Fort Stewart Shooting, Tariff Deadline, Trump And Putin Meeting Prospects

Summary

Up First from NPR – Episode Summary Released August 7, 2025

NPR's Up First delivers a comprehensive overview of the day’s top stories in just ten minutes. In this episode, hosts Steve Inskeep and A Martinez delve into three major topics: the Fort Stewart shooting in Georgia, the economic repercussions of newly imposed tariffs, and the prospects of a high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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1. Fort Stewart Shooting: A Military Community in Shock

At the forefront of today’s news is the tragic shooting at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where five soldiers were injured. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. when Sergeant Cornelius Radford, a fellow soldier, opened fire on his coworkers. Brigadier General John Lubas, commander of Fort Stewart, provided updates on the situation.

Key Details:

• Swift Response: Local soldiers witnessed the shooting and "immediately and without hesitation tackled the soldier, subdued him," ensuring his swift capture [(Emily Jones, 00:07)].
• Casualties: Three of the five injured soldiers required surgery but are reported to be in stable condition [(Brigadier General John Lubas, 03:17)].
• Shooter’s Background: Radford, stationed at Fort Stewart since 2022 and working in automated logistics, had a prior DUI incident earlier this year known to local police but not to his commanders [(Brigadier General John Lubas, 03:33)].

Safety Concerns: General Lubas addressed concerns regarding base security, questioning how Radford obtained his firearm on the military base. He reassured the public that the base is "safe and well guarded" while acknowledging ongoing investigations [(03:29)].

Historical Context: This incident marks one of several mass shootings on military installations since 2009, including notable events at Fort Hood and Naval Air Station Pensacola. Brigadier General Lubas highlighted the recurring nature of such tragedies, emphasizing the persistent challenges in ensuring military base safety [(04:05)].

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2. Economic Impact of New Tariffs: A Slowing American Economy

President Trump’s latest tariff imposition is poised to significantly affect the U.S. economy, with immediate repercussions observed in the consumer behavior at major businesses like McDonald's.

Tariff Details:

• Increased Rates: The U.S. has elevated tariffs from 10% to 15% on goods from Europe, Japan, and South Korea. More severe tariffs include 35% on Canadian goods and a staggering 50% on imports from Brazil, the world’s leading coffee producer [(06:13)].

Impact on Consumers and Businesses:

• McDonald's Sales Decline: McDonald's executives noted a downturn in breakfast sales, attributing it to lower-income customers "skipping breakfast or trading down either within our menu or ... to eating at home" [(Emily Jones, 07:17)].
• Broader Economic Slowdown: Scott Horsley explained that these tariffs are "raising prices and slowing growth," affecting not just manufacturing but the entire service sector, with July's Institute for Supply Management index indicating services are "moving just above stall speed" [(07:50)].
• Inflation Risks: While current inflation rates are not as high as previous years, tariffs could push inflation above 3%, complicating the Federal Reserve’s efforts to reduce interest rates despite Trump's assertions to the contrary [(08:22)].

Government Revenue and Legal Concerns: Despite President Trump’s claims that tariffs generate substantial government revenue—approximately $30 billion monthly—Scott Horsley cautioned that federal courts are questioning the legality of these tariffs. Should they be deemed illegal, the government may be compelled to refund the collected funds [(09:01)].

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3. Trump and Putin Meeting Prospects: Seeking Peace Amid Tensions

In the international arena, President Trump is optimistic about meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate an end to Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine.

Meeting Developments:

• Productive Talks: Trump cited "productive talks" between his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin, suggesting a meeting could occur "very soon" [(09:57)].
• Russian Agreement: Russian officials have indicated that a meeting could happen as early as next week, with locations being finalized. However, Trump remains cautiously optimistic, avoiding definitive statements about a breakthrough [(10:21)].

Concessions and Conditions:

• Unclear Concessions: It remains uncertain whether Putin has made any concessions to facilitate this meeting. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that any peace agreement would require "concessions on both sides" and emphasized the necessity of a ceasefire as a foundational step [(10:58)].

Historical Context and Significance:

• Trump-Putin Relations: The relationship between Trump and Putin has been "hot and cold," with fluctuating tensions impacting diplomatic efforts. Previously, Trump had resisted exerting pressure on Putin, but the escalation of Russian strikes in Ukraine has shifted his stance towards a more confrontational approach [(11:43)].
• Potential Milestone: A meeting between the two leaders would be momentous, marking one of the first direct face-to-face interactions between a sitting U.S. president and Putin since their last encounter in Helsinki in 2018. Such a meeting could represent a significant step towards peace, potentially impacting Trump’s standing and aspirations, including his pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize [(12:33)].

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Conclusion

This episode of Up First from NPR provides an in-depth look at pressing national and international issues. From the devastating shooting at Fort Stewart and its implications for military base security, to the economic challenges posed by escalating tariffs and their broader impact on American consumers and businesses, the podcast offers a nuanced analysis of current events. Additionally, the potential meeting between President Trump and President Putin underscores the complex dynamics of international diplomacy in an era marked by conflict and shifting alliances.

Listeners are encouraged to stay informed with NPR’s insightful reporting and analysis, ensuring they are well-equipped with the news necessary to start their day.

Transcript

[Steve Inskeep]

A soldier shot five people at a base in Georgia.

[Scott Horsley]

Soldiers in the area that witnessed the.

[Emily Jones]

Shooting immediately and without hesitation tackled the soldier, subdued him.

[Franco Ordonez]

What did local police know about him that his commanders did not?

[Steve Inskeep]

I'm Steve Inskeep with a Martinez, and this is up first from NPR News. Evidence is piling up that new tariffs are raising prices and slowing economic growth. One indicator is McDonald's executives say low income customers are spending less at the start of the day.

[Emily Jones]

They're skipping breakfast or they're trading down either within our menu or they're trading down to eating at home.

[Steve Inskeep]

What's that mean for other businesses?

[Franco Ordonez]

And President Trump is expected to meet with the president of Russia. The Kremlin's agreement on a meeting, though not yet a peace deal, comes just after another Trump deadline approached for sanctions on Russia. Stay with us. We've got all the news you need to start your day.

[Emily Jones]

Foreign.

[Amy Martinez]

Support for this podcast and the following message come from Strawberry Me. Be honest. Are you happy with your job? Are you stuck in a job you've outgrown or never wanted in the first place? Are your reasons for staying really just excuses for not leaving? Let a career coach from Strawberry Me help you get unstuck. Discover the benefits of having a dedicated career coach in your corner and claim a special offer at Strawberry Me. This message comes from Mint Mobile. If you're tired of spending hundreds on big wireless bills, bogus fees and free perks, Mint Mobile might be right for you with plans starting from 15 bucks a month. Shop plans [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month 5 gigabyte plan required. New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.

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[Franco Ordonez]

NPR Five soldiers were injured in a shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia yesterday.

[Steve Inskeep]

The alleged shooter is a fellow soldier and is in custody.

[Franco Ordonez]

WABE's Emily Jones was at Fort Stewart right after the shooting. Emily, how did this all unfold?

[Brigadier General John Lubas]

Well, army officials identified the alleged shooter as Sergeant Cornelius Radford. They say he opened fire on his coworkers at their place of work on Post around 11am yesterday. The base was placed on lockdown shortly afterward. At a press conference, Brigadier General John Lubas, the commanding general of Fort Stewart, says other soldiers stepped in and tackled the shooter.

[Scott Horsley]

Soldiers in the area that witnessed the.

[Emily Jones]

Shooting immediately and without hesitation tackled the soldiers, subdued him. That allowed law enforcement to then take him into custody.

[Brigadier General John Lubas]

That was around 11:35, they said. And then shortly after noon, the lockdown was lifted. Of the five soldiers who were shot, three of them did need surgery, but officials said they are all in stable condition.

[Franco Ordonez]

The alleged shooter, what more do we know about him? Do we know maybe a motive?

[Brigadier General John Lubas]

Not much is known about the motive. Law enforcement is still talking with Radford. They did say that he was known to local police because of a DUI earlier this year, although his commanders did not know about that until his arrest after the shooting yesterday. Army officials say he worked in automated logistics and he's been stationed at Fort Stewart since 2022. They also said he never deployed to combat zone. And they did say that the soldiers he shot were his co workers and the gun he used was apparently his own handgun.

[Franco Ordonez]

Okay, so what does this say then about safety at the base? I mean, are there concerns about that?

[Brigadier General John Lubas]

That is the question, you know, the question of how he got his gun onto the base. While it is an army base, typically only military police are wearing weapons. Soldiers really are not walking around armed. General Lubas in the press conference, did reassure people that the base was safe and well guarded. And he said they also looking into how this happened. And once there's a clear motive and more details, we may learn more.

[Franco Ordonez]

I mean, Emily, I would guess that of all places that could protect from a mass shooting would be a military base. I mean. Yeah, it's kind of hard to make sense of that.

[Brigadier General John Lubas]

It is, yeah. Again, they are well guarded. But, you know, there have been several mass shootings at military bases since 2009. That's when 13 people were killed in a shooting at Fort Hood in Texas. And then since then, that same base had another mass shooting in 2014 with four fatalities and 12 people wounded. In 2013, 12 people were fatally shot at the Washington Navy Yard and at Naval Air Station Pensacola. A man from Saudi Arabia who was there for flight training killed three soldiers in 2019. And that same year in Pearl Harbor, a sailor shot three workers, killing two of them. So there have been several mass shootings on military bases, and they do still happen sometimes.

[Franco Ordonez]

That's Emily Jones with wabe. Thank you very Much for the update.

[Brigadier General John Lubas]

Thank you.

[Franco Ordonez]

President Trump's tariffs are probably taking a bite out of Egg McMuffin sales, according to McDonald's executives. And that's not just because of the Canadian bacon.

[Steve Inskeep]

McDonald's says lower income customers are skipping the drive thru in some taxes and worries over tariffs may be partly to blame. The news comes as the president imposed another round of unilateral tax increases on imports starting today.

[Franco Ordonez]

NPR's Scott Horsley joins us now with a less than happy economic meal. So Scott, tell us where tariffs stand right now.

[Scott Horsley]

Higher tariffs are kicking in today on goods from a lot of big trading partners. For the last four months, the US has been charging a 10% tax on most of what we import. As of today, that's going to 15% on goods from Europe, Japan, South Korea. Even higher tax rates are taking effect on goods from countries like the Philippines, Switzerland and South Africa. The tax on many Canadian goods jumped to 35% last week. And the president just imposed a 50% tax on goods from Brazil, which is the world's number one coffee producer. So you're likely going to have to pay more for your morning java.

[Franco Ordonez]

Yeah. And McDonald's sells a lot of coffee. Yeah. And their breakfast business has already taken a big hit. So tell us about that.

[Scott Horsley]

McDonald's has actually fared better than a lot of fast food competitors. Sales of the chain's existing restaurants in the US are up about 4% from a year ago. But executives said yesterday they are concerned a lot of their customers are very price sensitive, especially when it comes to breakfast. And CEO Chris Kamchynski says industry wide lower income customers are just not spending as freely as they were this time last year.

[Emily Jones]

There's a lot of anxiety and unease with that low income consumer, probably tariffs and the impact that that might have. Questions around employment situation, but, but it's clear from the data that sentiment is down and the result of that is they're skipping breakfast or they're trading down either within our menu or they're trading down to eating at home.

[Scott Horsley]

A 50% tax on imported coffee is not going to help, although home brewed java is likely to see a price hike as well.

[Emily Jones]

Sure.

[Franco Ordonez]

Now beyond the drive through, I mean, how are the president's tariffs affecting the broader economy?

[Scott Horsley]

Evidence continues to pile up showing these import taxes are raising prices and slowing growth. US Factories have been in a slump for months now and now the tariffs are starting to weigh on the much larger services side of the economy. Every month the Institute for Supply Management puts out an index of service sector activity. And the July figure, which came out a couple days ago, showed services moving just above stall speed last month. Steve Miller, who oversees that index, says farmers, hotels, construction companies, they're all looking at higher prices and slower growth.

[Emily Jones]

Tariff tensions are not just increasing uncertainty, but they're impacting global trade. No question that tariffs are raising prices paid, a potential driver of future inflation.

[Scott Horsley]

Now, forecasters don't think we're looking at anything like the 9% inflation rate we had a few years ago, but tariffs could push inflation back above 3%, and that makes it harder for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, even though that's what Trump says he wants. Still, markets are betting the Fed will cut rates at his next meeting in September, partly to prop up the sagging job market and perk up sluggish growth.

[Franco Ordonez]

But President Trump boasts all the time that tariffs are raising a lot of money for the government. So is he right?

[Scott Horsley]

When you impose a big tax like this, it does bring in a lot of money, about $30 billion a month right now. I'll caution, however, federal courts have raised serious questions about whether most of these tariffs are even legal. If it turns out once the appeals are exhausted they're not legal, then the government's going to have to give a lot of that money back.

[Franco Ordonez]

That's npr. Scott Horsley. Scott, thank you.

[Scott Horsley]

You're welcome.

[Franco Ordonez]

President Trump says there is a very good prospect he will meet very soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an attempt to end Russia's war with Ukraine.

[Steve Inskeep]

The president, President Trump was speaking after what he described as productive talks between his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and put.

[Franco Ordonez]

NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordonez has been following all the developments. So Franco, tell us more about when or whether this meeting will even happen.

[Marco Rubio]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

A Trump didn't share timing details, but he did speak optimistically about a meeting happening soon following these talks with his special envoy.

[Marco Rubio]

There's a very good chance that we could be ending the ending the round, ending the end of that road. That road was long and continues to be long, but there's a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Now, according to statements from Russia, a meeting between Trump and Putin could happen as early as next week. Russian officials agreed the talks were constructive and added that they were finalizing a location. But Trump is also being a bit cautious and reflective in his assessment considering, you know, the up and down nature of how these developments have gone. You know, he really did not want to call this a breakthrough or even handicap it in any way about when a deal could be reached.

[Marco Rubio]

I don't want to say I've been disappointed before with this one.

[Franco Ordonez]

Now, did Vladimir Putin give up anything to get this meeting?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Yeah. It's unclear whether Putin has offered any concessions. Trump would only say that the meeting with Witkoff was productive. But this would be a big win for Putin. He has long sought a meeting with Trump. And I'll just add a that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an interview with Fox Business, says they now have, quote, concrete examples of the kinds of things that Russia would ask for in order to end a war. Now, he would not give too many details, but said that concessions would have to be made on both sides. And he noted that a ceasefire is a key step.

[Franco Ordonez]

You know, Franco, thinking back to the relationship between Trump and Putin, I mean, it's been hot, it's been cold. How has it all evolved over the months and years?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Yeah, I mean, it is very, very complicated. I mean, for months, Trump resisted putting pressure on Putin, saying he did not want to complicate the path to a peace agreement. But over time, Trump's posture shifted as Russia escalated its strikes against Ukraine. Trump, remember, would talk about how they'd have these, quote, beautiful conversations, and then the next day, bombs would be falling on Kyiv. Trump eventually lost patience, even lashing out at Putin ahead of a meeting with the Secretary General of NATO, where Trump announced plans to boost US Military support for Ukraine. And most recently, Trump threatened more intense sanctions if Russia didn't agree to a peace deal. And that deadline is Friday, tomorrow.

[Franco Ordonez]

So, okay, let's just say President Trump and President Putin meet, they actually get together and meet. How big of a deal would this be?

[Unnamed Correspondent]

I mean, it'd be a big deal. I mean, this would be the first face to face meeting with a US president since then. President Joe Biden met Putin in 2021. Trump met Putin, of course, and Helsinki in his first 2018. And it's also just a big step. I mean, Trump campaigned on a promise to end this war within 24 hours of being elected. And that obviously hasn't happened, but he really wants to be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize. And while he says he's made progress on a number of lesser known conflicts, such as India, such as Pakistan, this war, this war in Ukraine and also Gaza have really been challenges for him. And he's said over and over that this is the big one he's working on.

[Franco Ordonez]

That's White House correspondent Franco Ordonez. Thanks a lot.

[Unnamed Correspondent]

Thank you a.

[Franco Ordonez]

And that's up first for Thursday, August 7th.

[Steve Inskeep]

Amy Martinez and I'm Steve Inske. If you can hear this podcast sponsor free while financially supporting Public media with Up First Plus. Learn more at plus.NPR.org, that's P L U S. It's good that we learn how to spell. Plus p l u s.NPR.org Today's episode.

[Franco Ordonez]

Of Up first was edited by Susanna Capilouto, Rafael Nam, Krishnadev Kalimore, Janaya Williams and Alex Schweitzer. It was produced by Zia Butch, Ian Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

[Steve Inskeep]

Plus pl.

[Amy Martinez]

This message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your [e-mail] or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country. Support for NPR and the following message come from Rosetta Stone, the perfect app to achieve your language learning goals. No matter how busy your schedule gets. It's designed to maximize study time with immersive 10 minute lessons and audio practice for your commute. Plus, tailor your learning plan for specific objectives like travel. Get Rosetta Stone's lifetime membership for 50% off and unlimited access to 25 language courses. Learn more at rosettastone.com NPR this message comes from Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile took what's wrong with wireless and made it right. They offer premium wireless plans for less and all plans include high speed data, unlimited talk and text and nationwide coverage. See for yourself at mintmobile. Com Switch.