NPR News Now: August 1, 2025, 9 PM EDT

NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive roundup of the latest developments across various sectors, including politics, legal affairs, environmental management, and space exploration. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during the episode released on August 2, 2025.

Economic Tensions: President Trump's Stand Against the Federal Reserve

Hosts: Jeanine Herbst & Franco Ordonez

President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against the Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell, amidst ongoing economic pressures. Jeanine Herbst introduces the segment at [00:19], highlighting President Trump's demand for the Federal Reserve to take control if Powell does not reduce interest rates.

Franco Ordonez details Trump's aggressive stance, noting that the president labeled Powell a "moron" through a series of social media posts ([00:33]). This confrontation coincided with the release of a disappointing jobs report, further intensifying the pressure on the Federal Reserve. Despite Trump's appeals, policymakers maintained a 9-2 vote to keep interest rates steady, resisting the president's campaign for a rate cut.

Ordonez explains that the Federal Reserve had previously reduced rates by 1 percentage point last year but has since paused to assess the impact of new tariffs on the economy. Nevertheless, market analysts are speculating that a rate cut might be imminent at the next Fed meeting scheduled for September ([00:50]).

Notable Quote:

"Jerome, too late, Powell," President Trump declared, underscoring his frustration with the Federal Reserve's monetary policies. ([00:45])

Cultural Reevaluation: Smithsonian Removes References to Trump's Impeachments

Host: Jeanine Herbst

In a move that has sparked discussions on historical representation, the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., has excised references to President Trump's two impeachments from its National Museum of American History exhibit ([01:18]). Jeanine Herbst reports that after a thorough review, the Smithsonian decided to remove these references, with plans to reinstate them once the exhibit undergoes updates. The current exhibit initially covered the impeachments of presidents Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Richard Nixon but did not originally include Trump's impeachments. A temporary label added in 2021 has also been removed, leaving the status of Trump's inclusion uncertain.

Legal Verdict: Tesla Found Partially Responsible for Fatal Crash

Reporter: Camila Domonosky

A significant legal decision was reached as a jury found Tesla partially liable for a fatal 2019 crash involving the company's Autopilot feature ([01:32]). Camila Domonosky reports that the incident resulted in the death of a young woman and severe injury to a young man when the Tesla vehicle, operating on Autopilot, failed to stop at a parked SUV in an intersection.

The lawsuit alleged that Tesla had overstated the capabilities of its Autopilot system, leading drivers to place undue trust in the technology. The jury concluded that while the Tesla driver was primarily responsible for the accident, Tesla itself bore 33% of the blame. This verdict culminated in a $329 million damages award, which includes $200 million in punitive damages.

Notable Quote:

"The ruling represents justice for the victims' families," stated a lawyer representing those affected by the crash ([02:15]).

Tesla has yet to comment on the verdict, despite reaching out for statements. Notably, Tesla had previously claimed on social media that drivers using Autopilot are "10 times safer than the average U.S. driver" ([02:48]).

Criminal Justice Update: Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum Security

Host: Jeanine Herbst

In a recent development within the criminal justice system, Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has been relocated to a minimum security prison in Texas ([02:53]). Jeanine Herbst reports that this move follows Maxwell's undisclosed meeting with a high-ranking Justice Department official. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her involvement in the sexual exploitation and abuse of teenage girls during Epstein's tenure.

No official reason was provided for the transfer, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the decision.

Environmental Leadership: Brian Nesvik Confirmed as Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Reporter: Caitlin Tan

After nearly six months since President Trump's nomination, the Senate has confirmed Brian Nesvik as the new director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ([03:31]). Caitlin Tan from Wyoming Public Radio reports that the Senate vote concluded with 54 yeas to 43 nays ([03:37]).

Nesvik, formerly the director of Wyoming's Game and Fish Department, brings experience in wildlife management but also a controversial history. His tenure in Wyoming was marked by a global backlash following a case involving the torture of a wolf by a resident. Additionally, Nesvik has been a proponent of removing grizzly bears from the threatened species list, a campaign that Congress has recently renewed.

As the director, Nesvik is expected to focus on managing public land habitats, which may include expanding fossil fuel activities—a move that has garnered both support and criticism from various stakeholders ([03:41]).

Notable Quote:

"Nesvik will manage the nation's fish and wildlife and their habitats on public lands," Caitlin Tan explains, indicating potential policy directions ([03:41]).

Space Exploration: NASA's Crew 11 Successfully Launched to ISS

Host: Jeanine Herbst

Marking a significant milestone in space exploration, four astronauts were successfully launched into orbit aboard NASA's Crew 11 mission today ([04:17]). Jeanine Herbst reports that the crew, comprising two NASA astronauts, one Japanese astronaut, and one Russian astronaut, is en route to the International Space Station (ISS). They are expected to dock overnight after a weather-related delay caused the initial launch to be scrubbed yesterday.

The Crew 11 mission represents the 12th time SpaceX has facilitated the transport of NASA astronauts to the ISS. During their six-month stay, the crew will conduct numerous scientific experiments that contribute to our understanding of space and support the impending retirement of the ISS by the end of the decade.

Notable Quote:

"The orbiting outpost is set to be retired by the end of the decade," Jeanine Herbst notes, highlighting the significance of ongoing missions ([04:30]).

This episode of NPR News Now provides a multifaceted view of current events, blending political tensions, cultural shifts, legal outcomes, environmental policy changes, and advancements in space exploration. For those who missed the live broadcast, this summary offers a detailed insight into the pressing issues shaping our world today.