NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-07-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: August 8, 2025

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Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theshmit.org. Live from NPR News, I'm Janine Hurst. In Miami, a federal judge has issued an order temporarily halting construction at an immigration center in Florida's Everglades. Empires Greg Allen reports, the judge says the individual. Installation of lighting, paving, and other building on the site has to stop while she hears a challenge brought by environmental groups. Environmental groups and the Miccosukee tribes say construction of the facility, dubbed alligator alcatraz by officials without public input or an environmental impact statement violates federal law. Lawyers for Florida and the Trump administration said because the facility was built and is operated by the state, the federal law doesn't apply. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams was unconvinced by that argument.

After two days of hearings, she became frustrated when she learned construction was still going on at the site, and lawyers for Florida refused a request to put it on hold. Judge Williams issued a temporary restraining order that stops construction activities for the next 14 days. Immigration detentions and other operations are unaffected. Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami. President Trump is directing colleges that receive federal funding to share detailed admissions data with the administration. The presidential memorandum is intended to monitor race-blind admissions in colleges. And here, Sequoia Carrillo, has more. The president is expanding the type of admissions data that colleges are required to share with the government.

In recent weeks, Brown and Columbia have agreed to multimillion-dollar settlements with the administration that include a similar condition. This memorandum seeks to expand that system to all schools that receive federal funding. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that universities could no longer take race, into account as a specific reason for admission. The Trump administration says it needs more data to ensure that schools are complying. The move comes at a tricky time for the Department of Education. On August 1st, nearly 1, nearly 1,400 staffers were let go, including many data scientists.

Sequoia Carillo, NPR News. President Trump's tariffs on goods from around 90 countries went into effect today, and that's expected to raise prices on almost everything America imports. Economist Heather Long from Navy Federal Credit Union says the top 20% of American earners are doing pretty well. Home values are strong and they have the cash on hand to absorb price increases, but that it's a very different picture for the bottom 80% who don't have the same discretionary money. Long says companies will have to start passing on the tariff's costs. If you're the Amazon's of the world, you've maybe been absorbing some of these tariff costs

or having your suppliers absorb some of them. But that can't go on forever. And what we're starting to see in this fall is companies are saying we either have to pass those tariffs onto consumers and squeeze them or we're going to have to turn around and lay people off in order to protect our profit margins. Long speaking there on NPR's All Things Considered.

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President Trump signed three executive orders today, including one that lays the groundwork to allow 401K and other defined retirement contribution plans to include alternative assets like private equity, real estate, and digital assets. Another requires financial regulators to remove rules that could result in people losing access to banking services or government loans for political or religious reasons. The Trump administration plans to end a $7 billion program that helps low-income households get solar power, MPR's Jeff Brady reports the Solar for All program was part of former President Biden's climate change agenda.

The Environmental Protection Agency's Solar for All program aimed to help more than 900,000 low-income households get solar energy to reduce their utility bills. But Administrator Lee's Eldon says on social media that a recently passed budget law rescinds money for the program. EPA no longer has the authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep. keep this boondoggle alive. State energy offices, tribes, and nonprofit groups say the money already was obligated. Jillian Blanchard with lawyers for good government works with the grantees. We and many others are prepared to take them to court. President Trump campaigned on unwinding Biden's climate agenda and boosting fossil fuels instead. Jeff Brady, NPR News. The number of people filing for first-time unemployment benefits rose slightly last week. The Labor Department says

Jobless claims rose 7,000 to a seasonally adjusted 200. 26,000. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington. This message comes from Wise, the app for doing things and other currencies. With Wise, you can send, spend, or receive money across borders, all at a fair exchange rate, no markups, or hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit wise.com. T's and Cs apply.