NPR News Now: Episode Summary – July 28, 2025

Host: Dale Willman | Release Date: July 28, 2025

1. Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

Timestamp: [00:16]

Host: Dale Willman

Israel and Jordan have initiated a significant humanitarian effort by conducting airdrops of essential food supplies over the Gaza Strip. This move comes amidst widespread international criticism over aid restrictions leading to severe food shortages in the region.

Reporter: Daniel Estrin ([00:31])

• Jordan and UAE Partnership: In collaboration with the United Arab Emirates, Jordan executed airdrops delivering 25 tons of food to Gaza. Concurrently, the Israeli Air Force contributed by dropping staples such as flour, sugar, and canned goods.

• UN World Food Program (WFP) Response: The WFP has lauded Israel's recent commitment to establishing secure routes for aid trucks entering Gaza. According to Estrin, the WFP states that a third of Gaza's population has been unable to access food for several days. However, with the latest aid shipments and incoming supplies, the WFP anticipates having sufficient food to sustain Gaza's population for approximately three months.

• Interception of Activist Boat: The Israeli navy has also intercepted a vessel carrying international activists attempting to breach Israel's blockade on Gaza. The boat was seized while transporting food and other humanitarian supplies, with Israel confirming plans to bring it ashore.

Notable Quote:

Daniel Estrin: "The UN World Food Program... has enough food in or on its way to Gaza to feed Gaza's whole population for about three months." ([00:45])

2. US-EU Trade Agreement Reached

Timestamp: [01:18]

Host: Dale Willman

The United States and the European Union have successfully negotiated a trade deal, just days before President Donald Trump’s impending August 1st tariff deadline.

Reporter: Elena Moore ([01:30])

• Tariff Adjustments: The agreement reduces the 15% tariff on EU exports to the U.S., a decrease from the previously threatened 30% rate.

• Exclusions and Commitments: President Trump clarified that the deal excludes steel, aluminum, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, the agreement stipulates that no tariffs will be imposed on U.S. imports into the EU. In return, the EU has committed to purchasing $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and investing $600 billion in the United States.

Host Commentary:

Dale Willman: "This was the big one. This is the biggest of them all." ([01:58])

• Significance: The EU stands as one of the U.S.'s largest trading partners. While numerous countries received new proposed tariff rates from the White House, only a select few have formalized agreements.

Notable Quote:

President Trump: "The deal excludes steel, aluminum, and pharmaceuticals... the EU will purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and invest $600 billion into the country." ([01:40])

3. US Health Policy Shake-Up

Timestamp: [02:15]

Host: Dale Willman

A concerning report from the Wall Street Journal suggests that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may be on the verge of dismissing all members of a crucial panel responsible for setting guidelines in primary care.

Reporter: Ping Huang ([02:31])

• Preventive Services Task Force: Comprising 16 experts in medicine, research, and public health, this panel provides recommendations to primary care physicians on screening, advising, and treating patients for various health issues.

• Medical Community's Response: Dr. Bobby Mukhamla, President of the American Medical Association (AMA), warns that the removal of these panel members could compromise the quality of medical guidance. Huang highlights that the AMA, along with over a hundred other health organizations, has urged Congress to safeguard the task force’s integrity.

Notable Quotes:

Dale Willman: "That's just fundamentally not how we should." ([02:51])

Daniel Estrin: "Treat the science of screening people for things like cancer, for things like diabetes, for things like cardiology issues." ([02:53])

4. Tribute to Tom Lehrer, Celebrated Musical Satirist

Timestamp: [03:11]

Host: Dale Willman

NPR mourns the loss of Tom Lehrer, the renowned musical satirist known for his razor-sharp wit and influential songs critiquing politics, nuclear threats, and social issues. Lehrer passed away at the age of 97.

Contributor: Art Silverman ([03:36])

• Career Highlights: Lehrer began his foray into musical satire during his time at Harvard University in the 1950s, recording albums such as Smut, Give Me Smut, and Nothing but. The 1960s saw the release of That Was the Year that Was, First We Got the Bomb, and Good ‘Cause We Love Peace and Motherhood.

• Personal Reflections: Lehrer had stepped back from performing, expressing in 1997 that his sense of humor had shifted:

Lehrer: "Used to laugh more. Now I get angry. And it's very hard to be funny, let's say, and angry at the same time." ([04:00])

• Legacy: In 2020, Lehrer generously relinquished all copyright claims to his work, allowing his impactful and pioneering musical satire to continue influencing future generations.

Notable Quote:

Art Silverman: "Those songs had great impact on musical satire, even though there were no more than 50 of them." ([04:12])

5. Box Office Highlights This Weekend

Timestamp: [04:26]

Host: Dale Willman

The latest weekend box office numbers see Marvel's "Fantastic Four: First Steps" leading the charts, followed by "Superman" and "Jurassic World Rebirth."

• Fantastic Four: First Steps: Grossed $118 million in North America and an additional $100 million internationally, marking it Marvel's biggest opening since Deadpool and Wolverine last summer.

• Superman: Secured the second spot with $24.9 million in ticket sales.

• Jurassic World Rebirth: Claimed the third position, earning $13 million.

Closing Remarks

NPR News Now continues to deliver concise and comprehensive updates on the most pressing global and national issues, ensuring listeners are well-informed on matters ranging from international humanitarian efforts and critical trade negotiations to significant shifts in health policy and cultural tributes.

This summary excludes sponsor messages and non-content elements to focus solely on the news discussed in the episode.