NPR News: 07-30-2025 5AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 30, 2025, 5AM EDT

Host: Dave Mattingly
Source: NPR
Release Date: July 30, 2025

---

1. Massive Earthquake Strikes Russia's Far East Coast

Timestamp: 00:15

Live from Washington, Dave Mattingly reports that one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded has hit off Russia's Far East coast. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the quake reached a magnitude of 8.8, triggering widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific region.

Key Details:

• Affected Areas: Japan (including Hokkaido), Hawaii, British Columbia, Alaska, Washington state, Oregon, and California.
• Tsunami Impact: Anthony Kuhn explains that waves approximately 10 feet high were observed on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, while Japan's northernmost Hokkaido island saw waves around 2 feet.
• Transportation Disruptions: Trains, flights, and ferries in coastal regions have been suspended. Authorities in Japan have ordered evacuations along many parts of the Pacific coast.
• Current Status: No significant damage or casualties have been reported yet. The earthquake is believed to be the largest since the 2011 magnitude 9 quake and tsunami in Japan, which resulted in around 20,000 deaths.
• Ongoing Alerts: Tsunami warnings remain active as strong waves may continue to impact the region.

Quote:

"Waves about 10ft high were recorded on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula," Anthony Kuhn reported at [00:47].

---

2. Tragic Gunman Attack in New York City

Timestamp: 01:22

In a sobering update from New York, Dave Mattingly outlines the community's response to a recent gunman attack that resulted in multiple casualties.

Key Details:

• Incident: A gunman, later identified as Shane Tamura, targeted a high-rise office building in Manhattan.
• Casualties: Four individuals were killed, with a fifth person critically injured.
• Memorial Service: Mourners, including lawmakers and religious leaders, gathered at New York's Bryant Park. The service featured prayers from various faiths and languages.
• Gun Control Advocacy: Elected officials used the occasion to call for enhanced gun control measures.

Notable Quote:

"If this nation misses yet another moment to do what is right that they've neglected to do for decades, then shame on them," stated New York Governor Kathy Hochul at [02:00].

Further Developments:

• Shooter's Background: The NYPD revealed that Tamura assembled his rifle independently, purchasing several parts from a man currently under investigation. Police are also searching his Las Vegas residence.
• Attack Details: According to New York Mayor Eric Adams, the gunman intended to target NFL headquarters but mistakenly took the wrong elevator to a higher floor.

---

3. United Airlines Flight Attendants Reject Contract Offer

Timestamp: 02:34

In aviation news, heavy developments are unfolding within United Airlines as their flight attendants have rejected the latest contract proposal from the company.

Key Points:

• Contract Details: The tentative agreement included immediate raises of at least 26%.
• Rejection Statistics: Approximately 71% of the union's 28,000 cabin crew members voted against the contract.
• Background: United's cabin crew have not received a pay raise in the past five years. The no vote comes just two months after the union and the airline reached a tentative agreement on similar terms.

Impact:
This rejection signifies potential prolonged negotiations and highlights the crew's demand for better compensation and working conditions.

---

4. Hearings Begin on Deadly January Aviation Collision

Timestamp: 04:02

Dave Mattingly brings attention to the commencement of three days of hearings in Washington, D.C., aimed at uncovering the causes behind the tragic mid-air collision that occurred in January.

Incident Overview:

• Date & Location: January, near Reagan National Airport.
• Collision Details: An American Airlines regional jet (Flight 5342) and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided during the jet's landing attempt.
• Casualties: All 67 individuals aboard both aircraft lost their lives, making it the deadliest aviation accident in the United States in over two decades.
• Aftermath: Both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River following the collision.

Hearing Objectives:

• To examine safety protocols.
• Investigate potential communication failures.
• Assess the coordination between civilian and military aviation operations.

---

5. Research Challenges Claims of Non-Citizen Voting in U.S. Elections

Timestamp: 04:02

Addressing claims made by former President Donald Trump regarding non-citizens influencing elections, Myles Parks presents new research demonstrating minimal involvement of non-citizens in U.S. voting processes.

Research Findings:

• Authority: David Becker from the Center for Election Innovation and Research.
• Statistics:
  • Texas: Investigated 33 cases of potential non-citizen voting out of 11.3 million ballots cast in 2024.
  • Michigan: Found 16 non-citizen voters out of 5.7 million votes.
• Conclusion: Even in conservative states actively searching for non-citizen votes, the numbers remain exceedingly low, debunking assertions of widespread voter fraud.

Quote:

"States are devoting more resources than ever to root out non citizen voters," explained Myles Parks at [04:02].

---

Closing Remarks

Dave Mattingly wraps up the episode, highlighting the significant events shaping the news landscape, from natural disasters and tragic incidents to pivotal developments in aviation and electoral integrity.

---

For comprehensive updates and detailed coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune in to NPR News Now or visit NPR's website.

Transcript

[Capital One Advertisement]

This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One. What's IN YOUR wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail].

[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Some injuries are reported, but no major damage has occurred after one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck off Russia's Far east coast today. The U.S. geological Survey says the quake had a magnitude of 8.8. It triggered tsunami warnings and alerts in Japan and other areas of the Pacific, as well as Hawaii, British Columbia, Alaska, Washington state, Oregon and California. NPR's Anthony Kuhn has more.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Waves about 10ft high were recorded on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Those that reached Japan's northernmost Hokkaido island were about 2ft high. Trains, flights and ferries in coastal areas were suspended, and authorities ordered evacuations at many parts of Japan's Pacific coast. No significant damage or casualties have been reported. The quake is believed to be the biggest since 2011, when a magnitude 9 quake and tsunami killed around 20,000 people in Japan. Tsunami warnings and watches remain in effect as strong waves could continue for some time. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

Heavy traffic was reported in Hawaii in the hours after the quake struck as residents moved to higher ground. People there are being advised to stay away from the shoreline for now. Mourners, including lawmakers and religious leaders, turned out last night in New York's Bryant park to remember the four people killed by a gunman at a high rise office building in Manhattan a day earlier. A fifth person was critically wounded in the attack. NPR's Sarah Ventri reports.

[Sarah Ventri]

Prayers were offered from different faiths and in different languages, and elected officials took the opportunity to call for better gun control policies. Here's New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

[Kathy Hochul]

If this nation misses yet another moment to do what is right that they've neglected to do for decades, then shame on them.

[Sarah Ventri]

The NYPD has said that the shooter, Shane Tamura, assembled the gun himself and bought several parts of the rifle from a man they want to question. NYPD detectives are also searching Tamura's home in Las Vegas and conducting interviews there. Four people were killed. In addition to the gunman who died of a self inflicted wound, one other person was seriously injured. Sarah Ventri, NPR News, New York.

[Dave Mattingly]

New York Mayor Eric Adams has said the gunman intended to target NFL headquarters in the building, but he took the wrong elevator to a higher floor. Flight attendants at United Airlines are rejecting the company's latest contract offer. The no vote comes two months after United and its union reached a tentative agreement on the proposal. The deal called for immediate raises of at least 26%. United's roughly 28,000 cabin crew employees haven't had a pay raise in five years. The union says 71% of employees voted against the contract. This is NPR News from Washington. Three days of hearings begin Today in Washington, D.C. examining the cause of January's deadly mid air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. All 67 people aboard the two aircraft were killed when the jet and the helicopter collided as Flight 5342 from Wichita was attempting to land at Reagan National Airport outside the nation's capital. The jet and the military helicopter plunged into the Potomac River. It was the deadliest aviation accident in the U.S. in more than two decades. New research shows few non citizens in the U.S. have been voting in American elections. NPR's Miles Parks says these latest findings contradict assertions made by President Trump.

[Myles Parks]

States are devoting more resources than ever to root out non citizen voters after President Trump claimed they would influence last year's election. David Becker is head of the center for Election Innovation and Research, whose report shows even the most conservative states have not found evidence for widespread problem. Even states that are looking everywhere to try to amplify the numbers of non citizens that are possibly on the list when they actually look, they find a surprisingly shockingly small number. Texas, for instance, says it's investigating 33 cases of potential noncitizen voting in 2024 out of 11.3 million ballots cast. Michigan found 16 non citizen voters out of that state's 5.7 million votes cast. Myles Parks, NPR News, Washington.

[Dave Mattingly]

I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.

[Warby Parker Advertisement]

This message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your [e-mail] or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country.