NPR News: 07-19-2025 4AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 19, 2025, 4AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman

---

1. President Trump Sues Rupert Murdoch Over Epstein-Related Report

Timestamp: [00:18] – [01:18]

President Donald Trump has initiated a lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch, the controlling owner of Fox News, challenging a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The article alleged that Trump sent disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein a lewd birthday card over two decades ago. Trump vehemently denies the accusations, labeling the story as "a lie."

David Folkenflick elaborated on the situation:

"The Journal reported that Trump had doodled a picture of a naked woman and offered a birthday which, quote, may every day be another wonderful..." ([00:35])

The lawsuit not only targets Murdoch but also names the WSJ and two of its reporters. This legal action follows similar litigation initiated by Trump against major entities like ABC, CBS, Meta, and X, each settling for $10 million or more to resolve disputes related to his future presidential library.

The WSJ's parent company stands by the report, asserting:

"Full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting." ([00:35])

The backdrop to these legal maneuvers is the controversial death of Epstein in 2019, who was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Epstein's death has been a focal point of speculation and conspiracy theories, especially among Trump supporters.

---

2. Increasing Pressure on Trump to Release Epstein Files

Timestamp: [01:18] – [02:14]

As legal battles intensify, there is mounting pressure on President Trump to disclose all federal files related to the Epstein case. This demand is fueled by a segment of his supporters who subscribe to various conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein's death and alleged connections.

Ryan Lucas of NPR explains:

"It's because Trump and some of his top lieutenants now, including FBI Director Cash Patel, have themselves over the years pushed some of the conspiracy theories that we've heard around Epstein." ([01:30])

These figures have set expectations not only about the potential contents of the Epstein files but also regarding the level of transparency expected from the administration.

Meanwhile, Democrats are advocating for a comprehensive release of all federal documents pertaining to the case, seeking greater transparency and accountability.

---

3. US-Venezuela Prisoner Swap Facilitated by El Salvador

Timestamp: [02:14] – [02:54]

In a significant diplomatic move, Venezuela has exchanged a group of U.S. citizen detainees for hundreds of its nationals held in El Salvador. This prisoner swap is part of President Trump's broader crackdown on illegal immigration.

Carrie Kahn reports:

"Venezuela's government says it liberated 252 of its citizens that had, quote, been kidnapped and taken to a concentration camp in El Salvador." ([02:14])

In return, the U.S. State Department confirmed the release of 10 Americans from Venezuela, though the circumstances surrounding their detention are deemed highly questionable. The exchange was orchestrated over several months and was championed by El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, who characterized the Venezuelan deportees as members of a violent gang. Additionally, Bukele mentioned that the swap included the release of political prisoners in Venezuela.

---

4. UK Imposes Sanctions on Russian Military Intelligence Officers

Timestamp: [02:54] – [03:30]

The United Kingdom announced Friday the imposition of sanctions on 18 Russian military intelligence officers and associated military units. These sanctions are in response to involvement in a deadly theater bombing in Ukraine in 2022, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 600 civilians.

Furthermore, the sanctioned units are accused of conducting cyberattacks across Europe and targeting the family of a former Russian spy, exacerbating tensions between the UK and Russia.

---

5. Oregon's Cram Fire: Largest Active Wildfire in the US

Timestamp: [03:30] – [04:05]

The Cram Fire has emerged as the most extensive active wildfire in the United States, currently raging in Central Oregon. More than 500 rural homes remain under threat as firefighters grapple with the advancing flames.

Emily Cureton Cook from Oregon Public Broadcasting provides detailed insights:

"At least four homes have burned down. The losses of crops, livestock and forest land in this largely agricultural region haven't yet been calculated." ([03:30])

Expectations for the weekend include warm, gusting winds that could potentially spread the fire further. A red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service is anticipated to lift by Friday night. As of Friday, over 1,300 residents in Oregon were still under varying levels of evacuation notices.

---

6. Jair Bolsonaro Faces Trial in Brazil Over Alleged Coup Attempts

Timestamp: [04:05] – [04:57]

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been mandated to wear an ankle monitor as he faces a trial at Brazil's Supreme Court. He is charged with allegedly orchestrating a coup attempt to overturn his defeat in the 2022 presidential election.

Recent developments include federal police raids on Bolsonaro's residence and his political party's headquarters in Brasília. Bolsonaro has vehemently denounced the trial as a "witch hunt," maintaining his innocence and portraying the legal actions as politically motivated.

---

7. Cambodia's Crackdown on International Cyber Scam Centers

Timestamp: [04:05] – [04:57]

In a substantial enforcement operation, Cambodian authorities have arrested approximately 500 individuals over the past two days as part of a crackdown on online scam centers. These centers are hubs for international crime gangs involved in cyber scams that generate billions annually.

The scams typically involve deceitful practices such as fake friendships or fraudulent investment schemes aimed at defrauding victims. Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the treatment of workers in these centers, citing instances of mistreatment and poor working conditions.

---

8. US Stock Markets Close Mostly Down

Timestamp: [04:05] – [04:57]

In financial news, U.S. stock markets closed largely in the red on Friday. Investors remained cautious amid ongoing economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, reflecting a broader trend of market volatility.

---

This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on July 19, 2025. For detailed reporting and further updates, please refer to the full podcast episode.

Transcript

[Capital One]

This message comes from Capital One. With the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles on everything you buy, plus get premium benefits at a collection of hotels when booking through Capital One Travel. What's IN your wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail].

[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. President Trump has sued media magnate Rupert Murdoch over a Wall Street Journal report that the future president sent disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein on a lewd birthday card more than 20 years ago. Trump calls the story a lie. NPR's David Folkenflick 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, quote, may every day be another wonderful 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.

[Dale Willman]

Pressure, meanwhile, continues to grow on President Trump to release all the federal files regarding the Epstein case. And that pressure is coming from many of his supporters who believe a number of conspiracies that have been growing around the Epstein incident.

[Ryan Lucas]

To a certain extent, it's because Trump and some of his top lieutenants now, including FBI Director Cash Patel, have themselves over the years push some of the conspiracy theories that we've heard around Epstein. So they set certain expectations about the Epstein files, and by that I mean expectations of what's in the files as well as expectations for transparency.

[Dale Willman]

That's NPR's Ryan Lucas. Democrats, meanwhile, are calling for a complete release of all federal documents concerning the Epstein case. Venezuela says it's swapped a group of US Citizen detainees for hundreds of its nationals being held in el Salvador. As NPR's Carrie Kahn reports, the move was part of President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration in the US Venezuela's government.

[Carrie Kahn]

Says it liberated 252 of its citizens that had, quote, been kidnapped and taken to a concentration camp in El Salvador. In exchange, it says it handed over a group of US Citizens jailed in Venezuela for proven participation in serious crimes. The U.S. state Department says 10Americans were freed from Venezuela, held under highly questionable circumstances. The prisoner swap had been in the works for months and was promoted by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, who says the Venezuelans deported from the US Were members of a violent gang. Bukele says also part of the exchange was the release of political prisoners in Venezuela. Kerry Kahn, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

The United Kingdom Friday announced sanctions against 18 Russian military intelligence officers, along with military units linked to a deadly theater bombing in Ukraine in 2022. Some 600 civilians died in that attack. The units are also accused of cyberattacks across Europe and of targeting the family of a former Russian spy. You're listening to NPR News. The largest active wildfire in the US Right now is burning in Oregon. That's where more than 500 rural homes remain threatened. From Oregon Public Broadcasting, Emily Cureton Cook has our reports.

[Emily Cureton Cook]

The Cram fire has charred more than 90 of Central Oregon in under a week. At least four homes have burned down. The losses of crops, livestock and forest land in this largely agricultural region haven't yet been calculated. Heading into the weekend, firefighters were braced for warm, gusting winds to spread the flames. A red flag warning from the National Weather Service is expected to lift Friday night. More than 1300 Oregonians remained under some level of evacuation notice Friday. For NPR News, I'm Emily Curetin Cook in Bend, Oregon.

[Dale Willman]

Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered to wear an Anko monitor. Brazil's former president is facing a trial at the country's Supreme Court. He's been charged with allegedly leading a coup attempt to overturn his loss in the 2022 presidential election. Federal police, meanwhile, searched Bolsonaro's home and his party's headquarters in Brasilia this week. Bolsonaro has called the trial and a witch hunts. Officials in Cambodia have arrested about 500 people over the past two days in a crackdown on online scam centers. International crime gangs use the centers for cyber scams that net them billions of dollars a year. They use pretend friendships or phony investment schemes to cheat their targets. Human rights groups also say the employees are often badly mistreated. Stocks ended mostly down on Wall Street Friday. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[Bombas]

This message comes from Bombas. Socks, underwear and T shirts are the top three requested clothing items by people experiencing homelessness. Bombas makes all three and donates one item for every item purchased. Go to bombas.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off.