NPR News: 07-15-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 15, 2025, 5PM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston

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Inflation Rises as Tariffs Impact Consumer Prices

Inflation edged up by 2.7% in June compared to the previous year, marking a sharper increase than May's 0.3% rise. The uptick is primarily driven by escalating rents, alongside higher prices for clothing and appliances. Economists attribute these changes to the early effects of President Trump's trade tariffs. Scott Horsley of NPR reports:

“The cost of living in June was up 2.7% from a year ago.” [00:52]

President Trump has imposed tariffs of at least 10% on nearly all U.S. imports, with particularly high rates on goods from China. He has threatened even steeper tariffs on various countries starting August 1st. While some prices, such as those for new and used cars and airline tickets, decreased last month, essentials like gasoline, groceries, and electricity saw significant hikes due to increased demand from hot summer weather.

Senate Approves $9 Billion in Spending Cuts, Preserves PEPFAR Program

The Republican-led Senate is currently deliberating a $9 billion package of spending cuts proposed by the Trump administration. Notably, the package spares the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a critical global health initiative. Fatma Tanis from NPR explains:

“PEPFAR was launched by President George W. Bush and has been credited with saving 25 million lives by helping control the spread of HIV/AIDS around the world.” [01:48]

Initially, the Trump administration sought to eliminate $400 million from PEPFAR and additional funds for foreign assistance related to global health and humanitarian aid. However, resistance from some Republican senators led Senate Majority Leader John Thune to announce the preservation of PEPFAR funds. The White House remains determined to pass the spending cuts, with President Trump warning:

“I would withdraw support for any Republicans who did not vote for it.” [02:26]

Controversy Surrounds Mike Waltz’s Ambassadorship Appointment

Former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz remains on the White House payroll despite controversy over his inclusion of a journalist in a sensitive group chat discussing Yemen. During a Senate hearing for his potential role as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Democrats questioned Waltz's judgment. NPR’s Michelle Kellerman reports:

“He says he didn't face any consequences for mistakenly adding a journalist.” [02:44]

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker criticized Waltz, stating:

“Waltz should own up to and learn from his mistakes.” [03:08]

Despite the criticism, Republican senators continue to support Waltz's nomination. Michelle Kellerman adds:

“Republicans are supporting Waltz's candidacy to become the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.” [03:13]

Severe Flooding Affects New Jersey and New York City

Heavy rainfall overnight caused significant flooding across New Jersey and parts of New York City. Governor Phil Murphy has urged residents to brace for more rain this week. Scott Horsley provides insight into the weather patterns:

“We're in one of these patterns right now, hot humidity, late afternoon, early evening thunderstorms. ... you never say never.” [03:48]

Floodwaters disrupted transportation, stranding buses and cars, and inundating major roadways. In New York City, a subway station in Manhattan was flooded, leading to delays at nearby airports. The region is currently engaged in cleanup efforts as officials prepare for potential further weather disruptions.

Apple Invests $500 Million in U.S. Rare Earth Magnet Production

In a strategic move to bolster domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on China, Apple has entered a $500 million agreement with MP Materials. This partnership involves purchasing rare earth magnets produced in Texas and developing a recycling facility in California. John Ruich of NPR details the significance:

“Rare earths are critical to modern electronics. The magnets are used in parts like the tiny motors that make iPhones vibrate.” [04:24]

This initiative aligns with President Trump's pressure on Apple to increase U.S.-based production. Concurrently, China has imposed export controls on rare earth magnets as part of the ongoing trade tensions. Apple's investment is part of a broader plan to spend $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, aiming to secure its supply chain and support local economies.

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Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Podcast live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Inflation ticked up last month as the impact of President Trump's tariffs started to show up in consumer prices. NPR Scott Horsley reports. The cost of living in June was up 2.7% from a year ago.

[Scott Horsley]

Prices rose 0.3% between May and June, which is a sharper increase than the previous month. Rising rents were the biggest driver of inflation, but the price of clothing and appliances also rose, which economists say likely reflects the early impact of President Trump's tariffs. Trump has imposed taxes of at least 10% on nearly everything the US buys from other countries, with higher tariffs on goods from China. The president has threatened substantially higher tariffs on goods from many countries beginning August 1st. Some things got cheaper last month, including new and used cars and airline tickets, but gasoline and grocery prices were up in June. Electricity was also more expensive as hot summer weather boosted demand for air conditioning. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

The Republican led Senate is taking up a package of roughly $9 billion in spending cuts requested by the Trump administration. NPR's Fault Montanas reports a major global health program that provides HIV AIDS treatment is being spared from the cutbacks.

[Fatma Tanis]

PEPFAR was launched by President George W. Bush and has been credited with saving 25 million lives by helping control the spread HIV AIDS around the world. The Trump administration sought to cut $400 million in PEPFAR funds, along with billions of dollars in foreign assistance funds for global health and humanitarian assistance programs. But some Republican senators voiced concerns about cutting the popular program, and today Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that PEPFAR funds would be spared. The White House is keen on having the package pass. President Trump has said that he would withdraw support for any Republicans who did not vote for it. Fatma Tanis, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Former national security Adviser Mike Waltz continued to receive his salary from the White House even after he was pushed out for adding a journalist to a sensitive group chat about Yemen. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. That news came out of a hearing for Waltz's next job ambassador to the.

[Michelle Kellerman]

U.N. several Democrats pressed Waltz on his use of signal to share information with top officials about US Military strikes on Yemen. He says the Biden administration's cyber experts permitted the use of signal. And he says he didn't face any consequences for mistakenly adding a journalist. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker says Waltz should own up to and learn from his mistakes.

[Scott Horsley]

Instead, you do what seems to be yet another creative tool that people are doing, which is, hey, let me just blame Biden.

[Michelle Kellerman]

While Booker says this should be disqualifying, Republicans are supporting Waltz's candidacy to become the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Windsor Johnston]

At the close on Wall street, the dow was down 436 points. This is NPR. A number of states are cleaning up after severe flooding overnight in New Jersey. Heavy rain swept across the region, stranding buses and cars and flooding major roadways. Governor Phil Murphy is warning residents to prepare for additional rain this week.

[Scott Horsley]

We're in one of these patterns right now, hot humidity, late afternoon, early evening thunderstorms. It doesn't feel as I stand here now, as though tonight, tomorrow, Thursday will be in the same level of intensity that we saw last night. But you never say never.

[Windsor Johnston]

Parts of New York City are also dealing with the aftermath of heavy rain. Floodwaters poured into a subway station in Manhattan and caused delays at nearby airports. Apple says it's planning to use more rare earth magnets for its products, like iPhones, MacBooks and gadgets here in the U.S. and NPR's John Bruwich reports.

[John Ruich]

Apple says it entered a $500 million agreement with the rare earth mining and processing firm MP Materials. Apple will buy rare earth magnets produced in Texas by mp, and the two companies will jointly develop a facility in California to recycle rare earths. Rare earths are critical to modern electronics. The magnets are used in parts like the tiny motors that make iPhones vibrate. President Trump has been pressuring Apple to make more of its products in the United States and at the same time, China, by far the biggest global produce of rare earth magnets, put export controls on them as part of the trade war. Apple says the deal is part of plans to spend $500 billion in the US over the next four years. John Ruich, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[John Ruich]

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