NPR News Now - NPR News: 07-07-2025 7PM EDT

Episode Date: July 7, 2025

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You have your job, but you also have a life. And you're not just one thing. Neither is the Here and Now Anytime podcast. Every weekday, we break down the biggest story of the day and something else, like a new trend everyone's talking about. It's Here and Now Anytime, a daily podcast from NPR and WBUR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The death toll from catastrophic flooding across central Texas has risen to more than 100.

NPR's Greg Allen reports search and rescue operations continue in Kerr County, one of the hardest hit areas. Hundreds of emergency workers and volunteers are coming through downed trees, mud, and debris along the Guadalupe River. Some victims have been recovered from vehicles they became trapped in during the flood. Trisha Boswell, a volunteer with Texas EquiSearch,

has been scanning debris piles on the river from an airboat. We all have the same goal, just find that person. We don't care who it is. We want to find a person who's missing and reunite them with their family. Local officials say there are more than 60 miles of river to search. And even with large crews, checking a single mile can take several hours. Greg Allen, NPR News, Kerrville, Texas. President Trump has announced new tariff rates on goods from at least 14 countries.

The announcements are a result of months of uncertainty around the president's chaotic trade policy. NPR's Danielle Kurtz-Slaven reports. In a series of social media posts, President Trump released letters to the leaders of several foreign countries, including major trading partners Japan and South Korea. Those countries' goods will have 25 percent tariffs, but some countries will now face tariffs of 40 percent. Trump had imposed tariffs on nearly every country on April 2nd. He pulled them back to 10 percent days later after markets panicked, saying tariffs would go back up in 90 days on July 9th. He had said he would make deals with countries before

then, but in recent days has said he would simply send letters informing countries of their rates. In addition, the White House announced Trump would delay his July 9th tariff deadline to August 1st, at which point some tariffs would bounce back upwards. Danielle Kurtzleben and PR News, The White House. Danielle Kortenberg Several leading medical organizations are suing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over some of his recent actions on vaccine policy. NPR's Will Stone reports the lawsuit was filed in federal court in Boston today. The lawsuit takes aim at Secretary Kennedy for removing healthy children and pregnant

women from the COVID-19 vaccine schedule. More broadly, the suit critiques what it describes as his efforts to undermine trust in vaccines. The groups behind the lawsuit include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public Health Association, as well as a pregnant physician who says they've been unable to get a COVID shot because of Kennedy's actions. The suit also cites Kennedy's removal of a panel of experts on a federal vaccine committee. It asks for the court to reverse Kennedy's changes to the COVID vaccine schedule.

Will Stone, NPR News. The HHS tells NPR that Secretary Kennedy stands by his CDC reforms. At the close on Wall Street, the Dow was down 422 points. This is NPR. A new study shows the health of kids in the U.S. has declined over the past 17 years. The research shows that children today are more likely to experience obesity, chronic diseases, and other medical conditions. The study was published in the Journal of American

Medical Association. The Trump administration has recently made cuts to federal health agencies, Medicaid, and scientific research. Today marks 20 years since suicide attacks on London's transit system known as the 7-7 bombings. NPR's Lauren Frere reports, together, they were the deadliest attack on the British capital since World War II. At a memorial service in St. Paul's Cathedral, politicians, first responders and wounded survivors paid their respects to the 52 people killed that day, when four British men inspired

by Al-Qaeda blew themselves up on three London subway trains and a double-decker bus. Saba Edwards who lost her mother read out the names of the dead. Kings Cross Russell Square. The July 7th 2005 attacks were the first suicide bombings on European soil. On their 20th anniversary there are memorials and moments of silence. And King Charles issued a special message hailing the spirit of unity that's helped London heal since then. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. I'm Winsor Johnston and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.