NPR News: 07-16-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of July 16, 2025, 8 PM EDT Episode

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on July 16, 2025, covering significant developments in politics, legal battles, corporate decisions, sports, and financial markets. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, enriched with notable quotes and structured for clarity.

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1. President Trump's Pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

Host: Windsor Johnston

President Donald Trump is reportedly exerting substantial pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to lower the nation’s interest rates. This tension stems from Trump's desire to reduce government expenditures, particularly interest payments.

Notable Quote:

“We should be saving a trillion dollars a year in interest. You know, when he talks about cost, we should be saving, think of it, a trillion dollars a year. Add that with the tariffs and everything else, but he just doesn't want. He's a, he's a knucklehead.”
– Donald Trump [00:30]

Trump originally appointed Powell during his first term, but recent weeks have seen friction as Powell has publicly criticized the administration's economic policies. He warned that these policies could result in higher inflation and slower economic growth. The Federal Reserve Act restricts the removal of the Fed chair to cases of cause, not for policy disagreements, highlighting the precarious nature of their relationship.

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2. Legal Proceedings in the Case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Reporter: Mariana Baccalau, Nashville

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March, remains in federal custody despite a court ruling favoring his release. The court's decision is influenced by concerns over potential deportation to a third country before Garcia can stand trial on human smuggling charges.

Key Points:

• Federal immigration officials plan to deport Garcia to countries like Mexico or South Sudan upon his release.
• Prosecutors argue for continued custody to prevent premature deportation.
• Witnesses in the case have received deferred action, allowing them to cooperate with the government.
• A ruling on Garcia's status is expected next week.

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3. $8 Billion Class Action Lawsuit Against Meta and Mark Zuckerberg

Reporter: John Ruich

A significant class action lawsuit has been initiated against Meta Platforms Inc., its founder Mark Zuckerberg, and other company leaders in Delaware. The lawsuit, valued at $8 billion, arises from the substantial settlements Meta paid following allegations of selling user data.

Background:

• The lawsuit traces back to the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal, where data from millions of Facebook users was allegedly misused.
• Meta settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for a record-breaking $5 billion penalty and another $725 million settlement with users.
• Shareholders claim that Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg (former COO), and others should reimburse Meta for these settlements.
• The trial is expected to last about a week, with both Zuckerberg and Sandberg slated to testify.

Notable Quote:

“They want them to reimburse the listed company for the settlement money and other, which they estimate at more than $8 billion.”
– John Ruich [02:24]

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4. Coca-Cola's Shift from High Fructose Corn Syrup to Cane Sugar

Host: Windsor Johnston

In a surprising move, President Trump announced that Coca-Cola has agreed to replace high fructose corn syrup with real cane sugar in its beverages sold in the United States. This change aligns with the administration's broader initiative to encourage food companies to eliminate artificial ingredients and processed sweeteners.

Notable Quote:

“Coca Cola has agreed to replace high fructose corn syrup with real cane sugar in its drinks sold in the United States.”
– Donald Trump [03:05]

Coca-Cola has stated that more details regarding the implementation of this change will be provided soon, signaling a potential shift in the beverage industry’s approach to sweeteners.

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5. Midway Update on the Tour de France

Reporter: Eleanor Beardsley

The Tour de France, currently in its three-week, 2,000-mile race, has reached its near halfway point. After a rest day on Tuesday, cyclists are racing through Toulouse and are set to approach the Spanish border.

Highlights:

• The Tour is celebrated for showcasing athletic prowess against France's stunning landscapes and tourist attractions.
• This year marks a notable change to the final stage in Paris’s Champs Elysees Avenue. For the first time in 27 years, the last stage will include climbing the steep, winding streets of Montmartre three times.
• This modification introduces uncertainty, potentially delaying the determination of the race winner until the final day.

Notable Quote:

“The winner might not be decided until the very last day.”
– Eleanor Beardsley [03:57]

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6. Wall Street Closes Higher

Host: Windsor Johnston

Financial markets showed positive performance with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 231 points. The NASDAQ increased by 52 points, and the S&P 500 gained 19 points, reflecting investor optimism amidst the day’s news.

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This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with succinct yet comprehensive updates on pivotal issues impacting the economy, legal systems, corporate governance, consumer products, sports, and financial markets. By integrating direct quotes and timestamped insights, the summary offers an accurate and engaging portrayal of the day’s top stories for those who could not tune in to the live broadcast.

Transcript

[Narrator]

This message comes from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment presenting Jane Austen wrecked my life. Critics call it a delectable modern rom com and brimming with charm. Watch at home on Digital today.

[Windsor Johnston]

Rated R. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump appears to be sending mixed signals about whether he plans to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Trump has been pressuring Powell for weeks to lower the nation's interest rates.

[Donald Trump]

We should be saving a trillion dollars a year in interest. You know, when he talks about cost, we should be saving, think of it, a trillion dollars a year. Add that with the tariffs and everything else, but he just doesn't want. He's a, he's a knucklehead.

[Windsor Johnston]

Trump appointed Powell to lead the central bank during his first term in office. In recent weeks, the Fed chair has criticized the president's economic policies, warning they could lead to higher inflation and slower growth. The Federal Reserve act states that the Fed chair can only be removed for cause, not for policy disagreements. The man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador in March is still in federal custody despite a court ruling that he's eligible for release. That's because the court fears that Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be deported before his trial. Mariana Baccalau from member station WPLN reports from a hearing held today in Nashville.

[Narrator]

Federal immigration officials have said that they intend to deport Abrego Garcia to a third country, such as Mexico or South Sudan, upon his release. During the hearing, prosecutors argued that Abrego Garcia should be kept in federal custody because they cannot control whether immigration officials deport him before he's able to stand trial for human smuggling charges. At the same time, witnesses in the case have been given deferred action on their own deportations. That cooperating with the government's case. The judge says he intends to rule next week on what's next for Abrego Garcia. For NPR News, I'm Mariana Bacallau in Nashville.

[Windsor Johnston]

A class action lawsuit against Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and other company leaders got underway today in Delaware. As NPR's John Ruich reports, the $8 billion suit brought by shareholders stems from massive settlements the company paid after allegedly selling user data.

[John Ruich]

The case has its roots in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In 2018, it came to light that information about tens of millions of Facebook users may have been improperly leaked to that company. Facebook denied wrongdoing but settled, agreeing to a record breaking $5 billion penalty imposed by the Federal Trade Commission and a $725 million settlement with users. Now, shareholders in Meta the parent company of Facebook, are suing Zuckerberg, former chief operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and others. They want them to reimburse the listed company for the settlement money and other, which they estimate at more than $8 billion. Zuckerberg and Sandberg are expected to testify in the trial, which is slated to last about a week. John Ruich, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

At the close on Wall street, the dow was up 231 points. This is NPR. President Trump says Coca Cola has agreed to replace high fructose corn syrup with real cane sugar in its drinks sold in the United States. Trump announced the change in a post on social media today. The move aligns with the efforts to urge food companies to remove artificial ingredients and processed sweeteners. Coca Cola says we'll provide more details on the changes soon. Today marks the near halfway point of the three week 2000 mile Tour de France cycling race. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. After a day of rest on Tuesday, the athletes race through the southwestern city of Toulouse before heading toward the Spanish border.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

The Tour de France is an exhibit of athletic prowess, stamina and strategy against the backdrop of France's most spectacular scenery and tourist attractions. It's also a big party as millions of roadside spectators line village streets and countryside byways to cheer the cyclists on. The 21 stage race covers vast and varied terrain, including steep mountains. For the first time in 27 years, the mostly ceremonial last stage down Paris's Champs Elysees Avenue is being shaken up. Riders will first climb the steep, winding streets of the Paris neighborhood of Montmartre three times. This means the winner might not be decided until the very last day. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks traded higher today on Wall Street. The Dow up 231 points, the NASDAQ up 52. The S&P rose 19 points. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.

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