NPR News: 07-12-2025 6AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of Episode Released on July 12, 2025

Host: Louise Schiavone | Source: NPR

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1. President Trump Visits Flood-Hit Central Texas

In the early hours of July 12, 2025, President Donald Trump traveled to Central Texas to assess the devastating impact of unprecedented flooding in the region. Speaking to reporters on-site, Trump expressed the severity of the disaster and his personal anguish over the loss of lives.

Donald Trump [00:29]: "The extent of the loss here is overwhelming."

Trump poignantly reflected on the tragic deaths, particularly emphasizing the loss of children.

Donald Trump [00:33]: "Dozens and dozens of precious children taken from us with such. I looked at the pictures of almost all of them, and it's terrible."

However, his remarks took a contentious turn when questioned about the effectiveness of prior flood alerts. Trump dismissed the inquiry sharply.

Donald Trump [00:48]: "Only a bad person would ask a question like that. It's easy to sit back and say, oh, what could have happened here or there... This was a thing that has never happened before."

Despite his initial resistance, Trump later conceded the necessity of improving the alert system to prevent future tragedies.

Donald Trump [01:02]: "An alert system needs to be put in place to make sure a similar tragedy doesn't happen again."

NPR's Steve Futterman reported from Kerrville, Texas.

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2. Hakeem Jeffries Condemns Medicaid Cuts in Trump’s Budget

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries voiced strong opposition to the Medicaid reductions embedded in the Trump administration's newly passed budget bill. Speaking at Crescent Care, a federally qualified health center in New Orleans, Jeffries highlighted the extensive impact of these cuts on public health coverage.

Hakeem Jeffries [01:38]: "The one big, ugly bill that has been jammed down the throats of the American people represents the largest assault on Medicaid and health care in American history."

Jeffries detailed the potential consequences, noting that over a trillion dollars in healthcare would be slashed, resulting in 17 million Americans losing their coverage.

Hakeem Jeffries [01:51]: "The law includes over a trillion dollars in health care cuts. Nationally, 17 million people could lose coverage..."

He criticized the Republican justification, arguing that these measures would strain clinics like Crescent Care, forcing them to "do more with less."

NPR's Drew Hawkins reported from New Orleans for the Gulf States Newsroom.

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3. US-Canada Trade Negotiations Amid Rising Tensions

Amid escalating trade tensions, Canadian Minister of Industry Melanie Jolie addressed reporters in Washington, emphasizing Canada's intent to conduct trade negotiations privately despite President Trump's recent threats to impose substantial tariffs.

Melanie Jolie [02:19]: "Of course, we take good note of the comments made by the president and of course will let the prime minister continue his negotiations and will not negotiate in public."

This statement comes in the wake of President Trump's announcement to increase taxes on numerous Canadian imports to 35%, a move Canada has vowed to counter by developing a new trade framework.

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4. Arrest of Italian Mafia Leader in Colombia

In a significant crackdown on international organized crime, authorities in Bogota, Colombia, apprehended Giuseppe Palermo, also known as "Pepe," alleged leader of the Italian Drangheta mafia. Palermo was wanted under an Interpol notice spanning nearly 2,200 countries.

Officials disclosed that he was responsible for overseeing cocaine shipments and managing illegal trafficking routes into Europe. The operation was a collaborative effort involving Colombian, Italian, and British law enforcement agencies, highlighting the international commitment to dismantling mafia networks.

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5. Russia Heightens Military Threats to Ukraine and Western Europe

Ukraine reported an escalation in Russian military aggression, with last night's drone and missile strikes targeting the cities of Lviv, Chernizzy, and Kharkiv. These attacks resulted in at least two fatalities and over 23 injuries, further diminishing prospects for peace in the region.

In broader security developments, General Thierry Burkhardt, France's Chief of Armed Forces, addressed the media, identifying Russia as the foremost military threat to his nation and Western Europe at large.

General Thierry Burkhardt [03:45]: "Russia is the largest, closest long term threat we face by far."

Burkhardt elaborated on the multifaceted nature of the Russian threat, encompassing terrorism and disinformation campaigns. His remarks came just days before Bastille Day, during which France is set to hold its annual military parade in Paris. In response to the escalating conflict in Ukraine and perceived US retrenchment in European defense, European nations are ramping up their defense spending and issuing heightened warnings to their populations.

NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reported from Paris.

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6. Investigation into Air India Flight Crash Points to Fuel Control Malfunction

In a tragic aviation incident, investigators in India have preliminarily determined that the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad was likely caused by the fuel control switches being turned off. The crash, which occurred a month prior, resulted in the deaths of at least 260 individuals.

Data retrieved from the plane's black boxes revealed alarming communication between the pilots moments before the accident.

Pilot [04:28]: "Why did you cut off the fuel?"

Co-Pilot: "I did not."

The cessation of fuel flow would have led to engine starvation and eventual loss of thrust, making the crash appear intentional. Authorities continue to analyze the recovered black boxes to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the disaster.

Louise Schiavone reported for NPR News.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the NPR News Now episode released on July 12, 2025. For comprehensive coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into NPR's hourly updates.

Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. President Trump was in Central Texas today, where he surveyed the destruction left behind by catastrophic flooding there. Steve Futterman reports.

[Donald Trump]

The president said the extent of the loss here is overwhelming.

Dozens and dozens of precious children taken from us with such. I looked at the pictures of almost all of them, and it's terrible.

But he got angry when a reporter asked whether earlier alerts might have saved lives.

Only a bad person would ask a question like that. It's easy to sit back and say, oh, what could have happened here or there? You know, maybe we could have done something differently. This was a, a thing that has never happened before.

Later, however, Trump did acknowledge that an alert system needs to be put in place to make sure a similar tragedy doesn't happen again. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Kerrville, Texas.

[Louise Schiavone]

The death toll has reached 120. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries railed against sweeping Medicaid cuts in the recently passed Trump budget bill. He spoke in New Orleans. The Gulf States Newsroom's new Drew Hawkins has more.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

Speaking at Crescent Care, a federally qualified health center in New Orleans, Jeffries said the newly signed law represents a massive rollback of public health coverage.

The one big, ugly bill that has been jammed down the throats of the American people represents the largest assault on Medicaid and health care in American history.

The law includes over a trillion dollars in health care cuts. Nationally, 17 million people could lose coverage, and clinics like Crescent Care say they'll be forced to do more with less. Republicans say the intent is to reduce waste and fraud. For NPR News, I'm Drew Hawkins in New Orleans.

[Louise Schiavone]

Canadian Minister of Industry Melanie Jolie told reporters in Washington this week that her nation will be negotiating a US Trade deal in private. Despite rising tensions.

[Melanie Jolie]

Of course, we take good note of the comments made by the president and of course will let the prime minister continue his negotiations and will not negotiate in public.

[Louise Schiavone]

This week, President Trump said he'd raise taxes on many imported goods from Canada to 35%. Canada says it will keep working on a new trade framework. An alleged leader of the Italian and Drangheta mafia has been arrested in Bogota, Colombia. According to officials there. Giuseppe Palermo, also known as Pepe, was wanted under an Interpol notice calling for his arrest in almost 2, 200 countries. He's accused of overseeing cocaine shipments and managing illegal trafficking routes to Europe. EU officials say Palermo's apprehension on a Bogota street was a coordinated operation of Colombian, Italian and British authorities. This is NPR News in Washington. Ukraine says that Russia has continued to intensify its long range attacks. Last night, firing a drone and missile barrage at Lviv, Chernizzy and Kharkiv. At least two people were killed, more than 23 injured. The attacks continued to dampen hopes for peace. In a rare news conference, the head of France's armed forces says the biggest military threat that his country faces is Russia. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Speaking to the media Friday, General Thierry Burkhardt, Le Chef d' Etat Major des Arme, said France is actually Russia's main target in Western Europe. The threat from Russia is multi pronged, he said. From terrorism to disinformation campaigns, Russia is the largest, closest long term threat we face by far. The general spoke just days ahead of Bastille Day celebrations with its annual military parade in Paris. European nations are increasing defense spending and issuing more warnings to their populations as the war in Ukraine intensifies and the US Steps back from European defense. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Louise Schiavone]

In India, investigators say it looks like the fuel control switches were turned off in the Air India flight that crashed one month ago in Ahmedabad, India. At least 260 people died in data heard on the plane's recovered black boxes. Just before the crash, one pilot was heard asking the other why he cut off the fuel. The other pilot said he did not. A cutoff would starve the engine and cause a loss of thrust. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News.

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