NPR News: 07-24-2025 3AM EDT

Summary

Columbia University Settles Lawsuits for Over $200 Million

[00:19] Shea Stevens reported that Columbia University has agreed to pay more than $200 million to settle multiple lawsuits. These lawsuits pertained to the university's hiring practices, admissions policies, and its handling of campus protests. In return for the settlement, Columbia will see the restoration of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research grants. This significant financial move underscores the growing accountability institutions face regarding equitable practices and free expression on campuses.

Legal Battles Over Jeffrey Epstein's Grand Jury Records

[00:19] In a notable judicial decision, a federal judge in Florida has rejected the Trump administration's request to release grand jury records related to Jeffrey Epstein. Simultaneously, another judge in New York is currently weighing a similar request, intensifying the ongoing legal discourse surrounding Epstein's case.

[00:57] House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the matter, stating, "There's no point in having a vote today because the administration is already doing everything within their power to release them" [00:57]. Johnson emphasized that there is "no nefarious reason for not immediately releasing the Epstein files", while accusing Democrats of attempting to "use the issue as a weapon" [01:03]. This stance highlights the political tension surrounding the transparency of Epstein's legal proceedings.

Supreme Court's Stance on Consumer Product Safety Commission Firings

The Supreme Court has made a groundbreaking decision allowing former President Donald Trump to potentially fire all remaining Democrats on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) [01:03]. This ruling significantly challenges a nearly century-old precedent established in 1935, which was designed to protect the independence of specialized regulatory agencies. Nina Totenberg elaborated on the implications:

“The decision would appear to all but obliterate nearly a century old Supreme Court precedent aimed at protecting the independence of certain specialized regulatory agencies.” [01:21]

Justice Kagan, representing the court's three liberal justices, criticized the majority for “virtually expunging the court's 1935 precedent without full briefing and oral argument.” The decision, delivered in an unsigned order, is considered temporary, and it remains uncertain whether the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the matter in the fall.

Venezuelan Prisoner Exchange Raises Concerns

[02:10] Venezuela has declared that one of the 10 Americans returned to the United States in a recent prisoner exchange is a convicted murderer. Carrie Kahn provided further details:

Venezuelan public records indicate that Danut Janid Ortiz, a 54-year-old dual American-Venezuelan citizen, was serving a 30-year sentence for a triple homicide in Spain. Arrested in 2016, Ortiz resisted extradition to Spain, leading to his trial and conviction in Venezuela. Additionally, over 250 Venezuelan migrants deported from the U.S. and held in El Salvador were part of the exchange. A photo from the return of the 10 Americans to Texas [02:26] included Ortiz. Despite these developments, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintained that the released Americans were "all wrongfully detained", although a State Department official refrained from commenting further, citing privacy concerns.

Doctor Pleads Guilty in Matthew Perry's Ketamine Distribution Case

[03:12] In a harrowing development, a California doctor has pleaded guilty to distributing ketamine to the late actor Matthew Perry, shortly before his death in 2023. Steve Futterman reported from Los Angeles:

Dr. Salvador Plasencia admitted to four counts of distributing ketamine and now faces up to 40 years in prison. However, under federal sentencing guidelines, a shorter sentence is anticipated. Plasencia confessed to repeatedly selling and sometimes administering the drug to Perry during the actor's final weeks. Notably, 16 days before Perry's death, Plasencia revealed that Perry experienced a spike in blood pressure and briefly froze up. In a statement, Plasencia's attorneys acknowledged his failure to protect Perry, who was described as "especially vulnerable due to addiction." Initially, five individuals were charged in relation to this case, with four now having pleaded guilty [03:29].

Mideast Ceasefire Talks and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

[04:17] Shea Stevens reported that President Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, is currently in Italy engaging in talks with Israeli and Qatari officials to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza. This diplomatic effort comes amid calls from over two dozen nations urging an immediate end to the conflict and a stepped-up distribution of food and aid to civilians affected by the war.

Humanitarian groups are sounding alarms about the severe conditions in Gaza. More than 100 international aid and human rights organizations warn of an impending mass starvation crisis. The World Health Organization has highlighted that over 100,000 Gazans are facing malnutrition, exacerbating the dire situation on the ground.

European Union Criticizes Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Efforts

In a separate international development, the European Union has voiced strong criticism towards the Ukrainian parliament for its recent actions that undermine the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau. This move has sparked concern as Ukraine seeks closer ties with the EU and aims for membership. The EU's disapproval reflects ongoing challenges in Ukraine's political landscape, especially concerning the integrity and effectiveness of its anti-corruption institutions.

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant national and international events, from judicial decisions and political maneuvers to humanitarian crises and high-profile legal cases. Through detailed reporting and insightful commentary, listeners are kept informed about the critical issues shaping the current global landscape.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Columbia University has agreed to pay more than $200 million to settle multiple lawsuits over its hiring, admissions and handling of camp protests. That's in exchange for the restoration of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research grants. A federal judge in Florida has rejected the Trump administration's request to release grand jury records on Jeffrey Epstein. Another judge is weighing a similar request in New York. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson is defending his decision to hold off any vote on releasing records on Epstein until after the August recess.

[Mike Johnson]

There's no point in having a vote today because the administration is already doing everything within their power to release them.

[Shea Stevens]

Johnson says there is no nefarious reason for not immediately releasing the Epstein files and accuses Democrats of trying to use the issue as a weapon. The Supreme Court says that President Trump may fire all remaining Democrats on the Consumer Product Safety Commission and without cause. NPR's Nina Totenberg has more.

[Nina Totenberg]

The decision would appear to all but obliterate nearly a century old Supreme Court precedent aimed at protecting the independence of certain specialized regulatory agencies. That unanimous 1935 ruling declared that the president did not have such blanket authority under the law, and since then, presidents have not tried to fire commission members except for misconduct until now. Today, the Supreme Court for the third time in recent weeks, allowed such firings to go forward in an unsigned order. The court said the decision is temporary but did not indicate it would hear arguments in the case come fall. And Justice Kagan, writing for the court's three liberals, accused the majority of virtually expunging the court's 1935 precedent without full briefing and oral argument. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

Venezuela says One of the 10Americans returned to the United States in a prisoner exchange last week was 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. Danut Janid Ortiz, a 54 year old dual American 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 10 arriving back in Texas last week included Janit 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. NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading. This is NPR. A California doctor has pleaded guilty to distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry shortly before his death in 2023. Steve Futterman has more from Los Angeles.

[Steve Futterman]

Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine and now faces up to 40 years in prison. But under federal sentencing guidelines, he's unlikely to face anything close to that in court. Plasencia acknowledged that he repeatedly sold and in some cases administered the drug to Perry in the final weeks of the actor's life. In one case, 16 days before Perry died, Placencia admitted that Perry's blood pressure spiked and that the actor briefly froze up. In a statement issued by his attorneys, Placencia acknowledges that he failed to protect Perry, who the statement says was especially vulnerable due to addiction. Five people were originally charged. Four have now pleaded guilty. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the federal courthouse in Los Angeles.

[Shea Stevens]

President Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff is in Italy for more talks with Israeli and Qatari officials working on a ceasefire in Gaza. Witkoff's strip comes as more than two dozen nations call for an immediate end to the war and for stepped up distribution of food and other aid to civilians. More than 100 international aid and human rights groups are warning of mass starvation in Gaza. And the World Health Organization says more than 100,000 Gazans are facing malnutrition. The European Union is criticizing the Ukrainian parliament for removing the independence of its anti corruption bureau. The vote comes as Ukraine seeks to become a member of the eu. This is NPR News.

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