NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-09-2025 9AM EDT

Episode Date: August 9, 2025

NPR News: 08-09-2025 9AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jail Snyder. President Trump says a ceasefire deal in Ukraine is close. He has announced on social media that he will meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week and that a deal would involve an exchange of territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is warning against reaching any peace deal that excludes Ukraine and he has ruled out giving up any land to Russia. The Justice Department is escalating efforts to invest. people President Trump considers his political enemies, in this case, two prominent Democrats,

New York Attorney General, Lettisha James, and California Senator Adam Schiff. Here's NPR's Kerry Johnson. Fox broke the news that Ed Martin had been named as a special prosecutor to help conduct investigations of alleged mortgage fraud by Tish James. And separately, by California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, he played a prominent role in the impeachment of Donald Trump during his first term. A source who was not authorized to speak publicly confirmed that report to NPR. Senator Schiff has hired former Manhattan federal prosecutor Prieta Harup who calls the fraud allegations false, stale, and debunked. President Trump is expressing anger and alarm at the possibility that many of his tariffs

could be overturned in court. Among the tariffs that could be repealed are the dozens of country-by-country tariffs that went into effect this week. Here's NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reporting. In May, the federal court of international trade ruled that tariffs Trump has imposed on individual countries are illegal. The Trump administration immediately appealed, and an appeals court has heard arguments in that case. Trump posted on social media that if the court rules against his tariffs, quote, it would be impossible to

ever recover or pay back these massive sums of money and honor. This follows other posts this week referring to the possibility of judges halting his tariffs. Trade law experts say that if the tariffs are found illegal, the government would have to provide refunds to companies that initially paid the tariffs. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, the White House. Reform Jewish organizations are urging Israel to end its war in Gaza. NPR's Jason DeRos reports a move-com as Israel says it plans to expand the war. In a joint statement, leaders from the Union for Reform Judaism,

the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the American Conference of Cantors, criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's newly approved plan to extend military control over Gaza City. They say continued occupation would be a, quote, military, political, and humanitarian calamity and potentially cost the lives of Israeli hostages, soldiers, and civilians in Gaza. The reformed Jewish leaders argue Israel has no clear exit strategy and risks long-term damage to its global standing. Separately, a group of Islamic leaders in the U.S. has called on Muslim-majority countries to take a more active role in ending the conflict. Jason DeRos and PR News.

And you're listening to NPR News. The co-owner of several President Trump-themed Houston-area burger restaurants is facing deportation proceedings, according to U.S. immigration and customs enforcement. Houston Public Media's Kyle McClinican reports. According to ICE, 28-year-old Roland Biani is an immigrant from Lebanon who overstayed his visa. ICE arrested him in May, and he is currently out on bond awaiting his immigration proceedings. Biani opened his first Trump burger restaurant in 2020 during the president's first term. Each location features decor, menu items, and merchandise themed around Trump. An ICE official said the department would enforce immigration laws, quote,

regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you may have. Biani's attorney declined to comment. I'm Kyle McClintigan in Houston. The Japanese city of Nagasaki marked today's 80th anniversary of the second atomic bomb being dropped on Japan by the U.S. The event began with a moment of silence, and the city's twin cathedral bells also rang in unison for the first time since the bombing. The attack killed an estimated 74,000 people. The mayor of Nagasaki, Shiro Suzuki, had this warning. On the 9th of August, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on this city. Who could have imagined

what the world would become in the 80 years since that day? Please stop meeting force with force, at once. If things continue as they are, we're heading for a nuclear war. This is a crisis of human survival that's closing in on each and every one of us. Nagasaki, Mayor Shiro Suzuki, heard through a BBC interpreter. This is NPR.