NPR News Now: July 23, 2025, 10AM EDT

Hosted by Korva Coleman

U.S.-Japan Trade Deal Boosts Global Markets

[00:16]
President Trump announced a new trade deal with Japan, eliciting positive responses from investors worldwide. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged by 170 points following the news.

[00:30]
Maria Aspen reports that President Trump stated on social media, "the United States will impose taxes of 15% on Japanese imports," a reduction from the previously threatened 25% tariffs. Additionally, Trump highlighted that Japan will inject $550 billion into the U.S. economy. This announcement led to Japan’s Nikkei index rising by 3.5%, while the S&P 500 continued to hit record highs despite ongoing tariff tensions. Maria Aspen noted, "In the US, investors have been largely shrugging off the ongoing tariffs drama, even as General Motors and other big companies warn about the impacts on their operations."

Bryan Kohberger Faces Sentencing for University of Idaho Murders

[01:15]
Bryan Kohberger is set to be sentenced today for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. He is expected to receive four life sentences without the possibility of parole.

[01:32]
Lauren Patterson details that Kohberger pleaded guilty to the killings of Madison Mogan, Kaylee Goncalves, Zanna Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin during a plea hearing earlier this month. In exchange for dropping the death penalty, he admitted to the stabbing deaths. Families of the victims have shared emotional statements about the profound impact of the crime. Despite his guilty plea, Kohberger has yet to provide a motive behind the tragic events.

Jeffrey Epstein Case: DOJ's Unprecedented Moves Under Scrutiny

[02:03]
House Speaker Mike Johnson has adjourned the House chamber early for summer recess, halting efforts to vote on a bill that seeks the release of more documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s case. Johnson stated, "The Justice Department is already trying to do this."

[02:38]
Mitchell Eppner, a former federal prosecutor, expressed concern over the DOJ's actions, saying, "It's unusual that the DOJ would publicly announce that they are speaking to a potential cooperator. And it is extraordinarily unusual that somebody as senior as the deputy attorney general would be the person conducting those conversations." Eppner added, "In over 30 years as a criminal defense attorney and my time as a federal prosecutor, I've never seen anything like this."

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche mentioned efforts to interview Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislain Maxwell, who is currently incarcerated for sex trafficking crimes. These developments have raised eyebrows regarding the DOJ's handling of the case.

Charges Filed Against Driver in LA Pedestrian Attack

[03:05]
In Los Angeles, authorities have charged Fernando Ramirez with dozens of counts of attempted murder for allegedly driving into a crowd of pedestrians outside a nightclub last weekend. Prosecutors claim Ramirez "intentionally drove into the crowd," leading to multiple injuries. During the incident, Ramirez was pulled from his vehicle, beaten, and subsequently shot by another individual. Law enforcement continues to search for the second suspect involved in the altercation.

Elon Musk’s AI Venture Faces Financial and Reputational Challenges

[03:05]
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company is attempting to raise billions of dollars amid escalating energy costs. NPR’s Bobby Allen elaborates on the financial strain faced by the company.

[03:49]
Bobby Allen reports, "AI chat bots require an immense amount of power to operate the massive data collection, the water guzzling data centers." Unlike other tech firms that partner with large cloud computing companies to manage costs, Musk is developing his own AI infrastructure. An estimate by the Wall Street Journal revealed that XAI is burning through $13 billion annually to remain operational. Musk is now seeking additional investment to sustain the company's growth in the competitive AI landscape.

Additionally, the company is dealing with reputational issues following incidents where its Grok chatbot exhibited anti-Semitic behavior. In response, Musk announced the development of a "kid-friendly version called Baby Grok" to mitigate these concerns.

SpaceX Rocket Launch Scrubbed Due to Regional Power Outage

[04:30]
NASA had to scrub the launch of a SpaceX rocket scheduled to depart from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California yesterday. Seconds before liftoff, a regional power outage in the Santa Barbara area disrupted telecommunications, affecting air traffic communications over the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX managers indicated that safety protocols necessitated the call-off of the mission. Korva Coleman reported from Washington, highlighting the unforeseen technical challenges that led to the delay.

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key developments covered in the NPR News Now episode from July 23, 2025. From significant economic agreements and legal proceedings to high-profile technological and aerospace challenges, the episode provides listeners with a broad overview of current events shaping the world.