NPR News: 07-24-2025 11AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now Episode: NPR News: 07-24-2025 11AM EDT | Release Date: July 24, 2025

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President Trump's Visit to the Federal Reserve

President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit the Federal Reserve this afternoon, intensifying his administration's scrutiny of the central bank's policies and infrastructure. Amidst ongoing tensions, Trump and his allies have been vocal in their criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, particularly regarding interest rates and the substantial renovation of the Fed's Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Tamara Keith reports that Trump has consistently argued that the Federal Reserve is lagging in lowering interest rates. Additionally, the proposed $2.5 billion renovation has become a focal point for Trump's campaign to challenge Powell's authority. In a recent statement, President Trump remarked, “[00:56]...the biggest cost overrun is the cost overrun for interest rates because we should be paying three points lower.”

Despite the mounting pressure, Powell remains steadfast in his commitment to maintain his position, with his current term set to conclude next year. NPR’s Tamara Keith highlights that this development poses significant threats to the Fed’s independence as the administration's pushback against monetary policies continues.

Release of Americans from Venezuela

In a complex prisoner exchange, Venezuela has returned ten Americans to the United States. However, Venezuelan authorities have revealed that one of the released individuals is a convicted murderer with pending criminal cases in the country. Carrie Kahn reports that Danud Janid Ortiz, a 54-year-old dual American-Venezuelan citizen, was serving a 30-year sentence for a triple homicide committed in Spain. Arrested in 2016, Ortiz was not extradited to Spain but was instead tried and convicted in Venezuela.

This exchange included over 250 Venezuelan migrants deported from the U.S., many of whom were sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador. A photograph of the return trip featured Hanid Ortiz. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented that the freed Americans were “all wrongfully detained,” although a State Department official refrained from further comments due to privacy concerns.

Texas Floods and Legislative Responses

In the aftermath of last month's devastating floods in central Texas, a state legislative committee has convened to address the needs of various state agencies during natural disasters. Blaze Gainey from the Texas Newsroom reports that during an extensive eight-hour hearing, several recommendations were proposed to enhance emergency management.

One significant suggestion came from Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, who advocated for requiring credentialed and professionally certified emergency managers. Kidd emphasized the need for standardization, stating, “[02:51]...there's no baseline standardization for how they got to where they are.” The committee aims to hold its next meeting in Kerrville, the region hardest hit by the recent storms.

Stock Market Fluctuations and Legal Subpoenas

Wall Street showed mixed results today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping by 117 points, while the NASDAQ Composite gained over 60 points. In political developments, a House subcommittee has voted to subpoena the Justice Department for documents related to the late Jeffrey Epstein's case. Supporters of President Trump have criticized his administration for allegedly reneging on promises to disclose information concerning Epstein.

Additionally, Hansi Lo Wang reports on the U.S. Postal Service's internal challenges. The USPS inspector general's office released a report indicating that the agency failed to meet most of its performance goals for mail processing and delivery during the last December holiday season. Factors contributing to these shortcomings include inadequate preparation for the surge in packages and problematic changes from the USPS’s reorganization plan aimed at cost reduction.

Conflict Between Thailand and Cambodia

Tensions have escalated in Southeast Asia as fighting erupts between Thailand and Cambodia over disputed border territories. According to Korva Coleman, Thai officials report that at least 11 individuals have lost their lives in the conflict, the majority of whom are civilians. Cambodia accuses Thailand of conducting an unprovoked military incursion into its disputed regions, exacerbating the already strained relations between the two nations.

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode from July 24, 2025. For a more detailed account, please refer to the full episode transcript.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump is set to visit the Federal Reserve this afternoon. This comes amidst a campaign from the president and his allies to badger Fed Chair Jerome Powell about interest rates and a major renovation of the Fed's Washington, D.C. building. NPR's Chairman Keith has warned Trump has.

[Tamara Keith]

Repeatedly charged that the Fed chair is too late in lowering interest rates. And then there's the renovation, which Trump allies suggest could be grounds for firing Powell. Here was Trump earlier this week.

[Donald Trump]

No, we're not planning on doing anything. We're very concerned. He's doing a little renovation for 2.5 billion of the Fed.

[Tamara Keith]

It is over budget and it's a.

[Donald Trump]

Shame, but the biggest cost overrun is the cost overrun for interest rates because we should be paying three points lower.

[Tamara Keith]

The Fed chair, who term ends next year, says he has no intention of quitting. This visit amps up Trump's pressure campaign, which threatens the Fed's independence. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Venezuela says that One of the 10Americans returned to the US last week in a prisoner exchange is a convicted murderer. As NPR's Carrie Kahn reports, Venezuelan officials say many of the released Americans still have criminal cases pending there.

[Carrie Kahn]

Venezuelan public records show that one of the 10Americans released last week as part of a prisoner swap was serving a 30 year sentence for a triple homicide in Spain. Danud Janid Ortiz, a 54 year old dual American Venezuelan citizen, was arrested in 2016, but Venezuela refused to extradite him to Spain. Instead, he was tried in Venezuela and last year convicted. More than 250 Venezuelan migrants deported from the US and sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador were exchanged for the Americans. A photo of the arriving back in Texas last week included Hanid Ortiz. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the time the freed Americans were all wrongfully detained. A State Department official declined to comment, citing privacy. Kerry Kahn, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

A Texas committee focused on floods has heard from several state agencies about their needs during natural disasters. The panel of state lawmakers was created in the wake of last month's flooding in central Texas was We have more from the Texas Newsroom's Blaze Gainey.

[Blaze Gainey]

Several recommendations were tossed around during the more than eight hour long hearing. One recommendation from Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd was to start only allowing credentialed professionally certified emergency managers, which in smaller counties can often be an appointed position.

[Nim Kidd]

We've got some great local emergency managers out there, but there's no baseline standardization for how they got to where they are.

[Blaze Gainey]

The next meeting will be held in Kerrville, the area hardest hit by the storm. I'm Blaze Gainey in Austin.

[Korva Coleman]

Stocks are mixed on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrials are down 117 points. The NASDAQ is up more than 60. This is NPR. A House subcommittee has voted to subpoena the Justice Department for files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. President Trump's supporters have criticized his administration for what they see as backtracking on promises to release about the Epstein case. The internal watchdog for the US Postal Service has issued a report. It says the USPS failed to meet most of its own performance goals for processing and delivering mail on time during last year's December holiday season. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang has more.

[Hansi Lo Wang]

Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve is the busiest time of year for the U.S. postal Service, which is a financial support of NPR. The USPS inspector general's office has found during last year's peak mailing season, the Postal Service did not meet many of its own goals for making deliveries on time, including for priority and first class mail. And that's even after USPS lowered its goals from the previous year. The inspector general's report says USPS was not prepared to handle the increase in packages sent during last December's holiday season. New regional processing centers and changes to how USPS moves mail, which are part of its controversial reorganization plan, also contributed to delays to cut costs. This month, the Postal Service rolled out more changes to delivery times, which may further slow down mail sent from some rural communities. Hansi Loong, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Fighting has broken out in Southeast Asia between Thailand and Cambodia. Thai officials say at least 11 people have been killed at a disputed border between the countries. Most of the victims are civilians. Cambodia is blaming Thailand for a military incursion at the border that it says was unprovoked. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.

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