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In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump visited the headquarters of the U.S. federal Reserve yesterday and met Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Trump has complained the Fed is too slow to lower interest rates. Yesterday he grumbled about the final cost of building renovations at the Fed. Trump handed Powell a document. Powell read it and said the extra costs Trump cited there were for a building that had been finished five years ago. NPR's Tamara Keith says Trump and his aides are still reviewing it.
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The project is very much over budget by hundreds of millions of dollars, in part due to steel tariffs, Covid inflation and the challenges of retrofitting histor historic buildings with modern standards. But Trump didn't seem particularly satisfied. And neither were top aides who came with him on the tour, including budget director Russell Vogt, who made it clear that this is not going away.
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NPR's Tamara Keith reporting. President Trump is scheduled to leave this morning for Scotland. He is set to visit his golf courses there and meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The president has signed an executive order to overhaul The how the U.S. manages Homelessness. As NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports, the aim is to make it easier to move people from street encampments into treatment.
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The order says endemic vagrancy has made cities unsafe and getting people into long term care for addiction or mental illness will restore public order. It calls on the attorney general to make it easier to commit people against their will by challenging past legal precedents. Cross critics say that would violate civil rights. Trump's action also calls for shifting federal funding toward treatment programs instead of housing. But some experts say forcing treatment does not work and that losing badly needed housing will only make it harder for communities to reduce homelessness. Jennifer Lutton, NPR News, Washington.
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The 9th U.S. circuit Court of Appeals has struck down a California law that had required buyers of ammunition to pass a background check. From member station kqed, Samantha Lim reports. Gun control advocates are calling the decision a threat to gun safety.
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The court declared the law unconstitutional and a violation of the Second Amendment since it restricts access to operable arms. A district court judge previously issued an injunction against the law, but the decision was stayed after the state appealed. Christian Heiny with the nonprofit Brady United Against Gun Violence and says the law functions the same as required background checks for firearm buyers.
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When you look at the fact that guns are the leading killer of children and young people in this country. We have got to do everything we possibly can in the name of public safety.
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A spokesperson for the California Department of Justice says the state is looking into its legal options. For NPR News, I'm Samantha Lim in San Francisco.
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You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The State Department has fired its top experts on the South China Sea, and it has shuttered the office that focuses on security in the region. The sweeping reorganization comes as some members of the Trump administration and others across the political aisle agree China remains a top national security concern. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf has more.
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The Office of Multilateral affairs coordinated across several countries to respond diplomatically to China's aggression in the South China Sea, a busy shipping passage for global trade and also a potential flashpoint for conflict. All the civil service officers on that team who had years of experience were fired. In a statement to npr, the State Department said that mission critical functions from any office eliminated will be integrated elsewhere. But it's unclear who will perform some of those functions. With the top experts now gone, critics worry these cuts could give China the upper hand in an increasingly tense situation. Kat Wahnsdorf, NPR News, Washington.
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Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan says judges should not be intimidated and that threats against them should stop. Kagan was speaking at a judicial conference yesterday. She didn't specify about whom she was talking. Separately, Kagan also said the Supreme Court should explain its decisions on cases that appear on its emergency docket. This is where lawsuits are filed to try to get quick action by the high court. Justices can issue quick rulings without hearing arguments. Extreme heat is lingering in the central and eastern US today. Extreme heat warnings are posted for St Louis. They're also up for Philadelphia and parts of New Jersey. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.
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Host: NPR
Title: NPR News Now
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Duration: 9 minutes
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.
Timeframe: [00:18] – [01:11]
President Donald Trump made a notable visit to the headquarters of the U.S. Federal Reserve, where he met with Fed Chair Jerome Powell. During the meeting, Trump expressed frustration with the Federal Reserve's perceived sluggishness in lowering interest rates.
During the discussion, Trump handed Powell a document addressing the final costs of building renovations at the Fed. Powell reviewed the document and responded that the additional costs cited were related to a building project completed five years prior. Despite this clarification, NPR's Tamara Keith reported that Trump and his aides are still scrutinizing the document.
The renovation project itself has significantly exceeded its budget by hundreds of millions of dollars due to factors such as steel tariffs, COVID-19-related inflation, and the complexities of updating historic buildings to meet modern standards. Trump appeared dissatisfied with these explanations, and his top aides, including Budget Director Russell Vogt, emphasized that these issues "are not going away" ([00:47]).
Reporter: Tamara Keith, NPR
Timeframe: [01:11] – [02:10]
Travel Plans: President Trump is scheduled to depart for Scotland, where he intends to visit his golf courses and hold discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Executive Order on Homelessness: In a significant policy move, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at overhauling the United States' approach to managing homelessness. As reported by Jennifer Ludden:
The order characterizes endemic vagrancy as a threat to urban safety and advocates for the involuntary commitment of individuals suffering from addiction or mental illness, challenging previous legal precedents to facilitate this process. Additionally, the order proposes reallocating federal funds from housing initiatives to treatment programs.
Criticism & Expert Opinions:
Critics' Perspective: Concerns have been raised that the executive order could infringe upon civil rights by forcing treatment on individuals without their consent.
Expert Commentary: Some experts argue that compulsory treatment is ineffective and that removing individuals from essential housing may exacerbate homelessness rather than mitigate it.
Reporter: Jennifer Ludden, NPR
Timeframe: [02:10] – [03:04]
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has invalidated a California state law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases. This decision has stirred controversy among gun control advocates and opponents alike.
Previously, a district court judge had issued an injunction against the law, but this decision was overturned when the state appealed the ruling.
Gun Control Advocacy:
State's Response: A spokesperson for the California Department of Justice announced that the state is exploring its legal options in response to the court's decision ([02:52]).
Reporter: Samantha Lim, NPR (Member Station KQED)
Timeframe: [03:13] – [04:13]
In a strategic shift, the U.S. State Department has terminated its top experts specializing in the South China Sea and closed the office dedicated to regional security. This move has sparked concerns regarding the United States' stance on China's activities in the area.
Official Statement: The State Department stated that "mission critical functions from any office eliminated will be integrated elsewhere," though specifics on who will assume these responsibilities remain unclear.
Critics' Concerns: With the departure of seasoned experts, there is growing apprehension that the United States may lose strategic ground, potentially allowing China to gain the upper hand in this increasingly volatile region.
Reporter: Kat Lonsdorf, NPR
Timeframe: [04:13] – [04:57]
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan addressed pressing issues concerning the judiciary at a recent judicial conference:
Justice Kagan did not specify particular threats but emphasized the importance of ensuring that the judiciary remains free from intimidation.
Extreme Weather Alerts:
Reporter: Korva Coleman, NPR
Timeframe: [04:13] – [04:57]
Extreme heat conditions persist across various parts of the United States today, with specific warnings issued for:
These heat advisories highlight the ongoing challenges posed by extreme weather patterns, impacting public health and daily activities.
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the NPR News Now episode released on July 25, 2025. For those who missed the broadcast, this overview provides a clear and detailed account of the major news stories covered.