The Actual News

Key Facts

• The Federal Reserve, often called "the Fed," is the central bank of the United States.
• The Fed is meant to operate independently from the government to help maintain a stable economy.
• The President of the United States appoints the Fed Chair, but cannot easily remove them to ensure independence.
• The independence of the Fed helps prevent short-term political goals from affecting long-term economic stability.
• Economic historian Carola Binder explains the importance of this independence to maintain trust in economic policies.

Key Facts

• The budget bill was introduced by the Republican party.
• It makes major changes to the federal student loan system.
• Both current and future loan borrowers will be impacted by these changes.
• The bill is a part of a larger government spending plan.
• The changes have been discussed on the NPR show Weekend Edition Sunday.

Key Facts

• Lesotho has about 35,000 garment workers, and many are now facing job uncertainty.
• The U.S. announced high tariffs on goods from Lesotho in April, impacting the economy.
• Factories in Lesotho have begun closing, with many people losing their jobs.
• Lesotho exported $237 million worth of goods, mostly clothing, to the U.S. last year.
• Lesotho's government declared a two-year national state of disaster to manage the economic impact.
• The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) previously allowed tariff-free access to the U.S. market.
• Lesotho benefited from AGOA, attracting factories to produce apparel for big American brands.

Key Facts

• Initially, nearly 100 people were missing after the floods; now, only three remain unaccounted for.
• The death toll from the floods in Texas is at least 135, with 107 deaths in Kerr County.
• Floodwaters rose 26 feet on the Guadalupe River, causing severe damage to homes and vehicles.
• Kerr County is prone to flash flooding due to its dry soil that cannot absorb heavy rain quickly.
• Camp Mystic, a popular summer camp, lost 27 campers and counselors in the floods.
• Search efforts involve helicopters, boats, and drones but were delayed by rain forecasts.
• President Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott are addressing concerns about the local response to the flooding.

Key Facts

• Congress cut $1.1 billion in federal funding for public media.
• Allegheny Mountain Radio, a network of small stations, gets about 65% of its budget from public media funding.
• This radio network serves rural areas in Virginia and West Virginia.
• The station provides local news, including community and government updates.
• Many listeners in these areas lack easy access to internet and phone signals.
• Allegheny Mountain Radio helps connect communities in remote regions.
• The radio network may need to cut staff or close stations if it cannot find new funding.

Key Facts

• Tensions have increased between the U.S. and Brazil regarding the legal case involving former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
• U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a 50-percent tariff on Brazilian products.
• Brazilian President Lula da Silva labeled the proposed tariffs as "unacceptable blackmail."
• Discussions about the situation included perspectives from experts in politics and international relations.
• The situation involves questions about possible winners and losers from this conflict.

Key Facts

• Israeli troops fired at crowds of Palestinians near food distribution hubs in southern Gaza, leading to at least 32 deaths.
• The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, involved in distributing food, is a U.S.- and Israeli-supported group.
• These distribution hubs are meant to replace the U.N.-led aid system, which the U.S. and Israel claim is exploited by Hamas, an allegation the U.N. denies.
• The incidents happened mostly near a food center close to Khan Younis, with troops reportedly firing machine guns.
• Witnesses mentioned that the shootings involved tanks and drones, and happened early in the morning when many were seeking food.
• Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported receiving 25 bodies and about 70 wounded individuals, mostly shot in vital areas like the head and chest.
• GHF advised people not to visit the sites late at night or early in the morning, stating no incidents happened at the sites themselves.
• Additional airstrikes in Gaza resulted in more casualties, including the deaths of a police official and his family.

Key Facts

• The podcast series is named "Unsettled."
• It is produced by Iowa Public Radio.
• The series focuses on gender and its effects on everyday life.
• It examines the role of men in the gender gap in the United States.
• "Unsettled" is available as a podcast to listen to.

Key Facts

• Donald Trump is a former President of the United States.
• Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
• There is ongoing interest in Trump's past relationship with Epstein.
• Some people in Trump's political circle are questioning his handling of Epstein-related files.
• New York Times journalist Luke Broadwater has written about the Trump-Epstein relationship.
• John Yang talked to Luke Broadwater to learn more about what is known regarding Trump and Epstein's interactions.

Key Facts

• The Trump administration is stopping transgender people from serving in the U.S. military.
• This decision could affect thousands of transgender troops.
• The Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the U.S. military, is giving transgender troops two options: leave voluntarily with extra benefits, or be removed.
• Some transgender military members are going to court to fight this decision.
• Dan Ming from Evident Media has talked to some of these military members about their legal challenge.

Key Facts

• The Trump administration has a strategy involving third country deportations.
• A third country deportation is when a person is sent from one country to another that is not their home country.
• A new event has occurred involving a multi-national prisoner swap.
• Chris Camponovo, a former State Department lawyer, is analyzing this situation.
• The discussion is part of a broader examination of the administration's deportation strategies.

Key Facts

Key Facts

• NPR's Life Kit offers guidance on managing car emergencies.
• The segment suggests useful actions for drivers in unexpected situations on the road.
• The content will be available as an audio piece.
• Basic safety practices mentioned include using seatbelts and turn signals.
• The advice aims to help drivers stay safe and informed during emergencies.

Key Facts

• A Delta Airlines plane experienced a fire in one engine during take-off.
• The aircraft was a Boeing 767-400.
• The flight was traveling from Los Angeles to Atlanta.
• After the engine issue, the pilot circled back and landed safely in Los Angeles.
• A Delta Airlines spokesperson confirmed the fire in the left engine.
• The incident was captured on video by a person who shared it on a YouTube channel.

Key Facts

• Right-wing influencers who usually support Trump are now criticizing him for not releasing Epstein-related files.
• Jeffrey Epstein was involved in illegal activities and had connections with many powerful people.
• There is a growing push in media to label the violence in Gaza as genocide.
• An Israeli scholar has prompted new discussions about Gaza in the media.
• In Germany, pro-Palestinian voices claim they are being suppressed in media and protests.
• Some say the media's focus on Gaza comes too late for those affected.

Key Facts

• The show is called "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" and aired on July 19, 2025.
• James Gunn, co-chairman and CEO of DC Studios, was a guest on the show.
• The episode was recorded in Chicago with host Peter Sagal and scorekeeper Bill Kurtis.
• Panelists included Paula Poundstone, Adam Burke, and Bobcat Goldthwait.
• James Gunn participated in a game segment about t-shirt guns.
• The show also included a segment where panelists shared three stories about a discovery related to William Shakespeare, but only one story was true.
• Bill Kurtis read news-related limericks during the show.

Key Facts

• A car hit a crowd outside a nightclub in Los Angeles, injuring 30 people.
• The driver had a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital.
• Police are looking for a suspect who supposedly shot the driver.
• Twenty-three of the injured people were sent to hospitals.
• Three of the victims are in critical condition.
• The car also damaged a taco truck and a valet stand.
• The nightclub, Vermont Hollywood, was holding a reggae/hip hop event.
• A fight reportedly occurred outside the club just before the crash.

Key Facts

• A vehicle drove into a crowd in East Hollywood, Los Angeles.
• More than 20 people were injured in the incident.
• Five people are in critical condition.
• Eight to ten people have serious injuries.
• Ten to fifteen people are in fair condition.
• The accident happened around 2:00 a.m. local time.
• It occurred on Santa Monica Boulevard.
• The Los Angeles Fire Department shared information about the incident.

Key Facts

• A vehicle hit a crowd on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles.
• At least 20 people were injured in the incident.
• Up to five people are critically injured.
• Up to ten people are in a serious condition.
• The incident happened at 2 a.m. local time in East Hollywood.
• Photos show a grey car on the pavement with debris around it.
• There is a large police presence at the scene.

Key Facts

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebels signed a declaration in Qatar to stop fighting.
• The fighting in eastern Congo has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands this year.
• M23 is mainly composed of ethnic Tutsi fighters and has links to events from the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
• Qatar helped arrange a key meeting in March between Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
• The DRC had initially refused to negotiate with M23, labeling it a “terrorist group,” but later agreed to talks.
• The US hosted talks between the DRC and Rwanda, where an agreement was signed in June with warnings from then-US President Donald Trump.
• Congo, the United Nations, and Western countries claim Rwanda supports M23, but Rwanda denies this, stating its actions are in self-defense.
• Several neighboring countries have troops in the area due to the ongoing conflict.