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

Episode Date: August 6, 2025

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This summer on Planet Money Summer School, we're learning about political economy. We're getting into the nitty-gritty of what government does with things like trade, taxes, immigration, and health care. So politics and economics, which are taught separately, they shouldn't be separated at all. I think you have to understand one to really appreciate the other. So what is the right amount of government in our lives? Tune into Planet Money Summer School from NPR. Wherever you get, their podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

Five soldiers at Fort Stewart were shot today in an active shooter incident on the Army installation in southeast Georgia. In a post on Facebook, Fort Stewart says the soldiers retreated on site and moved to Win Army Community Hospital for further treatment. The Army says law enforcement was dispatched to the Second Armour Brigade Combat Team just before 11 a.m. local time and that the shooter was arrested about 40 minutes later. The Army says there is no active threat to the community. Attorney General Pambandi has reportedly launched a grand jury investigation into the Obama administration's handling of the now-decade-old probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. This was first reported by Fox News and confirmed by other outlets. NPR has not independently confirmed the reporting and the Department of Justice declined to comment. But as NPR's Domenico Montanar reports, it indicates a larger trend that blurs the lines between the Justice Department, which has historically been mostly independent and the White House.

House. He's had tensions with past attorneys general. You know, he's shown a willingness to fire them when they do something that he disagrees with. We know that there was tension, obviously, with Trump and his first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, the former Alabama Republican Senator. And Sessions was the first Republican senator to endorse Trump's 2016 campaign. There was also a very bad falling out Trump had with Bill Barr, after Barr told him the 2020 election wasn't stolen. Pam Bondi, she's taken a decidedly different approach. NPR's Domenico Montanar reporting. The administration has announced plans to cancel more research to develop MRI vaccines, the type used to help fight COVID-19. Here's NPR's Rob Stein. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the federal government is canceling about $500 million in mRNA vaccine research. Kennedy had already canceled more than $700 million in contracts to develop an

MRNA vaccine to protect the country against the next pandemic. Kennedy questions the safety and effectiveness of MRNA vaccines. Most experts say MRNA vaccines are very safe and effective. Kennedy says the administration is focusing on a different technology that he says mimics natural immunity. Most experts consider that to be outdated technology. Rob Stein, NPR News. The White House plans to impose more tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. This morning, President Trump signed an executive order to tack on a 25% levy to Indian imports. In addition to the 25% tariff, the United States has already imposed on its South Asian ally, which goes into effect this Friday.

The order says the newest tariff will take effect in 21 days. Indian officials point to the United States previously encouraging India to purchase Russian. Russian oil to help stabilize global energy markets. From Washington, this is NPR news. Japan's Hiroshima marked 80 years today since the city was attacked with an atomic bomb. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports. People across the city observed a moment of silence at 8.15 a.m. The exact time when a U.S. atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, killing around 140,000 people.

Representatives of 120 countries and regions attended the annual ceremony. The ritual offering of water is now being performed at the senator to comfort the souls of the atomic bomb victims. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui noted in a speech that wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and increasing instability make nations leaders think they need nuclear weapons for protection. These developments, he said, flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community, should have learned from the tragedies of history. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

ESPN and the NFL are joining forces. NPR's Netta Uliu'll be reports on what that means for them and their fans. Is approved by NFL owners, ESPN would own the NFL network. Take it away! Disney owns ESPN, and it had long paid for the rights to broadcast games. This deal, thought to be worth several billion dollars, is part of an ongoing ferocious competition among streaming services. to add live sports to their offerings.

ESPN will launch a new streaming service in a few weeks that will integrate the NFL network. The company celebrated what it called in a statement, quote, increased consumer choice. The new service will cost subscribers $30 a month. Neta Ulibee, NPR News. It's NPR.