Texas Flooding Update, Trump And Netanyahu Meeting, Tariff Plans

Summary

Up First from NPR: Texas Flooding Update, Trump and Netanyahu Meeting, Tariff Plans
Release Date: July 7, 2025

NPR’s Up First delivers the essential news to kickstart your day. In this episode, hosts delve into the devastating floods in Central Texas, the high-stakes meeting between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the latest developments in the Trump administration’s tariff plans.

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1. Texas Flooding Update

Ongoing Search and Tragic Losses

In Central Texas, the aftermath of last week’s severe flooding continues to unfold as rescue teams strive to locate missing victims. The floods wreaked havoc particularly in Kerr County, resulting in at least 82 fatalities, including 68 in Kerr County alone. Tragically, 28 of these deaths involved children who were staying at youth camps along the Guadalupe River.

Greg Allamus reports from Kerrville, Texas:

"[...] the river rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes early Friday morning, and when it did, it swept trees, cars, and houses into the flood and carried them downstream." (02:47)

Questions on Evacuation Warnings

Local officials are under intense scrutiny for the lack of timely evacuation alerts. Residents like Wendy Barker from Hunt express frustration over not receiving any warnings despite the looming threat.

Michelle Martin shares her experience:

"I woke up multiple times during the middle of the night, heard it raining, but never got any warnings on our phone about any flash flooding or anything like that." (03:42)

Greg Allen highlights the response from authorities:

"The National Weather Service did begin warning of the potential for flooding on Wednesday and upgraded it on Thursday. The declaration of a deadly flash flood emergency didn't go out until nearly a foot of rain fell, which wasn't until the early morning hours on Friday." (03:56)

City Manager Dalton Rice emphasized the need to focus on recovery rather than retrospective questions:

"We want to continue to focus on those rescue operations. And at that, we're not taking any more questions." (04:14)

Climate Change and Increased Flood Risks

Greg Allen sheds light on the broader issue of inland flooding:

"Climate change, which scientists say is making tropical systems larger and wetter. It's a challenge for emergency managers and also for people who live in areas where rivers sometimes flood." (05:50)

The flooding was exacerbated by the remnants of Tropical Storm Barrie, mirroring last year's Tropical Storm Helene, which caused significant rainfall and flooding in the southeastern United States. Experts stress the urgency of improving flood warnings and community preparedness in the face of increasingly severe weather events.

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2. Trump and Netanyahu Discuss Possible Ceasefire in Gaza

High-Stakes Negotiations

President Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to discuss a potential ceasefire in Gaza, which could include the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Greg Allamus introduces the topic:

"President Trump says there could be a ceasefire deal in Gaza this week with some hostages in Gaza going free." (06:03)

Scott Bessant, NPR White House correspondent, provides insights from Tel Aviv:

"Netanyahu just landed today in Washington... is expected to meet Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to talk over the details of what a Gaza deal would look like before Netanyahu meets Trump for dinner." (07:37)

Details of the Potential Ceasefire Deal

The proposed ceasefire involves a 60-day truce during which Hamas would release a portion of hostages, and Israel would reciprocate by releasing Palestinian prisoners. This period would also serve as a foundation for negotiating the final terms to end the conflict permanently.

Scott Bessant outlines the draft deal:

"It starts with a 60 day ceasefire. During that time, Hamas would release 10 out of the 20 living hostages it still holds. Israel would release Palestinian prisoners. And starting on day one of the ceasefire, the two sides would begin discussing the terms of a final end of the war." (07:46)

Strategic Implications and Broader Context

The meeting occurs against the backdrop of the US joining Israel in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities two weeks prior. There are indications that the discussions might also address future diplomatic relations with Iran.

Scott Bessant connects the dots:

"Trump promised his voters when he was running for election that he would end wars. He wants to be the president to end the Gaza war so that he can broker diplomatic ties between Israel and other Arab or Muslim countries." (08:41)

This multifaceted strategy positions Netanyahu in a delicate political balancing act, as his right-wing partners oppose ending the war, while a successful ceasefire could bolster his standing ahead of potential elections in Israel.

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3. US Tariff Plans Delay amid Limited Trade Deals

Tariff Implementation Postponed

President Trump’s ambitious tariff plans, initially set to take effect this week, have been deferred to August 1st. This delay follows a 90-day pause intended to negotiate trade deals with key partners.

Layla Falden announces the update:

"The White House is saying those rates won't kick in until August 1st." (10:01)

Context and Impact of the Tariffs

Originally announced in April as "Liberation Day," the tariffs imposed a 10% levy on most imported goods, with higher rates targeting countries like China and Vietnam. The immediate market reaction was severe, with significant stock market drops and warnings from banks about potential recessions.

Michelle Martin provides background:

"Trump originally made this big tariff announcement back in April... the announcement sparked reciprocal tariffs and conflict with longtime trading partners and allies." (10:26)

Progress on Trade Deals

Despite optimistic projections, only a handful of trade deals have materialized. The UK and Vietnam have reached preliminary agreements, while negotiations with China remain unresolved.

Michelle Martin reports:

"Only a few [deals]... The United Kingdom and Vietnam have negotiated with the US and the US and China have been talking, but there's no final deal there yet." (11:19)

With the deadline approaching, the administration plans to issue letters outlining new tariff rates to countries that have not secured trade agreements, potentially prompting further negotiations.

Scott Bessant emphasizes the ongoing efforts:

"We are close to several deals." (12:07)

Potential Additional Tariffs and Economic Uncertainty

Trump has hinted at imposing further tariffs on nations aligning with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) during their summit in Rio, adding another layer of unpredictability to global trade relations.

Michelle Martin explains:

"Trump posted online and said that any nation that aligns with BRICS will face an additional 10% tariff." (12:15)

Economists warn that these tariffs are likely to be passed on to consumers, resulting in higher costs for goods and services. The uncertainty surrounding tariff implementations continues to pose challenges for both markets and international trade partners.

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Conclusion

This episode of Up First underscores the intersection of natural disasters, international diplomacy, and economic policies shaping our world today. From the urgent rescue operations in Texas and the tragic loss of lives due to unexpected floods, to the high-stakes negotiations in Washington and Tel Aviv aiming to broker peace in Gaza, and the fluctuating landscape of US trade tariffs impacting global markets—NPR provides a comprehensive overview of the critical issues at hand.

Tune in to Up First on weekdays at 6:30 a.m. ET for more in-depth reporting and analysis on these and other pressing stories.

Transcript

[Layla Falden]

In Central Texas, the search continues for victims of last week's floods.

[Michelle Martin]

I woke up multiple times during the middle of the night, heard it raining, but never got any warnings on our phone.

[Greg Allamus]

Why didn't officials warn people to evacuate?

[Layla Falden]

I'm Layla Falden. That's Michelle Martin. And this is up first from NPR News. President Trump is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House today. Trump has been pushing for a ceasefire that would see the return of some hostages.

[Greg Allen]

I think there's a good we have a deal with Hamas during the week, during the coming week.

[Layla Falden]

What would a deal look like and would it end the war permanently?

[Greg Allamus]

And steep tariff increases set to take effect this week were put on pause again, as the Trump administration says it is close to making deals with several countries. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

[Deepa Shivaram]

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[Daniel Estrin]

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[Deepa Shivaram]

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[Greg Allamus]

Crews are continuing the search for victims of last week's flash flooding.

[Layla Falden]

At least 82 people died, with 68 of the deaths in Kerr County. Kerr county sheriff says 28 of those deaths were children. Many of them were staying in youth camp banks of the Guadalupe River. In the days since the storm, local officials have been dealing with tough questions about why children in the camps and others who live along the river were not warned to evacuate.

[Greg Allamus]

NPR's Greg Allamus with us now from Kerrville. Greg, good morning.

[Greg Allen]

Good morning.

[Greg Allamus]

So first, let's just talk about the ongoing Search for victims. What are some of the obstacles facing rescuers?

[Greg Allen]

Well, you know, Michelle, it's a very difficult environment for recovery crews here. I spent some time along the Guadalupe river yesterday and just saw horrific scenes. You know, the river rose 26Fe in just 45 minutes early Friday morning, and when it did, it swept trees, cars and houses into the flood and carried them downstream. I saw cars piled up in trees, huge mounds of rubble and debris that were left by the river. Now, crews are going to have to sort through all that stuff to look for victims, and there's still about 30 victims, adults and children, who've not been identified.

[Greg Allamus]

Look, I know this is a difficult thing to talk about right now, but why didn't local officials warn people along the river to evacuate?

[Greg Allen]

Well, it's a question that keeps coming up repeatedly since Friday. You know, some of the people who are asking it are the people who live in that area down by the river. I talked to Wendy Barker yesterday. She lives in Hunt, which is a community that was just devastated by the flooding. Barker's home is high enough that she wasn't flooded, but she wonders why she and others in the community never received any alerts.

[Michelle Martin]

I woke up multiple times during the middle of the night, heard it raining, but never got any warnings on our phone about any flash flooding or anything like that. I did not personally from the weather service or anybody, but we didn't get those until later on in the morning.

[Greg Allen]

The National Weather Service did begin warning of the potential for flooding on Wednesday and upgraded it on Thursday. The declaration of a deadly flash flood emergency didn't go out until nearly a foot of rain fell, which wasn't until the early morning hours on Friday. The question is, what did local emergency managers do with all that information?

[Greg Allamus]

So what are local officials saying?

[Greg Allen]

Well, they say the focus now should be on recovery, and the questions about why alerts didn't go out and why evacuations weren't ordered should wait for later. But at a briefing yesterday, Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice got repeated questions about it, and he became defensive. And so as we were, you know, preparing for it, unfortunately, the rain hit at the most inopportune time and right in the most inopportune areas where the north and south fork hit, it converged. And so here we are. So again, we want to continue to focus on those rescue operations. And at that, we're not taking any more questions.

[Michelle Martin]

Thank you.

[Greg Allamus]

Okay, Greg, you know, you've done a lot of reporting on the growing threat of inland flooding related to tropical systems. So tell US Why is it happening?

[Greg Allen]

Well, the rainbow that fell on Kerr county was fueled by the remnants of Tropical Storm Barrie, which hit Mexico last week and then curved up into Texas. It's the kind of thing we also saw last year when Helene weakened from being a hurricane but then dumped as much as 30 inches of rain over parts of Tennessee and North Carolina. Now, these are areas where people are familiar with flash flooding, so much so that they sometimes call it nuisance flooding. Texas Governor Greg Abbott talked about it yesterday. There's the potential for flash flooding, but there's no expectation of a water wall of almost 30ft high. What we've been seeing in recent years is more and more of these big rain events and deaths from freshwater flooding. One factor is climate change, which scientists say is making tropical systems larger and wetter. It's a challenge for emergency managers and also for people who live in areas where rivers sometimes flood. The question is how to stay alert for flash floods that can quickly become deadly and how to get residents to do the same thing.

[Greg Allamus]

That is NPR's Greg Allen in Kerrville, Texas. Greg, thank you.

[Greg Allen]

You're welcome.

[Greg Allamus]

President Trump says there could be a ceasefire deal in Gaza this week with some hostages in Gaza going free.

[Greg Allen]

I think there's a good chance we have a deal with Hamas during the week, during the coming week pertaining to quite a few of the hostages.

[Layla Falden]

That's what Trump will be discussing this evening with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House. It will be their first meeting since the US Joined Israel in attacking Iran's nuclear sites two weeks ago.

[Greg Allamus]

NPR's Daniel Estrin has been following all this from Tel Aviv. Daniel, good morning.

[Scott Bessant]

Good morning, Michelle.

[Greg Allamus]

So how close is a ceasefire deal in Gaza? Based on your reporting, we are not.

[Scott Bessant]

Expecting a ceasefire deal to be announced today. It could take a few more days or longer. Israel and Hamas just began talks in Doha, Qatar, yesterday, and mediators in the region tell us that the Israeli and Hamas delegations are on different floors of the same hotel in Doha, and mediators are shuttling between them. They're discussing issues like what the humanitarian aid situation would look like at the start of a ceasefire and other gaps that remain between the sides. But remember, Netanyahu just landed today in Washington. A person who was briefed on the matter, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told me that Netanyahu is expected to meet Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to talk over the details of what a Gaza deal would look like before Netanyahu Meets Trump for dinner. Netanyahu is staying in Washington through Thursday. And Netanyahu says his talks with Trump can help bring about a deal.

[Greg Allamus]

Can you just give us a sense of what a ceasefire deal might look like? I mean, is it temporary? Would it actually lead to the end of the war in Gaza?

[Scott Bessant]

We saw a recent draft of the deal that is being negotiated. It starts with a 60 day ceasefire. During that time, Hamas would release 10 out of the 20 living hostages it still holds. Israel would release Palestinian prisoners. And starting on day one of the ceasefire, the two sides would begin discussing the terms of a final end of the war. Now, Netanyahu's latest mantra is that there will be no more Hamas in Gaza. So we are expecting discussions between the US And Israel, Israel this week in Washington about what that would look like. Does that mean expelling the few remaining senior Hamas militants from Gaza? What would it look like for Hamas to lay down its arms? Who would replace Hamas in governing Gaza? Those are the issues that need to be discussed.

[Greg Allamus]

So it was just two weeks ago that the US Joined Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities. Now Trump is looking for a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Is this all connected, Daniel? Is there a bigger strategy at play here?

[Scott Bessant]

I think it is all connected, Michelle. We spoke to a person briefed on the matter who was not authorized to speak about it publicly, who said that Netanyahu and Trump will be discussing what kind of diplomatic deal Israel would want to see with Iran. What would would want the US to forge with Iran over the future of its nuclear program. You know, Trump did attack Iran's nuclear sites with bombs that Israel does not possess. That is something Netanyahu had long wanted. And now Netanyahu knows what Trump wants. Trump wants an end to the Gaza war. Trump promised his voters when he was running for election that he would end wars. He wants to be the president to end the Gaza war so that he can broker diplomatic ties between Israel and other Arab or Muslim countries. But that puts Netanyahu in a tough spot. His far right political partners in government do not want the war to end. But for Netanyahu, ending the war and freeing the hostages from Gaza is a kind of image of victory that could help Netanyahu. Netanyahu. He is eyeing a potential new election here in Israel.

[Greg Allamus]

That is NPR's Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv. Daniel, thank you.

[Scott Bessant]

You're welcome.

[Greg Allamus]

President Trump's sweeping tariff rates were supposed to go into effect this week, but.

[Layla Falden]

Now the White House is saying those rates won't kick in until August 1st. It's yet another shift in Trump's economic policy that's moved markets and will increase costs for consumers. The U.S. according to economists.

[Greg Allamus]

NPR White House correspondent Deepa Shivram is with us now to talk about all this. Good morning to you, Deepa.

[Michelle Martin]

Hi. Good morning, Michelle.

[Greg Allamus]

Okay, so this tariff back and forth has been going on for three months now. What has the administration been doing during all this time?

[Michelle Martin]

Yeah, well, to put all this in context, Trump originally made this big tariff announcement back in April, right. He called it Liberation Day and imposed a 10% tariff on basically every item being imported into the US and then on top of that, there were much higher tariffs for countries like China and Vietnam. And the announcement sparked reciprocal tariffs and conflict with longtime trading partners and allies. And a major problem was that the stock market plunged after that announcement. Banks like JP Morgan were warning of a recession if the tariffs stayed in place. So Trump then implemented a 90 day pause. And that pause was set to expire this coming Wednesday. And the idea was that in that 90 day window, countries would make trade deals with the U.S. peter Navarro, who's a White House trade adviser, even said there could be 90 deals in 90 days. And Trump said countries were, quote, dying to make deals.

[Greg Allamus]

So how many deals have actually been made?

[Michelle Martin]

Yeah, so only a few. The United Kingdom and Vietnam have negotiated with the US and the US And China have been talking, but there's no final deal there yet. And there aren't a lot of official details regarding Vietnam. It's more of a framework than a deal, which I think just generally speaks to how unorthodox this trade process has been.

[Greg Allamus]

So there really hasn't been a lot of deal making, at least with most countries. So where does that leave most of the countries that the US trades with?

[Michelle Martin]

So now ahead of this July 9th deadline, that's this Wednesday when this pause was supposed to end, the president is now saying that some countries are going to get letters starting today which will outline what their tariff rate will be. And the administration thinks that these letters will spark more deals very quickly. This is Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant speaking to CNN yesterday.

[Scott Bessant]

We are close to several deals.

[Greg Allen]

As always, there's a lot of foot.

[Michelle Martin]

Dragging on the other side.

[Greg Allen]

And, you know, so I would expect.

[Greg Allamus]

To see several big announcements over the next couple of days.

[Michelle Martin]

And officials say whether it's a trade deal that's reached or not, and countries end up getting hit with those original tariff rates. Either way, those new rates will now take effect on August 1st. And I know I've thrown out a lot of dates, but this is now the third time a date has been set for when tariffs will kick in.

[Greg Allamus]

And as you were just reminding us, the markets reacted strongly the first time these tariffs were announced. And then as you said, you know, all these changes in the deadlines and the dates like you were just telling us, is there any sense of how and when the new tariffs will start to affect consumers?

[Michelle Martin]

Yeah. Well, this pause since April has provided like a bit of stability after the volatility in the markets from that original announcement. But Trump said a few days ago that the new tariff rates on countries that don't make deals could maybe even be higher than what was originally announced. And just last night he went a step further and targeted countries that align themselves with BRICS nations. That's a block of developing countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. They're gathering in Rio right now for a summit and put out a statement criticizing U.S. tariffs. So in retaliation, Trump posted online and said that any nation that aligns with BRICS will face an additional 10% tariff, though he didn't specify any further details. So all of that to say there's still a lot of uncertainty in how all of this is getting implemented. But the bot bottom line is that economists have widely said that an increase in tariff rates will be passed on to consumers, so higher costs are likely coming.

[Greg Allamus]

That is NPR's Deepa Shivaram. Deepa, thank you.

[Michelle Martin]

Thank you.

[Greg Allamus]

And that's up first for Monday, July 7th. I'm Michelle Martin.

[Layla Falden]

And I'm Layla Faulded. Your next listen is Consider this from npr. We here at up first give you the three big stories of the day. Our Consider this Colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single news and what it means to you. Learn about a big story of the day in less than 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Greg Allamus]

Today's episode of up first was edited by Russell Lewis, Miguel Macias, Dana Farrington, Janaya Williams and Lisa Thompson. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Claire Murashima and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Misha Hyness. And our technical director is Carly Strange. We hope you'll join us again tomorrow. Foreign.

[Deepa Shivaram]

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[Daniel Estrin]

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[Deepa Shivaram]

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