NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-04-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: August 4, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Texas' Republican governor is threatening House Democrats with removal from office after they left the state over the weekend to prevent a vote on a new redistricting plan. Governor Greg Abbott has pushed GOP leaders to pass an unusual mid-decade redistricting plan that would likely add five new Republican districts. He did so as President Trump demanded that change. Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu says it's their civic duty to stop that votes. We will not be complicit in the destruction of our own communities. We

will not be complicit in the destruction of any communities in Texas. We will hold people accountable and we will defend our state to the absolute best of our abilities. One of Israel's prominent right-wing cabinet members is called for the entire Gaza Strip to be occupied. As NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports, he made his remarks from a religious site in Jerusalem that is holy to both Muslims and Jews. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gavir's visit Sunday to the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, a site also holy to Jews, marks the first time a minister from this Israeli government has openly prayed at the sensitive site. Ben-Gavir said the entire Gaza Strip must be occupied, sovereignty declared, Hamas uprooted and voluntary immigration promoted.

The visit and prayers was condemned as an incitement by Palestinian leaders as well as Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Under the long-standing status quo, Jews may visit but not pray at the mosque compound, which is administered by Jordan. Following Ben-Gavir's visit, the Israeli prime minister's office put out a statement saying the status quo on the Temple Mount has not and will not change. Eleanor Beardsley in PR News, Tel Aviv. In Australia, tens of thousands of people marched across a bridge in Sydney to protest

Israel's continuing military action in Gaza. As Christina Kukloia reports, police say the rally is among the biggest that city has ever seen. Crowd stop traffic on Sydney's landmark Harbour Bridge, braving rain and cold weather to call for a ceasefire and the entry of more aid into Gaza amid a worsening humanitarian crisis. Police estimate some 90,000 people took part in the protest. Among those to address the crowds was Jewish Australian journalist Anthony Loewenstein. Sanctions, boycotts and

divestment, it is the only way that Israel will stop. And our government must be doing that now. Australia's government says recognition of Palestine is a matter of when, not if. But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says it would not happen imminently. For NPR News, I'm Christina Kukala in Melbourne. The manhunt for a suspect in the shooting

of four people in a bar in Anaconda, Montana on Friday continues. Police say 45-year-old Michael Brown used a rifle in that shooting. They're searching for the former Army soldier in a remote mountainous location in the western part of the state. This is NPR News. The U.S. National Women's Swimming Team has set a new world record. They did it at the World Championship competition in Singapore on Sunday.

As NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, the win comes just days after the team said members were recuperating from a stomach bug. Four swimmers from the U.S. broke the world record in the women's 4x100 medley relay with a time of 3 minutes and 49.34 seconds. Kate Douglas, Regan Smith, Gretchen Walsh and Tori Husk nabbed the record on the final day of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. They beat the record previously set by Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Paris last year by less than half a second. Last week, USA Swimming announced it was treating some members of the team for acute gastroenteritis, which had caused several swimmers to miss events at the competition.

Joe Hernandez, NPR News. Members of the band Oasis say that they were saddened when they learned that a fan died at their London concert late Saturday night. Police say a man in his 40s was found with injuries that were consistent with the fall. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Wembley Stadium concert was a part of the band's first tour in 16 years. Boeing workers who build fighter jets in the U.S. have started a walkout at plants in Missouri and Illinois. The union members last week rejected a contract offer that would have included a 20% wage increase over four years. There was a one-week cooling off period after that last vote. Boeing officials say they are fully prepared for that strike. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.