NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-08-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: August 8, 2025

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On the ThruLine podcast, you have the right to remain silent. It's a staple of cop shows. When I think of Miranda today, I think it's so misshapen now that it's really lost its ability to do much good. The Fifth Amendment and the right to remain silent. Listen to ThruLine in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. The Trump administration is replacing IRS commissioner Billy Long, just two months after the former Missouri congressman took over at the agency. And Pierre Scott Horsley reports it's the latest in a string of IRS management shakeups.

A White House spokesman confirmed Billy Long's ouster without offering any explanation. The shakeup took IRS staffers by surprise. For the time being, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson will serve as acting commissioner of the tax collection agency. The IRS churned through four acting commissioners in the early months of the Trump administration before long was confirmed to the post in mid-June. It's a tumultuous time at the agency, which has laid off thousands of staffers, including nearly a third of its auditors. The IRS is currently gearing up to implement the sweeping changes to tax law in the recently passed GOP budget bill. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Family members of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas say they feel angry at Israel's decision.

to intensify the war in Gaza. Emperors Eleanor Beersley reports, one group held a protest Sabbath dinner near Israel's defense minister's house. Under a tent in a small town south of Tel Aviv, 50 empty places were set at the table for the hostages, alive and dead. There were songs and raw feelings.

Gil Dickman is the cousin of hostage Carmel Gat, who was murdered by her captors when Israel stormed Rafah last year. He says Israel is making the same method. mistake by going into Gaza City. That's what they did in Rafach. They decided to go inside Rafah and to move with enormous power of the IDF and hostages were killed. My cousin was killed because of this decision. He says this war has to end for the hostages and for the civilians in Gaza. May the defense minister have a black Sabbath screams one of the participants.

Eleanor Beersley, NPR News, Kofar Achim, Israel. In Texas, the State House failed to raise. reach a quorum for the third time after Democrats left the state to stymie the vote on a proposed redistricting plan aimed at giving Republicans more seats in the House in the midterm elections. The lawmakers have stayed away despite threats of arrests losing their pay and threats from Governor Greg Abbott that they would be removed from office if they don't return. Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu is in 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 Republican State redistricting map shows Austin residents sharing a district with rural Texans hundreds of miles away. The State House plans to try again for a quorum on Monday. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. officials are calling the increased U.S. bounty of $50 million for the arrest of their president a political smokescreen. The U.S. says the Venezuelan leader has an international criminal drug ring that includes Mexico. But as M.P.R.'s Kerry Khan reports, Mexico's president says her country isn't investigating such charges. The U.S. doubled its current reward for

information leading to the arrest and conviction of President Nicolas Maduro. It says Maduro uses international terrorist groups, including the Mexican Sinaloa cartel to traffic deadly drugs and violence into the U.S. In 2020, the U.S. unsealed an indictment charging multiple Venezuelan officials, including Maduro, with trafficking and narco-terrorism. Maduro denies the charges. When asked about Maduro's alleged ties to the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico's president, Claudia Shanebaum, said if there is proof, show it. The Trump administration just granted Chevron a license to produce oil in Venezuela. Opposition leaders have called the move a, quote, lifeline to Maduro's hold on power.

Carrie Conn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro. President Trump increased the federal law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C., today, after complaining about crime. The White House says the city has been plagued by violent crime for far too long. This after a former Doge worker was violently carjacked, the federal officers will reportedly concentrate on patrolling tourist areas, but crime in D.C. is actually falling. Last year saw the fewest number of homicides. since 2019. I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.