NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of July 20, 2025, 7 PM EDT Episode

Released on July 20, 2025

1. President Trump Commits to Helping Afghan Allies

In a significant announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social, former President Donald Trump declared his intention to assist Afghans who collaborated with the United States and have been detained in the United Arab Emirates for years. Speaking at [00:35], Trump asserted, "I will try to save them starting right now." This commitment marks a shift from his administration's recent policies that have affected Afghan allies adversely.

Six months prior, Trump had suspended the refugee resettlement program critical for Afghan allies fleeing Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Additionally, the Trump administration recently terminated the temporary protected status for Afghans, citing improvements in Afghanistan's security and economic stability. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, stated at [00:35], "The program was terminated because of Afghanistan's improved security situation and stabilizing economy." Despite Trump's pledge, representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, State Department, and the White House have yet to provide details on whether these programs will be reinstated.

Reported by Hansi Lo Wang, NPR News in California.

2. Los Angeles Nightclub Car Attack

A disturbing incident unfolded outside a Hollywood nightclub as a 29-year-old suspect, Fernando Ramirez, deliberately rammed his car into a crowd of patrons. According to Steve Futterman at [01:31], Ramirez, enraged after being told to leave, initially attempted to drive away before executing a sudden U-turn to collide with dozens of people. The attack resulted in multiple injuries, with bystanders intervening by pulling Ramirez from his vehicle and assaulting him. He was subsequently shot in the buttocks.

Los Angeles Police Officer Jeffrey Lee commented at [01:54], "The suspect in the shooting is still outstanding. We consider him armed and dangerous and possibly carrying a silver revolver." Ramirez has been detained on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, with formal criminal charges anticipated from the district attorney in the coming week.

3. Japanese Prime Minister Remains in Power Amid Election Setbacks

Despite a poor performance by his party in recent parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced his intention to remain in office. Anthony Kuhn reports at [02:16] that exit polls indicate the ruling coalition is likely to lose its majority in the upper house. Ishiba emphasized the importance of leadership continuity, particularly citing critical tariff negotiations with the United States: "One reason I must stay on is that Japan is engaged with the US in critical tariff negotiations, which must not be derailed," he stated.

Ishiba has been at the helm of a minority government since October when his coalition lost its majority in the lower house. With opposition parties, including the right-wing populist Sanseto Party advocating for "Japanese first" policies and stricter immigration controls, there is potential for a no-confidence motion to unseat him, especially in the upper house.

4. Escalating Violence in Gaza Amid Food Aid Efforts

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to inflict severe casualties on civilians. According to the episode, health officials in Gaza reported that at least 94 Palestinians lost their lives after the Israeli military opened fire on individuals seeking food aid. This event is described as one of the deadliest days for those attempting to obtain food amidst severe shortages and widespread hunger in the midst of Israel's 21-month-long war against Hamas. The Israeli military maintains that they fired warning shots targeting "thousands who posed a threat to troops."

5. Texas Floods Reduce Missing Persons Count

In a dire turn of events, Texas has experienced catastrophic flash flooding over the July 4th holiday weekend, particularly along the Guadalupe River. The flood resulted in the tragic loss of at least 135 lives. Concurrently, efforts to locate missing persons in Kerr County have seen progress, with the count decreasing from approximately 100 to just 3 individuals remaining unaccounted for.

6. Trump Administration's Pronatalist Push Meets Local Challenges

The Trump administration is actively encouraging Americans to have more children as part of a broader pronatalist policy. However, in several states, advocates and parents argue that there is insufficient support for the children already born, starting from birth. Katie O'Riddle reports at [04:19] that medical institutions are experiencing a decline in births nationwide, leading many to seek safe alternatives to hospital settings for childbirth.

Katie Chubb, who has been striving to open a birth center in Georgia for years, highlights the lack of attention to maternal and child health outcomes. She remarked at [04:35], "It's a massive concern here in Georgia, where we're so focused on being pro-life, but yet we're not caring about the life past 20 weeks." Despite setbacks, Chubb remains determined to establish her birth center, advocating for better support systems for mothers and children.

This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of pressing global and national issues, including international humanitarian efforts, local public safety incidents, political dynamics in Japan, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, natural disasters in the United States, and domestic policy challenges related to family and health services.