NPR News Now - NPR News: 07-07-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: July 7, 2025

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You know those things you shout at the radio or maybe even at this very NPR podcast? On NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, we actually say those things on the radio and on the podcast. We're rude across all media. We think the news can take it. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. In central Texas, authorities say at least 80 people are dead after devastating flooding on the 4th of July.

As search and rescue operations continue, people in the area hit by the flood are starting the slow recovery process. Houston Public Media's Dominic Anthony Walsh has more. Residents say they never imagined a disaster like this was possible. Outside Lillia and Joe Herrera's home along the Guadalupe River, a front-end loader lifts their ruined possessions into a dumpster.

I'm watching them throw all my stuff, all my everything. Yeah, my whole house is empty. It's devastating. Their home flooded with about two feet of water, and they don't have flood insurance because they say it's not in a floodplain. Neighbors are coming together to help clean out mud and debris, the first steps on the

long road to recovery. I'm Dominic Anthony Walsh in Kerrville, Texas. The 90-day pause on most tariffs offered by President Trump earlier this year expires on Wednesday. Trump had said he would have dozens of deals completed by now, but so far has just two. But Treasury Secretary Scott Besson says the administration has a plan to change all that. We are going to, President Trump is going to be sending letters to some of our trading partners saying that if you don't move things along, then on August 1st, you will boomerang back to your April

2nd tariff level. So I think we're going to see a lot of deals very quickly. Besant was speaking on CNN Sunday morning. Wall Street investors, meanwhile, are bracing for Trump's tariff deadline this Wednesday. MPR's Rafael Nam has more. Investors really don't like tariffs. Stocks dropped after Trump announced this import taxes earlier this year. But then markets recovered after the President delayed his

tariffs for 90 days. He wanted time for his administration to clinch individual deals with all the countries impacted. That pause ends on Wednesday and could lead to high tariffs for any country that doesn't reach an agreement with the U.S. Investors though are hopeful that Trump will extend the deadline or that the U.S. will be able to get some deals in place. The S&P 500 hit a record high last week despite the looming deadline. But expect some caution in the days ahead. Rafael Nam, NPR News Russia and Ukraine both traded more drone attacks

this weekend. In Russia, hundreds of flights at airports in Moscow, St. Petersburg and several other cities across the country were delayed or cancelled because of Ukrainian drone attacks. Those attacks followed an announcement by Ukraine's president that the country has signed deals with some western nations to increase their drone production. He also says that he hopes to sign a similar deal soon with the US. You're listening to NPR News. The Dalai Lama turned 90 years old on Sunday. During a celebration, he spoke of his hope to live to be 130 and then reincarnate. The Dalai Lama is 90 years old on Sunday. During a celebration, he spoke of his hope to live to be 130 and then reincarnate.

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. Thousands of monks and nuns gather to celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize laureates' birthday. Ozzy Osborne and Black Sabbath have played what they say will be their final gig, and they did it back where it all began. Vicki Barker reports from London. Forty thousand fans packed the stadium in Birmingham, England, the city where Black Sabbath got its start 57 years ago. Frontman Ozzy Osborne, 76 and suffering from Parkinson's disease, sang from a giant throne, clapping and gesticulating like old times.

The 11-hour show featured the original Sabbath lineup, as well as fellow rock gods Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Slayer, The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood, and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler. The Observer newspaper called it a fitting tribute to the group which, quote, first created heavy metal, then transcended it. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London. The Washington Nationals have fired their manager and general manager. The team is in its sixth consecutive losing season since they won the World Series back in 2019. The firings came after a 64 loss in Washington on Sunday that completed a series sweep by the Boston Red Sox. The Nationals are currently 37-53 on the season and in last place in their division. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

Recycling can feel like a lost cause, but one college student started a grassroots effort to turn beer bottles into sand for eroding beaches. We have some music bumping and like some people are sorting. There's one person crushing and the rest of us are like hand sifting the material. Now you can come up with creative ideas by taking a second look. Double takes. That's on the TED Radio Hour podcast from NPR.