NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-03-2025 11PM EDT

Episode Date: August 4, 2025

NPR News: 08-03-2025 11PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As AI permeates every aspect of our lives, who are the people behind this huge inflection point? What keeps them up at night? I fear that what it means to be human may suddenly not be our own. We've got a special series from NPR's TED Radio Hour. It's called The Prophets of Technology. What they got right, wrong, and where these pioneers think we're headed next. Listen to the TED Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The Trump administration says the new tariffs placed on

dozens of countries last week will go into effect as scheduled later this week. The announcement had sent stock prices sharply lower on Friday, NPR's Luke Garrett reports. The tariffs range from 10 to 40 percent on certain countries that haven't made a trade deal with the U.S. and comes after the White House twice delayed mandating the so-called reciprocal tariffs announced in April. On NBC, Kristen Welker asked top White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett if drops in the stock market will cause Trump to roll back these broad tariffs. I would rule it out because these are the final deals. Other countries like South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Japan negotiated their own deals

and tariff rates. Hassett says he expects these to hold, but didn't rule out changes. The president will decide what the president decides, but the president likes those deals. The reciprocal tariffs go into effect Thursday. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. The White House could soon fast-track logging, drilling, and mining on public lands by limiting public input. Oregon Public Broadcasting's April Ehrlich reports. When the federal government plans a project that could harm the environment, like through logging or road building, it needs to let the public weigh in. The Trump administration is proposing to drastically limit that public process.

Randy Rasmussen of the Backcountry Horsemen of America says it's a big deal for western states like Oregon, where there is a lot of federal land. Randy Rasmussen, Backcountry Horsemen of America, Oregon The public will be more and more shut out on decisions that affect our livelihoods, our recreational activities, the things that we all as Oregonians care about. The proposed changes are coming to a 55-year-old law called the National Environmental Policy Act. The public can comment on these changes until Monday. For NPR News, I'm April Erlich in Portland, Oregon.

Smoke from wildfires burning right now in western Canada is prompting special air quality warnings across the country as well as into the Midwestern U.S. And the number of wildfires is growing, with one in three still out of control. Dan Karpanchuk has our story. In Canada, smoke and haze from the wildfires has stretched from British Columbia into Western Quebec. It's also led to air quality alerts in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois.

Environment Canada is reporting extremely high levels of air pollution. The air quality index in many areas at some of the highest levels. That can lead to eye, nose, and throat irritation and even more severe symptoms, including chest pain and severe coughing. Health officials warn that those most at risk from the wildfire smoke are infants, children, and seniors, as well as anyone with an illness

or chronic health condition. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpanchuk in Toronto. Police in Montana say they have had little luck so far in locating the suspect in the shooting Friday that left four people dead inside a bar. They believe 45-year-old Michael Brown used a rifle to shoot the four in a bar next door to where he lived. A manhunt continues in the mountainous region in the western part of that state. You're listening to NPR News. Chicago's annual Lollapalooza music festival is officially

wrapped up. Somer Van Benten from Member Station WBEZ reports on reaction from people who attended the events. The annual four-day music festival brought thousands to Chicago's Grant Park. Janaye Howard says she got the chance to catch familiar acts while discovering new ones. I think I would tell my friends and family that I got a whole bunch of concerts for the price of one and I think that that's a really big flex. She brought her friend Zach Dodd, a first-time festival goer. It's a great opportunity to see love and peace and kindness and to see what the best city in the world has to offer in community. Sabrina Carpenter, Tyler the Creator and ASAP Rocky were among this year's

headliners. For NPR News, I'm Summer Van Benton in Chicago. About 3,200 Boeing workers are planning to go out on strike Monday night at facilities in Missouri and Illinois where they build fighter jets. The union says their members need a contract that keeps their family secure. Union members rejected a contract offer last week that included a 20% wage increase over four years. Boeing officials say they're prepared for the strike. Despite a 66% drop in ticket sales, Marvel's movie The Fantastic Four First Steps remains at the top of the box office this weekend. It brought in 40 million dollars in ticket sales, which brings its domestic haul to 198 steps remains at the top of the box office this weekend. It brought in $40 million in

ticket sales, which brings its domestic haul to $198 million. The Bad Guys 2, which appeals to teens and tweens, grabbed second spot with $22.2 million, while the Naked Gun remake starring Liam Neeson landed in third, bringing in $17 million. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.