NPR News: 07-19-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News: July 19, 2025, 6PM EDT

Hosted by NPR

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Gaza Conflict Escalates with Significant Loss of Life

Reported by Jeanine Herbst and Emily Fang [00:24 - 01:27]

In today's update, Gaza health officials revealed that at least 72 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military across Gaza, including over 30 individuals attempting to reach food distribution sites. Emily Fang detailed a tragic incident at a hospital in Southern Gaza, where 31 people lost their lives due to Israeli artillery fire while trying to collect food from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—a US and Israeli-backed organization that has taken over from the United Nations in distributing aid.

Fang emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "A catastrophic famine is now threatening thousands of more lives" (00:41). The conflict, ongoing since late May, has seen hundreds of Palestinians killed either by direct gunfire or in stampedes caused by warning shots as they attempt to access food supplies. The Israeli military has asserted that they fired warning shots in response to suspected threats near the distribution points and are currently investigating the reported casualties. The persistent blockade of food and the perilous conditions have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

President Trump Sues Rupert Murdoch Over Wall Street Journal Report

Reported by Jeanine Herbst and David Folkenflick [01:27 - 02:24]

President Donald Trump has initiated a lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, the controlling owner of Fox News, along with The Wall Street Journal and two of its reporters. The lawsuit stems from a report alleging that Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a lewd birthday card over two decades ago, a claim he vehemently denies, calling the story "a lie" (00:24).

David Folkenflick explained that Murdoch has been a significant political ally for Trump, making this lawsuit particularly noteworthy. The lawsuit also targets The Wall Street Journal's parent company, which has expressed unwavering confidence in the accuracy of their reporting despite the allegations. This legal action follows Trump's previous lawsuits against major media outlets like ABC, CBS, Meta, and X, each of which settled claims totaling over $10 million related to his Future Presidential Library.

The report in question included unsettling details about Trump's interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. This incident continues to fuel speculation and controversy among many of Trump's supporters, further complicating the political landscape.

Trump Administration Releases Partial School Funding Amid Legal Challenges

Reported by Jeanine Herbst and Sequoia Carrillo [02:24 - 03:19]

The Trump administration announced it will release a portion of the congressionally approved funding for schools that had previously been withheld at the start of July. Sequoia Carrillo reported that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has completed its review of one of the six programs under the current funding freeze. This particular program supports before and after school programs for children and the funds are scheduled to be disbursed to states on Monday.

Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito praised the decision, noting her leadership alongside a group of 10 Republican senators advocating for the release of these funds (02:34). However, the release addresses only a small fraction of the nearly $7 billion currently held up. Consequently, 24 states and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit against the administration over the withheld grants. The OMB has yet to provide a timeline for reviewing the remaining five programs, leaving significant uncertainty for educational funding nationwide.

Violent Incident at East Hollywood Nightclub Leaves Multiple Injured

Reported by Jeanine Herbst [03:19 - 04:09]

Early this morning in East Hollywood, a distressing incident occurred outside a popular music venue when a car plowed through a crowd waiting to enter a nightclub. At least 23 people were injured, with several individuals in critical condition. Law enforcement officials reported that bystanders managed to remove the driver from the vehicle, during which he was shot and subsequently taken to the hospital for surgery. The driver now faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, and authorities have yet to locate the gunman, who remains at large.

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Resigns Following On-Screen Incident

Reported by Jeanine Herbst and Chloe Veltman [03:19 - 04:58]

Andy Byron, CEO of the New York-based software company Astronomer, announced his resignation after being captured on a Jumbotron during a Coldplay concert in Paris three days prior. Chloe Veltman reported that Byron, along with the company's head of human resources, Kristin Cabot, were seen embracing on the big screen at Gillette Stadium near Boston. Upon noticing the footage, Byron and Cabot attempted to pull apart and hide their faces, but the image had already gone viral across social media platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, humorously commented on the situation: "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy" (04:33). The resulting online frenzy included a flood of memes, false statements, and even commemorative merchandise. In response to the incident, Astronomer initially placed Byron on leave, and a subsequent statement on X announced his resignation, citing that the company's leadership "failed to meet its standards of conduct and accountability."

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For more updates, stay tuned to NPR News.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Gaza Health officials say at least 72 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military across Gaza today, including more than 30 trying to reach food distribution sites. NPR's Emily Fang has more.

[Emily Fang]

A hospital in Southern Gaza reported 31 people died from Israeli artillery fire while trying to collect food from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. That's a US And Israeli backed group which has replaced the United nations in distributing food and aid. But hundreds of Palestinians have been killed since late May by Israeli gunfire or in stampedes triggered by warning shots trying to get that food. Israel's military said, quote, suspects approached them, they fired warning shots and, quote, there are reports of casualties that they are investigating because Israel's military has let in so little food and the dangers of getting that food. Gaza health officials say a, quote, catastrophic famine is now threatening thousands of more lives. Emily Fang and Pier News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump is suing Rupert Murdoch over a Wall Street Journal report that the future president sent Jeffrey Epstein a lewd birthday card more than 20 years ago. Trump calls the story a lie. NPR's David Folkenflick has more.

[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 wonderful secret. The Journal's parent company said it had 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.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Trump administration says it will release some of the congressionally approved funding for schools that it withheld at the start of the month. NPR's Sequoia Carrillo reports.

[Sequoia Carrillo]

The Office of Management and Budget says it has completed its review of one of the six programs in question under the current funding freeze, this one supporting before and after school programs for kids. It will release the money to States on Monday, according to the School Superintendents Association. Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito praised the decision. She led a group of 10 Republican senators calling for the funds to be released. On Monday, 24 states and the District of Columbia sued the administration over the grants. Nearly $7 billion is held up, and the amount released today is estimated to be only a small portion of that. The OMB has set no timeline for its review of the remaining programs. Sequoia Carrillo, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. In Los angeles, at least 23 people were injured after a car plowed through a crowd waiting to enter a nightclub early this morning in East Hollywood. It happened outside a music venue, leaving several in critical condition. Police say the driver was dragged from his car by bystanders and shot and then taken to the hospital for surgery. He faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon. The gunman is still at large. So far, there's no word on the married CEO of New York based software company Astronomer Andy Byron resigned today after being caught on the big screen embracing a colleague during a Coldplay concert three days ago in Paris. Chloe Veltman reports. The incident set off a social media avalanche.

[Chloe Veltman]

As soon as Byron and his company's head of human resources, Kristin Cabot, saw the kiss cam footage of themselves on the Jumbotron at Gillette Stadium near Boston, they abruptly pulled apart and tried to hide their faces, but it was too late. The footage went viral. Videos on X, Instagram and Tik Tok capture the couple's embarrassment, as well as Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's response from the stage.

[Chris Martin]

Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.

[Chloe Veltman]

Internet sleuths quickly identified the couple amid an online deluge of memes, false statements and commemorative merch. On Friday, Astronomer placed Byron on leave. A follow up statement on X announcing his resignation on Saturday said the company's leaders had failed to meet its standards of conduct and accountability. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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