NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-13-2025 3PM EDT

Episode Date: August 13, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. National Guard members deployed this week on the streets of the nation's capital are expected to largely remain in high traffic areas, such as monuments. That's according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly. Troops will not carry weapons, which will be kept at the D.C. Armory. However, the National Guard will have the right of self-defense and to detain someone who goes after members. NPR's Lou Garrett reports the chief of police. Pamela Smith says the surge in federal officers in the city is an opportunity.

The D.C. Police Chief remains on the force, working police operations, despite the federal takeover of the city law enforcement agency. Smith tells Fox 5 that the federal presence is positive. The surge of law enforcement personnel, I tell you, it will help me to do the things that I need to do. Smith says her force is down nearly 800 officers. The chief hopes federal agents and her officer, will work together to build lasting relationships beyond Trump's 30-day takeover. This enhanced presence clearly is going to impact us in a positive way. Hundreds of federal officers descended into D.C. this week after Trump took control of the local police and deployed the National Guard. The city's mayor, Muriel Bowser, has expressed concern

over the move and defended the city's 30-year low violent crime rate. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. Meanwhile, D.C. residents are being asked how they feel about having more officers in their city. Melissa Velasquez says she's worried. that the president's law and order campaign will carry racial overtones. I feel like there's been an increase of like almost like racial profiling and stuff. So it's like I guess it's concerning for I think individuals who I guess are just worried about how they might be perceived while they're going about their like day to day life. President Trump had ordered the deployment pointing to quote surging crime in the city.

However local and federal data actually show a decline. President Trump says he will host the Kennedy Center honors this year. He announced the recipients today, including I Will Survive singer Gloria Gaynor and actor Sylvester Stallone. Here's NPR's Elizabeth Blair. The other honorees are the rock band Kiss, Broadway actor Michael Crawford, and country star George Strait. President Trump said he was heavily involved in the selection process, a break in tradition. The Kennedy Center honors are traditionally selected through a months-long process with input from the general public, board members, and honorees from previous years. Trump spoke warmly of all the honorees.

He called Sylvester Stallone a friend. It's very few people that could have taken a name and made it so incredible like Rocky, Rambo, Creed. The Kennedy Center honors gala will take place on December 7th, Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR. Parts of Tennessee remain under a flood alert. A day after emergency personnel rescued people from their homes and cars caught in high waters. Hamilton County authorities say heavy amounts of rain saturated the ground in a suburb of Chattanooga yesterday, and they say a mother, father, and a child were killed in East Ridge when a tree fell on their vehicle.

Harvey Weinstein may be sentenced next month, but only if they're a son. no retrial on a rape charge. Today, a New York City judge said he was prepared to hand down punishment on a sexual assault conviction that carries up to 25 years in prison, but in June a jury was unable to reach a verdict on whether Weinstein raped actor and hairstylist Jessica Mann in 2013. A key voting block that helped get President Trump reelected last year is starting to back away from him and the Republican Party. NPR's Ashley Lopez reports new polling shows a third of Latino voters who supported Trump don't plan on voting for Republicans next year. in jury with the Latino polling group Eki's research found that economic issues like persistently

high prices on groceries and health care are driving Latinos shift away from Trump. But so far she says it hasn't translated into more support for Democrats. To me, it's clear that neither party should assume that they have Latinos in their pocket one way or another. Republicans have failed to deliver on a lot of their campaign promises, particularly around lowering the cost of living. Jury said if Republicans want to keep gains among these voters, they need to deliver on those promises. And if Democrats want to take advantage of this opportunity, she says, they need to provide a sweeping economic vision ahead of next year's midterm elections. Ashley Lopez, NPR News. The Dow is up more than 400 points. It's NPR.