The Headlines: Tsunami Reaches U.S., and Trump’s Former Lawyer Confirmed as Judge

Hosted by The New York Times, “The Headlines” provides insightful analysis on today’s top stories. In the July 30, 2025, episode titled “Tsunami Reaches U.S., and Trump’s Former Lawyer Confirmed as Judge,” host Tracy Mumford delves into a range of critical issues from natural disasters to high-stakes political appointments.

Massive Earthquake and Tsunami Alert

[00:18] Tracy Mumford opens the episode with breaking news: an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia, marking it as potentially one of the largest recorded. This seismic event triggered a devastating tsunami in the Pacific Ocean, prompting widespread warnings and evacuations from Japan to Alaska.

An expert underscores the destructive potential of the tsunami:

“It can move cars. It will throw fences around. If it hits, it can dislodge trees. That's why you just can't be out there for now.” [00:49]

Mumford details the regional impacts:

• Hawaii: Governor declares a state of emergency, though major damage appears avoided. The tsunami warning is downgraded to an advisory.
• West Coast (Washington to California): The first wave hit shortly after 1 AM, leading authorities to close beaches, docks, and harbors, and to order evacuations to higher ground.

She explains the mechanics of tsunamis:

“Tsunamis can travel more than 500 miles per hour in deep water, crossing the ocean in less than a day. People close to the epicenter have little warning, but most places in the path of these waves had hours to prepare.” [00:56]

Experts clarify misconceptions about tsunamis:

“Despite what they look like in cartoons or movies, tsunamis are not tall, curling waves. You can't compare the height of them to a regular wave that you'd surf. Instead, they're very deep.” [00:56]

The National Weather Service emphasizes the hidden danger:

“A one foot wave can have an incredible amount of energy.” [00:56]

For real-time updates, Mumford directs listeners to nytimes.com.

Judiciary Nomination: Emil J. Beauvais III Confirmed

Shifting focus to Washington, Mumford discusses the controversial nomination and confirmation of Emil J. Beauvais III:

“The Senate has narrowly confirmed Emil Beauvais, the president's former personal lawyer, to a position on a federal appeals court just one rung below the supreme court.” [00:56]

At 44 years old, Beauvais faces significant criticism and whistleblower complaints. His background includes a prominent role at the Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Trump. Allegations against him include:

• Ignoring Court Orders: A former DOJ lawyer accuses Beauvais of being willing to bypass judicial mandates to advance Trump’s deportation policies.
• Misleading Congress: Claims that Beauvais deceived Congress regarding dropping bribery charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Despite these accusations, Senate Republicans have largely dismissed the complaints as a partisan attack:

“They’re a Democratic-led effort to smear a Trump nominee.” [00:56]

FDA Official Resignation Amid Conservative Pressure

Mumford reports on the resignation of Vinay Prasad, the FDA’s top official for vaccines and gene therapy:

“Vinay Prasad, an oncologist and epidemiologist, has resigned after just a few months on the job amid a right-wing pressure campaign.” [00:56]

Prasad, initially lauded by conservatives during the pandemic for opposing public health measures, made controversial decisions at the FDA:

• Overruling Scientists: Limited the use of COVID vaccines against scientific recommendations.
• Cracking Down on Gene Therapy: Took action against a company after multiple deaths from their drugs, provoking backlash from figures like Rick Santorum and conservative influencer Laura Loomer.

Loomer’s role in escalating the situation:

“Laura Loomer... accused Prasad of blocking the approval of new drugs and undermining the president's agenda.” [00:56]

This incident follows prior actions by Loomer against other administration officials, including the removal of top NSA directors for alleged disloyalty to Trump.

Federal Reserve's Interest Rate Decision Anticipated

Looking ahead, Mumford highlights the Federal Reserve’s impending decision on interest rates scheduled for 2 PM:

“For its fifth straight meeting in a row, it's expected to just hold to keep rates where they are around four and a quarter to four and a half percent to try and keep the economy steady.” [00:56]

This expected stance is likely to exacerbate tensions with President Trump, who has publicly criticized the Fed:

“Jerome Powell has said explicitly that Trump's own policies are what's driving the Fed's decisions.” [00:56]

Powell attributes the Fed’s cautious approach to Trump’s tariffs, which have disrupted global trade and created economic uncertainty:

“If not for Trump's tariffs, which the president's expected to announce more of this Friday, the Fed would have cut interest rates by now.” [00:56]

Manhattan Shootout and NFL's CTE Controversy

In New York, a tragic shooting incident at a Manhattan skyscraper has sparked discussions linking it to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE):

“The gunman, a former high school running back, shot himself in the chest and left a note saying, ‘study my brain, please.’” [00:56]

The shooter’s history includes:

• Previous involuntary holds for mental health crises.
• A note accusing the NFL of covering up the dangers of football to protect profits.

Mumford connects this to a broader pattern:

“A number of high-profile NFL players have done the same thing, hoping to preserve their brains so that they could be tested for CTE.” [00:56]

CTE, a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, is often diagnosed posthumously. While most with CTE do not become violent, the disease can lead to aggressive behavior.

The NFL's response has included:

• Settlements granting up to $4 million to families of players diagnosed with CTE.
• Long-standing efforts to downplay research linking football to brain injuries.

Cell Phone Cameras: From Selfies to Scientific Data

Concluding the episode, Mumford explores the innovative use of cell phone cameras in scientific research through the app iNaturalist:

“A new study shows that observations shared on the app, which first launched in 2008, have now been incorporated into more than 5,000 peer-reviewed papers.” [00:56]

Examples of contributions include:

• Discovery of New Species: A photo from northern China led to the identification of the mountain ghost stiletto fly.
• Tracking Invasive Species: Monitoring the spread of invasive shrubs in New York.
• Behavioral Studies: Analyzing color variations in butterflies and territorial changes in the Jaguarundi wild cat.

Experts acknowledge the volume and global reach of user-generated data:

“The sheer volume of information allows them to study things globally in a way that may not be possible otherwise.” [00:56]

Additionally, advancements in machine learning facilitate the analysis of these extensive datasets, making large-scale scientific studies more feasible.

Conclusion

Tracy Mumford wraps up the episode by emphasizing the diverse and significant nature of today’s headlines, from natural disasters and judicial confirmations to public health controversies and technological advancements in science.

“Those are the headlines today on the Daily Inside the Times investigation of the organ donation system and how it's putting some patients at risk. That's up next, if you're listening in our New York Times app. Or you can listen wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow.” [00:56]

For comprehensive coverage and live updates, listeners are encouraged to visit nytimes.com or download the New York Times Audio app.