NPR News Now
Episode: NPR News: 07-31-2025 5PM EDT
Release Date: July 31, 2025

1. President Trump's Imminent Tariff Imposition

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporters: Danielle Kurtzleben, Caroline Levitt

President Donald Trump is poised to enforce sweeping tariffs on numerous countries imminently, following two prior delays. Despite attempts at last-minute negotiations, the White House indicates that the tariffs are likely to proceed.

• Delays and Negotiations: "Trump first announced this round of tariffs in April. Since then, he's pushed them to July 9 and then to August 1," reports Danielle Kurtzleben (01:02). The administration has secured tentative agreements with major trading partners like Vietnam and Japan, though these deals remain unfinalized.

• Open to Negotiation: White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated, "the president is planning to impose those tariffs, but that he's open to negotiating in these final hours" (00:41).

The trade team has dedicated extensive efforts to communicate with affected nations, promising formal notifications by midnight if agreements aren't reached (00:49). The looming tariffs underscore ongoing tensions in international trade relations under the Trump administration.

2. China's Concerns Over Nvidia's H20 Graphics Processing Units

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporter: John Ruich

Tensions between the United States and China have escalated over the security of Nvidia’s H20 GPUs, which are integral to artificial intelligence development.

• Security Allegations: The Chinese Cyberspace Administration has questioned potential vulnerabilities in Nvidia's H20 chips, suggesting they may contain backdoors. "The Cyberspace administration cited reports of US lawmakers calling for chips like the H20 to have tracking and positioning capabilities," explains John Ruich (01:37).

• Nvidia’s Defense: In response, Nvidia firmly denied these claims, asserting, "cybersecurity is critically important, and its chips have no backdoors that would allow remote access or control" (01:37).

This dispute occurs against the backdrop of restrictive US export policies on advanced GPUs, with Nvidia designing the H20 specifically for the Chinese market. The outcome of these discussions could have significant implications for international tech collaborations and national security.

3. Mass Layoffs at the Department of Education

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporter: Cory Turner

Tomorrow marks the official termination of approximately 1,400 federal workers from the Department of Education, a move finalized by the Supreme Court after previous delays by a federal judge.

• Impact of Layoffs: "Departing employees voiced concerns to NPR about important work not getting done, especially in the areas of civil rights enforcement and student loans," reports Cory Turner (02:30).

• Administration's Stance: President Trump has indicated a continued agenda of workforce reductions, intending to reassign essential responsibilities to other agencies. As a result of these cuts, the Department will operate with roughly half its staff from the start of Trump's administration (02:30).

The layoffs highlight significant shifts in federal workforce management and raise questions about the Department’s capacity to maintain its programs and regulatory functions.

4. Construction of a $200 Million Ballroom at the White House

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporter: Tamara Keith

In a long-awaited project, President Trump is moving forward with plans to build a $200 million ballroom at the White House, a vision he has promoted for over a decade.

• Project Details: "Construction on the $200 million ballroom is set to begin in September," reports Tamara Keith (03:13). The new ballroom will substantially increase the White House's event capacity, accommodating up to 650 guests compared to the current 200-seat East Room.

• Design and Funding: Press Secretary Caroline Levitt emphasized that the "new structure will be substantially separated from the main building of the White House, but at the same time, its theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical" (04:07). The project will be funded by President Trump and other private donors, aiming to preserve historical aesthetics while expanding functionality (03:42).

This development seeks to enhance the White House's capacity to host significant events without relying on external venues, addressing logistical challenges faced by current facilities.

5. Navy Rescinds Decision on Sharing Satellite Weather Data

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporter: Jeanine Herbst

After an initial decision to cease sharing satellite weather data, the Navy has reversed its stance and will continue to provide this crucial information to scientists and meteorologists.

• Reversal of Decision: The Navy initially intended to stop sharing data used for tracking hurricanes and polar sea ice. However, following feedback from government partners, officials determined that modernization goals could be met without disrupting data flow (04:24).

• Importance of Data Sharing: Maintaining access to accurate weather data is vital for scientific research and public safety. The Navy's decision ensures continued support for meteorological endeavors and climate monitoring (04:24).

This reversal underscores the importance of inter-agency collaboration in managing and disseminating environmental data essential for various research and operational activities.

Note: Timestamps correspond to the MM:SS format for easy reference to the original podcast transcript.