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

Episode Date: August 4, 2025

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Windsor-Johnston. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor-Johnston. Dozens of Democratic lawmakers in Texas have fled the state in the hopes of blocking a controversial bill during a special session of the legislature today. NPR's Rachel Triesman reports the tactic has had mixed outcomes in the past. The Republican-controlled Texas House needs 100 members present to do business. By leaving the state, Democrats are preventing it from voting on a congressional redistricting map that has been redrawn to favor Republicans.

Texas Democrats did the same thing for the same reason back in 2003, stalling for about a month before the bill passed in a special session. They also walked out in 2021 over a GOP voting bill that eventually passed. The Texas House has since adopted a rule that fines lawmakers $500 for every day they are absent without permission. Rachel Triesman, NPR News.

Federal judges in the United States are speaking out about a rise in threats against them and their families. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports. Judge Jack McConnell of Rhode Island says his court got more than 400 threatening voice mails after he issued a ruling that blocked President Trump's freeze on federal aid this year. Another federal judge in Washington state had the sheriff show up at his door after a phony call that said he had harmed his wife. New Jersey federal judge Esther Salas is calling on political leaders to cool down the rhetoric. Stop demonizing us, stop

villainizing us, because what they're doing when they do that irresponsible rhetoric is they are inviting people to do us harm. Five years ago a disgruntled lawyer shot and killed Judge Salas's son, and she's trying to ensure that never happens again. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington. Hamas continues to defend its armed resistance, but key Arab governments are starting to back away. NPR's Aya Batraoui reports countries like Saudi Arabia and the

UAE say they want a different future for Gaza. One, without militant groups. Hamas and other groups in Gaza, other militant groups, they say that, quote, resistance and weapons are a national legal right as long as the occupation persists. But I will say here Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, others, they have made clear they don't support militancy in Gaza. They want to see a day after this war where there are no militant groups, where there's a Palestinian authority coming in with a civil police force. So Hamas is losing a lot of support, not just from the world, but also even from Arab governments that would be needed to rebuild Gaza in the future.

That's NPR's Aya Batraoui reporting. Stocks are trading higher at the Sauer on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial averages up 512 points. The Nasdaq Composite also trading higher up 362. This is NPR News. Investors on Wall Street are showing an appetite for stock in Tyson food today. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. Scott – A new poll by the Associated Press finds most Americans are concerned about the rising cost of groceries. One of the nation's biggest meat producers, Tyson Foods, has been raising prices for both

beef and chicken. Tyson reported better than expected quarterly sales today and raised its forecast for the full year. 3,200 Boeing machinists are on strike after rejecting a contract offer that promised 40% pay raises over the next four years. The walkout affects three Boeing factories that make fighter jets. Scott Horsley in Pear News, Washington. Delta Airlines says it will not use artificial intelligence to set personalized ticket prices for customers after facing criticism from US senators. Marlon Hyde from member station WABE in

Atlanta reports. The Atlanta-based airline told US senators in a letter that it does not share any personal information with Fetcher, the tech company piloting Delta's AI pricing system. US lawmakers and some people on social media worry that information like social media activity and financial status could factor into personalized airfares. Delta is already using the tool for a small percentage of flights and says it's designed to factor in variables like forecast and demand for specific routes and flights, and does not plan on using personal data. The company says it continues to explore ways AI

can be used, like predicting maintenance needs and enhancing customer service. For NPR News, I'm Marlon Hyde in Atlanta. On Wall Street, the Dow up 516 points, the S&P up 79. This is NPR News.