NPR News: 07-19-2025 12PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – Detailed Summary

Episode: NPR News: 07-19-2025 12PM EDT
Release Date: July 19, 2025
Host: NPR

1. President Trump Sues Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch Over Jeffrey Epstein Allegations

[00:16] Nora Rahm:
In a significant legal move, President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, the media magnate and controlling owner of Fox News, over a report published by the Wall Street Journal. The report alleges that Trump sent a lewd birthday card to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein over two decades ago.

[00:34] David Folkenflick:
The lawsuit not only targets Murdoch but also names the Wall Street Journal and two of its reporters. This legal action is part of a broader pattern, following Trump’s litigation against major entities such as ABC, CBS, Meta, and X (formerly Twitter), each of which settled with his Future Presidential Library for over $10 million. Trump has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling the story as a "lie." He stated, “The story is completely false and defamatory” (00:45).

The Wall Street Journal stands by its reporting, with the parent company expressing "full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting." The allegations stem from an incident where Trump reportedly doodled a picture of a naked woman and sent it as a birthday greeting to Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges—a matter that continues to fuel speculation among Trump’s supporters.

2. Trump Administration Imposes New Political Review on Renewable Energy Projects

[01:17] Nora Rahm:
The Trump administration has introduced a new layer of political review for wind and solar energy projects. This policy change has sparked controversy within the renewable energy sector, with a trade group, American Clean Power, arguing that it could significantly hinder industry growth at a time when electricity demand is surging.

[01:33] Michael Copley:
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that all decisions and actions related to the development of wind and solar projects will now undergo rigorous review by his department. Burgum stated, “The increased scrutiny will ensure that projects are being thoroughly reviewed” (01:40). However, industry leaders view this as a strategic maneuver to slow down U.S. energy production. American Clean Power criticized the administration's actions as “a deliberate effort to undermine the renewable energy sector” (01:50).

Analysts emphasize the critical role of renewables in powering new data centers and manufacturing facilities, highlighting their ability to be deployed swiftly. Despite these benefits, Trump remains critical of wind and solar energy, referring to them as “a blight on the country” and recently enacted a law terminating tax incentives for the industry.

3. Diplomatic Exchange Between US and Venezuela; Russia Intensifies Attacks on Ukraine

[02:07] Nora Rahm:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that ten Americans detained in Venezuela have been freed and returned to the United States. In a reciprocal gesture, the U.S. has repatriated Venezuelan individuals who were deported and held in a prison facility in El Salvador.

Simultaneously, Russia has escalated its military operations in Ukraine, launching an extensive attack involving approximately 350 drones and 35 missiles overnight. These strikes have resulted in the death of at least one individual.

[02:33] Hannah Polomarenko:
A video released by Ukraine’s state emergency service showcases the aftermath of a Russian drone strike in Odesa, a southern city. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that a residential building was hit, leading to significant casualties and infrastructure damage. In Sumy, northern Ukraine, the assault targeted a critical infrastructure facility, leaving thousands without electricity. Zelenskyy appealed for increased international support, emphasizing that “investment in Ukraine's defense will save lives” (02:45). As Russia continues its nightly aerial assaults, the humanitarian and infrastructural toll on Ukraine intensifies, drawing global attention and calls for further assistance.

4. Tragic Car Incident in Los Angeles and Death of Edwin Fullner, Heritage Foundation Founder

[03:11] Nora Rahm:
A tragic incident occurred in Los Angeles early Monday morning when a car crashed into a crowd on Santa Monica Boulevard, resulting in at least 30 injuries, seven of which are critical. The vehicle struck a taco truck and a valet stand near a nightclub, leading to chaos among bystanders. Authorities report that the driver was assaulted by onlookers and subsequently shot, raising questions about the motive and circumstances surrounding the attack.

In related news, Edwin Fullner, the founder of the Heritage Foundation, one of the most influential conservative think tanks in the United States, has passed away. His death marks the end of an era for the organization known for shaping conservative policies over decades.

[03:46] Matt Bloom:
Fullner established the Heritage Foundation prior to the Reagan administration, steering it into a formidable political force that influenced federal tax reforms, military expansion, and government downsizing during the 1980s. Reflecting on his legacy, Bloom notes, “He often referred to his think tank as a battle tank to turn conservative principles from his Catholic upbringing into policy” (03:55).

The Heritage Foundation has recently gained attention for creating Project 2025, a comprehensive blueprint for the federal government that critics from civil rights and democratic sectors deem a “threat to democracy” (04:02). The President and the Heritage board issued a statement lauding Fullner’s leadership, asserting that his contributions “shaped every fiber of today’s conservative movement.”

5. Rescue of Mother and Son Lost in California Forest

[04:36] Nora Rahm:
A heartwarming rescue story concludes on a positive note as a mother and her nine-year-old son were safely found after being stranded in a remote California forest. The pair had been en route to a Boy Scout camp when they became lost. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, they left notes along their route, and the boy's whistle played a crucial role in their eventual rescue.

The rescue team located them last Saturday, one day after they had become separated from their planned path. Both the mother and son are reported to be in good health, thanks to their preparedness and the swift action of the rescue authorities.

Notable Quotes

• President Trump: “The story is completely false and defamatory.” (00:45)
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: “Investment in Ukraine's defense will save lives.” (02:45)
• Edwin Fullner: “We do consider ourselves to be conservative. We're proud of it.” (04:06)

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of major national and international events, including high-profile legal battles, shifts in energy policy, ongoing geopolitical tensions, significant tragedies, and inspiring rescue operations. By incorporating direct quotes and detailed reporting, the summary offers an informative and engaging snapshot of the news landscape on July 19, 2025.

Transcript

[Capital One]

This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One what's IN your wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail] live from NPR News.

[Nora Rahm]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ram. President Trump is suing media mogul Rupert Murdoch over a Wall Street Journal report that the future president sent disgrace financier Jeffrey Epstein a lewd birthday card more than 20 years ago. Trump calls the story a lie. NPR's David Folkenfleck reports.

[David Folkenflick]

Murdoch is also the controlling owner of Fox News, and he has been one of Trump's most important political allies. The suit also names the Journal and two of its reporters. It follows Trump's litigation against abc, cbs, Meta and X, each of which paid his Future Presidential Library $10 million or more to settle. The Journal reported that Trump had doodled a picture of a naked woman and offered a birthday which may every day be another wonder secret. The Journal's parent company said it had, quote, full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting. Authorities say Epstein killed himself in jail in 2019 awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, a source of great speculation among many Trump supporters. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

[Nora Rahm]

The Trump administration is requiring a new layer of political review for wind and solar projects, a trade group for renewable energy companies c as the move threatens to slow down the industry at a time when electricity Demand is rising. NPR's Michael Copley reports.

[Michael Copley]

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will now review all decisions and actions related to the development of wind and solar projects. The Interior Department says the increased scrutiny will ensure projects are being thoroughly reviewed. However, American Clean Power, an industry trade group, called it a deliberate effort to slow U.S. energy production. Industry executives and analysts say renewables are essential to help power new data centers and factories, in part because they can be built quickly. But Trump has called wind and solar a blight on the country. He signed a law earlier this month ending tax incentives for the industry. Michael Copley, NPR News.

[Nora Rahm]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says 10Americans who had been held in Venezuela have been released. In exchange, the US Sent home Venezuelans it had deported who were held in a prison in El Salvador. Russia launched another major attack across Ukraine overnight, using some 350 drones and 35 missiles. At least one person was killed. NPR's Hannah Palmerenko reports.

[Hanna Polomarenko]

The state emergency service published a video of the search and rescue operation at one of the strike sites in the southern city of Odesa. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a Russian drone hit a residential building there. In Sumy in the north, thousands of people were left without electricity because of the attack on a critical infrastructure facility. As Russia steps up its aerial attacks on Ukraine, striking the country nearly nightly, Zelensky called for support from international partners, saying investment in Ukraine's defense will save lives. Hanna Polomarenko, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Nora Rahm]

This is npr. A car slammed into a crowd in Los Angeles early this morning. The fire department says at least 30 people were injured, seven of them critically. It happened on Santa Monica Boulevard, where people were waiting to get into a nightcl. The vehicle also struck a taco truck in a valet stand. Police say the driver was assaulted by bystanders and was shot. The founder of one of the most prominent conservative think tanks in the US has died. NPR's Matt Bloom reports. Edwin Fullner oversaw the Heritage Foundation's growth into a modern day political force.

[Matt Bloom]

Fulner founded Heritage ahead of the Reagan era and shaped federal tax cuts, military spending and government downsizing through the 80s. He often referred to his think tank as a battle tank to turn conservative principles from his Catholic upbringing into policy. Here he is speaking with NPR in 1980.

[Edwin Fullner]

We do consider ourselves to be conservative. We're proud of it. In contrast to, for example, the liberal.

[Matt Bloom]

Brookings Institution, these days, Heritage is best known for its creation of Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for the federal government, which civil rights and democratic leaders have called a threat to democracy. Fuller's death was announced by the president and board in a statement, who said his leadership over decades shaped every fiber of today's conservative movement. Matt Bloom, NPR News.

[Nora Rahm]

A mother and her nine year old son are safe after being lost in a remote California forest while heading to a Boy Scout camp. They left notes along the way and the boy blew his whistle. A rescue team found them last Saturday, one day after they were stranded. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News, in Washington.

[Capital One]

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.