NPR News: 07-29-2025 12PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 29, 2025, 12 PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Release Date: July 29, 2025

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Manhattan Office Shooting and NFL Grievance

Timestamp: [00:19]

The episode opens with a tragic incident in Manhattan where a gunman killed four individuals in an office building before taking his own life. New York City Mayor Eric Adams provided insights into the motive behind the shooting:

"We have reason to believe that he was focused on the NFL agency that."
— Mayor Eric Adams ([00:34])

Further details revealed that the suspect, a Las Vegas resident with a history of mental illness, held grievances against the National Football League. Investigators discovered a rambling note on his body, in which he expressed blame towards the NFL for repeated brain trauma. Interestingly, Mayor Adams mentioned that the suspect "got on the wrong elevator," adding a layer of complexity to the incident.

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Gaza Strip Faces Severe Famine Conditions

Timestamp: [00:44]

Shifting focus to international affairs, NPR's Emily Feng reports from Tel Aviv on the dire situation in the Gaza Strip:

"The alert by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, warns that 'widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths.'"
— Emily Feng ([01:24])

The United Nations-backed coalition issued an alert this morning, emphasizing that Gaza is experiencing its "worst case scenario of famine." The World Health Organization reported over 60 deaths due to malnutrition in July alone, with more than 20 of those being children under five. The IPC panel highlighted that at least 30% of children are suffering from acute malnutrition.

However, the data used was collected just four days prior, before Israel began allowing more food into Gaza. The panel plans to conduct a new analysis with updated information. Israeli officials have denied the presence of starvation in Gaza, attributing the humanitarian crisis to Hamas's interference in aid distribution.

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Trump Sues Rupert Murdoch and Wall Street Journal

Timestamp: [02:12]

In a significant legal battle, former President Donald Trump is expanding his lawsuits to include media mogul Rupert Murdoch. NPR's David Folkenflick provides an in-depth analysis:

"Trump wants a judge to give Murdoch just two weeks to be deposed, saying it's uncertain whether he would show up at a trial."
— David Folkenflick ([02:25])

Trump alleges that Murdoch published a story claiming he sent a body birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein two decades ago—a claim Trump vehemently denies:

"Trump says he did not draw or send such a note."
— David Folkenflick ([02:25])

Despite Trump's lawyers describing the case against Murdoch as "flimsy," Trump has previously secured large settlements from other major media and tech companies under similar dubious claims. This move indicates Trump's intent to challenge his former allies in the media landscape.

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Stock Market Declines

Timestamp: [03:09]

The U.S. stock market faced downturns during the reporting period:

"The Dow Jones industrial average is down more than 200 points. The S&P has lost 10, and the NASDAQ is down 31 points."
— Lakshmi Singh ([03:09], [04:42])

These declines reflect broader economic uncertainties and investor apprehensions affecting the market.

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Protests in Serbia Against Corrupt Leadership

Timestamp: [03:09]

In Serbia, anti-government demonstrators clashed with police as they forcibly removed students from a university faculty building in Novi Pazar. The protesters, who had been camping on-site for months, accused the Serbian leadership of corruption. The unrest intensified following a tragic incident last November when a concrete canopy collapsed at a renovated train station, resulting in 16 fatalities.

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Booker Prize 2025: Diverse Nominee List Announced

Timestamp: [03:09]

The literary community buzzes with the announcement of this year's Booker Prize nominees. NPR's Andrew Limbong details the diverse and compelling list:

"Reva's novel 'Endling' is about a Ukrainian scientist studying snails until the war starts, and then it becomes about a woman writing a novel about a Ukrainian scientist studying snails."
— Andrew Limbong ([04:04])

Among the thirteen candidates, two are debut novelists:

• Reva Azoga for Endling: A metafictional narrative intertwining scientific pursuit and the impacts of war.
• Maria Joga for Misinterpretation: Follows an unnamed interpreter deeply involved in the lives of those she translates for.

Other notable nominees include:

• Susan Choi for Flashlight
• Ben Markovitz for The Rest of Our Lives
• Katie Kitamura for Audition

The judging panel features acclaimed figures such as novelist Kylie Reid, actress and producer Sarah Jessica Parker, and former Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle, who chairs the panel this year.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of significant local and international events, touching on tragic incidents, humanitarian crises, legal battles involving high-profile figures, economic updates, social unrest, and cultural achievements in literature. Through detailed reporting and insightful quotes, listeners are kept informed on the pressing issues of the day.

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This summary was generated based on the transcript of the NPR News Now episode released on July 29, 2025. For the full details, listeners are encouraged to tune into the original podcast.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The gunman who killed four people in a Manhattan office building yesterday before he took his own life apparently had a grievance with a National football league. Here's New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

[Eric Adams]

We have reason to believe that he was focused on the NFL agency that.

[Carvana Representative]

Was located in the building.

[Lakshmi Singh]

But the mayor tells MSNBC today the suspect got on the wrong elevator. Investigators disclosed they'd found a rambling note on the suspect's body. He appeared to blame the NFL for repeated brain trauma. The gunman played high school football some 20 years earlier in California. Police say the Las Vegas resident had a history of mental illness. The Gaza Strip is experiencing the, quote, worst case scenario of famine. The United nations backed coalition issued that alert this morning, but stopped short of issuing a formal famine declaration. NPR's Emily Feng brings us that story from Tel Aviv.

[Emily Feng]

The alert by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, warns that, quote, widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease are driving a rise in hunger related deaths. The World Health Organization says more than 60 people died of malnutrition in July alone, more than 20 of them children under five years old for hunger to reach the famine threshold. On the IPC, the panel says it found at least 30% of children experiencing acute malnutrition. The panel used data collected up to four days ago before Israel started letting in more food to Gaza. So the group said a new analysis would be conducted without delay and updated data. Israeli officials have denied there is starvation in Gaza and have blamed Hamas for stoking chaos in aid distribution. Emily Fang, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Lakshmi Singh]

President Trump's lawyers wanted to pose Rupert Murdoch, Trump suing the 94 year old media mogul, the Wall Street Journal's parent company and two of the paper's reporters for here's NPR's David Folkenfleck.

[David Folkenflick]

The two titans of the American right have been political allies for the past decade. Murdoch's Fox News, the New York Post and the Journal's editorial pages have largely served as pillars of support for Trump. Now Trump wants a judge to give Murdoch just two weeks to be deposed, saying it's uncertain whether he would show up at a trial. Trump says he warned Murdoch not to publish a story saying Trump had sent a body birthday message two decades ago to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Trump says he did not draw or send such a note. Outside lawyers say Trump's case is flimsy, yet he has won big settlements from the parent companies of abc, cbs, Facebook and X for suits that were similarly deemed as weak. Now Trump is putting his former ally Murdoch on notice, too. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow Jones industrial average is down more than 200 points. From Washington, this is NPR News. In Serbia, anti government demonstrators confronted police today after students were forced out of a university faculty building in Novi Pazar. The group had been camping on site for months in protest against the Serbian leadership they accused of being corrupt. Anger first erupted last November following the collapse of a concrete canopy at a renovated train station. Sixteen people were killed in that incident. The long list of nominees for this year's Booker Prize is out. Thirteen candidates are in the running for one of the most prestigious awards recognizing works published in the United Kingdom. NPR's Andrew Limbong says two are debut novelists.

[Eric Adams]

The First Time's the Charm for Maria, Reva and Lady Azoga. Reva's novel Endling is about a Ukrainian scientist studying snails until the war starts, and then it becomes about a woman writing a novel about a Ukrainian scientist studying snails. Joga's novel Misinterpretation follows an unnamed interpreter who gets very involved in the lives of people she's doing translations for. Other nominees include Susan Choi for Flashlight, ben Markovitz for the Rest of Our Lives, and Katie Kitamura for Audition. The judges this year include novelist Kylie Reid, actor and producer Sarah Jessica Parker, and author Roddy Doyle, who is the first Booker Prize winner to chair the panel. Andrew Limbaugh, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks are lower this hour with the dow down nearly 200 points. The S&P has lost 10, and the NASDAQ is down 31 points. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.

[Carvana Representative]

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