NPR News Now - NPR News: 07-15-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: July 15, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he's grateful for President Trump's plan to send more weapons. Trump also set a deadline of 50 days for Russia to reach an agreement to end the war before the U.S. imposes economic penalties. Axios senior politics reporter Mark Caputo spoke to NPR's morning edition about Trump's shift in policy. Directionally he wants peace and he's willing to almost give up anything to get it. If that means arming Ukraine and

if that means sending long-range missiles which we've been told might be part of the package, it hasn't been confirmed, he's going to do it even though it really upsets his MAGA base, which doesn't want to arm Ukraine and says Ukraine is not our problem. But Trump is really invested in doing this. So he's using every tool at his disposal. And now those tools are missiles. Axios senior reporter Mark Caputo.

Nearly every county in the U.S. has experienced flooding in the past few decades, but FEMA estimates only 4% of homeowners have flood insurance. Experts call it the flood insurance gap, and PR's Michael Copley reports it's leaving millions in serious financial risk. Most homeowners' insurance doesn't cover flooding, and federal disaster aid is usually just a fraction of what people need to repair or replace their homes. That's why experts say people need flood insurance, which most get through the National Flood Insurance Program. But flood insurance can be expensive, especially for people on tight budgets.

So many roll the dice and hope a flood doesn't happen, says Brian O'Connell, an analyst at Insurance Quotes. Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes

Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes Brian O'Connell, Analyst at Insurance Quotes happens to. It's one of the worst things, you know, people have experienced in their lives. Experts say flood insurance can keep people out of financial distress and homes from going into foreclosure. Michael Copley, NPR News. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a challenge to the stability of his government. A key political party says it's quitting his governing coalition in a dispute over military enlistment. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports. An ultra-Orthodox Jewish political party called United Torah Judaism says it's quitting Israel's coalition government

over a long-running dispute involving ultra-Orthodox Jews being exempted from serving in the Israeli military. The party is demanding a law to ensure military exemptions continue so members of their community can focus on religious studies. But the Gaza war and the need for soldiers has placed more political pressure on the community to take part in military service.

The party's departure is not an immediate threat to Netanyahu's ability to stay in office, but it would leave him with a narrow governing majority and more reliant on his far-right political partners who oppose a ceasefire in Gaza. Danielle Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Consumer prices rose 2.7 percent in June from a year ago. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Ice cream makers with the International Dairy Foods Association pledged to eliminate artificial food dyes by 2027,

a move NPR's Yuki Noguchi says has been pushed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The International Dairy Foods Association pledged its ice cream makers would get rid of petroleum-based dyes. At a press conference on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins hailed it as a move away from government and toward industry self-regulation. The beauty of America is the role that private enterprise has always played, but will continue to play, and perhaps an even bigger role, in voluntarily shaping policies for the good of future generations. The Trump administration had previously announced plans to phase out eight artificial dyes from

medicines, food and candy by 2027. Yuki Noguchi, NPR News. AMC Theaters is expanding its discount movie days to two days a week. Adult tickets are now half off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The deal is just for AMC Stubbs members. The company is tackling the downward trend in movie theater attendance as many opt to stream movies at home. A SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts splashed down this morning in the Pacific off the California coast. Astronauts from Hungary, India, Poland and the U.S. conducted experiments

at the International Space Station. conducted experiments at the International Space Station. Mission commander and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson was on board. I'm Kristin Wright and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.