NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-13-2025 4AM EDT

Episode Date: August 13, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Rerunman. National Guard troops along with federal law enforcement officers are patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C., as President Trump's order to take over the city's police department is in effect. Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi and D.C.'s Mayor Muriel Bowser had a meeting. It was described as productive, discussing how the federal government in D.C. could work together for the next month. Meanwhile, D.C.'s Council President, Phil Mendelson told NPR, the federal show of force is not necessary as crime in D.C. has dropped to its lowest level in 30 years. I think this is more about a show of presence as well as maybe protecting federal

buildings, although I don't know that they need protection or federal monuments. I didn't know that they weren't being adequately protected, but it does seem to be oriented that way. The White House Tuesday also said that homeless people in Washington, must move out of the city immediately and that police will begin removing the homeless encampments. If they don't leave, they could be jailed or fined. Authority said the gunman in the shooting at these Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta last Friday died of a self-inflicted gunshot womb. Shaman Cruz from member station WABE reports the shooter had wanted to send a message about COVID-19 vaccines. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says

30-year-old Patrick Joseph White broke into a locked safe to get his father's weapons and used them to fire 500 shots with nearly 200 hitting six CDC buildings. White's family called the police several weeks before the shooting after he verbalized thoughts of suicide. GBI director Chris Hosey says authorities later found written documents referencing the COVID-19 vaccine. There was no direct threat, but it was his making the public aware of his discontent with the vaccines. No CDC employees were hurt in the shooting, but a responding police officer was shot and killed. For NPR news, I'm Shemaine Cruz in Atlanta. The White House is sent a letter to the Smithsonian requesting a review of eight of its museums. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports.

Addressed to Smithsonian's secretary, Lonnie Bunch, and signed by White House officials Lindsay Halligan, Vince Haley and Russell Vote. The letter says the review is needed to, quote, Celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions. The museums listed for review include the National Museums of American History, natural history and African American history and culture. The process will include an analysis of everything from exhibition texts and social media content to the curatorial process and exhibition planning.

The Smithsonian did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chloe Valtman, NPR News. And from Washington, you're listening to NPR. A Republican member of the South Carolina State Legislature, R.J. May, has resigned his seat while he awaits trial on distributing child sex abuse videos. In a letter of resignation, May said it was in the best interest of his family and constituents to resign immediately, but he did not mention the 10 charges he's facing or a decade in prison if convicted. He's currently being held without bond. The three-term house member is accused of sending hundreds of files on a social media network using his home Wi-Fi and a cell phone.

Wildfires continue to burn across parts of Europe, Spain, and Portugal. We have more from NPR's Nate Perez, who has the story. Research shows Europe is warming faster than any other continent. Scientists at the Copernicus Climate Change Service say there are a number of reasons why Europe's warming has surpassed other countries. The way air circulates around the globe has made summers hotter, and historically, Europe's high air pollution shielded them from sun radiation, but regulations on aerosol emissions have improved air quality, and that's allowed more solar rays to reach the surface, making temperatures rise. Research shows human-caused climate change makes temperatures hotter. That also

increases the risk for wildfires in Europe. Nate Perez, NPR News. Street. All three of the major indexes were up in Tuesday's trading. The Dow added 483 points, closing at 44,458. The NASDAQ gained 296. The S&P was also positive, gaining 72. This is NPR. Support for NPR. I'm Rachel Martin, host of Wildcard from NPR. I've spent years interviewing all kinds of people, and I've realized there are ideas that we all think about, but don't talk about very much. So I made a shortcut. a deck of cards with questions that anyone can answer, questions that go deep into the experiences that shape us. Listen to the Wild Card podcast only from NPR.