NPR News Now – Episode Summary: July 13, 2025, 9 PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst, NPR
Release Date: July 14, 2025

1. Anniversary of the Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump

At the one-year mark of the failed assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a Senate committee released its final report addressing the incident.

• Key Findings:

  • Security Failures: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs revealed that the Secret Service had denied at least ten additional security requests for Trump's 2024 campaign in the weeks leading up to the shooting. These denials contributed to vulnerabilities that the would-be assassin exploited.
  • Communication Breakdowns: GOP Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who led the report, criticized the pattern of communication failures. He stated, “No one took responsibility for these failures.” According to Paul, internal blame-shifting hindered a clear understanding of the incident’s motives and preventive measures.
  • Unresolved Motives: Paul expressed uncertainty regarding the assassin’s motives, saying, “I think we aren’t going to know the motive and I take that at face value” (01:11).

• Incident Details:

  • The 20-year-old gunman killed one rally attendee and wounded two others before being neutralized by a Secret Service sniper (01:14).

NPR's Luke Garrett provided detailed reporting from Washington.

2. Ongoing Recovery Efforts in Kerrville, Texas

More than a week after devastating floods along the Guadalupe River, recovery operations in Kerrville have been temporarily halted due to inclement weather. The community continues to grapple with the aftermath, including significant loss of life and missing persons.

• Impact Overview:

  • Casualties: At least 131 people have been reported dead, with 160 individuals still missing.
  • Community Response: Volunteers like Jennifer Stewart traveled from north Dallas to Kerrville to assist. She provided massages to rescue workers, witnessing firsthand the harrowing experiences of those impacted by the floods.

• Personal Accounts:

  • Jennifer Stewart shared her emotional experience, stating, “Just imagining like and hearing stories today of the bodies and the animals and the belongings of people that they will never see again. And it's just heartbreaking. It is” (01:58).

• Call for Support:

  • Stewart emphasized the importance of community involvement, suggesting that there are numerous ways to assist beyond immediate rescue efforts and encouraging the sharing of individual skills to aid in recovery (02:11).

Report by James Hartley from member station KERA.

3. Israeli Airstrike in Central Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict

The Israeli military has attributed a recent airstrike in central Gaza to a technical error, resulting in the deaths of 10 Palestinians, predominantly children, at the Nurasreet refugee camp.

• Incident Specifics:

  • Target Mistake: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated they intended to target an Islamic Jihad terrorist. However, due to a "technical error," the missile missed its intended target by dozens of meters, striking a crowd waiting to collect water instead (02:21).

• Casualties and Reaction:

  • Eyewitnesses reported that the missile strike resulted in the deaths of children and adults alike, with graphic footage capturing the tragedy.
  • The IDF expressed regret over civilian casualties, while the incident adds to a grim timeline where, according to the United Nations, 800 people have been killed in the past seven weeks while aid efforts continue (03:11).

• Contextual Background:

  • This airstrike follows a previous attack where 31 people were killed at an aid distribution site in southern Gaza, highlighting the region's escalating humanitarian crisis.

Report by Nick Beek, BBC.

4. Jannik Sinner Makes History by Winning Wimbledon Men's Singles Title

Italian tennis prodigy Jannik Sinner clinched his first Wimbledon title, marking a significant milestone as the first Italian to achieve this accolade in the men’s singles category.

• Match Highlights:

  • Final Showdown: Sinner faced off against two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in a gripping match that extended to four competitive sets.
  • Victory Moment: Sinner secured his triumph with a decisive ace, concluding the match after a previous encounter at the French Open last month where he was defeated by Alcaraz in a dramatic five-and-a-half-hour contest (03:14).

• Athlete’s Reflection:

  • Accepting the trophy, Sinner shared his elation, stating, “Every moment can change the match. So I'm very happy that I hold my nerves. And yeah, so it's an amazing feeling” (03:46).

Report by Kristen Wright, NPR.

5. Sotheby's to Auction Largest Known Martian Meteorite on Earth

Sotheby's is set to auction a remarkable 54-pound Martian meteorite, touted as the largest piece of Mars ever discovered on Earth. The auction, scheduled for Wednesday, is part of a natural history-themed sale with the meteorite valued between $2 to $4 million.

• Meteorite Details:

  • Origin: The meteorite was ejected from Mars’ surface following a massive asteroid impact and made its way to Earth, landing in the Sahara and Niger regions in 2023.
  • Significance: Cassand Hatton of Sotheby's highlighted the meteorite's unprecedented size, stating, “This Martian meteorite is more than double the size of what we previously thought was the largest piece of Mars” (04:27). Only a small portion has been analyzed to confirm its Martian origin, promising valuable scientific insights.

• Auction Highlights:

  • The meteorite is expected to attract significant interest from collectors and scientists alike, given its rarity and the potential data it holds about Mars’ geological history.

Report by Jeanine Herbst, NPR.

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of significant global events ranging from political security lapses, natural disasters, ongoing conflicts, historic sports achievements, to extraordinary scientific artifacts entering the public sphere. Each segment offered in-depth reporting and firsthand accounts, ensuring listeners remain informed about the pressing issues shaping our world.

Note: All timestamps correspond to the episode's timeline for reference.