NPR News Now: July 13, 2025, 11AM EDT

Host: Nora Raum
Source: NPR
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

U.S. Immigration Policies Under Scrutiny

Reported by Mara Liasson

President Donald Trump's stringent immigration policies continue to spark national debate. Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary, firmly stated, “There will never be amnesty on President Trump's watch” ([00:28]). In a decisive move, Trump has directed immigration agents to employ any necessary measures to safeguard themselves during enforcement raids. This directive follows a recent setback where a Los Angeles federal judge ordered a halt to such raids, challenging the administration's approach.

The controversy intensifies with the introduction of the new immigration facility in Florida, colloquially named Alligator Alcatraz. Republican legislators visiting the center praised its cleanliness and effective management, asserting it meets high operational standards. Conversely, Democrats criticized the facility, labeling the conditions as “deplorable” ([00:28]). The starkly contrasting views highlight the deep partisan divide over immigration enforcement and detention practices.

Severe Weather Threatens Texas Recovery Efforts

Reported by Amy Held and Meteorologist Joseph Wegman

A flash flood warning has been issued for Kerr County, Texas, exacerbating the ongoing recovery efforts along the Guadalupe River. As of [01:17], at least 160 individuals remain unaccounted for following the devastating July 4th floods. Meteorologist Joseph Wegman explained, “Rain came down at the rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour,” leading officials to suspend all search and rescue operations ([01:17]).

Despite the suspension, Amy Held reported lingering concerns: “We’re still, unfortunately, looking at at least some rain into the headwaters of the Guadalupe River, which could likely cause at least some rises” ([01:28]). Wegman added that while the heavy rain is expected to subside by early next week, the unpredictable nature of cluster thunderstorms makes forecasting challenging ([01:37]). He emphasized the role of climate change in exacerbating such events: “Climate change is making intense rainfall and flooding worse as a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture” ([01:53]).

International Tensions: EU Tariffs and Gaza Conflict Escalate

Nora Raum and BBC's Nick Beek Report

In international relations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a delay in implementing new tariffs on U.S. goods, originally scheduled to start the following day. EU member states are seeking additional time to negotiate with President Trump regarding his proposed tariff increases slated for August 1st ([02:01]).

Simultaneously, the Israeli military has acknowledged a technical error that resulted in civilian casualties in Gaza. The incident involved a missile strike on a water distribution site, tragically killing 10 Palestinians, predominantly children. Nick Beek of the BBC detailed the harrowing aftermath: “A video which is said to record the aftermath of the attack shows the bloodied bodies of children and adults surrounded by yellow water containers” ([02:39]). Despite these reports, the Israeli military maintains that there were no known injuries from the incident. Gaza health officials have reported the Palestinian death toll exceeding 58,000 ([02:01]).

Wimbledon Final Highlights a Potential New Rivalry

Reported by Vicki Barker

The men's Wimbledon final is set to feature an exciting matchup between Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Italy's Jannik Sinner ([03:09]). According to Vicki Barker from London, this pairing marks only the second instance of the same two players contesting the finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon within the same year—a feat previously achieved by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer from 2006 to 2008.

For Carlos Alcaraz, victory could position him as the fifth man in the Open era to secure three consecutive Wimbledon titles, placing him alongside legends like Borg, Sampras, Federer, and Djokovic. With Alcaraz holding five Grand Slam titles and Sinner three, their rivalry has already produced six consecutive Grand Slam victories, hinting at an emerging powerhouse in professional tennis ([03:27]).

FIFA World Cup and Political Intrigue

Reported by Paul Dinorio

In sports news, the women's championship concluded with Zigi Antak of Poland triumphing over American Amanda Anisimova. As anticipation builds for the FIFA World Cup match scheduled for the afternoon near New York City, Paul Dinorio of The Atlantic highlights President Trump's planned attendance at the event, following an invitation from the FIFA president.

However, Dinorio points out the intertwining of politics and sports administration: “FIFA just announced that they've opened up an office in Trump Tower in New York,” noting Johnny Ampentino's management style as FIFA president, which appears to coincide closely with President Trump's interests ([04:12]).

Today's Soccer Highlight

Nora Raum

Today's featured match is between PFG and Chelsea, promising an intense showdown. Stay tuned for live updates and analysis as the game unfolds ([04:48]).

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