Monday morning news: July 28, 2025

Editor's note: The following text is a transcript of a podcast story. To listen to the story, click on the arrow beneath the headline above.

US-EU new trade deal » A big announcement in Scotland Sunday where President Trump met with top leaders from the European Union.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen:

LEYEN:  We have a deal, uh, we have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world, and it's a big deal. It's a huge deal.

US and European leaders agreed on a framework by which the President Trump says there will be a flat tariff on most imports from the EU.

TRUMP:  We are agreeing that the tariff straight across for automobiles and everything else will be a straight across tariff of 15%.

Some strategic products will reportedly have zero tariffs, but details are still being finalized.

Trump said under the agreement, the EU will buy more energy and military equipment from the US and invest an additional $600 billion in America — on top of existing investments.

The leaders called the deal beneficial for both sides.

Rubio on Mideast / Ukraine conflicts » Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Trump remains focused on bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.

The most recent round of peace talks in Turkey last week between Russia and Ukraine yielded no progress toward a ceasefire.

RUBIO:  He's losing his patience. He's losing his willingness to continue to wait for the Russian side to do something here, to bring an end to this, to this war.

In the Middle East, Rubio said Sunday that he remains hopeful and optimistic … about a ceasefire in Gaza. That despite peace talks between Israel and the Hamas terror group breaking down last week.

But he added that Hamas could end the conflict at any time.

RUBIO:  There's a very simple solution to what's happening in Gaza. Release all the hostages. Lay down your arms, and the war ends.

Hamas has not been willing to release its grip on Gaza.

The US and Israel recalled their negotiators last Thursday after American officials said the terror group was showing no serious interest in peace.

Ratcliffe on Russia probe intel » CIA Director John Ratcliff says he plans to release more files tied to the Obama administration’s so-called Russia probe, which cast a cloud over President Trump’s first term.

RATCLIFFE:  What hasn't come out yet and what's going to come out is, uh, the underlying intelligence, uh, that I have spent the last few months making recommendations about final, uh, uh, declassification and sent that to the Department of Justice that will come out in the John Durham report, classified annex.

His comments follow Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s release of declassified documents last week. Gabbard claims the Obama administration manipulated intelligence to craft a false narrative that Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia in 20-16. And has referred former President Obama and several aides to the Justice Department for prosecution.

Some former intelligence officials dispute Gabbard’s claims. Obama’s office dismissed the accusations as a distraction.

Biden fitness probe » House Republicans continue to grill former Biden administration officials as part of a probe into Joe Biden’s mental acuity and fitness while in the Oval Office.

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said Sunday:

COMER:  This investigation is, was Joe Biden mentally fit, uh, to make those decisions? Did Joe Biden have any idea, uh, what was being stuck in that autopen and, and his signature, uh, being forged on these documents?

Most officials called in for questioning have pleaded the Fifth. But former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain last week agreed to answer questions. And Fox News reports that he told the panel that President Biden seemed tired and ill before his disastrous presidential debate last summer. But he reportedly said he had no knowledge of Biden being given the prescription sleep drug Ambien before the debate as the former president's son Hunter Biden recently claimed.

Michigan stabbings » The suspect in a mass stabbing knife attack at a Michigan Walmart could face charges of terrorism and assault with intent to murder.

Authorities say they’re seeking those charges against the 42-year-old suspect.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michale Shea says the man entered the store Saturday afternoon with a folding knife.

SHEA:  Based on the information that we have at this time, it appears there were random acts that there was no, um, the victims were not predetermined.

He says the attacker stabbed eleven people, six of whom were listed in critical condition.

The victims were transported to Munson Medical Center, where Dr. Tom Schermerhorn told reporters Sunday:

SCHERERHORN:  I'm happy to report one patient has been treated and released. Now we have 10 remaining patients, two who remain in serious position, serious condition, and the others have progressed to fair condition.

The sheriff added that citizens stepped in and helped to subdue the attacker until police arrived.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: a Christian perspective on reforming the criminal justice system. Plus, David Bahnsen talks about rebate checks and other financial news of the week.

This is The World and Everything in It.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.