NPR News: 07-31-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: August 1, 2025

Release Date: August 1, 2025
Host: NPR
Duration: 5 Minutes

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1. Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and U.S. Diplomatic Efforts

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [00:19]

Former President Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has arrived in Israel to engage in discussions amidst a worsening famine in Gaza. This development comes as Israeli restrictions on aid entering the enclave continue to intensify.

Reporter: Aya Batrawi
Timestamp: [00:37]

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with deaths from hunger increasing significantly this month. The past 24 hours alone marked one of the deadliest periods in the ongoing conflict, particularly for individuals attempting to access aid. Gaza's health ministry reported that “more than 90 people were killed and 600 wounded while trying to get food” ([00:37]). Many fatalities occurred as people were shot while approaching aid trucks near Israeli military positions.

In response to the escalating crisis, the White House announced that Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will engage directly with Palestinians in Gaza and inspect a food distribution center managed by U.S. contractors. The United Nations has highlighted that “hundreds of people have been killed by Israeli forces trying to reach food at these sites since late May” and is urging for a substantial increase in aid to be distributed through these and other agencies ([00:37]).

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2. Investigation into Manhattan Shooting by Nevada Man

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [01:17]

Authorities in New York are investigating a tragic incident where a 27-year-old man from Nevada drove across the country to Manhattan, resulting in the deaths of four individuals before taking his own life. NPR's Martin Kosti provides insights into the possible factors behind this act.

Reporter: Martin Kosti
Timestamp: [01:34]

The New York Police Department disclosed that the suspect obtained an AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle through a private transaction in Nevada, which, despite being a private sale, should have mandated a background check under Nevada law. However, “background checks don't seem to have been an impediment for the man” ([01:34]), who also acquired a revolver in June and held a concealed carry permit. Notably, the individual had recent encounters with Nevada police related to mental health issues, and authorities found antipsychotic medications in his residence. Although Nevada enforces a red flag law allowing judges to temporarily confiscate firearms from perceived threats, there is no record of such an action being taken in this case ([01:34]).

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3. President Trump's Initiative to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [02:20]

In a continued effort to make U.S. prescription drug prices more competitive globally, President Trump has dispatched letters to 17 major pharmaceutical CEOs, urging them to reduce their prices or face potential regulatory actions.

Reporter: Sidney Lupkin
Timestamp: [02:34]

Following the executive order signed in May, which aimed to pressure drug companies into aligning U.S. prices with those of other developed nations, Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with the industry's proposed policy adjustments. In his message, he stated that these “aren't good enough” ([02:34]). The targeted companies, including industry leaders like Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer, have been given a 60-day window to implement price reductions across their product lines. Failure to comply may result in the Trump administration deploying “every tool in its arsenal” to enforce the desired changes ([02:34]).

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4. Russian Assault on Kyiv and Kamala Harris' Upcoming Book

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [03:10]

A devastating drone and missile strike by Russian forces has hit Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, resulting in at least 13 fatalities and over 130 injuries. A significant portion of a nine-story residential building has collapsed following the attack. Western leaders have criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for hindering U.S.-led peace initiatives, accusing him of seeking to seize additional Ukrainian territory.

Additionally, former Vice President Kamala Harris has announced her forthcoming book, slated for release next month, which delves into her brief 2024 presidential campaign.

Reporter: Deepa Shivaram
Timestamp: [03:48]

Titled 107 Days, the book chronicles Harris' truncated presidential run, which lasted from the withdrawal of President Biden from the race. In a social media video, Harris shared that the book comprises her reflections on the campaign and personal journal entries. This announcement follows her decision not to pursue the governorship of California in the upcoming election but leaves open possibilities for future political endeavors, including a potential 2028 presidential bid. Harris is scheduled to discuss her book on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert tonight, marking her first public interview since leaving office ([03:48]).

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5. Apple's Record Revenue Growth Amidst Tariff Pressures

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [04:25]

Apple Inc. has reported its most significant revenue growth since December 2021, with iPhone sales increasing by 13% year-over-year and overall revenue rising by 10%. CEO Tim Cook attributed part of this success to consumers stockpiling purchases to circumvent tariffs imposed by President Trump's administration. As a result, Apple has enjoyed robust sales figures despite global economic pressures ([04:25]).

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Market Update

U.S. futures are trading lower at the time of this broadcast, with Dow futures down approximately 0.1% ([04:25]).

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on August 1, 2025. For more detailed information, please refer to the full episode transcript.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

I'm Jeanine Hurst. President Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff is in Israel, where he met with the prime minister. As NPR's Aya Batrawi reports, he arrives as a famine is unfolding in Gaza. Gaza amid continued Israeli restrictions on aid entering the enclave.

[Aya Batrawi]

Deaths from hunger have climbed this month in Gaza, and the past 24 hours marked one of the deadliest in the war for people trying to seek aid. Gaza's health ministry says more than 90 people were killed and 600 wounded while trying to get food, many of them shot dead trying to reach aid trucks entering Gaza near Israeli troops. The White House says Wycoff and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will meet with Palestinians in Gaza and visit a food distribution site run by US Contractors there. The UN Says hundreds of people have been killed by Israeli forces trying to reach food at these sites since late May, and it's calling for much more aid to flood Gaza to be distributed through them and other aid agencies. Aya Batrawi, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Police from New York are in Nevada investigating the 27 year old man believed to have driven across the country to Manhattan where he killed four people and then himself on Monday. NPR's Martin Kosti reports. One key question is the man's mental state.

[Martin Kosti]

The New York Police Department says the man acquired the AR15 style semiautomatic rifle from an associate in Nevada. It was a private transaction, but under Nevada law, it still would have required a background check. Background checks don't seem to have been an impediment for the man, who also reportedly purchased a revolver from a store in June and he had a concealed carry permit. This is despite the fact that he had mental health related encounters with police in Nevada in recent years and and investigators have found antipsychotic medication in his apartment. Nevada does have a red flag law under which a judge may temporarily remove firearms from someone who's deemed a threat, but there's no known record of police requesting such a court order in this case. Martin Kosti, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump is following up on his push to bring U.S. prices for prescription drugs more in line with what other countries pay. He sent letters to 17 drug company CEOs to tell them to lower prices while or else NPR Sidney Lupkin has more.

[Sidney Lupkin]

In May, President Trump signed an executive order to put pressure on drug companies to match the lower prices paid in other developed countries. If the drug companies don't do it voluntarily, he said he would take steps to ensure prices came down anyway. Now he says companies attempts to fix the problem with proposed policy changes, for example, aren't good enough. That's according to the letters Trump is sending drug makers, including Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Pfizer. The companies have 60 days to lower prices across their portfolios. If they don't, the Trump administration says it will deploy every tool in its arsenal. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contracts are trading lower at this hour. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv has left at least 13 people dead, more than 130 injured. A large part of a nine story residential building collapsed after it was struck. Western leaders accused Russian President Putin of dragging his feet in U. S led peace efforts in an attempt to capture more Ukrainian land. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has a new book out next month, one that will reflect on her historically short run for president in 2024. NPR's Deepa Shivaram has more.

[Deepa Shivaram]

The book is titled 107 Days, which was the length of Harris abbreviated run for president last year after then President Biden dropped out of the race. In a video posted to social media, Harris says she spent time reflecting on her campaign and writing a journal. That is going to be the book. The announcement comes a day after Harris announced she would not be running for governor of California next year, but left the door open for future runs for office, which may include running for president again in 2028. She's set to appear on the Late show with Stephen Colbert tonight, her first interview since leaving office. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Apple is having a very good year, reporting the biggest revenue growth since December of 2021. The company says sales of its iPhone were up 13 year over year and that overall revenue grew 10%. CEO Tim Cook says some of the sales can be attributed to customers who were trying to beat President Trump's tariffs. US Futures contracts are trading lower this hour. Dow futures are down about 1/10 of a percent. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News in Washington.

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