NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-03-2025 7AM EDT

Episode Date: August 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. As part of his trip to Israel, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met Saturday with the family members of hostages still in Gaza. In a statement after the meeting, he said that he is committed to bringing all 50 remaining hostages, both living and dead, back to Israel. Emily Fang, NPR's Emily Fang, met afterward with some of the family members. The hostages' families chanted, You are not alone, we are with you.

And they held pictures of their loved ones after meeting with Kof. Here's Ruby Chen, the father of Itai Chen, an Israeli soldier and one of two remaining U.S. citizens held in Gaza. Just listening to each family member, what he has to say and hear their pain and make it personal. And I think that by itself is commendable.

The Israeli government believes both Americans are no longer alive. Hen and other families are pushing for an immediate ceasefire with Hamas so the approximately 20 hostages still believed to be alive can come home along with the remains of Hen's son and other hostages who've to be alive can come home, along with the remains of Khedun San and other hostages who've died in captivity. Emily Fang, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Pete Ames has repeatedly said it will not lay down its weapons, and the group said this weekend that it will not agree to disarm until a Palestinian state is established.

Democratic members of the Texas state legislature say the fight over the redrawing of congressional districts is not over yet. State House member Chris Turner condemning the plan, saying Democrats will stand with underrepresented communities. This fight is far from over. Democrats will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this fight. What is happening here is wrong and everybody knows it. Turner said Texas Republicans are afraid of disobeying President Trump, who has urged them to redraw congressional districts to favor Republican candidates. The State House Committee on Congressional Redistricting advanced the Republican district map this weekend in a party-line vote. Back in Washington, Justice Department officials, rather in Los Angeles, are accusing a Southern

California man of providing money to ISIS. Here's more from reporter Steve Futterman. Steve Futterman, The Complaint accuses Mark Lorenzo Villanueva of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The government says, according to Western Union records, the 28-year-old sent 12 payments totaling more than $1,600 to a pair of intermediaries who identified themselves as Islamic State fighters. Villanueva is a legal permanent resident originally from the Philippines.

According to the complaint, Villanueva at one point said, someday soon I will be joining. At the time of his arrest, the FBI recovered what appears to be a bomb from his home. The charge he faces carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles. And from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. Rescue teams in Chile are still working to reach a group of miners trapped in a copper mine that partially collapsed Thursday evening during a moderate earthquake. Officials say the body of one of the five trapped miners was found yesterday, bringing the death toll in the collapse to two. Nine other workers were injured. Authorities in western Montana have lifted a lockdown in the small town of Anaconda, but they are still urging residents to be cautious.

A manhunt is ongoing for the Army veterans suspected of fatally shooting four people in a bar on Friday. This weekend authorities posted online a security camera photo of suspect Michael Paul Brown fleeing the scene. Starting this weekend an annual compilation of the Internet's best cat videos is playing in more than 200 independent theaters across North America. MPR's Eva Pukac reports on Cat Video Fest, in which a portion of the proceeds will go to local animal shelters and welfare organizations. The feature-length compilation Cat Video Fest, featuring the Internet's latest and greatest cat videos, is curated by Seattle-based filmmaker Will Braden.

He combs through thousands of videos, including fan submissions, animations, music videos, and viral internet sensations. Last year's feline flick grossed more than a million dollars at the global box office. And since its inception, hundreds of thousands have been raised for local cats in need, as independent theaters partner with local shelters and charities, donating portions of ticket proceeds back into the community. Eva Pukac, NPR News. And I'm Giles Snyder.

This is NPR News.