NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-03-2025 1AM EDT

Episode Date: August 3, 2025

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Recent research shows that psychedelics can help with a range of mental health conditions, including PTSD and depression. Therapeutic effects can last for weeks to months after just a single dose. On the Sunday Story, the neuroscience behind a growing psychedelics industry and how at-home ketamine therapy may be the industry's new frontier. Listen now to the Sunday Story on the Up First podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff remains in Israel this weekend. On Friday, he visited a much criticized food distribution site in Gaza,

and he was in Tel Aviv on Saturday where he met with the families of some of the remaining hostages still being held in Gaza. NPR's Emily Fang has more. Previous ceasefire negotiations to bring back 10 of the approximately 20 remaining hostages still being held in Gaza. And Piers Emily Fang has more. Previous ceasefire negotiations to bring back 10 of the approximately 20 living hostages stalled late last month. Now, Witkoff says in a statement released by an organization representing hostages families that the goal is to bring back all 50 hostages dead or alive.

The issue of the hostages has divided Israeli society with the hostages families accusing Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of delaying a ceasefire that would bring their loved ones back. Vicky Cohen is the mother of Nimrod Cohen, an Israeli soldier kidnapped during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Many families praised Wyckoff and President Trump for their help, but Cohen says at the end of the day it is the government of Israel that is responsible for bringing the hostages home. Emily Fang, NPR News. Senate Democrats are criticizing President Trump's latest round of sweeping tariffs.

Trump announced this week that he'll raise tariffs on more than 60 countries starting August 7. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut says the U.S. is already feeling a drag on the economy from the current tariffs. The president is going to inflict a wound on our economy that's going to be devastating to Americans who pay more for groceries, construction, baby products already. The stock market meanwhile dropped on Friday after the latest jobs report showed hiring slowed drastically. A bill that would dramatically redraw state congressional maps has advanced in the GOP-led Texas House of Representatives. As Houston Public Media's Andrew Schneider reports, the move increases the chances that Democrats will temporarily leave the

state to deny Republicans the minimum number of legislators needed for the House to function. The MAP legislation passed a redistricting committee on a party-line vote. That followed a day of testimony in which those opposing the measure outnumbered supporters 100 to 1, a point Democratic State Representative John Rosenthal made. I think even conservative, true, conscientious conservative Texans know this is a racist attack on black and brown communities and I won't stand for it. We will continue to fight this with everything we have.

The last time Texas Democrats broke quorum was four years ago to block the passage of election legislation during a special session. Governor Greg Abbott responded by calling another special session and the quorum break ultimately collapsed. For NPR News, I'm Andrew Schneider in Houston. Pope Leo XIV is urging young people to make radical choices for good. The Pope was speaking Saturday at the Vatican's Jubilee of Youth. He spoke about the dangers of social media as well as the value of true friendship.

You're listening to NPR News. Cambodia is preparing to nominate President Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. The decision comes after recent border clashes between Cambodia and its neighbour Thailand were reportedly resolved in part due to an intervention by Trump. From Taipei, Jan Kamen Sen Brumby has more. The border clashes between the two Southeast Asian nations killed more than 40 people and displaced more than 300,000. The five-day dispute was ended in part thanks to a phone call by President Trump that helped

to break the deadlock in ceasefire negotiations. Cambodia has thanked Trump for bringing peace to the region. Trump has done much to quote, advance fellowship between nations, Cambodia's deputy prime minister Sun Chantol said. Chantol added quote, we acknowledge his great efforts for peace. Thailand has since returned two wounded Cambodian soldiers, but is reportedly holding on to 18 more. For NPR News, I'm Jan Kamzumbrumbi in Taipei. Former Fox television host Janine Pirro has been confirmed by the Senate to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

She has served in an acting capacity in the job since May. Before the initial appointment, she had hosted the Fox program, The Five, on weekend evenings where she frequently interviewed President Trump. A small earthquake in northern New Jersey Saturday shook parts of the region, including in New York City. The quake measured a magnitude of 3.0. There have so far been no reports of injuries or damage. Experts say there could be aftershocks.

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit the same area in April of last year. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.