NPR News Now: July 18, 2025, 1AM EDT – Detailed Summary

Hosted by Shea Stevens

1. U.S. House Approves $9 Billion Spending Cuts

Timestamp: [00:15]

The U.S. House of Representatives has successfully passed a contentious $9 billion spending cuts package with a narrow vote of 216 to 213. This legislation aims to retract previously sanctioned funding for foreign aid, various programs, and public media sectors.

Key Speakers:

• Jody Arrington (Texas Republican):
  “[...] the era of woke and wasteful spending in the people's government is over and it's sad to watch this last ditch effort by my Democrat colleagues to fight for status quo.”
  [00:39]

  Arrington praised the bill, emphasizing its intent to eliminate what he deems "woke and wasteful spending" and criticized Democrats for attempting to maintain existing funding levels.

• Gregory Meeks (New York Democrat):
  “It cuts $8 billion in life-saving and critical U.S. foreign assistance, including food assistance, access to clean water and life-saving medicine. Let's stop pretending that this is about fiscal responsibility. This package is not about saving money. It's about selling a con yet again to the American people.”
  [01:00]

  Meeks vehemently opposed the bill, arguing that the cuts target essential humanitarian aid rather than addressing fiscal irresponsibility, labeling the package as a misleading attempt to deceive the public.

2. Rescissions Bill Heads to President Trump's Desk Amid Food Aid Controversy

Timestamp: [01:20]

Following its passage, the rescissions bill is now awaiting President Donald Trump's signature. Concurrently, the Trump administration faces scrutiny over its management of food aid, specifically the destruction of 500 metric tons of expired high-energy biscuits stored overseas.

Reports Include:

• Michelle Kellerman (NPR):
  “State Department officials say the expired food was a tiny fraction of what the US gives each year.”
  [01:42]

• Tatamy Bruce (State Department Spokesperson):
  “You are moving 1 million metric tons of food around the world every year. For 1% to be the factor that has to get destroyed is a remarkable record.”
  [02:04]

Despite Democratic criticism, the State Department defends its actions by highlighting that only a small percentage (1%) of the total food aid is affected. Tammy Bruce emphasized the overall effectiveness of the U.S. food aid program, asserting its dominance as the largest provider globally and rejecting further criticism.

3. Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg Settle $8 Billion Lawsuit

Timestamp: [02:24]

Meta Platforms Inc. (formerly Facebook) and CEO Mark Zuckerberg have agreed to settle a significant lawsuit filed by investors in Delaware. The lawsuit initially sought over $8 billion in damages related to fines and legal expenses stemming from the Cambridge Analytica data breach.

Key Details:

• John Ruwich (NPR):
  “The bench trial started on Wednesday in Delaware and was slated to last about a week. But on Thursday morning, lawyers for the investors notified the judge that the two sides had reached a settlement in princip.”
  [02:33]

The trial, which began amidst widespread scrutiny of Facebook's privacy practices, concluded swiftly with a settlement. Specific terms of the agreement remain undisclosed as both parties have withheld further comments.

4. Department of Justice Targets Non-Citizen Inmates in California

Timestamp: [03:12]

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated efforts to compile and release lists of inmates in California state prisons who are not U.S. citizens. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the DOJ expects full cooperation from local sheriffs; failure to comply will result in the DOJ employing all available measures to obtain the necessary data.

Key Points:

• The Trump administration is intensifying efforts to deport migrants convicted of crimes.
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been granted access to Medicaid enrollee health data.
• An inter-agency agreement between ICE, Homeland Security, and Medicare aims to facilitate the identification and deportation of individuals believed to be unlawfully present in the U.S.

This move has raised concerns among privacy advocates and immigrant rights groups regarding the potential misuse of personal health information.

5. French Military Completes Withdrawal from Senegal

Timestamp: [03:57]

In a significant shift for West African geopolitics, the French military has officially concluded its long-standing presence in Senegal, transferring control of its final major military facility to Senegalese authorities. This withdrawal marks the end of over six decades of French military involvement in the country since Senegal gained independence in 1960.

Reported By:

• Michael Kaluki (NPR, Nairobi):
  “At a ceremony in the Senegalese capital that occurred earlier today, French military officials handed over control of their country's last major military facility in Senegal to the Senegalese authorities following a series of military cooperation agreements.”
  [03:57]

President Basiru Faye of Senegal had previously urged France to withdraw its troops by the end of 2025, a directive that aligns with France's broader strategy of reducing its military footprint across Africa in response to requests from local governments.

6. U.S. Futures Climb in After-Hours Trading

Timestamp: [04:39]

Reflecting positive sentiment in financial markets, U.S. futures experienced an uptick in after-hours trading, buoyed by Wall Street's gains on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 229 points during trading in the Asia-Pacific region. Conversely, the Tokyo stock market saw a slight decline, indicating mixed investor responses across global exchanges.

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key developments covered in the NPR News Now episode released on July 18, 2025. From significant legislative actions and corporate legal settlements to international military shifts and economic indicators, the episode provides a multifaceted overview of current events shaping the United States and the broader global landscape.