NPR News: 07-20-2025 6PM EDT
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What is the legal battle over Harvard’s federal funding about?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Lawyers for Harvard and the Trump administration will be in court in Boston tomorrow over the government's cancellation of more than two billion dollars in federal funding for the school. Emily Piper Valillo of Member Station WBUR has more.
Over nine hundred Harvard University studies now hang in the balance, after the White House yanked funding earlier this year saying Harvard permitted anti Semitism on campus. Harvard says the administration's actions unlawfully retaliate against the university for rejecting the White House's demands over what it can teach as well as who it can admit and hire. Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman says the stakes extend far beyond Harvard.
If a university with a multi-billion dollar endowment can be cowed and pushed around by the government so that it loses its free speech rights, it's a lot easier to stop you personally from exercising your free speech rights.
The hearing is expected to last one day. For NPR News, I'm Emily Piper Volillo in Boston.
How are the U.S. and Russia negotiating peace talks over Ukraine?
Russia says it's still eager for a peace deal with Ukraine once it achieves its political and military objectives. This after President Trump threatened new sanctions if it doesn't agree to a deal soon. And Pierce Charles Maines has more.
What is the current status of the Grand Canyon North Rim wildfire?
President Trump announced the sanctions threat countdown last week, part of a wider shift in policy towards Russia that includes a decision to sell arms to Ukraine through NATO allies in Europe. Yet in an interview with state media, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was by now used to Trump's harsh rhetoric and sought to point out areas of common ground. Peskov said that Trump, like Putin, wanted peace in Ukraine and argued both leaders now recognized. Recognized the complexities of achieving a lasting settlement three and a half years into Russia's full scale invasion. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he wants to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire and called on Russia to engage in a new round of peace talks this week.
Crews fighting a more than twelve thousand acre wildfire on the northern rim of the Grand Canyon National Park are facing an uptick in fire activity.
Who was WWII veteran Papa Jake and why is his story viral?
From Member Station KNAU, Ryan Heinches has more.
Officials say gusty winds have started numerous spot fires, in some cases several miles away from the main Dragon Bravo fire. Hundreds of personnel are working to suppress the lightning-caused blaze that's been burning on the park's more remote north rim since July 4th. Crews have contained a small part of the wildfire near the canyon's rim and close to water infrastructure that serves the national park. Many trails like the North and South Kyback. And Lower Bright Angel, along with Phantom Ranch, remain closed to the public. So far the fire has burned dozens of North Rim structures, including employee housing and the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. For NPR News, I'm Ryan Heinches in Flagstaff.
And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Jake Larson, a World War II veteran and social media star known as Papa Jake, has died. He was one hundred two years old, and Pierre Chandelise Duster has more on his life and heroism.
Jake Larson was born on December 20, 1922, in Oatana, Minnesota. He joined the Minnesota National Guard when he was just 15 years old by claiming he was 18. He was one of thirty-four thousand Allied soldiers to storm Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of German occupied Normandy. His recollections of D Day, including this one from June twenty twenty, have garnered millions of views across social media.
Who won the British Open and what does it mean for the career Grand Slam?
There must have been some intervention from above that kept me. Being lucky all the way through.
Came out with our scratch. Larson received a bronze star from the US Army and the Legion of Honor, France's highest honor. Chandelise Duster, NPR News.
Scotty Scheffler won the British Open today for his second major title this year, putting him one step closer to a career grand slam. The world's number one player dominated today, leading by as many as seven shots with a final round sixty eight to end seventeen under par, winning by four shots.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the legal battle over Harvard’s federal funding about?
0:00–1:04
2
How are the U.S. and Russia negotiating peace talks over Ukraine?
1:04–1:18
3
What is the current status of the Grand Canyon North Rim wildfire?
1:18–2:09
4
Who was WWII veteran Papa Jake and why is his story viral?
2:09–3:40
5
Who won the British Open and what does it mean for the career Grand Slam?
3:40–4:38