NPR's Up First: July 12, 2025

Hosts: Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin, A Martinez, Ayesha Rascoe, and Scott Simon
Episode Title: President Trump Visits Texas, Immigration Raids Ruling, New Antidepressants Study

1. President Trump Visits Texas Amid Devastating Floods

In the wake of catastrophic floods that struck Texas just over a week ago, President Donald Trump made a visit to Kerrville, Texas, to assess the damage and meet with affected communities. The floods have resulted in at least 120 fatalities, with more than 170 individuals still missing.

Scott Simon opens the segment by sharing his firsthand observations:

"I've seen a lot of bad ones. I've gone to a lot of hurricanes, a lot of tornadoes. I've never seen anything like this."
(00:02)

During his four-hour visit, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump toured the devastated areas both on the ground and from the air via Marine One. They met with grieving families and addressed the public, emphasizing national solidarity:

"Our nation is grieving with you."
(03:09)

However, the President's empathetic remarks were momentarily overshadowed when he responded defensively to a reporter's question regarding the timeliness of flood warnings:

"Only a bad person would ask a question like that."
(03:27)

Despite the immense tragedy, Trump acknowledged the need for improved disaster response systems, indicating a slight softening of his previous critiques of FEMA:

"We have some good people running FEMA."
(04:12)

The search for the missing continues without much progress, as reported by Adrian Florido from Kerrville:

"The search area has an enormous footprint covering miles and miles, and the numbers have not moved much in the past few days."
(04:29)

Community resilience is evident as residents come together to support one another, with multiple funerals held for young victims of the floods, including 8-year-old Hadley Hannah from Camp Mystic.

2. Federal Judge Halts Trump Administration's Immigration Raids in Los Angeles

The Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies have come under legal scrutiny following a significant ruling by a federal judge in Los Angeles. A court order has temporarily stopped immigration raids in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, citing evidence of racial profiling.

Ayesha Rascoe reports on the development:

"A California judge orders a temporary halt to immigration sweeps in Los Angeles and beyond."
(00:32)

Joining the discussion, Will Stone from NPR elaborates on the lawsuit filed by the ACLU, Public Counsel, and other advocacy groups:

"ICE and Border Patrol agents patrolling the streets have been detaining and arresting people here in Southern California based on the color of their skin, their accents, or just because they're doing work that immigrants commonly do."
(06:14)

The ruling was grounded in substantial evidence, including bystander videos showing agents conducting stop-and-arrest operations in Latino-populated areas such as car washes and street vendor locations. Mohammad Tajzar of the ACLU emphasized the systemic nature of these actions during a press conference:

"What's happening out here in these streets is if you're brown and you happen to come into contact with these ICE agents and these Border Patrol agents, they will come for you."
(07:55)

Judge Mame Ewusi Mensah Frimpong's decision included two temporary restraining orders:

1. Suspension of Suspicionless Arrests:

   "No more racial profiling. No more using the color of an individual's skin as a basis to take them in."
   (09:57)

2. Access to Legal Representation:

   "The government must provide arrested individuals access to lawyers."
   (10:02)

Steve Futterman highlights the Department of Homeland Security's response, dismissing the ruling as undermining public will:

"The judge is undermining the will of the American people."
(09:55)

The immediate impact of the ruling remains to be seen, with communities and immigration enforcement agencies closely monitoring the implementation of these temporary measures.

3. New Study on Antidepressants Reveals Insights into Withdrawal Symptoms

A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry has reignited the debate over the withdrawal effects associated with antidepressants, particularly SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). This study analyzed data from approximately 50 clinical trials involving over 17,000 patients.

Ayesha Rascoe introduces the topic:

"A new study on antidepressants sheds new light on the severity of withdrawal when people come off those medications."
(00:38)

Steve Futterman provides an overview of the research led by Dr. Samir Johar from Imperial College London:

"A person who goes off these medications experiences, on average, one more symptom compared to those who stop a placebo or continue with the treatment within the first week."
(11:07)

These symptoms include nausea, vertigo, and dizziness, aligning with the pharmacological basis of SSRIs. However, the study concluded that these effects are below the threshold for clinical significance.

Contrastingly, previous analyses, such as the 2019 review by John Reed, a clinical psychologist, found that approximately 50% of patients experienced withdrawal symptoms, many of which were severe. Will Stone relays Reed's criticism of the new study:

"They [the study's authors] are saying it is not a clinically significant phenomenon, and that's not something you can compromise on, that is completely inaccurate."
(13:12)

Avais Aftab, a psychiatrist at Case Western Reserve University, acknowledges the study's methodological strengths but expresses concern that it may downplay the real-world impact of withdrawal symptoms:

"The danger there is that the profession and the public can take the wrong message from looking at this paper and say, oh, withdrawal is not a big issue. It's not a big deal."
(13:36)

The debate underscores a significant gap in high-quality research specifically targeting long-term withdrawal effects, as most existing data pertains to short-term use. The polarized responses from the psychiatric community highlight the urgent need for further studies to fully understand and address the challenges faced by patients discontinuing antidepressants.

Conclusion

This episode of NPR's Up First delves into critical and diverse issues shaping the national discourse:

• Disaster Response and Leadership: President Trump's handling of the Texas floods underscores the complexities of disaster management and political accountability.

• Immigration Policies and Civil Rights: The halting of immigration raids in Los Angeles marks a pivotal moment in addressing racial profiling and enforcing constitutional rights.

• Mental Health and Pharmaceutical Practices: The ongoing debate over antidepressant withdrawal symptoms highlights the intricate balance between medication efficacy and patient well-being.

By providing in-depth reporting and expert insights, Up First equips listeners with the essential information to navigate and understand these pivotal events.

For more detailed coverage and continued updates, subscribe to NPR's Up First and support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org.