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

Episode Date: August 8, 2025

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I'm Jesse Thorne. On Bullseye, we'll talk with Eugenio Derbez. Did you know that he voices donkey in Shrek? In the Spanish language, Shrek. I feel that the donkeys are Mexican, basically. So it sounds more Mexican in Spanish. Derbiz, one of the most famous people in Mexico. It's on Bolzai for Maximumfund.org and NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas to New York Attorney General Letitia James, who won a civil fraud case against President Trump and his company. NPR's Kerry Johnson reports Trump has singled out James for public criticism in the past. Two sources told NPR the criminal probe into James as being led by the top federal prosecutor in Albany.

The DOJ wants more information from New York's Attorney General about her successful suit against Donald Trump and his business. The department appears to be operating under a theory that James may have deprived Trump and his adult children of their rights as part of that case. The sources said. Abby Lowell, a lawyer for James called the new probe, quote, a blatant and desperate example of the president's campaign of retribution. Lowell says it appears to be a case of weaponizing the DOJ to try to punish an elected official for doing her job. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington. Israel's plan to take over Gaza City, one of the last areas of the territory not already under Israeli control, dominated Vice President J.D. Vance's meetings today in England.

NPR's Lauren Freire has more from London. UK Prime Minister Kier Starmor says Israel's plan to take over Gaza is wrong and says prospects for peace are, quote, vanishing before our eyes. German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz says his government will stop sending weapons to Israel that could be used in Gaza. Meanwhile, France, the U.K., Canada, and others are preparing to recognize a Palestinian state. Vice President Bantz says that's a point of disagreement among allies. Obviously, the United Kingdom is going to make its decision. We have no plans to recognize a Palestinian state.

Vance spoke to reporters alongside U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lamey. The two say they're also discussing global economics and efforts towards ceasefires in both Gaza and Ukraine. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. Texas Republicans eager to approve a redrawn congressional map in the state legislature will find out in a couple of hours if their Democratic colleagues are a no-show. If that happens, Governor Greg Abbott could find replacements, should there be a court ruling that finds the Democrats have abandoned their offices? Gene Wu, the chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, spoke to NPR from Chicago. Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton have no power outside of the state. if they follow the law, the FBI, President Trump, has no power to intervene in something that they do not have jurisdiction to intervene in.

That's assuming that they follow the law. The Democrats left Texas Sunday arguing that Republican lawmakers that President Trump's urging are attempting to cement their power in Congress by unlawfully redrawing the state legislative map ahead of next year's midterm elections. President Trump has said the GOP is in time. title to pick up five seats in Texas. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 182 points. You're listening to NPR News. A federal appeals court has tossed out a judge's criminal contempt finding against a Trump administration over deportations to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The decision from a divided three-judge appeals court panel in Washington, D.C. vacates an earlier finding from

U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg. The fast-moving canyon fire that erupted in Ventura County, County, has burned into Los Angeles County, prompting evacuation orders in some areas, including the Housely Canyon area where John Stitch and his brother were hosing down their property to protect it from the flames. My brother, Jake, he was up there on the hill. He got a fire hose out. We all just basically clamored up there to try and wet down the house as good as we could. The fire erupted yesterday afternoon and grew to more than 4,800 acres within hours. Forecasters expect up to 18 storms during this year's Atlantic hurricane season. NPRs, Rebecca

Hirsch reports that's a little more than normal. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through the end of November, but most storms usually form during the second half, known as peak hurricane season. There have been four named storms so far this year. Forecasters expect at least nine more, of which at least five are expected to be full-blown hurricanes, as opposed to tropical storms, which have less intense winds, but can still cause catastrophic flooding, even in places that are far from the coast. Last year, Hurricane Helene devastated swathes of the southeast, including areas hundreds of miles from where the storm made landfall. Rebecca Hersher, NPR News. The Dow's gained nearly 200 points. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

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