NPR News: 07-24-2025 6PM EDT
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Why did President Trump and Fed Chair Powell clash over the Fed Building renovation costs?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell clashed this afternoon in front of reporters over the cost of a renovation project at the Fed Building in Washington. Trump was touring the site to see the work that's being done. He called it expensive and out of control, and accused Powell of mismanaging project costs, which have risen in recent years. At one point, the two had a tense exchange. Trump claimed the price tag is over three billion. This is Powell first correcting those numbers.
You're including the Martin renovation.
No, it's been it was built five years ago. We finished Martin five years ago.
How is the Supreme Court’s pause affecting enforcement of the Voting Rights Act?
So uh new.
Powell was saying there that the president was including the cost of a building that is not part of his renovation. After that, Trump toned down his usual threats to fire Powell. The Federal Reserve is expected to leave rates steady during its policy meeting next week. The US Supreme Court has extended a pause on a controversial lower court ruling that curtails the Federal Voting Rights Act. NPR's Hanzi LeWong reports the new order keeps in place for now a key tool for enforcing protections against racial discrimination in elections in seven states.
Legal protections for minority voters under what's known as Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act have been mainly enforced through lawsuits filed by private individuals and groups. And if the Supreme Court decides to fully review this North Dakota redistricting case, it could end up blocking private individuals and groups across the country from filing these kinds of lawsuits. For now, the Turtle Mountain Ban of Chippewa Indians and the Spirit Lake tribe asks the Supreme Court to consider keeping a hold on a lower court ruling to help election officials determine which redistricting map to use for North Dakota's state legislative races next year.
What are French President Macron’s plans for recognizing a Palestinian state and a cease‑fire?
The High Court has agreed, and the new order means that election will use the same voting map that the tribal nation successfully advocated in court to put in place for last year's election. Anzillawong, NPR News.
French President Emmanuel Macron says he plans to recognize a state of Palestine. But first he's calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as talks falter, and Pierre's Michel Kellaman reports.
In a letter posted on X, Macron promises the Palestinian Authority president that France intends to recognize a Palestinian state. The French leader says he'll make the announcement at the UN General Assembly in September. Next week, France and Saudi Arabia are hosting a conference on a two-state solution. The US is not planning to attend that.
With diplomacy in doubt, aid groups are warning of widespread hunger. Michelle Kelleman, NPR News, the State Department.
Why is Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stepping down and what could it mean for the 2026 elections?
This is NPR News from
Washington. Wisconsin's Democratic governor, Tony Evers, says he will not seek another term in office, as Wisconsin public radio's Anya Van Wagdendock reports that shakes up politics in the swing state ahead of the twenty twenty six midterms.
In a video announcement, Governor Evers says he's confident he'd win a historic third term if he ran, but that he wants to focus on time with his family. Here's the truth, Wisconsin. The only thing I love
more than being your
Our governor is being a husband, a dad, and a grandpa. The announcement sets up what could become a ferocious Democratic primary in an election cycle where Democrats nationally have their eyes on two of the swing states' congressional districts. In purple Wisconsin, Evers has frequently wielded his veto pen on bills passed by the GOP-held state legislature. This cycle, Democrats are also vying to take over the Wisconsin state senate. I'm there hoping for help from anti Trump headwinds out of Washington.
What impact could the Union Pacific‑Norfolk Southern merger have on U.S. freight railroads?
For NPR News, I'm Anyvan Wagtondonk in Madison.
Union Pacific, the largest U.S. railroad operator, is in talks with Norfolk Southern for a possible merger. This would create a major West to East Coast freight railroad in the U.S. A deal could significantly affect the shipment of goods through the country.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why did President Trump and Fed Chair Powell clash over the Fed Building renovation costs?
0:01–0:50
2
How is the Supreme Court’s pause affecting enforcement of the Voting Rights Act?
0:50–1:56
3
What are French President Macron’s plans for recognizing a Palestinian state and a cease‑fire?
1:56–2:56
4
Why is Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stepping down and what could it mean for the 2026 elections?
2:56–3:56
5
What impact could the Union Pacific‑Norfolk Southern merger have on U.S. freight railroads?
3:56–4:39