NPR News: 06-25-2026 2AM EDT

Giles Snyder· Host0:01

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Rescue work is underway in Caracas after back-to-back earthquakes. Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez has declared a state of emergency and says at least thirty-two people are now confirmed dead and some seven hundred injured. She's warning the toll will rise as rescuers search collapsed buildings and emergency crews reach heavily damaged areas. Reporter Maria Graterol is in Caracas.

Maria Graterol0:29

When the earthquake started, I was in my house, and it was, like, uh, super hard. It was-- I mean, before, I had not experienced something like that. You could see how the walls were moving, and everything was moving around, too. So, uh, we, as far as we could, we got out of the, of the, of the apartment, and we went to a, like, to a square.

Giles Snyder· Host0:54

President Trump was on the National Mall Wednesday evening, kicking off what's called the Great American State Fair, a sixteen-day event celebrating the nation's 250th birthday.

Donald Trump· Soundbite1:05

Ten days from now, our country will celebrate one of the most monumental milestones in human history. We will mark 250 years of glorious American freedom.

Giles Snyder· Host1:17

Trump headlined the opening night after several musical acts dropped out, citing concerns that it had become politicized. Trump's campaign-style speech capped a day in which he held a tense Capitol Hill meeting