NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-11-2025 7AM EDT

Episode Date: August 11, 2025

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As AI permeates every aspect of our lives, who are the people behind this huge inflection point? What keeps them up at night? I fear that what it means to be human may suddenly not be our own. We've got a special series from NPR's TED Radio Hour. It's called The Prophets of Technology. What they got right, wrong, and where these pioneers think we're headed next. Listen to the TED Radio Hour, wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright.

Preparations are underway for Friday's Snap Summit meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders have agreed to meet in Alaska as Trump seeks to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. But as NPRs, Charles Mainz, reports from Moscow, much is still unknown. It's unclear what concessions Putin will bring from across the Bering Strait. Publicly, the Russian leader insists peace hinges on an end to NATO expansion,

Ukraine's disarmament, and seating land claimed, but not always controlled. by Russian forces. Trump is on record saying a peace deal may involve a swapping of territories. Ukraine's president, Vladimir Zelensky, is not expected to be part of Friday's talks. Yet in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Vice President J.D. Vance suggested a meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky was just a matter of time. Meanwhile, a coalition of European leaders issued a weekend statement in support of Ukraine and rejecting any concessions negotiated behind Kiev's back. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending his plans to launch a new military offensive against Gaza, despite opposition in Israel and internationally. He detailed the plan to take over Gaza City in the north and refugee camps in central Gaza at a news conference Sunday. Australia says it will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the 80th UN General Assembly next month. Christina Kukula reports it follows similar pledges from Canada, France, and Britain in response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a political, not-military solution is needed in Gaza, and it's time for the international community to act.

The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears. Albanese says the Palestinian Authority has agreed to conditions for recognition, including holding general elections, and that her must be excluded from a future government in Gaza. They've been growing public calls and from within government in Australia for sanctions against Israel. In a statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Albanese says Australia is compelled by the Netanyahu government's failure to comply with its legal and ethical obligations in Gaza. For NPR news, I'm Christina Kukala in Melbourne, Australia. Republicans in the Texas State House will try to reconvene for a special session again today. About 50 Democratic members

left the state to prevent Republicans from reaching a quorum. Republicans are proposing a new congressional map they hope will give the GOP more seats. In the U.S. Congress after midterm elections next year. Governor Gregg Abbott is threatening to have the lawmakers arrested. He told Fox News yesterday he'll keep pushing the issue. This could literally last years because in Texas I'm authorized to call a special session every 30 days. It lasts 30 days. And as soon as this one is over, I'm going to call another one, then another one, then another one, then another one, then another one. Abbott and Texas's attorney general are asking the courts to intervene. This is NPR. Research shows that younger people are especially willing to trust social media for health advice.

Doctors say this can be a problem, especially when it comes to advice about contraception. NPR's Katya-Riddle reports. Many social media influencers are posting inaccurate information about birth control, suggesting that it is dangerous or exaggerating the risks of side effects. Jennifer Conti is an obstetrician gynecologist at Stanford University. Misinformation that comes from social media, various different outlets of social media is something that we encounter daily in the gynecologist office. Conti and other clinicians say they often spend time explaining to people that birth control is proven to be safe and effective and that people need to also consider the risks of unplanned pregnancy.

Katie Rettle in PR News. Widespread evacuations are underway in Tokyo because of torrential rain. Millions of people are being advised to leave. their homes, the system has caused problems across Japan's main islands for several days now. Flood waters have submerged streets and disrupted travel. Japan's National Weather Agency has issued the highest level warning where more than 15 inches of rain fell in the last 24 hours, and people are missing in some areas. More dry and windy weather is in the forecast today in Western Colorado, where massive wildfires have burned more than 110,000 acres. Officials are

warning people in remote areas to be ready to get out. Gusty winds and low humidity are feeding the flames. It's one of the largest wildfires in state history. This is NPR News. 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 all means. Give politics a chance with the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.