NPR News: 07-17-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News: July 17, 2025

Released July 18, 2025

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1. President Trump Requests Release of Jeffrey Epstein’s Grand Jury Testimony

[00:21] Host Shea Stevens opens the episode with a significant development involving former President Donald Trump. Trump has formally requested Attorney General Pam Bondi to release grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein, pending court approval. This move comes shortly after the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had allegedly sent a personal and explicit letter to Epstein for his 50th birthday. In response, Trump declared the letter to be fake and has vowed to sue both the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, for defamation. He communicated his stance via his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, “I never sent that letter. It’s completely fabricated,” emphasizing his intention to protect his reputation and challenge the Journal’s claims.

2. House Prepares to Vote on Rescinding Funds from NPR, PBS, and Foreign Aid

[00:21] Concurrently, the U.S. House of Representatives is gearing up for a critical vote on a proposal to rescind $9 billion in funds previously allocated to foreign aid programs and public media entities, including NPR and PBS. This proposal marks a significant financial setback for these organizations.

[01:01] Scott Newman from NPR delves deeper into the issue, explaining that the proposed $1.1 billion cut specifically targets NPR, PBS, and their member stations. Last month, the Trump administration filed a rare rescission request with Congress, not only aiming to withdraw the public media funding but also seeking to reclaim an additional $7.9 billion designated for foreign aid. The administration has openly criticized NPR, labeling it as “a propaganda voice for the left,” a claim NPR vehemently denies. Newman highlights the legislative process, noting that the Senate has already passed an amended version of the bill. The House must now decide by midnight Friday whether to approve these changes or allow the rescission to lapse, potentially preserving funding for NPR and PBS.

3. Senate Democrats Walk Out Over Controversial Judicial Nomination

[01:37] In Senate news, Democrats made a dramatic exit from a Judiciary Committee meeting after Republicans abruptly ended debate on a contentious judicial nominee. Shea Stevens introduces this segment, which is further elaborated by Carrie Johnson of NPR.

[01:48] Carrie Johnson reports that Mil Bovey, a key figure in the Justice Department, is up for a nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Bovey has been at the center of several controversies, including the dismissal of charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams and the termination of prosecutors involved in Capitol riot cases. Republican Senator Charles Grassley cut off the debate at the committee meeting, leading to a walkout by Democratic members in protest. Johnson notes, “More than 900 former DOJ lawyers are opposing Bovey's nomination,” citing concerns over his handling of immigration cases and calls for a whistleblower to testify about his conduct. The nomination now awaits a full Senate vote, leaving its future uncertain.

4. Arkansas Appeals Court Upholds Ban on Critical Race Theory in Schools

[02:29] Moving to education, Arkansas has achieved a significant legal victory. Shea Stevens introduces a report by Josie Lenora from Little Rock Public Radio regarding the enforcement of the state’s Critical Race Theory (CRT) ban.

[02:39] Josie Lenora explains that the Arkansas Learns Act prohibits the teaching of CRT and any curriculum that is seen as indoctrinating students, promoting discrimination, or compelling students to adopt specific beliefs. Previously, a lower court had temporarily blocked the law, questioning whether it infringed upon the First and Fourteenth Amendments. However, the federal appeals court has now lifted this injunction, ruling that “school curriculum belongs to the government and as such, it gets to control what it says.” This decision solidifies the state’s authority to regulate educational content, despite opposition from students and educators who argued that the law restricted free speech and academic freedom.

5. FDA Reverses Ban on Juul’s Tobacco and Menthol Vapes; Atlanta Transit Leader Resigns Over Immigration Status

[03:17] In a dual report, Shea Stevens covers two distinct stories:

a. Juul Receives FDA Approval for Tobacco and Menthol Vapes

Juul Labs has announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reversed its previous ban on the company’s tobacco and menthol-flavored vaping devices. The FDA cited potential public health benefits, suggesting that these products could aid smokers in reducing harm. As a result, Juul is now one of only two U.S. companies authorized to sell menthol-flavored vapes. In compliance with regulatory guidelines, Juul has discontinued several fruit and candy-flavored products that were particularly popular among teenagers, aiming to curb youth vaping.

b. Resignation of Atlanta’s Transit Leader Over Immigration Complications

Melissa Fato from WABE reports that Collie Greenwood, the head of Atlanta’s transit system, MARTA, has resigned unexpectedly due to complications related to his immigration status. Greenwood, originally from Canada, moved to Atlanta from the Toronto Transit Commission in 2022 during a tumultuous period for MARTA. A spokesperson for the transit board stated, “He left out of an abundance of caution,” emphasizing that Greenwood remains in the country legally despite the challenges associated with his work permit. MARTA board chair Jennifer Ide commented, “Immigration is a very complicated issue in the United States today, but Mr. Greenwood needed to make the decision that was best for him and his family, and his MARTA family will miss him tremendously.” Greenwood was absent from the recent board meeting because of his immigration issues, highlighting the personal and professional impact of immigration policies on public officials.

6. Stephen Colbert Announces His Show Will End in May 2026

[04:38] In entertainment news, late-night host Stephen Colbert has announced that his show will conclude in May 2026. This declaration comes shortly after Colbert publicly criticized CBS for settling a lawsuit filed by President Trump concerning the 2024 season of “60 Minutes.” Colbert expressed his dissatisfaction with the network’s decision, suggesting that financial motivations, rather than artistic or journalistic ones, are driving the cancellation of his show. CBS officials, however, have defended their decision by stating that it is purely a financial one, aiming to restructure and allocate resources more efficiently within the network.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the July 17, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. From high-stakes political maneuvers and judicial controversies to significant legal rulings and notable resignations, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of the current events shaping the national landscape. Additionally, the announcement by Stephen Colbert adds a cultural dimension to the day's news, reflecting the interplay between media, politics, and personal decisions.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump says he's asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to release relevant grand jury testimony on Jeffrey Epst Epstein, subject to court approval. Trump posted the statement on Truth Social after the Wall Street Journal reported that he once sent a racy personal letter to Epstein for his 50th birthday. Trump says the letter is fake and is threatening to sue the Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, for defamation. The US House is preparing to hold a final vote tonight on a proposal to take back $9 billion in funds already allocated to foreign aid programs and and public media. NPR's Scott Newman reports.

[Scott Newman]

The $1.1 billion was destined for NPR, PBS and their member stations. But last month, the White House sent a rare request to Congress known as a rescission, to claw back the funds as well as 7.9 billion in foreign aid funding. The Trump administration has been highly critical of NPR in particular today, calling it, quote, a propaganda voice for the left. NPR strongly denies that accusation. The Senate last night passed an amended version of the bill, and House lawmakers must either approve the changes by midnight Friday or allow the rescission to expire. Scott Newman, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

Senate Democrats stormed out of a Judiciary Committee meeting today after Republicans cut off debate on a controversial judicial nominee. Details from NPR's Carrie Johnson.

[Carrie Johnson]

A mil Bovey has helped to run the Justice Department this year, standing at the center of controversies involving the dismissed case against New York Mayor Eric Adams and the firing of people who prosecuted defendants in Capitol riot cases. Now Bovey's in line to become a judge on the U.S. court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. His nomination advanced after Republican Senator Charles Grassley cut off debate at a committee meeting and Democrats on the panel walked out in Protest. More than 900 former DOJ lawyers are opposing Bovey's nomination. Democrats wanted to hear from a whistleblower who made claims about his handling of immigration cases. His nomination still requires a vote by the full Senate. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

A federal appeals court has ruled that Arkansas can enforce its ban on teaching so called critical race theory in schools. Josie Lenora from Little Rock Public Radio has that story.

[Josie Lenora]

The Arkansas Learns act bans both critical race theory and curriculum that indoctrinates students, encourages discrimination or compels students to believe something. Students and teachers sued, arguing the law violated the first and 14th Amendments. Last year, a lower court judge in Arkansas said though he was not convinced the law was phrased to limit speech, he temporarily blocked the law. In the decision by the appeals court lifting the temporary injunction, the court said school curriculum belongs to the government and as such, it gets to control what it says. For NPR News, I'm Josie Lenora in Little Rock.

[Shea Stevens]

This is npr. E Cigarette maker Juul says the FDA has reversed a ban on its tobacco and menthol flavored devices. The FDA says those devices may benefit public health when used to reduce the harm of smoking. Juul is one of just two US Companies authorized to sell menthol flavored vapes. It discontinued several fruit and candy flavors popular among teenagers. The regional transit leader in Atlanta has suddenly resigned over his immigration status. As Melissa Fato from member station WABE reports, the transit board of directors said he's taking early retirement.

[Melissa Fato]

Collie Greenwood is originally from Canada, having come to Atlanta from the Toronto Transit Commission. In a statement, a spokesperson said he left out of an abundance of caution because of complications related to his work permit and that he remains in the country legally. Greenwood was not at the board meeting because of his immigration status, said board chair Jennifer Ide.

[Jennifer Ide]

Immigration is a very complicated issue in the United states today, but Mr. Greenwood needed to make the decision that was best for him and his family, and his MARTA family will miss him tremendously.

[Melissa Fato]

Greenwood became head of Atlanta's transit System Marta in 2022 during what board members say was a chaotic time for the organization. For NPR News, I'm Melissa Feito in Atlanta.

[Shea Stevens]

Late night host Stephen Colbert has told viewers his show will end in May 2026. Colbert's announcement comes days after he criticized CBS for settling a lawsuit brought by President Trump over a 2024 60min. But network's executives say that the cancellation of the show is a financial decision. This is NPR News.

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