NPR News: 07-15-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 15, 2025, 6 PM EDT

On this episode of NPR News Now, listeners are provided with a comprehensive overview of the latest developments shaping the national landscape. From legislative actions affecting public media to significant strides in space exploration, here's a detailed summary of the key topics discussed.

---

1. Threat to Public Media Funding

[00:00] The episode opens with alarming news about the House of Representatives approving a White House request to rescind two years of previously allocated funding for public media. This decision, now advancing to the Senate, poses a significant threat to local public media stations across the country. The move has sparked concern among supporters who are urged to advocate for the preservation of public media through platforms like goacpr.org.

---

2. New Immigration Enforcement Tactics

[00:25] Windsor Johnston introduces a pressing issue regarding the Trump administration's new strategies to identify individuals residing in the U.S. illegally.

[00:51] Tovia Smith reports that landlords are receiving written subpoenas from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Anti-Fraud Unit. These subpoenas demand detailed information about tenants, including leases, forwarding addresses, and ID cards. Notably, these subpoenas are not signed by a judge, raising questions about their legality.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, addressed the issue, stating, “Subpoenas don't need to be signed by a judge to be binding” ([00:51]). She further warned that non-compliance with an ICE-issued administrative subpoena could lead to severe legal consequences. However, DHS declined to disclose the number of subpoenas issued or provide additional details about their tactics.

---

3. U.S.-Indonesia Trade Deal Negotiations

[01:30] Windsor Johnston shifts focus to international trade, highlighting President Trump's recent statements regarding tariffs on Indonesia.

[01:43] Franco Ordonez elaborates that despite initial threats of a 32% tariff, President Trump has negotiated a deal wherein Indonesia will agree to pay a 19% tariff on U.S. goods.

When pressed about the specifics, Trump notably declared, “We are going to pay nothing” ([01:55]), emphasizing the U.S.'s position in the trade negotiations. He also hinted at gaining access to Indonesia's rich copper reserves and suggested that similar agreements with India are imminent, signaling a potential shift in U.S. trade policies.

---

4. Impact of Tax Cuts on Renewable Energy

[02:22] The discussion turns to the environment and energy sector, with Windsor Johnston reporting on the implications of recent legislative changes.

[02:40] Michael Copley explains that the substantial tax cut and spending bill signed by President Trump has terminated tax incentives for wind and solar energy projects. According to the non-partisan think tank Energy Innovation, this withdrawal is expected to escalate electricity costs across the nation by at least 9% over the next decade. The impact is projected to be more pronounced in Republican-led states, potentially causing power bills to soar by 60 to 350% in Oklahoma by 2035 ([02:40]).

A White House spokesperson, Taylor Rogers, responded by stating that President Trump is actively working to "boost US energy production," suggesting a pivot towards traditional energy sources to mitigate the rising costs.

---

5. Tribute to Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson

[03:20] Windsor Johnston shares the somber news of the passing of Andrea Gibson, Colorado’s beloved poet laureate.

[03:38] Elizabeth Blair pays homage to Gibson's impactful life and work, describing them as a "queer poet who was considered a rock star at poetry slams." Gibson's poetry, characterized by its blend of darkness, urgency, and humor, resonated deeply with audiences. An excerpt from Gibson reflects their unique voice: “The nutritionist said I should eat root vegetables, said if I could get down 13 turnips a day, I would be grounded, rooted, so my head would not keep flying away to where the darkness lives.”

Gibson, who battled ovarian cancer for four years, was cherished by fans and peers alike. Comedian Tig Notaro commemorated Gibson on social media, stating, “So many of Andrea's words have quietly guided me through life's twists and turns,” underscoring the profound influence Gibson had on those around them.

---

6. Successful Splashdown of SpaceX Astronauts

[04:18] The episode concludes on an uplifting note with Windsor Johnston announcing the safe return of four astronauts aboard a SpaceX capsule, which splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off California’s coast.

[04:26] Tovia Smith further details the successful splashdown of the AX4 crew, marking the end of their mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

[04:31] Michael Copley welcomes the astronauts back, highlighting retired astronaut Peggy Whitson among them. Whitson, who holds the U.S. record for the most cumulative time in space by an American astronaut at 675 days, also boasts the record for the most spacewalks by a woman, totaling 10 spacewalks over 60 hours and 21 minutes.

These astronauts, including representatives from Hungary, India, and Poland, conducted several experiments during their stay, contributing valuable knowledge and fostering international collaboration in space exploration.

---

This episode of NPR News Now encapsulates a diverse array of topics, from domestic policy shifts and their broader implications to heartfelt tributes and triumphs in space exploration. Whether you're catching up on political developments, energy sector changes, or celebrating human achievement, this summary provides a comprehensive overview of the day's most pressing news.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

The House of Representatives has approved a White House request to claw back two years of previously approved funding for public media. The rescissions package now moves on to the Senate. This move poses a serious threat to local stations and public media as we know it. Please take a stand for public media [e-mail] thank you.

[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Immigration authorities are defending a new tactic they're reportedly using to locate people living in the country illegally. The Associated Press says landlords are receiving subpoenas from the Trump administration for information about their tenants, but question if they're legally required to comply. NPR's Tobia Smith reports.

[Tovia Smith]

Landlords are getting written demands to share leases, tenants Forwarding addresses and ID cards from the U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services Anti Fraud Unit, according to the ap. But the subpoenas are are not signed by a judge. Department of Homeland security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin declined to comment on whether or how many subpoenas are being sent to landlords, saying in a statement to NPR that DHS would not comment on its tactics. But she added, subpoenas don't need to be signed by a judge to be binding. Failure to comply with an ICE issued administrative subpoena, she said, may result in serious legal penalties. Tovia Smith, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

President Trump says the United States has no plans to pay tariffs in its trade deal with Indonesia, but NPR's Franco Ordonez reports Indonesia will pay almost 20%.

[Franco Ordonez]

Just a week after threatening a 32% tariff on the Southeast Asian country, President Trump announced that he's reached a great deal with Indonesia.

[Tovia Smith]

They are going to pay 19% and.

[Elizabeth Blair]

We are going to pay nothing.

[Franco Ordonez]

Speaking ahead of his trip to Pittsburgh for an energy and AI event, Trump would not go into deeper specifics of the Indonesia deal, but said the US Would have access to Indonesian copper and other resources. Indonesia is a leading exporter of copper ore. Trump also teased that his team is close to reaching a similar deal with India. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

[Windsor Johnston]

The massive tax cut and spending bill that President Trump signed into law this month ends tax incentives for wind and solar projects that's expected to drive up electricity bills across the US with some of the sharpest increases in Republican led states. NPR's Michael Copley reports.

[Michael Copley]

Without tax incentives, the cost of wind and solar projects will go up and the country will likely use more natural gas to generate electricity, pushing up power prices nationwide by at least 9% over the next decade, according to Energy Innovation, a non partisan think tank. The increase could be much higher in Republican led states that don't encourage renewable energy projects, which are often cheaper to run than gas plants. Energy Innovation says power bills will likely increase by between 60 and 350% in Oklahoma by 2035. A White House spokesperson, Taylor Rogers, said in a statement to NPR that President Trump is taking steps to boost US Energy production. Michael Copley, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is NPR News in Washington. Colorado poet laureate Andrea Gibson has died. She was a queer poet who was considered a rock star at poetry slams. They were 49. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has this appreciation.

[Elizabeth Blair]

Andrea Gibson's poetry takes on dark subjects with both urgency and humor. The nutritionist said I should eat root vegetables, said if I could get down 13 turnips a day, I would be grounded, rooted, so my head would not keep flying away to where the darkness lives. Gibson grew up in rural Maine, went to college on a basketball scholarship and discovered writing in college. They moved to Colorado and gained a following at local poetry slams. Gibson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer four years ago. One of their fans, comedian Tig Notaro, paid tribute to Gibson on social media, writing so many of Andrea's words have quietly guided me through life's twists and turns. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Four astronauts traveling in a SpaceX capsule splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California today.

[Tovia Smith]

And we have splashdown of the AX4 crew back on planet Earth.

[Michael Copley]

Welcome home.

[Windsor Johnston]

Retired astronaut Peggy Whitson and other astronauts from Hungary, India and Poland conducted experiments at the International Space Station for the last several weeks. According to NASA, Whitson holds the US Record for the most cumulative time in space by an American astronaut, with a total of 675 days. She also holds the record for the most spacewalks by a woman with 10, totaling 60 hours and 21 minutes. This is NPR News.

[Michael Copley]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR News Now. [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.