NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-11-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: August 11, 2025

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Do you ever look at political headlines and go, huh? Well, that's exactly why the NPR Politics Podcast exists. We're experts, not just on politics, but in making politics make sense. Every episode, we decode everything that happened in Washington and help you figure out what it all means. Give politics a chance with the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. President Trump is scheduled to share more information at a news conference this hour on his plan to address public safety in Washington, D.C. He says it involves, quote, ending the crime, murder, and death in the nation's capital. Violent crime is down in the city. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports. In a social media post during the weekend, President Trump said he will announce his plans for the city with a focus on crime and cleanliness in the District of Columbia. In another post, he wrote, quote, the homeless, half- to move out immediately. Trump added that Muriel Bowser, Washington, D.C.,'s Democratic mayor,

quote, is a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances. Statistics from D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department show violent crime has been falling after a 2023 peak. President Trump's recent anger over D.C. crime seems to have been spurred by an assault in the city of a federal employee and former Doge staffer. Danielle Kurtzleben and PR News. A trial begins today over President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles. The president sent thousands of troops to the city for immigration enforcement in June. It sparked days of unrest and protests. Governor Gavin Newsom sued the federal government.

It's a three-day non-jury trial, which means the judge will decide. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet Friday to discuss ending Russia's war in Ukraine. The full-scale war is in its fourth year. The two leaders will hold talks in Alaska. The U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, says he believes progress in the week ahead is possible. While it's been slow and it hasn't been certainly revolutionary, there have been some successes in this dialogue that President Trump has created between Russia and Ukraine, between himself and Russia and between himself in Ukraine. Whitaker spoke to NPR's morning edition. Vice President Vance said over the weekend the U.S. is trying to bring Putin and Ukrainian President President Vladimir Zelenskyy to the table.

EU foreign ministers are meeting today to discuss the war and the positions of its 27 countries. Stocks open mixed this morning as investors wait for new inflation data this week. NPR Scott Horsley reports the Dow slipped about 30 points in early trading. The Labor Department is set to report new cost of living figures tomorrow. Forecasters say core inflation could top 3% as President Trump's tariffs begin to push the cost of imported goods higher. Headline inflation should be a bit lower, however, thanks to a drop in gasoline price. crisis. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant is in temporary command at the IRS, following the ouster of IRS Commissioner Billy Long last week, Long, who's an auctioneer and former Missouri

congressman, was dismissed after less than two months on the job. The shake-up continues a turbulent period at the tax collection agency, which has lost thousands of workers as it prepares to implement the tax changes in the big GOP budget bill. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. This is NPR. gymnastics has one of its youngest national champions. As NPR's Matt Bloom reports, 17-year-old Hesley Rivera came out on top in last night's finals in New Orleans. Rivera earned her first all-around first place title with top scores in three events, balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise. It marks the New Jersey teen's latest high-profile win after helping the U.S. women's

team earned gold in the Paris Olympics last summer. Here's Rivera speaking to NBC after coming off her winning floor routine. So much work in the gym, hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. So I'm just so grateful that I'm here today. Fellow Olympian Leanne Wong Nabb second. The two are early favorites to represent the U.S. at the World Championships in Indonesia this fall and summer games in Los Angeles in 2008. Matt Bloom and PR News, New Orleans. A federal judge in Manhattan today rejected the Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts. These stemmed from the Justice Department investigation into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's longtime confidant, Gilan Maxwell. The Texas State House will attempt to reconvene today. About 50 Democratic

representatives left the state to block Republican efforts to redraw congressional maps that favor the GOP. President Trump is trying to pick up five congressional seats in Texas. ahead of the midterm elections next year. I'm Kristen Wright, and this is NPR News in Washington. These days, there's so much news. It can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family, and your community. Consider this podcast from NPR features our award-winning journalism. Six days a week, we bring you a deep dive on a news story

and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider This podcast from NPR.