NPR News: 07-26-2025 3AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – July 26, 2025

Release Date: July 26, 2025

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1. President Trump's Visit to Scottish Golf Courses

Timestamp: [00:14]

NPR's Dale Willman reports that former President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit his golf courses in Scotland this weekend. This visit has sparked concerns among local police unions, citing that their officers are already overextended and will be redirected from their regular duties to provide security. The financial implications of such protection measures are significant, reminiscent of the previous Trump visit in 2018, which incurred police costs of approximately $19 million.

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2. Ghislaine Maxwell's Interviews and Legal Proceedings

Timestamp: [00:14 – 01:12]

The episode covers updates on Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in assisting Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of underage girls. Maxwell's attorney, David Marcus, highlighted that recent interviews with the Department of Justice mark the first opportunity for Maxwell to address the allegations directly.

David Marcus [00:55]: "We don't know how it's going to play out. We just know that this was the first opportunity she's ever been given to answer questions about what happened. And so the truth will come out about what happened with Mr. Epstein and she's the person who's answering those questions."

Marcus also clarified that there was no request for clemency from President Trump in exchange for her cooperation with officials.

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3. Humanitarian Crisis and Ceasefire Negotiations in Gaza

Timestamp: [01:12 – 02:15]

As aid organizations express growing alarm over the ongoing starvation crisis in Gaza, the Trump administration attributes the plight to Hamas's refusal to accept Israel's proposed ceasefire terms. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that President Trump is proposing a diplomatic solution that may be unattainable under current circumstances.

Trump articulated his stance on the matter:

Donald Trump [01:35]: "The US And Israel pulled their negotiating teams out of Qatar after receiving Hamas latest counter proposal for a ceasefire that would have seen some hostages get out of Gaza. It's disappointing."

Donald Trump [01:48]: "It was too bad Hamas, Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die and it's very, very bad."

Trump further suggested that Hamas would lose their "shield" once the remaining hostages are released, forcing Israel to eliminate the group entirely.

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4. Escalation of Conflict Between Thailand and Cambodia

Timestamp: [02:15 – 03:08]

A territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has intensified, leading to large-scale displacement and casualties. NPR's Jan Kamton Brimby, reporting from Taipei, details that over 60,000 people have fled their homes due to renewed clashes involving gunfire, shelling, and rocket attacks. This flare-up follows a previous incident in May, where a Cambodian soldier was killed, marking some of the most severe violence in years. Both nations continue to accuse each other of initiating the recent hostilities, with tensions remaining high as the conflict spreads.

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5. Uncertainty in Israeli-Palestinian Ceasefire Talks

Timestamp: [03:08 – 03:50]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is contemplating alternative strategies to the ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. This development coincides with the withdrawal of US and Israeli negotiating teams from Qatar, injecting uncertainty into the peace process. Meanwhile, a Hamas official indicated that negotiations might resume next week, dismissing the withdrawal as a pressure tactic by the US and Israel.

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6. Controversy Over Amy Sherreild's Artwork at the Smithsonian

Timestamp: [03:50 – 04:32]

Artist Amy Sherreild has canceled her upcoming exhibition, American Sublime, at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. The cancellation stems from a dispute over her painting "Transforming Liberty," which portrays a trans woman in a blue gown holding a torch. Sherreild criticized the Smithsonian for considering the removal of her piece, attributing the action to institutional fear influenced by widespread political hostility toward transgender lives.

Amy Sherreild: "It's clear that institutional fear, shaped by a broader climate of political hostility toward trans lives, played a role."

In response, a Smithsonian spokesperson clarified that the Portrait Gallery intended to add a video featuring public reactions to the painting to provide context, not to remove it entirely. President Trump has also weighed in, criticizing the Smithsonian for its emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, which he claims is divisive.

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7. Passing of British Jazz Singer Cleo Lane

Timestamp: [04:32 – 04:54]

The British jazz community mourns the loss of Cleo Lane, who passed away at the age of 97. Recognized as Britain's preeminent jazz vocalist, Lane was celebrated for her dynamic performances and her long-standing marriage to renowned bandleader John Dankworth. Together, they remained active in the music scene well into their eighties. Beyond music, Lane also showcased her talent as an actress on both stage and screen.

Dale Willman [04:32]: "Many fans considered her to be Britain's greatest contribution to jazz."

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to maintain focus on the primary news topics discussed in the episode.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump is visiting his golf courses in Scotland this weekend. His trip is causing concern for police unions there who say their members are already overworked and will be diverted from their normal duties. The cost to protect the golf course is expected to be considerable. Police costs for a previous Trump visit in 2018 reached about $19 million. Jeffrey Epstein's ex girlfriend Friday finished two days of interviews with officials from the Justice Department. Ghislaine Maxwell is serving a 20 year prison term for helping Epstein to sexually abuse underage girls. Her attorney, David Marcus, says his client is glad she finally got a chance to talk about Epstein.

[David Marcus]

We don't know how it's going to play out. We just know that this was the first opportunity she's ever been given to answer question about what happened. And so the truth will come out about what happened with Mr. Epstein and she's the person who's answering those questions.

[Dale Willman]

Marcus also said they did not ask President Trump for clemency in return for her talking with the government officials. As aid groups warm of continuing starvation in Gaza, the Trump administration is blaming Hamas for not accepting Israel's terms for a ceasefire. Now NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that President Trump is even suggesting a diplomatic deal that may not be possible.

[Donald Trump]

The US And Israel pulled their negotiating teams out of Qatar after receiving Hamas latest counter proposal for a ceasefire that would have seen some hostages get out of Gaza. President Trump calls the situation disappointing.

It was too bad Hamas, Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die and it's very, very bad.

Trump says Hamas understands what will happen once the remaining hostages are released. Hamas will, quote, lose their shield and lose their now Trump says Israel will have to fight, clean it up and get rid of them. Those were his words. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Dale Willman]

Tens of thousands of people have left their homes along the border of Thailand and Cambodia after the two countries began fighting as part of an ongoing territorial dispute there. The clash has followed months of escalation and now a rising number of people are confirmed to have been killed. We get the latest from Yan Kamen Zind Brumbi, who's in Taipei.

[Jan Kamton Brimby]

Gunfire, shelling and rocket fire have all been reported along the contentious border region. Thai and Cambodian authorities say more than 60,000 people have been displaced because of the violence. The border region is no stranger to conflict and has been a point of contention for decades. This latest flare up follows another in May in which a Cambodian soldier was shot and has sparked the worst fighting in years. Each side accuses the other for the battle this week, and tensions remain high as the fighting spreads. For NPR News, I'm Jan Kamton Brimby in Taipei.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he's considering what he called alternative options to cease fire talks with Hamas. His Friday statement came one day after the US And Israel recalled their negotiating teams, a move that creates uncertainty in the move toward a ceasefire. The Hamas official, meanwhile, says negotiations are expected to resume next week. He called the actions by the US And Israel a pressure tactic. Artist Amy Sherrold is canceling an upcoming show of her work at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. Her work documents the African American experience with boldly colored portraits. She's best known for her painting of Michelle Obama. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has more.

[Elizabeth Blair]

Amy Sherrild is canceling American Sublime because of a dispute over her painting of a trans woman in a blue gown holding a torch called Transforming Liberty, Sherrild said in a statement the Smith Smithsonian considered removing it from the show. She wrote it's clear that institutional fear, shaped by a broader climate of political hostility toward trans lives, played a role. A spokesperson for the Smithsonian tells NPR the Portrait Gallery wanted to add a video of people reacting to the painting to contextualize it, not remove it. President Trump has criticized the Smithsonian for focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion, which he says is divisive. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington.

[Dale Willman]

British jazz singer Cleo Lane has died. She was 97 years old. Many fans considered her to be Britain's greatest contribution to jazz. She was married for many years to bandleader John Dankworth. The two of them continued to perform into their 80s. Lane also acted both on stage and in films. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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