NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-13-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: August 13, 2025

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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. The 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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be joined by several European heads of state today in what's being called an emergency virtual summit with President Trump. NPR's Rob Schmidt's reports from Berlin, Zelensky is with German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz in person in Berlin for the call.

Zelensky and Mertz are meeting with Trump along with the heads of state of Finland, France, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, the president of the European Commission, the president of the European Council, and NATO's Secretary. General. Vice President J.D. Vance also is attending. This comes ahead of President Trump's scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss an end to the war. Putin wants Ukraine to give up territories, something Trump has also said will be necessary. Zelensky has rejected this. European leaders are trying to get a commitment from Trump that he will not make any deal with Putin without first consulting them and Ukraine. Rob Schmitz and PR News, Berlin. In the war in Gaza, a Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo to resume ceasefire talks with Egyptian officials.

The talks have stalled for weeks. Meanwhile, the World Food Program says starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest level since the war began almost two years ago. White House officials say people living on the streets in Washington, D.C. may go to jail if they don't agree to go to shelters. NPR's Brian Mann reports this type of pressure from the U.S. administration is concerning advocates for people without housing. With National Guard troops now deployed on the streets of the nation's capital, White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt said part of the public safety push means people living on the street have to go to shelters or accept treatment for mental

illness and addiction. And if they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or to jail time. But critics say that's not a solution for people who are severely ill or can't afford the city's high housing costs. Jesse Rabinowitz is with the National Homelessness. Law Center. There are very few beds available. There are a handful of shelter beds available in far-flung parts of the city. According to Leavitt, dozens of homeless camps here have already been cleared out. Brian Mann, NPR News, Washington. A federal judge is ordering immigration

and customs enforcement to improve conditions for migrants detained at a federal building in New York. NPR Sergio Martinez Beltran reports. Under the new ruling, migrants detained at 26 federal Plaza in New York must be allowed to request and have access to attorneys within 24 hours of being detained. The detainees must have access to medicine and bottles of water as well. The judge's decision will remain in place for at least 14 days. It comes amid rising concerns about conditions at immigration detention facilities across the country, including the center dubbed alligator Alcatraz in Florida. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News. This is NPR News. The singer and actress Renee Rapp is a TV actor and musical theater veteran. Now, as a pop singer, she's got her

first ever top 10 album. NPR Stephen Thompson has more. At the top of this week's Billboard Albums chart, two very different records are vying for dominance. At number one, for a 10th week is Morgan Wallen's country hit, On The Problem. Then at number two, you've got the soundtrack to the animated movie, K-pop Demon Hunters, which has also spawned the week's number one single. Golden by Huntrings. Those albums have been in the top 10 for weeks, but debuting at number three is a new record by a star who's been rising for years, the singer and actress Renee Rapp. Her new album is called Bight Me.

Two years ago, Rapp's debut album's Snow Angel peaked at number 44. Now she's bitten off her first ever top 10 album. Stephen Thompson, NPR News. Beyonce has won her first Emmy. She won for outstanding costumes in her NFL halftime show on Christmas Day on Netflix. The Beyonce Bowl was the name of her Western-themed performance during the Baltimore Ravens Houston Texans game. The show, in her hometown of Houston, was Beyonce's live debut of songs from her Cowboy Carter album. B. has 35 Grammys. The Kennedy Center honorees will be announced today. The prestigious honors recognized lifetime achievement in the arts. President Trump, scheduled to be there at the Kennedy Center in Washington for this morning's announcement. In February, he overhauled its leadership firing the board. I'm Kristen Wright, and this is NPR News. Support for NPR.