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NPR News Now: 07-24-2026 3PM EDT – Episode Summary

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A fast-paced, five-minute news update covering significant global and national developments: new US tariffs and international trade friction, ongoing US-Iran military escalation, updates on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, FDA discussions on peptide drugs, political contests in Maine, a school shooting trial outcome in Georgia, a police shooting investigation in Wisconsin, and the latest on two major storms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s New Tariffs and Global Backlash

[00:00 – 00:58]

President Trump introduces 10–12.5% tariffs on imports from 60 countries, citing failures to enforce bans on goods made with forced labor.
The EU, led by foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas, is sharply critical, demanding evidence for US claims and defending European labor laws as robust.
- Kallas: “We have paid leave and we have very good working conditions.” ([00:40], Esme Nicholson, NPR)
- Kallas calls for the US to honor last year’s transatlantic trade deal.
The new tariffs replace previous 10% temporary global levies that expired at midnight.

2. US-Iran Military Escalation

[00:58 – 01:39]

US Central Command confirms a 13th consecutive night of strikes in Iran, targeting command centers, drone storage, and surveillance sites.
The US also redirected 12 commercial ships to block access to Iranian ports.
Iranian state media report explosions in the nation’s southwest, a sensitive military region.
Iran responded with attacks on US bases; sirens sounded in Bahrain and Kuwait.
- Direct quote: “US Central Command also said that it redirected 12 commercial vessels to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports.” ([01:16], Hadil El Shalchi, NPR)

3. Ukraine-Russia Latest & Zelensky-Trump Meeting

[01:39 – 02:16]

Ukrainian President Zelensky will meet with Trump at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing war.
Overnight, Ukraine launched new drone attacks into Russia, resulting in at least six deaths.

4. FDA Panel Considers Peptide Drug Access

[02:16 – 02:50]

The FDA advisory panel is moving towards making certain experimental peptide therapies more accessible, despite lack of human safety or efficacy data.
- “Specialized pharmacies [may] make four of the peptide therapies. Today. They're considering more.” ([02:28], Will Stone, NPR)
While these are not FDA-approved, they are widely marketed for wellness and other benefits.
The panel’s votes are not binding, but FDA often follows its advice.

5. Maine Senate Nomination Contest

[02:50 – 02:59]

Maine Democrats are set to choose a nominee to challenge Senator Susan Collins (R) in the next election.

6. Georgia School Shooting Plea

[02:59 – 03:19]

Colt Gray, now 15, pleaded guilty to all 55 counts in the school shooting that killed four people.
His father was previously convicted for providing the weapon.

7. Wisconsin Police Shooting Investigation

[03:19 – 04:15]

Homicide probe underway after officers fatally shot Corey Ruiz in Madison.
- Cell phone footage captured three officers restraining Ruiz, with a fourth officer firing the fatal shot.
- “He's like real open and talkative, but at first he's pretty shy. And he's a good—he's a good guy.” ([03:46], Tony Smith, reflecting on Ruiz)
The incident, which began over reported bike thefts, has ignited protests over excessive force. Officers are on leave.

8. Weather: Hurricane Fausto and Storm Bertha

[04:15 – 04:40]

Hurricane Fausto, a Category 2 storm, is strengthening in the Pacific and could affect Hawaii next week; the exact impact remains uncertain.
Storm Bertha has downgraded and is no longer a threat.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Kaia Kallas (EU FPC), on US accusations:
- “We have paid leave and we have very good working conditions.” ([00:40], via Esme Nicholson, NPR)
NPR’s Hadil El Shalchi, on US strikes in Iran:
- “US Central Command also said that it redirected 12 commercial vessels to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports.” ([01:16])
Tony Smith, on Corey Ruiz:
- “He's like real open and talkative, but at first he's pretty shy. And he's a good—he's a good guy.” ([03:46], Sarah Lear, NPR)

Timestamps for Segments

Tariffs & Global Reaction – 00:00 to 00:58
US-Iran Tensions – 00:58 to 01:39
Ukraine-Russia & Zelensky-Trump – 01:39 to 02:16
FDA Peptide Drug Discussions – 02:16 to 02:50
Maine Senate Race – 02:50 to 02:59
Georgia School Shooting Guilty Plea – 02:59 to 03:19
Wisconsin Police Shooting – 03:19 to 04:15
Weather Updates – 04:15 to 04:40

This episode delivers concise coverage of complex global politics, domestic justice issues, health regulation, and severe weather, with direct news reports and selected personal testimony reflecting the tense, fast-moving tone of the day’s events.

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Transcript12 lines

[00:01]
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Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. President Trump's latest round of tariffs imposing 10 to 12.5% levies on imports from 60 trading partners is prompting criticism from around the world. As Esme Nicholson reports, Trump claims the countries have failed to adequately enforce a ban on goods made with forced labor.
[00:23]
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European Union foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas has dismissed the US Rationale for new tariffs, calling claims that Europe is lax when it comes to forced labour unfamiliar. Callass is demanding evidence from the White House to support the allegations, drawing comparisons between US And EU labor laws. Kallas asserts that we have paid leave and we have very good working conditions. Kallas also called on the US to keep its side of the transatlantic trade deal struck last year. The new tariffs have replaced Trump's temporary 10% global levies, which expired at midnight. For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin.
[00:59]
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U.S. central Command says the military struck targets in Iran again last night, the 13th night in a row. NPR's Hadil El Shelchi has more.
[01:08]
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The U.S. said last night that it completed a 13th round of strikes in Iran. They attacked military command centers, drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, they said. US Central Command also said that it redirected 12 commercial vessels to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports. Iranian state media said that there were explosions in the southwest of the country. That's where some of the most sensitive military and maritime areas are. Iran retaliated with its own attacks on U.S. bases. There were sirens heard in Bahrain and Kuwait.
[01:39]
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NPR's Hadil El Shalchi Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the war with Russia, according to a White House official not authorized to speak publicly. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched another wave of drones across Russia overnight, killing at least six people. Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration are meeting for a second day to consider lifting restrictions on experimental peptide drugs. The panel has already taken a favorable stance on making the controversial therapies more accessible. NPR's Will Stone has more.
[02:17]
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These peptides are not FDA approved, Unlike the popular GLP1 weight loss drugs, but they're marketed broadly for wellness, longevity, metabolism, and more. On Thursday, an FDA panel of experts voted in favor of allowing allowing specialized pharmacies to make four of the peptide therapies. Today. They're considering more. Agency staff have recommended against green lighting any of the peptides because there's little data from humans on safety and effectiveness. The advisory panel votes are not binding, but the FDA typically does follow its advice. Will Stone, NPR News.
[02:50]
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Democrats in Maine meet tomorrow to select a nominee for the US Senate to challenge Republican Susan Collins. This is NPR News in Washington. The suspect in a deadly school shooting in Georgia pleaded guilty today to all 55 counts. Colt Gray was 14 when he opened fire at a high school about 45 miles northeast of Atlanta. Four people were killed earlier this year. A jury convicted his father in the shooting because he had given his son the assault style rifle used that day. State officials in Wisconsin have opened a homicide investigation into a deadly police shooting. In Madison, people gathered for a vigil to remember Corey Ruiz last night. Sarah Lear from Wisconsin Public Radio reports
[03:37]
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mourners gathered around a makeshift memorial. Tony Smith reflected on the time he spent with Corey Ruiz when they were kids.
[03:43]
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When you get to know him, he's like real open and talkative, but at first he's pretty shy. And he's a good he's a good guy.
[03:51]
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Officers responding to reports of someone stealing bikes and trying to get into parked cars on Wednesday got into a scuffle with ruiz, who was 38. Police say he pulled a knife. The officers weren't wearing body cameras, but cell phone video shows three officers restraining Ruiz to the ground. A fourth appears to shoot. Protests have broken out, claiming excessive force. The officers are on leave. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Lear in Madison.
[04:16]
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The National Hurricane center says Hurricane Fausto is gaining strength in the Pacific Ocean. It's now a Category 2 storm and is expected to approach the Hawaiian Islands next week. Meteorologists say it's too early to determine the exact location or size. Meanwhile, along the Gulf Coast, Bertha is no longer a tropical storm. It weakened last night. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.
[04:40]
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