NPR News: 07-13-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 13, 2025 | 2AM EDT

NPR's latest five-minute news update covers a range of urgent topics, from natural disasters and international tensions to significant events in sports and commerce. Here's a detailed summary of the key stories discussed in this episode.

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1. Devastating Flash Floods in Texas

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Frank Morris

The death toll from the catastrophic flash flooding on July 4th in Texas has tragically risen to 129 people. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as volunteers tirelessly work to locate missing individuals.

Volunteer Efforts: Frank Morris reports that volunteers have dedicated over 900,000 hours, with more than 12,000 actively involved in the search. Despite their heroic efforts, many volunteers, including Bo Burgess of Fort Worth, face the emotional toll of the disaster.

Notable Quote:

"Just seeing all the clothes from children and necklaces and crosses and goggles and kayaks, but really like the children's clothing, you know, just children's clothing everywhere."
— Bo Burgess [00:57]

As cleanup continues in Kerr County, the absence of these volunteers will be keenly felt, highlighting the profound impact of the tragedy on both the community and those who have stepped forward to help.

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2. Wildfire Expansion Threatens Colorado

Host: Dale Willman

A wildfire in western Colorado, known as the South Rim Fire, nearly doubled in size on Saturday. The rapid expansion has forced authorities to close the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Initiated by lightning on Thursday, the fire has led to the closure of a segment of the U.S. Highway and has prompted an evacuation notice for one nearby community.

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3. Border Security and Political Tensions

Host: Dale Willman
Speaker: Tom Homan

At the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit, Border Czar Tom Homan faced protests and was ultimately escorted out by security after being heckled. Representing the conservative nonprofit, Homan lauded the Trump administration's efforts on border security.

Notable Quote:

"We will continue to prioritize public safety threats and national security threats because they're the most important and most dangerous to the community. But I'll say it again, if you're in the country illegally, you're on the table."
— Tom Homan [02:05]

His comments emphasize a hardline stance on immigration, highlighting ongoing debates surrounding border policies in the United States.

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4. EU Warns of Retaliatory Tariffs

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Terry Schultz

The European Union has issued a stern warning to President Trump, signaling readiness to impose retaliatory tariffs against his plan to enforce a 30% tariff on EU imports starting August. Despite mounting tensions, EU officials express a desire to negotiate a resolution.

Notable Quote:

"Brussels will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required."
— Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission Chief [02:33]

Ursula von der Leyen stressed the potential disruption to transatlantic supply chains, affecting businesses and consumers on both sides, while the EU prepares comprehensive lists of U.S. goods targeted for future tariffs.

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5. Violence Escalates in Gaza Amid Aid Efforts

Host: Dale Willman

Tragic incidents have unfolded in Gaza, where at least 31 Palestinians were killed while seeking food aid near an American-run aid site in Rafah. Additionally, an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, including four children, and 15 others were killed in separate attacks in southern Gaza. Over 100 people have been treated for gunshot wounds, underscoring the severe humanitarian crisis in the region.

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6. Record-Breaking Prime Day Sales Surge Online Shopping

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Alina Selyuk

The annual Prime Day event, originated by Amazon and now participated in by multiple retailers, set a new record this year. Spanning four days, shoppers across online platforms spent over $24 billion, surpassing the total sales of two Black Fridays combined.

Notable Quote:

"People hunted for deals on appliances, electronics and a lot of back to school shopping. Many shoppers say they want to get ahead of potential future price increases if President Trump's tariffs on foreign imports go into effect August 1st."
— Alina Selyuk [04:03]

The surge in online spending reflects not only the popularity of the sales event but also strategic consumer behavior in anticipation of upcoming tariff-induced price hikes.

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7. Historic Victory at Wimbledon Women's Final

Host: Dale Willman

In a stunning display of dominance, Iga Świątek clinched the women's Wimbledon title by defeating Amanda Anisimova in just 57 minutes, marking the first time in 114 years that a player in the women's final did not secure a single game. The match was witnessed by Kate, the Princess of Wales, who proudly presented Świątek with the championship trophy.

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NPR News Now continues to deliver concise and comprehensive news updates, keeping audiences informed on critical developments around the world.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The death toll from flash flooding July 4th in Texas continues to rise. At least 129 people are now confirmed dead as search crews continue to find Bo. NPR's Frank Morris reports that many volunteers who've been helping with the search are now preparing to leave.

[Frank Morris]

Volunteers have put in some 900,000 hours. More than 12,000 of them have been working here. But many, like Bo Burgess from Fort Worth, have only one week off to give. Burgess spent his last day volunteering walking about 10 miles of the Guadalupe river and says the debris still there was troubling.

[Bo Burgess]

Just seeing all the clothes from children and necklaces and crosses and goggles and kayaks, but really like the children's clothing, you know, just children's clothing everywhere.

[Frank Morris]

Burgess and many other flash flood volunteers will be welcome at home but missed in Kerr county, where cleanup efforts continue. Frank Morris, NPR News, Kerr County, Texas.

[Dale Willman]

A wildfire in western Colorado almost doubled in size on Saturday. Officials say a lack of containment for the South Rim Fire also forced the closure of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Lightning started the fire on Thursday. It has closed a portion of US and one community is under an evacuation notice now. Border czar Tom Homan was heckled Saturday as he addressed a crowd at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit. The conservative nonprofit is hosting several speakers from the Trump administration after the protester was escorted out by security. Homan praised the administration's work on the southern US Border as well as the immigration raids across the US and even the handling of anti immigration raid protesters by the government across the country.

[Tom Homan]

We will continue to prioritize public safety threats and national security threats because they're the most important and most dangerous to the community. But I'll say it again, if you're in the country illegally, you're on the table.

[Dale Willman]

The European Union is warning President Trump that the bloc is ready to hit back against his plan to impose 30% tariffs on EU imports starting in August. But Terry Schultz reports from Brussels that EU officials still hope to make a deal.

[Terry Schultz]

EU and US Officials have been negotiating for months, but have not come up with a solution to Trump's deep dissatisfaction with the trade imbalance in Europe's favor. EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen says she's still ready to continue working toward an agreement by August 1st because, she says in a statement, the threatened measures would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic. But she emphasized, emphasizes that Brussels will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required. The EU has drawn up lists of US Goods that will be hit with tariffs once the US Imposes them on Europe. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. Witness and health workers in Gaza say at least 31 Palestinians have been shot and killed in Gaza on Saturday while they were looking for food aid. The shootings took place near an aid site near Rafah that is run by an American organization. More than 100 other people were treated for gunshot wounds. An Israeli airstrike in central Gaza, meanwhile, killed at least 13 people, including four children. Fifteen others were killed in other attacks in southern Gaza. The numbers are in on the big midsummer event known as the Prime Day at sale. It was launched by Amazon but has since been embraced by many other rival retailers. And this year it lasted for four days instead of two. And NPR's Alina Selyuk reports that shoppers.

[Alina Selyuk]

Set a new record across all online stores during Prime Day sales, people spent more than $24 billion, which is more than two Black Fridays worth. That's according to Adobe, which tracks online transactions. People hunted for deals on appliances, electronics and a lot of back to school shopping. Many shoppers say they want to get ahead of potential future price increases if President Trump's tariffs on foreign imports go into effect August 1st. As as warned, Adobe says the hottest sellers included kids, clothes, home security items, refrigerators and games. Alina Seluk, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Swiatek won the women's Wimbledon champion on Friday. She it took her just 57 minutes to defeat. Amanda Anisimova, 6060 it's the first time in 114 years that a player in the Wimbledon women's final has not won a single game. Kate the Princess of Wales was on hand for the match and presented Swiatek with her trophy. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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