NPR News: 07-16-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 16, 2025

Release Date: July 16, 2025
Host: Shea Stevens

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Senate Republicans Vote to Rescind Nearly $9 Billion in Federal Funding

NPR's Shea Stevens reports on a significant development in the U.S. Senate where Republicans have voted to initiate debate on a proposal to rescind approximately $9 billion in already approved federal funding. This move requires only 51 votes to pass, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the decisive tie-breaking vote after three Republicans sided with Democrats.

• Key Details:
  • Vice President J.D. Vance: “[The yeas are] 50 and the nays are 50, the Senate being equally divided. The Vice President votes in the affirmative and the motion is agreed to.” (00:37)
  • Funding Cuts: About $1 billion from the package would be cut from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, impacting NPR, PBS, and 1,500 local stations.

Tensions Within the GOP Over Jeffrey Epstein Files

The episode delves into the escalating tensions within the Republican Party concerning the release of government files related to Jeffrey Epstein. House Speaker Mike Johnson has taken a stand against President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, advocating for transparency.

• Speaker Mike Johnson: “It’s time to put the controversy behind.” (01:19)
• Attorney General Pam Bondi: “Them, put everything out there and let the people decide. The White House and the White House team are privy to facts that I don't know.” (01:29)

House Democrats are leveraging this debate to push for procedural votes to release the files, occasionally garnering GOP support.

Investigation into the Murder of Minnesota Lawmakers

Minnesota authorities have charged Vance Belter with the murder of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, as well as the attempted murder of Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.

• Investigation Details by Matt Sepik:
  • Belter's Actions: Left a handwritten letter claiming Governor Tim Walz ordered him to kill U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, alleging threats against his family.
  • Prosecutor Joe Thompson: “There's no evidence that Belter targeted either senator.” (02:15)

Other News Highlights

Arizona's Democratic Primary

The Associated Press projects that Andelita Grijalva has won the Arizona Democratic primary for the 7th Congressional District. She is the daughter of long-serving Congressman Raul Grijalva, representing Tucson and Southern Arizona for over two decades.

Pennsylvania's Closed Primary Challenge

Four independent voters have petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to overturn the state's closed primary system, arguing that it is unconstitutional. The 51-page petition claims that excluding independent voters from primaries equates to disenfranchisement for approximately 1.4 million Pennsylvanians who are not aligned with either major political party.

Ceasefire in Syria's Suwayda Province

Syria has announced a ceasefire in the southern province of Suwayda following sectarian violence that resulted in over 30 deaths and nearly 100 injuries. The conflict involved government forces and Druze fighters, stemming from kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedou tribes and armed Druze factions under Syria's new leadership.

Passing of Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson

Colorado poet laureate Andrea Gibson passed away at the age of 49. NPR's Elizabeth Blair shares an appreciation of Gibson's work, highlighting their ability to tackle dark subjects with urgency and humor.

• Andrea Gibson: “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.” (04:19)
• Comedian Tig Notaro on Gibson: “So many of Andrea's words have quietly guided me through life's twists and turns.”

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of critical political maneuvers in the Senate, internal conflicts within the GOP, a tragic investigation in Minnesota, and significant updates from Arizona, Pennsylvania, Syria, and the arts community. Additionally, the heartfelt tribute to Andrea Gibson underscores the profound impact of their poetic contributions.

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Timestamps

• 00:37: Vice President J.D. Vance's vote explanation
• 01:19: Mike Johnson's call for release of Epstein files
• 01:29: Pam Bondi's response on releasing information
• 02:15: Details on the Minnesota murder investigation
• 04:19: Andrea Gibson's poetic tribute

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Senate Republicans have voted to begin debate on Wednesday on a proposal to rescind nearly $9 billion in already approved federal funding. Vice President J.D. vance cast a tie breaking vote Tuesday after three Republicans sided with Democrats on this vote.

[Vice President]

The yeas are 50 and the nays are 50, the Senate being equally divided. The Vice President votes in the affirmative and the motion is agreed to.

[Shea Stevens]

Only 51 votes are needed to get the rescission bill through the Senate. About $1 billion in the package would be cut from the Corporation for Public broadcasting, which supports 1500 local stations as well as NPR and PBS. House Speaker Mike Johnson has joined the chorus of Republican calls for the release of government files on late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Johnson's break with President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi has escalated tensions within the GOP over the Epstein probe. More from NPR's Claudia Cresales.

[Mike Johnson]

House Speaker Mike Johnson called for the release of the Epstein files during an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, saying it's time to put the controversy behind.

[Pam Bondi]

Them, put everything out there and let the people decide. The White House and the White House team are privy to facts that I don't know. I mean, this isn't my lane, I haven't been involved in that. But I agree with the sentiment that we need to, we need to put.

[Mike Johnson]

It out there, johnson said. Attorney General Pam Bondi needs to explain statements defending the refusal to release additional information related to Epstein. House Democrats have seized on the debate to force procedural votes to release the files, drawing GOP support in some instances. Claudia Grizales, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The Capitol authorities say the man suspected of killing a Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband likely acted alone. Matt Sebek of Minnesota Public Radio reports on new details in the investigation.

[Matt Sepik]

57 year old Vance Belter is charged with the murder of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and with shooting and wounding Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Both have since left the hospital. Acting U.S. attorney Joe Thompson says Belter left a Hamm written letter in his car in which he says Governor Tim Walz wanted him to kill Minnesota's Democratic US Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Belter claims that people threatened to hurt his family if he didn't participate in this plan to murder Senators Klobuchar and Smith. Thompson says there's no evidence that Belter targeted either senator. For NPR News, I'm Matt Sepik in Minneapolis.

[Shea Stevens]

The Associated Press is projecting that Andelita Grijalva has won the Arizona's Democratic primary for SE and the state's 7th Congressional District. She is the daughter of Raul Grijalva, who represented Tucson and Southern Arizona in Congress for over two decades. This is npr. Four independent voters are asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to strike down the state's closed primary. In a 51 page petition, the plaintiffs allege the current system is unconstitutional and that exclusion from primaries is the equivalent to losing the right to vote. Roughly 1.4 million Pennsylvania voters are not aligned with either major political party. Syria has announced a ceasefire in the southern province of Suwayda following sectarian violence there. Syria's Interior Ministry says more than 30 people were killed and almost 100 others were injured in the violence. Government forces sent to restore order in Suwayda ended up clashing with Druze fighters. The latest conflict under Syria's new leadership began with kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedou tribes and armed Druze factions. Colorado poet laureate Andrea Gibson has died at the age of 49. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has an appreciation.

[Elizabeth Blair]

Andrea Gibson's poetry takes on dark subjects with both urgency and humor.

[Andrea Gibson]

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.

[Elizabeth Blair]

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.

[Shea Stevens]

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