NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-06-2025 1AM EDT

Episode Date: August 6, 2025

NPR News: 08-06-2025 1AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Federal funding for public media has been eliminated, which means decades of support for public radio and television from both political parties is ending. To be clear, NPR isn't going anywhere, but we do need your support. We hope you'll give today to keep rigorous, independent, and irreplaceable news coverage available to everyone free of charge. Make your gift at donate.npr.org. And thank you. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Roran. President Trump says the FBI may have to get involved to end a walkout by Texas Democrats over the new congressional maps. His remarks Tuesday come in response to a call from Senator John Cornyn to use the FBI to help locate and arrest the absent lawmakers. Lauren McGahey with the Texas Newsroom has more.

Senator Cornyn has sent a letter to FBI director Cash Patel asking for help, arguing it's urgent with only a few weeks left in the special session to debate and pass new maps that will hand five new seats to Republicans. Trump indicated he was open to the FBI idea. Well, they may have to. They may have to. No, I know they want them back. Not only the Attorney General, the governor wants them back. For two days now, the Texas House has been unable to debate the maps because of the Democrats' walk out.

If the special session ends without a quorum, the governor can call another special session until they return. I'm Lauren McGahey in Austin. As ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas continue to show no progress, Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to push for a plan to occupy all of the Gaza Strip. It could mark a significant change in policy since Israel withdrew from the territory 20 years ago. At the State Department, spokesperson Tammy Bruce outlined the U.S. position with regards to Israel possibly occupying the region. We are not in the business of interpreting statements from foreign governments when and if they're made. We do remain focused on freeing the hostages, including the remains of two Americans, and ensuring that Hamas never rules Gaza again.

Meanwhile, Israel's cabinet has voted to fire the country's attorney general who is prosecuting Netanyahu on corruption charges, but the dismissal is on hold pending an injunction by Israel's High Court of Justice. The House Oversight Chairman James Comer has issued subpoenas to the Justice Department, former President Clinton, and several others for information related to Jeffrey Epstein. NPR's Deidre Walsh reports on the bipartisan push. The Oversight Panel approved the subpoenas last month. Now, Comer has sent letters to former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and former attorneys general and FBI directors,

who served under Republican and Democratic administrations, to appear for depositions this fall. Comer directed the Department of Justice to turn over full, complete, and unredacted Epstein files by August 19th. DOJ has informed federal judges in New York that there were no new materials to unseal related to grand jury deliberations in Galane Maxwell's case.

Maxwell was found guilty of sex trafficking in 2021 in connection with Epstein. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News. on wall street tuesday the markets were down this is npr news the manhunt for a suspected shooter who left four people dead in a montana bar continues five days after the incident law enforcement say they've expanded their search perimeter in a densely forest and mountainous area montana public radio's shaley riger has more about three dozen agencies including local police the fbii and the national guard are aiding in the search for suspect Michael Brown in southwest Montana.

Attorney General Austin Knutzen says residents must remain vigilant. We absolutely have to assume that he's armed and extremely dangerous. The shooting last Friday morning left four dead in Anaconda. The victims were Daniel Bailey, Nancy Kelly, David Leach, and Tony Palm. Governor Greg Gianforte has released emergency funds to help pay for the search. The U.S. Marshal Service is offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to Brown's arrest. For NPR News, I'm Shayley Rieger in Anaconda. In Washington, D.C., a statue of Confederate General Albert Pike that was toppled during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protest will be restored and reinstalled in the nation's capital.

This according to the National Park Service. In a statement, the Park Service says the decision is in line with a recent executive. order by President Trump to beautify Washington. However, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is the district's non-voting representative in Congress, is reintroduced a bill to permanently remove the statute. She calls the decision odd, indefensible, and morally objectionable. This is NPR. Congress has approved a White House request to eliminate federal funding for public media. NPR remains committed to our mission of informing the public, increasing your understanding of the world and enriching everyday life. But without federal funding, we are

relying on your support now more than ever. Please give today at donate.mpr.org.