NPR News: 07-27-2025 1AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 27, 2025

Host: Dale Willman
Release Date: July 27, 2025

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President Trump’s Scotland Visit Amidst Controversy

Timestamp: 00:18 – 04:03

President Donald Trump is currently spending the weekend in Scotland, focusing on promoting his golf resorts and engaging in discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Upon arriving in Edinburgh, Trump addressed the media but notably avoided questions regarding his past association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Donald Trump (00:34): "I'm focused on making deals. I'm not focused on conspiracy theories that you are."

Despite his efforts to advance his business interests, Trump's visit has not been without tension. Scottish protesters disrupted his motorcade, carrying signs referencing Epstein, and a sign was placed at one of Trump's golf resorts labeling it as "twinned with Epstein Island," highlighting ongoing scrutiny of his affiliations.

NPR’s Lauren Fryer reported from Edinburgh.

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Mass Stabbing at Michigan Walmart Leaves Eleven Hospitalized

Timestamp: 01:14 – 04:03

A tragic incident unfolded at a Walmart Supercenter in Traverse City, Northern Michigan, where a mass stabbing resulted in eleven individuals being hospitalized, some in serious or critical condition. Authorities have identified a 42-year-old man as the suspect, who is currently in custody.

Sheriff Michael Shea (01:33): "We believe he acted alone at this time. There is no information indicating there were additional suspects. It appears that these were all random acts."

Sheriff Shea detailed the swift response by deputies and the crucial role played by bystanders in apprehending the suspect and assisting the injured. Walmart has condemned the violence and pledged cooperation with law enforcement. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed her condolences and support for the victims via a statement on X.

NPR’s Ed Ronco reported for Interlockin Public Radio.

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Extreme Heat Conditions Grip the United States

Timestamp: 02:08 – 04:03

The United States is currently experiencing significant heat across multiple regions. Extreme heat warnings have been issued for parts of North and South Carolina, while heat advisories extend from Virginia down to Florida. The Midwest is also under heat watches, with the heat index expected to soar above 100°F on Sunday.

Larry Odle, Lowell, Arkansas (02:26): "They love this place. We've taken them here before, but it's so hot outside you gotta do something."

Residents are finding creative ways to stay cool, such as visiting splash pools and other water attractions. Experts emphasize that these extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-induced climate change, underscoring the urgent need for climate action.

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Russian Railway Hit by Ukrainian Drone Debris

Timestamp: 02:33 – 04:03

In southern Russia, falling debris from destroyed Ukrainian drones has damaged a railway power supply in the Volgograd region. Although no injuries have been reported, the extent of the damage remains unclear. Additionally, the local airport was shut down due to drone activity, and air raid alerts were sounded in several other parts of the country, highlighting the ongoing tensions and vulnerabilities in the region.

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Impact of Trump-Era Cuts on National Parks

Timestamp: 02:08 – 04:15

Former National Park Service employees are voicing strong opposition to significant budget cuts implemented during President Trump's administration. These reductions are feared to severely impact the maintenance and infrastructure of national parks, threatening both the natural environment and the economies of surrounding communities.

NPR's Kirk Siegler reported from Whitefish, Montana.

Zach Anderson, Explore Whitefish (03:34): "National parks have faced billions of dollars in backlogs for maintenance and infrastructure projects for a decade now. But tourism boosters like Zach Anderson are worried that the Trump administration's latest cuts could erode the park experience so much that tourists will start going elsewhere."

Zach Anderson (04:03): "Whitefish has seen a drop in its lucrative Canadian tourism market this summer, but is holding on steady thanks to an increase in domestic tourists."

Kirk Siegler highlighted the challenges faced by tourism-dependent communities, noting that reduced federal staffing and ongoing uncertainties could deter future visitors, thereby impacting local businesses and economies.

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Wildfires in Greece and Flooding in Pakistan Cause Widespread Displacement and Casualties

Timestamp: 04:15 – 04:57

Residents in a northern suburb of Athens, Greece, are being evacuated due to a fierce wildfire fueled by temperatures exceeding 100°F, dry conditions, and high winds. This fire is one of several major wildfires currently burning across the country, straining emergency response efforts.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is grappling with severe flooding in its northwest region. The monsoon season has already claimed at least 260 lives, with fears of a recurrence of the devastating 2022 floods, which resulted in over 1,700 fatalities and submerged large portions of the country. Officials are preparing for continued heavy rainfall that could exacerbate the flooding crisis.

NPR News provided comprehensive coverage on these developing stories.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, introductions, and non-content sections to focus solely on the key news stories presented in the NPR News Now episode.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. President Trump is spending the weekend in Scotland. He's playing golf and promoting golf resorts he owns there. He's also meeting with British and European leaders, but issues back home have followed him to Scotland. NPR's Lauren Frayer has more from Edinburgh.

[Donald Trump]

Stepping off Air Force One in Scotland, President Trump dodged reporters questions about his former friend Jeffrey Epstein.

I'm focused on making deals. I'm not focused on conspiracy theories that you are.

Trump is promoting his business interests here, inaugurating a new golf course at one of his resorts, and also talking trade and tariffs with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. But Scottish protesters lined his motorcade route, some with signs about Epstein. They also installed a sign at the entrance to one of Trump's golf resorts here saying it's, quote, twinned with Epstein Island. Lauren Fryer, NPR News, Edinburgh.

[Dale Willman]

Police in Northern Michigan are investigating a mass stabbing at a Walmart Supercenter. Eleven people are being treated at a local hospital. All of them are in either serious or critical condition. From Interlockin Public Radio, Ed Ronco has our story.

[Michael Shea]

Grand Traverse county authorities say a 42 year old man is in custody. Here's Sheriff Michael Shea.

[Donald Trump]

We believe he acted alone at this time. There is no information indicating there were additional suspects. It appears that these were all random acts.

[Michael Shea]

He said sheriff's deputies responded within minutes on Saturday afternoon and that bystanders helped apprehend the suspect and treat the injured. The Walmart where the stabbings took place is in a busy shopping center in Traverse City, Michigan. In a statement, the company condemned the violence and said it will work with law enforcement. In a statement on X, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said her thoughts were with the victims. For NPR News, I'm Ed Ronko.

[Dale Willman]

Heat is the word for much of the US this weekend. Extreme heat warnings are in effect for parts of north and South Carolina, while heat advisories are in effect from Virginia down to Florida. The Midwest also has some heat watches in place. Larry Odle of Lowell, Arkansas, says he took his grandkids to a splash pool to cope.

[Larry Odle]

They love this place. We've taken them here before, but it's so hot outside you gotta do something.

[Dale Willman]

That cool them off, at least in some areas. The heat index will be well above 100 on Sunday. The science is clear that human induced climate change is increasing the frequency, intensity and the duration of such extreme events. Officials in southern Russia say falling debris from destroyed Ukrainian drones hit a railway power supply overnight. They say there were no injuries from the attack, which took place in the Volgograd region, but the extent of any further damage is not yet known. The airport there was also shut down because of Ukrainian drones, and air raid alerts were also heard in several other parts of the country. You're listening to NPR News. In letters to Congress and in public protests in recent days, former National Park Service employees are warning that President Trump's large cuts to the agency were will devastate the park's environment and the local economies around them. NPR's Kirk Siegler has more from a tourist town outside Glacier National Park.

[Zach Anderson]

National parks have faced billions of dollars in backlogs for maintenance and infrastructure projects for a decade now. But tourism boosters like Zach Anderson, who runs Explore Whitefish, are worried that the Trump administration's latest cuts could erode the park experience so much that tourists will start going elsewhere. He says well managed parks make money.

[Kirk Siegler]

You've got the federal government reducing staff at the national park, and it just seems like there's a lot of uncertainty and a lot of counterintuitive decisions being made.

[Zach Anderson]

Anderson says Whitefish has seen a drop in its lucrative Canadian tourism market this summer, but is holding on steady thanks to an increase in domestic tourists. Kirk Sigler, NPR News, Whitefish, Montana.

[Dale Willman]

Residents of a northern suburb of Athens, Greece, are being evacuated as a wildfire burns there tonight. Officials say temperatures above 100 degrees coupled with dry conditions and high winds are making it difficult to get that fire under control. Three other major wildfires, meanwhile, are also burning in other parts of that country. In Pakistan, the northwest part of that country is dealing with major flooding this weekend, and more rain is forecast for several more days there. At least 260 people have died so far this monsoon season, and officials are now concerned the country might see a repeat of the 2022 floods, which submerged a third submerged a third of the country and killed more than 1,700 people. This is NPR News.

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