NPR News: 07-25-2025 7AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 25, 2025, 7 AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Source: NPR
Release Date: July 25, 2025

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1. President Trump's Tense Visit to the Federal Reserve

Washington, D.C. – In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump visited the Federal Reserve yesterday, sparking a rare confrontation with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The visit was ostensibly to inspect a renovation project at the central bank—a project Trump has openly criticized.

NPR's Rafael Nam reports that such presidential visits to the Fed are highly unusual, given the institution's commitment to maintaining its independence. During the visit, President Trump expressed frustration over the projected $2.5 billion cost of the renovations.

At [00:55], Powell responded to Trump's concerns:

Jerome Powell: "We're taking a look and it looks like it's about 3.1 billion. Went up a little bit or a lot?"

Nashe disagreed with Powell's figure, leading to a moment of tension. Powell clarified:

Jerome Powell: "I haven't heard that from anybody at the Fed."

Powell pointed out that Trump's cited figure erroneously included costs from a building constructed five years prior. Following this exchange, the two walked away without further confrontation, signaling a temporary thaw in the dialogue.

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2. Legal Proceedings Surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell

Florida – Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanch is set to return for a second day of questioning Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of the late Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell, currently imprisoned in Florida for her role in Epstein's sexual exploitation of minors, met with Blanch under tight security.

Maxwell's legal representation included attorney David Marcus, who commented on the interrogation:

David Marcus: "We're not going to comment on the substance, but there were a lot of questions and we went all day and she answered every one of them. She never just said, 'I'm not going to answer,' never declined."

The Trump administration appears to be attempting to placate concerned Trump supporters demanding more transparency regarding the Epstein files. Additionally, a House Republican leader has subpoenaed Maxwell to testify before Congress, intensifying the political ramifications of the case.

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3. Declining Homicide and Violent Crime Rates in the U.S.

Nationwide – The United States is witnessing a decline in homicide and other violent crime rates, according to a mid-year report by the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank. NPR's Meg Anderson highlights that the analysis mirrors findings from other research entities.

The Council examined 13 different crimes across over three dozen U.S. cities, including violent offenses like homicide and sexual assault, as well as property crimes such as shoplifting and motor vehicle theft. Findings revealed that:

• Nearly all examined crimes saw lower levels in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
• Drug-related offenses remained steady.
• Domestic violence rates experienced a slight uptick.

[02:26] Meg Anderson explains:

"Violent crime, in particular, is especially down. Those types of crimes are lower now than they were before the pandemic. Some crime analysts say a reinvestment in communities after the pandemic from local governments is a key reason why crime is falling."

This trend suggests that community-focused initiatives and governmental support post-pandemic are effectively curbing violent activities across the nation.

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4. U.S. Negotiations on the Gaza Conflict Pause Amidst Rising Tensions

International – The United States is retracting its negotiating team from consultations concerning the ongoing war in Gaza. The Trump administration's envoy cited Hamas's apparent unwillingness to agree to a ceasefire as the primary reason for halting talks.

The administration indicated that alternative options for addressing the situation in Gaza would be considered, though no specific details were provided. In contrast, Hamas has disputed these claims, stating:

"We're surprised and that it has shown responsibility and flexibility in negotiations."

This suspension of negotiations coincides with alarming reports from aid organizations warning of impending mass starvation in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis underscores the urgency of diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict.

In related news, President Trump is departing for Scotland, where he plans to spend four days visiting his golf courses and meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

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5. Groundbreaking Research Offers Hope in the Fight Against Malaria

Global Health – Malaria continues to pose a significant threat, with mosquitoes infecting over 250 million people annually with the parasite responsible for the disease. However, new research published in the journal Nature offers a promising avenue for prevention.

NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports that scientists have discovered a method to disrupt the malaria parasite's transmission by making minor adjustments to the mosquito genome. Specifically, the parasite must travel from the mosquito's gut to its salivary glands to infect humans. Researchers have successfully blocked this journey by altering just a few letters in the mosquito's DNA.

At [04:33], biologist Fred Gould from NC State, who was not involved in the study, commented:

Fred Gould: "The idea that you could just change one amino acid and not have it transmitted is a pretty big deal."

While the results are promising, the path to practical application requires further development. Researchers are exploring ways to propagate this genetic modification throughout mosquito populations efficiently. Nevertheless, they caution that it will likely take several years before the technology undergoes field testing and potential real-world deployment.

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6. Market Update and Other News Briefs

• Wall Street: Dow futures are trending higher in pre-market trading, reflecting investor optimism.

• Malaria Research: As detailed above, new genetic techniques offer potential breakthroughs in malaria prevention.

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This comprehensive update encapsulates the key events and discussions aired during the NPR News Now episode on July 25, 2025, providing insights into political dynamics, legal proceedings, public safety trends, international relations, and scientific advancements.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump sparred with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell yesterday during his visit to the central bank. As NPR's Rafael Nam reports, Trump was there to inspect a renovation project that he's been criticizing.

[Rafael 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.

[Jerome Powell]

We're taking a look and it looks like it's about 3.1 billion. Went up a little bit or a lot?

[Rafael Nam]

Powell shook his head in disagreement.

[Jerome Powell]

I haven't heard that from anybody at the Fed.

[Rafael 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. Rafael Nam, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Deputy U.S. attorney General Todd Blanch will return for a second day today to question the former girlfriend of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The deputy attorn general spoke with Ghislaine Maxwell in Florida. She's imprisoned there for helping Epstein sexually exploit girls. Maxwell's lawyer used David Marcus.

[David Marcus]

We're not going to comment on the, on the substance, but there were a lot of questions and we went all day and she answered every one of them. She never just said, I'm not going to answer, never declined.

[Korva Coleman]

The deputy US Attorney general arranged the meeting with Maxwell. The Trump administration is trying to quiet anger from Trump supporters who are demanding more information about the Epstein files. A House Republican leader has also subpoenaed Ghislain Maxwell to testify to Congress. Homicide and other violent crime rates are falling in the United States. That's according to a mid year analysis of crime data released by the Council on Criminal Justice. This is a Nonpartisan think tank. NPR's Meg Anderson reports. The analysis mirrors the findings of other researchers.

[Meg Anderson]

The Council on Criminal justice looked at the rates of 13 crimes in more than three dozen US cities. Those included violent crimes like homicide and sexual assault and property crimes like shoplifting and motor vehicle theft. Researchers found the levels of nearly all crimes they examined were lower in the first half of this year than the first half of last year. Drug offenses remained the same, and domestic violence rates rose slightly. Violent crime, in particular, is especially down. Those types of crimes are lower now than they were before the pandemic. Some crime analysts say a reinvestment in communities after the pandemic from local governments is a key reason why crime is falling. Meg Anderson, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street and pre market trading, Dow futures are higher. You're listening to NPR. The U.S. is bringing home its negotiating team for consultations about the war in Gaza. The Trump administration's envoy says Hamas has shown a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire. He says the US Will consider alternative options for Gaza, but did not offer details. Hamas says it's surprised and that it has shown responsibility and flexibility in negotiations. The pause in these talks comes as aid groups warn of mass starvation spreading in Gaza. President Trump is leaving this morning for Scotland. He'll spend four days there. He's expected to visit his two golf courses and meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Mosquitoes infect over 250 million people each year with a parasite that causes malaria. New research in the journal Nature suggests those infections could be prevented with a tiny tweak to the mosquito's genome. NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports on this study.

[Jonathan Lambert]

To infect a person, the parasite that causes malaria must travel from the mosquito's gut to its salivary glands. Researchers disrupted this journey by changing just a few letters of the mosquito's genome, effectively blocking transmission. Here's Fred Gould, a biologist at NC State who wasn't involved in the study.

[Jerome Powell]

The idea that you could just change one amino acid and not have it transmitted is a pretty big deal.

[Jonathan Lambert]

The researchers are working on ways of spreading this genetic tweak quickly through a whole population, but they say it'll be several years before the technology is even tested in the field, much less the real world. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

And I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, from Washington.

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