingly perilous. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, nearly 800 individuals have lost their lives while attempting to reach aid distribution points over the past six weeks.

[03:18] Ruth Sherlock elaborates on the dire situation:

"The vast majority, 615 people, were killed while trying to access aid distribution sites run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation."

These centers, situated within Israeli-controlled zones and guarded by US private security, are grappling with overcrowding and safety issues. Israel maintains stringent controls over aid influx, citing concerns that supplies may be diverted to Hamas operatives. In a glimmer of hope, the European Union has brokered a deal potentially increasing the daily transport of food and other necessities into Gaza. However, the implementation timeline remains uncertain.

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6. Manitoba Wildfires Spread Smoke to the Midwest

Canada's central province of Manitoba is battling another emergency as over 100 wildfires rage, forcing thousands to evacuate. Driven by soaring temperatures, most of these blazes ignited from lightning strikes, exacerbating the wildfire crisis.

The resultant smoke and ash have traversed the border, affecting regions in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Residents in these Midwestern states are experiencing diminished air quality and associated health risks.

[04:05] Windsor Johnston reports on the escalating wildfire situation, highlighting the environmental and human toll of these natural disasters.

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Stay informed with NPR News Now for the latest updates on these and other stories shaping our world.

Transcript

[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump got a firsthand look at the destruction left behind by catastrophic flooding across Central Texas today. The president surveyed some of the hardest hit areas by air and received a briefing from state and local officials. Governor Greg Abbott thanked the Trump administration for moving quickly to approve federal funding for recovery efforts.

[Greg Abbott]

This is the fastest that I'm aware of of any administration responding so swiftly, so collaboratively, so coordinated as we have in response to this. Thank you for that major disaster declaration. It ensures that we're going to be able to more effectively respond and help rebuild.

[Windsor Johnston]

The death toll in Central Texas has risen to at least 120. The search continues for more than 170 people. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says there's a high probability of a summit meeting between President Trump and China's leader Xi Jinping. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports. Rubio was on his first trip to Asia since becoming secretary.

[Marco Rubio]

Rubio told reporters that both the US And Chinese sides want a meeting between Trump and Xi, so the odds are high. He added, though, that the two sides have to create the right atmosphere for the meeting and agree on deliverables. He said no date has been discussed so far. Rubio also said he had to construct meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the association of Southeast Asian nations foreign ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In remarks with Southeast Asian counterparts, Wang complained that US Tariffs are typical unilateral bullying behavior, which he said are undermining free trade and global supply chains. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Beijing.

[Windsor Johnston]

The state of Virginia is looking to artificial intelligence for help in reducing regulations. Jad Khalil from member station BP reports, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin says it's the first type of program of its kind in the country.

[Glenn Youngkin]

Earlier this week, Youngkin was touting reducing 25% of Virginia's regulations. He also pointed out that artificial intelligence played a role in helping. Now he's ordered Virginia's regulatory office to issue AI generated reports on all of Virginia's regulations. State employees are supposed to use AI to do a legal review and look at nearby states in an effort to compete for new business. Just reducing the number of words and guidance is a goal, too. Executive agencies will have eight weeks from receiving the report to start implementing recommendations. This is Youngkin's last year in office, and he wants to reduce regulations by more than a third by the time he leaves in January. For NPR News, I'm Jad Khalil in Richmond.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks traded lower today on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial Average was down 279points to 44,371. The NASDAQ Composite down 45. The S&P fell 20 points. This is NPR News in Washington. Trying to get food into Gaza has become extremely dangerous. The United Nations Human Rights Office says nearly 800 people have been killed trying to access aid distribution points in a period of just six weeks. NPR's Ruth Sherlock has more.

[Ruth Sherlock]

The UN Human Rights Office figures cover the period between May 7 and July 7. The vast majority, 615 people, were killed while trying to access aid distribution sites run by the US And Israeli backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The foundation's aid centers are in Israeli militarized zones and run by US Private security contractors. They're overcrowded and the United nations says are inherently unsafe. Israel has strictly limited the flow of aid into Gaza from the UN and other international organizations, saying supplies were falling into the hands of Hamas operatives. Now the European Union says it's reached a deal that should allow for an increase in daily trucks of food and other items into Gaza, but the timeline for when this might begin remains unclear. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Officials in Manitoba have declared another emergency this year as more than 100 wildfires are burning across the central Canadian province. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes. The wildfires are being fueled by higher temperatures, and most of the blazes were triggered by lightning strikes. Smoke and ash from the fires are blowing into parts of Minnesota and with Wisconsin. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.