NPR News Now: July 31, 2025, 12PM EDT

Hosted by NPR

U.S.-Mexico Tariff Negotiations and Middle East Ceasefire Efforts

[00:18] Luis Schiavone opens the episode with significant updates on international relations and conflict zones.

• U.S.-Mexico Trade Talks: President Trump has declared an extension of the tariff negotiation period with Mexico to 90 days. During this interim, a hefty 25% tariff rate remains in effect. This move follows a phone conversation between President Trump and Mexico's president, signaling a strategic patience in trade negotiations.

• Middle East Ceasefire Initiatives: Simultaneously, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is actively engaged in Israel, striving to revive ceasefire discussions in Gaza amid a severe food supply crisis. The situation remains tense as Jordanian officials reported the successful movement of 35 aid trucks into northern Gaza. Unfortunately, an additional 30 trucks faced delays due to Israeli restrictions. The humanitarian crisis is escalating, with health officials in Gaza reporting that "dozens of Palestinians were killed yesterday and several were wounded as they awaited a food delivery on the Gaza Strip" ([00:18] Schiavone).

[01:05] Reporter Emily Feng provides a ground-level perspective on the humanitarian efforts in Gaza:

• Food Aid Challenges: Since Monday, Israel has been intermittently pausing and allowing more food trucks into Gaza, approximately 10 hours a day. Despite these efforts, the actual volume of food reaching those in need remains critically low. Emily Feng states, "Aid organizations say Israel has not permitted them to bring in the volume of food and aid that they would like to see and that scarcity means people are still desperate and the gangs are looting these trucks" ([01:05]).

Political Commentary: Pro-Trump Podcasters Critique Handling of Jeffrey Epstein Files

[01:26] Luis Schiavone transitions to domestic politics, focusing on the mounting frustration among pro-Trump podcasters concerning the President's management of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

• Joe Rogan's Shift in Stance: Joe Rogan, a prominent podcaster who once endorsed President Trump after hosting him on his show, has recently turned critical. He accuses Trump of failing to honor commitments related to the Epstein case, asserting that "officials didn't keep their word to make more information public" ([01:37] Schiavone).

  [01:54] An unnamed podcaster echoes this sentiment: "People are cynical because you had all this hope for change and then you realize like, oh, the same people that are pulling the strings are still pulling the strings" ([01:54]).

• Impact and Audience: These critiques carry weight, as many of these podcasters possess substantial followings among young male audiences that do not strongly affiliate with any major political party. Elena Moore of NPR News highlights the potential influence this discontent may have on public opinion and political engagement ([02:04] Schiavone).

Space Exploration: Upcoming SpaceX Mission to the International Space Station

[02:21] Luis Schiavone provides an update on space exploration endeavors.

• SpaceX's Crew Launch: NASA and SpaceX are gearing up to launch a four-member crew to the International Space Station from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. Brendan Byrne of Central Florida Public Media details the mission specifics:

  • Crew Composition: The Dragon capsule will transport two U.S. astronauts, one Japanese astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut.

  • Mission Duration: Post-launch, the journey to the ISS will take approximately one and a half days, followed by a six-month stay aboard the orbiting laboratory.

  • Notable Crew Members:

    • Mike Fink, the mission's pilot, embarks on his fourth spaceflight, having previously launched on NASA's Space Shuttle and Russia's Soyuz capsule.
    • Commander Zena Cardman makes her first spaceflight after being reassigned from a previous mission due to scheduling changes involving NASA's Butch Wilmore.
    • Suni Williams returned to Earth via SpaceX's capsule after Boeing's Starliner was deemed unsafe for their return ([02:32] Byrne).

Economic and Environmental Updates: Labor Market and Heat Risks Amid Sweltering Conditions

[03:12] Luis Schiavone shifts focus to economic indicators and environmental health concerns.

• Labor Market: The Nasdaq experienced a modest increase of 202 points. Concurrently, the Labor Department reported a slight rise in Americans filing for jobless benefits, with 1,000 new applications marking the first uptick in seven weeks. Despite this, layoffs remain at historically low levels, reflecting a robust employment landscape.

• Extreme Heat and Public Health: Central and Eastern regions of the U.S. are battling intense heatwaves, posing heightened risks for millions of Americans, especially those on specific medications.

  • Expert Insights: Alejandra Barunda from NPR News reports on the dangers of extreme heat for individuals taking medications that impair the body's natural cooling mechanisms.

    • Dr. David Eisenman's Analogy: "I think of core temperature as your body's internal engine, like a car," explains Dr. David Eisenman from UCLA ([03:45]). He emphasizes that medications such as beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and certain antidepressants can "interfere with the body's natural cooling abilities, like sweating, drinking enough water or even noticing overheating" ([03:50]).

      To illustrate, he adds, "It's like asking a car to drive up a mountain in the summer with the air conditioner broken, low on coolant and no warning signal" ([04:08]).

    • Preventative Measures: The CDC has compiled a comprehensive list of medications that may disrupt heat regulation, highlighting the critical need for awareness and precaution among affected individuals ([04:18]).

Aviation Incident: Delta Flight Diverted Due to Severe Turbulence

[04:34] In aviation news, Luis Schiavone reports on a harrowing incident involving Delta Airlines.

• Flight Turbulence: A Delta Airlines flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam encountered severe turbulence last night, necessitating an emergency diversion to the Minneapolis St. Paul Airport.

• Passenger Impact: The turbulence resulted in several passengers sustaining injuries. Emergency responders promptly attended to those affected and transported them to a hospital for further evaluation and treatment ([04:34] Schiavone).

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, introductions, and concluding remarks to focus solely on the informative content of the podcast episode.