NPR News: 07-24-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

NPR News: July 24, 2025, 7 PM EDT - Detailed Summary

Hosted by Kristen Wright

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President Trump Visits the Federal Reserve

[00:20] President Donald Trump made an unprecedented visit to the Federal Reserve in Washington, challenging its longstanding tradition of independence. The visit centered around Trump's criticism of the Federal Reserve's renovation project costs and its monetary policies.

• Inspection and Criticism: Trump inspected the Federal Reserve's buildings, which are undergoing renovations projected to cost $2.5 billion. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the escalating costs, stating, "It looks like it's about $3.1 billion," to which Fed Chair Jerome Powell disagreed, indicating the figures included expenses for a building constructed five years prior.

• Monetary Policy Tensions: Beyond the renovation costs, Trump has been vocally critical of the Federal Reserve's approach to interest rates, accusing the institution of being "too slow to cut interest rates." This tension marks a significant moment, as presidents typically refrain from directly confronting the Fed to maintain its autonomy.

• Concluding the Visit: After the confrontation over finances, the atmosphere softened. Trump chose to remain conciliatory, avoiding further attacks on Powell as they concluded the meeting. Rafa Nam of NPR reported, "After that, Trump was more conciliatory, avoiding repeating his attacks against Powell as they walked away."

Ghislaine Maxwell Meets with Deputy Attorney General

[01:27] In a notable development regarding the Epstein case, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell in Florida. Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for her involvement in aiding Jeffrey Epstein's sexual exploitation of underage girls, engaged fully in the meeting.

• Cooperation Alleged: Maxwell's attorney, David Marcus, conveyed that she was entirely forthcoming during the discussion. Jeff London reported, "Ms. Maxwell answered every single question. She never stopped. She never invoked a privilege. She never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability."

• Unclear Outcomes: Despite Maxwell's apparent cooperation, the specifics of what transpired between her and Deputy Attorney General Blanche remain undisclosed. This meeting occurs amid the Trump administration's efforts to mitigate backlash over its handling of the Epstein files. Ryan Lucas added, "It is unclear what Maxwell told Blanche, who arranged the meeting."

Big Tech Companies Report Divergent Financial Results

[02:20] Investors are reacting to contrasting financial reports from major technology firms, highlighting the volatile nature of the tech industry.

• Tesla's Declining Profits: Elon Musk's electric vehicle company, Tesla, reported a 16% drop in quarterly profits. This decline is attributed to falling sales and marks Tesla's first earnings report since Musk stepped down from his federal government role. The downturn has negatively impacted Tesla's stock, underscoring challenges in the competitive EV market.

• Alphabet (Google) Surges Ahead: In stark contrast, Alphabet, Google's parent company, exceeded analysts' expectations with both profit and revenue figures. The company announced plans to invest an additional $10 billion this year in capital expenditures, focusing heavily on artificial intelligence advancements. Maria Aspen detailed, "Google is having a much better year. Parent company Alphabet reported profit and revenue that beat analysts expectations."

• UnitedHealth Group Faces Scrutiny: Healthcare titan UnitedHealth Group revealed it is under a government investigation concerning its Medicare business practices. This announcement led to a decline in the company's stock price, reflecting investor concerns over potential regulatory repercussions. Aspen noted, "Meanwhile, healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group disclosed it's facing a government probe into its Medicare business. Shares in the powerful but embattled company fell after the news."

FCC Approves Paramount Global and Skydance Media Merger

[03:16] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given the green light to a significant merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. This consolidation includes Paramount's acquisition of CBS's broadcast TV network, expanding its media footprint.

• Regulatory Milestone: The approval marks a pivotal moment in the media industry, potentially reshaping the landscape by combining Paramount's extensive network assets with Skydance's creative productions.

• Context of the Merger: Notably, Paramount recently settled a lawsuit initiated by President Trump against CBS and the news program "60 Minutes," paying $16 million. This settlement may influence the merger dynamics and future collaborations between the entities involved.

Passing of Jazz Legend Chuck Mangione

[03:36] The music world mourns the loss of Chuck Mangione, a Grammy Award-winning flugelhorn player and composer, who passed away at the age of 84 in Rochester, New York.

• Musical Legacy: Mangione was a pioneer of the smooth jazz genre, blending pop and electric sounds with his distinctive flugelhorn. His hit "Feels So Good" topped the Billboard charts in 1978, solidifying his place in American music.

• Career Highlights: Beyond his solo successes, Mangione collaborated with renowned artists such as Woody Herman, Art Blakey, and Maynard Ferguson. His contributions earned him two Grammys and an Emmy, reflecting his influence and talent.

• Tributes: Jeff London shared, "With his beard, long hair and felt fedora, Chuck Mangione cut an unforgettable figure in American culture well beyond the jazz world."

Artist Amy Sherrild Cancels Smithsonian Exhibition

[04:36] Renowned artist Amy Sherrild has withdrawn her upcoming exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, citing concerns raised by the museum.

• Controversial Artwork: The canceled show featured a painting titled "Transforming Liberty 2024," depicting a transgender woman holding a torch. The Smithsonian expressed reservations about this piece, leading to the show's cancellation.

• Impact on Representation: Sherrild is best known for her portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, making this cancellation a significant event in the art community, especially concerning representations of transgender individuals in prominent art institutions.

• Statement from Sherrild: While specific quotes from Sherrild were not provided, her decision underscores ongoing debates about artistic expression and institutional tolerance of diverse narratives.

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News episode from July 24, 2025. For more detailed coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

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[Kristen Wright]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. President Trump visited the Federal Reserve to inspect a renovation of its buildings that he has strongly criticized. As NPR's Rafa Nam reports, Trump then sparred with Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the final cost of the project.

[Rafa Nam]

It was already an unusual visit. Presidents don't normally visit the Fed, which strongly protects its independence. But Trump has been very critical of the Fed, saying it's being too slow to cut interest rates. And then Trump tussled with Powell about the final cost of the Fed's renovations, which are projected to hit $2.5 billion.

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We're taking a look and it looks.

[Kristen Wright]

Like it's about 3.1 billion.

[NPR Sponsor]

Went up a little bit or a lot?

[Rafa Nam]

Powell shook his head in disagreement.

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I haven't heard that from anybody.

[Jeff London]

The Fed.

[Rafa Nam]

Powell took a look at the paper and pointed out that President Trump was citing a number that included a building built five years ago. After that, Trump was more conciliatory, avoiding repeating his attacks against Powell as they walked away. Raphael Nam, NPR News.

[Kristen Wright]

A meeting between Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime confidant of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, has ended. Maxwell's attorney says she was forthcoming. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.

[Ryan Lucas]

Todd Blanche met with Maxwell in Florida, where she is currently serving a 20 year sentence for her role helping Epstein sexually exploit underage girls. Maxwell's attorney, David Marcus, briefly spoke to reporters outside the courthouse where the meeting took place.

[Jeff London]

Ms. Maxwell answered every single question. She never stopped. She never invoked a privilege. She never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability.

[Ryan Lucas]

It is unclear what Maxwell told Blanche, who arranged the meeting. As the Trump administration tries to tamp down the uproar over its handling of the Epstein files. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Kristen Wright]

Investors are processing two very different reports from big tech companies as Tesla stock plummets And Google soars. NPR's Maria Aspen has more.

[Maria Aspen]

Tesla's rocky year is getting worse. Elon Musk's electric carmaker says its quarterly profits dropped 16% as sales continue to fall. It was Tesla's first earnings report since Musk left his controversial role in the federal government. But Google is having a much better year. Parent company Alphabet reported profit and revenue that beat analysts expectations. Now it's planning to spend an additional $10 billion this year on capital expenditures, including AI. Meanwhile, healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group disclosed it's facing a government probe into its Medicare business. Shares in the powerful but embattled company fell after the news. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York.

[Kristen Wright]

This is NPR News in Washington. The FCC has approved a merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. The sale includes CBS's broadcast TV network. Paramount recently paid $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump Against CBS and 60 Minutes. Grammy Award winning jazz flugelhorn player and composer Chuck Mangione died in his home in Rochester, New York, on Tuesday. He was 84. His smooth jazz topped the charts in the 70s and 80s. Jeff London has this appreciation.

[Jeff London]

With his beard, long hair and felt fedora, Chuck Mangione cut an unforgettable figure in American culture well beyond the jazz world with hits like Feel so Good, which made the Billboard top 10 in 1978. Mangione pioneered the smooth jazz genre, fusing pop, electric sounds with the warmth of his flugelhorn and strong melodic hooks. He was born, raised and educated in Rochester. He attended the Eastman School of Music and played with Woody Herman, Art Blakey and Maynard Ferguson before setting out on his own. Along the way, Chuck Mangione picked up two Grammys and an Emmy. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

[Kristen Wright]

Artist Amy Sherrild has canceled her upcoming show at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington. Sherrid is best known for her portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama. The artist says in a statement she was told the museum had concerns about a painting in the show of a transgender woman holding a torch called Transforming Liberty 2024. I'm Kristen Wright, and this is NPR News in Washington.

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