NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-08-2025 7PM EDT

Episode Date: August 8, 2025

NPR News: 08-08-2025 7PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News, I'm Janine Herbst. The Texas House met and adjourned today without a quorum, once again, as most Democrats remain out of state to prevent the legislature from passing a Republican-backed congressional redistricting map. Houston Public Media's Andrew Schneider reports Republicans are trying to force Democrats to return. Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burroughs said one of his GOP colleagues was prepared to introduce a flood recovery and disaster. preparedness bill responding to last month's deadly central Texas flood. He told absent Democrats the bill can't be referred to committee without a quorum present. Each one of you knows that eventually you will come back and we will pass the priorities of the special session on the call. But with each passing day, the political cost of your absence is rising and it will be paid in full. At least one Democrat who had been absent returned for Friday's brief house session.

For NPR News, I'm Andrew Schneider in Houston. At Emory University in Atlanta, a police emergency continues after an active shooting situation this afternoon on the campus. On X, Atlanta police say the lone suspect is dead and that one officer was injured. The school says a lockdown has now been lifted. At least four CDC buildings were hit by bullets. A federal appeals court has tossed out criminal contempt proceedings that a lower court judge was holding against officials. in the Trump administration. Empires Adrian Florido has more.

Back in April, Judge James Bosberg of the Federal District Court for D.C. said he had probable cause to hold administration officials in contempt for ignoring his order to turn back airplanes that were carrying Venezuelan deportees to a prison in El Salvador. He had said he'd hold proceedings to figure out which officials were responsible and hold them accountable. The Trump administration appealed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 vote, vote, a three-judge panel on the court has now tossed out the contempt finding. Both judges who cited with President Trump were appointed by him. It's a big win for the administration, which argued Judge Bosberg had overstepped his authority by starting contempt proceedings. Adrian Flodino, NPR News. Israel says it will expand its war in Gaza to take control of the territory's main city, a major operation that could lead to a full military operation. The plan is already being slammed by allies and critics. at home. Empir Zaya Batrawi has more. There are people within Israel growing tired of this nearly

two-year-long war. Reservists who will be called to return yet again to Gaza to fight. Many want to get on with their lives and they've questioned the purpose of this war. The vast majority of hostages who have been freed were actually released in ceasefire deals. And you also have hundreds of retired generals and security officials saying Hamas is no longer a strategic threat and they too are calling for the war to end. Empires Ayabatrawi reporting. You're listening to NPR News From Washington. Mexico's president says there's no chance of a U.S. invasion to target drug cartels in her country. Empir Zeta Peralta reports, this comes after media reports that President Trump has asked the Pentagon to start planning cross-border strikes.

Multiple news outlets report that President Trump has asked the Pentagon to begin drying up plans for military strikes on drug cartels in Latin America. One of Trump's first moves when he became president was to designate organized crime groups in Mexico, El Salvador, and Venezuela, as foreign terrorist organizations, which analysts say open the door to such strikes. Mexican President Claudio Schaimbaum says Mexico has been assured the U.S. will not take unilateral action of this kind in Mexico. We'll cooperate, will collaborate, but there will not be an invasion, she said. That is totally off the table. Eidapralta, NPR News, Mexico City. In Southern California, thousands of people are under evacuation orders and warnings after the rapidly spreading canyon fire near Los Angeles and Ventura counties

exploded since it started yesterday. Fire officials say it's already burned more than 5,300 acres and it's 25% contained. Air quality alerts have been issued for parts of Ventura County because of the smoke. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. It's one of more than a dozen wildfires burning across California. Wall Street higher by the closing bell, the Dow up 206 points. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.