NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-14-2025 9AM EDT

Episode Date: August 14, 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 Christian Wright.

California Governor Gavin Newsom. is holding a press conference today to announce his plan to counter Republican efforts in Texas to draw new congressional maps in an attempt to gain more U.S. House seats. Newsom says President Trump is trying to rig Texas districts. Newsom has plans to call a special election for a House map ballot measure. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is calling a new special session. The Texas newsrooms Blaise Ganey reports the agenda still includes redrawing the state's congressional map. House Democrats remain out of state to block the redistricting bill, which could add five more Republican seats to Congress.

Speaking in Chicago, House Democratic caucus chair, Representative Gene Wu of Houston, said they expect new maps would eventually become law, but wanted to be sure that other Democratic-led states were ready to fight back. Texas is determined to do this. If other red states are determined to do this, then we will have other states who will make sure that it does not matter what they do, that we will nullify their actions. Several Democratic-led states across the country have said that they, too, will redraw their congressional maps. For NPR News, I'm Blaise Ganey. Republican-led states are activating the National Guard to tackle illegal immigration. Jenna McMurtry reports from Wyoming. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon says he's deploying 15 National Guard members to help immigration and customs enforcement with paperwork and migrant transportation within the month.

The governor says the Guard will remain in state and under his control. and that they will not have access to ICE databases or the training to make arrests. Wyoming has been firm and consistent in our commitment to helping secure the border. 19 other GOP governors have pledged to also activate the resources of the National Guard to assist in the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. For NPR News, I'm Jenna McMurtry and Jackson, Wyoming. President Trump says he will host this year's Kennedy Center honors award show in December. He named himself, chairman of the board of trustees.

in February and replaced its members. NPR's Elizabeth Blair says the president is defending his decision to play an active role in the Performing Arts Center during his second term. Over the years, the Kennedy Center has tried to keep politics out of its programming and the honors event. That's one of the reasons there was traditionally a bipartisan board. Trump did not attend the honors during his first presidential term. At the press conference, this is what he said about getting so involved this year.

I shouldn't make this political because they made the account. Award's political, and they went down their tubes. So they'll say, Trump made it political, but I think if we make it our kind of political, we'll go up. The honorees are singer Gloria Gaynor, country artist George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone, Broadway actor and singer Michael Crawford, and the rock band Kiss. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Harvey Weinstein appeared in court in Manhattan. New York prosecutors want to tribe a disgraced movie mogul for rape for a third time. NPR's Chloe Weiner reports. In June, Weinstein was convicted of criminal sexual assault, but found not guilty of another charge.

And he hasn't been sentenced yet because a third charge of rape ended in a mistrial. Prosecutors now say they're ready to move forward with a retrial for that charge of rape in the third degree. Outside the court, an attorney for Weinstein told reporters Weinstein doesn't want to pursue a plea deal, adding Weinstein, quote, doesn't want the word rape associated with him, end quote. A judge said that if a retrial does happen, it'll be this year. It could be Weinstein's third time on trial for allegations from former actress Jessica Mann. His conviction in 2020 was thrown out last year on procedural grounds. Chloe Weiner and PR News, New York.

A new Gallup poll says people are drinking less. 54% of American adults surveyed say they drink. alcohol. Gallup says that is the lowest percentage since it started tracking drinking habits in the 1930s. As some psychologists point to just more awareness of the health risks of consuming alcohol, Gallup says young people in particular do seem to be getting the message. The survey showed about half of adults, ages 18 to 34, reported drinking alcohol, and about 66% of young people think drinking in moderation is harmful. I'm Kristen Wright, and this is NPR News from Washington.