NPR News: 07-22-2025 1PM EDT

Summary

NPR News: July 22, 2025, 1 PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Producer: NPR
Release Date: July 22, 2025

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Justice Department Reaches Out to Ghislaine Maxwell’s Attorneys

Timestamp: 00:18

In a significant development, the U.S. Justice Department has initiated contact with the legal team of Ghislaine Maxwell, seeking her cooperation in ongoing investigations related to her association with the late Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking, may be brought in for further questioning.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch stated via social media, “I have contacted Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyers to determine whether she would be willing to meet with department attorneys. I anticipate meeting with her in the coming days” (00:41). This move comes amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration to enhance transparency surrounding the Epstein case. Last week, the administration requested the unsealing of Epstein's grand jury transcripts, though experts note that these transcripts represent only a fraction of the extensive materials amassed during the investigation.

Coca-Cola to Transition to Cane Sugar in the U.S.

Timestamp: 01:23

Coca-Cola has announced a forthcoming change to its sweetener base in the United States, switching from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar. This shift is being credited to both the company and President Donald Trump, aligning with his "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, which advocates for more natural ingredients in food products.

Yukin Iguchi, NPR's correspondent, reported, “Coca Cola touted the change as a win for the president's Make America Healthy Again movement” (01:37). Despite the shift to cane sugar, experts argue that this alteration will have minimal impact on the nutritional value of beverages or broader public health outcomes. The debate highlights the ongoing concerns over sugary processed foods as a major factor in the global rise in obesity rates.

Russia and Ukraine to Engage in New Round of Peace Talks

Timestamp: 02:17

Efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine are gaining momentum, with another round of negotiations scheduled to take place potentially as soon as the following day in Turkey. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that Kyiv's primary objectives remain the repatriation of prisoners and Ukrainian children abducted by Russian forces, alongside the possibility of direct talks between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the conflict.

Charles Maynes, NPR's Moscow correspondent, added, “The return to negotiations comes as President Trump has threatened additional economic penalties on Russia if Moscow doesn't agree to a ceasefire by early September” (02:34). Despite these efforts, the Kremlin maintains that peace is contingent upon Russia achieving its goals in Ukraine, with Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserting that “Russia and Ukraine remain diametrically opposed in their proposals to negotiate an end to the war” (02:34).

NPR’s Chief News Executive Announces Departure Amid Funding Cuts

Timestamp: 03:13

Edith Chapin, NPR's Chief News Executive and Chief Content Officer, has announced her decision to step down later this year. Her departure comes on the heels of significant legislative changes, including the recent congressional vote to eliminate all future federal funding for public media.

David Folkenflick, NPR’s reporter, stated, “Edith Chapin joined NPR's international editor in 2012 from CNN and held a series of senior newsroom roles... she needed to recharge and regroup” (03:45). During her tenure, Chapin spearheaded initiatives such as the establishment of seven regional newsrooms to enhance collaboration among local stations and implemented a team of senior editors focused on ensuring fairness and balance in NPR's coverage. Chapin emphasized the importance of NPR's openness to criticism and continual self-assessment, even when such measures may not be universally popular.

Treasury Secretary Calls for Federal Reserve Investigation Amid Trump’s Criticism

Timestamp: 04:21

Treasury Secretary Scott Bridenstine has urged the Federal Reserve to conduct an internal investigation into major renovations at its Washington D.C. headquarters. This request emerges amidst escalating tensions between President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Trump has vocally criticized the Federal Reserve for not lowering interest rates and has pressured Powell to resign. Notably, Powell, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, is expected to leave his position in May when his current term concludes. The administration's scrutiny of the Federal Reserve coincides with mixed movements in the stock market, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 50 points during the hour.

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This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a comprehensive overview of pressing national and international issues, including legal proceedings involving high-profile figures, corporate policy changes influenced by political agendas, ongoing geopolitical conflicts, leadership shifts within major news organizations, and high-stakes interactions between government entities and financial institutions.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Justice Department says it has contacted attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell. They were they want to find out if the longtime associate of the late sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein will speak with prosecutors. Maxwell is currently serving a 20 year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking. NPR's Ryan Lucas has the latest.

[Ryan Lucas]

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch says in a statement posted on social media that he has contacted Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyers to determine whether she would be willing to meet with department attorneys. And Blanche says he anticipates meeting with her in the coming days. The statement comes as the Trump administration scrambles to contain the fallout from the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. President Trump has repeatedly lashed out at his base over the matter and their demands for transparency. Late last week, his administration asked a federal judge to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts, although experts say those would contain only a small fraction of the massive materials investigators collected in their probe. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The beverage maker Coca Cola has confirmed it'll soon offer a Coke product with cane sugar in the United States as a change from corn syrup. NPR's Yukinoguchi reports the company and President Trump are taking credit for the change that's slated for this fall.

[Yukin Iguchi]

Coca Cola acknowledged the planned switch after President Trump got in front of the announcement last week. The company touted the change as a win for the president's Make America Healthy Again movement, which is pushing for more natural food products. Corn syrup is a far cheaper sweetener compared to cane sugar, but experts argue that changing the recipe will not change the overall nutritional value of drinks or snacks, nor will it move the needle on public health. Sugary processed foods are considered a big driver of a worldwide increase in obesity. Yukin Iguchi, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Russia and Ukraine are expected to hold another round of peace talks. President Trump has been urging the warring rivals to reach a ceasefire and has been critical in recent weeks of Russia's failure to commit to an agreement. The peace talks could happen as soon as tomorrow in Turkey. We have more from NPR's Charles Mainz.

[Charles Maynes]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the new date for peace talks, saying Kyiv's priorities remain the return of prisoners and Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, as well as a possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the war. The return to negotiations comes as President Trump has threatened additional economic penalties on Russia if Moscow doesn't agree to a CE ceasefire by early September. Yet the Kremlin insists Russia wants peace only once its objectives in Ukraine are reached. And Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, says Russia and Ukraine remain diametrically opposed in their proposals to negotiate an end to the war. Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow.

[Lakshmi Singh]

From Washington, this is NPR News. NPR's chief news executive has announced that she would step down later this year, citing the burden of holding two two top executive jobs at the same time this coming just days after Republicans in Congress voted to wipe out all future federal funding for Public Media. NPR's David Folkenflick reports. Edith Chapin has also been serving as NPR's chief content officer.

[David Folkenflick]

Edith Chapin joined NPR's international editor in 2012 from CNN and held a series of senior newsroom roles since she says the decision to leave was hers alone, saying she needed to recharge and regroup. Among her initiatives was the creation of seven regional newsrooms in NPR fosters deepened collaboration among local stations amid allegations of liberal bias. Chapin last year created a team of senior editors to review stories for fairness and have visibility on the fairness of the network's overall coverage. Chapin says NPR must always be open to criticism and to keep considering all things, even if not everyone likes it. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen says he's calling on the Federal Reserve to conduct an internal investigation into major renovations at its D.C. headquarters. Meanwhile, the Fed chair is the target of more attacks from President Trump today. Angry the Fed has not yet lowered interest rates, Trump has been pressuring Jerome Powell to leave. Powell, who was nominated by President Trump in 2017, is slated to leave his post in May when his term expires. US stocks are mixed this hour, with the Dow up 50 points. You're listening to NPR News.

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