NPR News: 07-24-2025 1AM EDT
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What is the opening news briefing and who is presenting it?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stephens. A federal judge in Florida is blocking the release of grand jury transcripts on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Details from NPR's Ryan Lucas.
The Justice Department is asking the court to unseal transcripts from grand jury investigations in South Florida and Epstein in 2005 and 2007.
Why is a federal judge blocking the release of Jeffrey Epstein grand‑jury transcripts?
But U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg has denied that request. She says that 11th Circuit law does not permit her to unseal the records and that her hands are tied. Grand jury materials are generally secret, and Rosenberg says the department's request does not fall under the limited exceptions allowed under the law. Two judges in New York are also considering parallel requests to unseal grand jury transcripts there related to the convicted sex offender. They have asked the department to better explain why the transcript should be made public, as well as asking for input from Epstein representatives and his victims. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
Columbia University says it has reached a settlement with the Trump administration over its hiring, admissions, and handling of campus protests.
What are the terms of Columbia University’s settlement with the Trump administration?
Under the deal, Colombia has agreed to pay $200 million in exchange for the restoration of billions of dollars in federal research grants. The Supreme Court has handed President Trump another victory. A divided court says Trump may fire three Democrats on the Consumer Product Safety Commission without cause. NPR's Nina Totenberg explains the significance of the ruling, which was issued without explanation.
Remember that a year ago it granted Donald Trump, then a former president, unlimited immunity for his core official conduct while in office. It extended that to when he was out of office. Now comes the independent agencies that many conservatives have for decades wanted to make unindependent. In other words, subservient to the president.
How did the Supreme Court allow President Trump to fire members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission?
And in several recent cases, the president has tried to fire Democratic appointees, which was never permitted before, but now looks very much as if it is permitted.
NPR's Nina Totenberg. Texas lawmakers are holding a special session to prepare for future natural disasters. The committee was created in wake of the Hill Country floods that claimed at least 135 lives earlier this month. From the Texas newsroom, Blaise Gainey has more.
State lawmakers heard from Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Nim Kidd, who laid out recommendations including better ways for the state to communicate with local governments during an emergency. We have 52 to 54
independently, locally, usually locally owned radio systems across the state. There's no state standard for governance in how they operate.
Other recommendations include more facilities, state-owned ambulance and fire trucks, and locations across the state to store them. Kidd says one common issue is local agencies are willing to lend their staff, but the state doesn't own an emergency vehicle for them to use.
What recommendations did Texas officials make during the special session on future natural disasters?
I'm Blaise Ganey in Austin.
This is NPR. A federal judge is barring the Trump administration from taking custody of Kilmar Obrego-Garcia. The Maryland man is being detained in Tennessee, where he's fighting deportation. Obrego-Garcia was initially accused of belonging to a Venezuelan gang and then wrongfully deported to El Salvador. He was returned to the U.S. under court order and then accused of human trafficking. Abrego Garcia denies all allegations of criminal activity. Southern California Edison says it's offering a streamlined approach to compensating the victims of the Eaton Fire that devastated Altadena and Pasadena earlier this year. The utility company says it's creating a compensation program that will be launched in the fall.
Why is a federal judge preventing the Trump administration from taking custody of Kilmar Obrego‑Garcia?
The fund will process direct payments and speedy resolutions to claims filed by individuals and businesses. British families of some of the Air India crash victims say they've received the wrong human remains. As NPR's Lauren Frayer reports grief and outrage over the mix-up comes as India's prime minister visits the U.K.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the opening news briefing and who is presenting it?
0:01–0:23
2
Why is a federal judge blocking the release of Jeffrey Epstein grand‑jury transcripts?
0:23–1:05
3
What are the terms of Columbia University’s settlement with the Trump administration?
1:05–1:51
4
How did the Supreme Court allow President Trump to fire members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission?
1:51–2:56
5
What recommendations did Texas officials make during the special session on future natural disasters?
2:56–3:41
6
Why is a federal judge preventing the Trump administration from taking custody of Kilmar Obrego‑Garcia?
3:41–4:40