NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-15-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: August 15, 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.

President Trump is in route to Alaska, where he'll meet soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin. As NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports, Trump says possible security guarantees and an exchange of territory between Ukraine and Russia is on the table. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that land swaps are possible, but that Ukraine would have to have final say. They'll be discussed, but I've got to let Ukraine make that decision. And I think they'll make a proper decision. but I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I'm here to get him at a table, and I think you have two sides. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea of ceding territory to Russia.

Trump stressed that he thinks Putin wants to make a deal for peace because Russia wants to benefit from the U.S.'s strong economy. But Trump added that he was not ready to expand U.S. business ties with Russia until fighting stops in Ukraine. Danielle Kurtzleben and PR News. Texas State House Democrats who've been breaking quorum, over Republicans' congressional redistricting plans released more details about when they'll return to the Capitol in Austin.

The Texas newsrooms, Blaise Ganey, has more. The House Democrats listed two things. One, for Texas' first special session to end. And two, California introducing a redistricting plan that would give the Democratic Party more seats in Congress. Their goal is to offset gains the Texas GOP will make with the newly proposed maps. Texas Democratic Party chair Kendall Scudder says he doesn't like the idea of mid-decade

gerrymandering, but admits Democrats have to fight back. I think that these blue states aren't moving fast enough. California is one of several states, both Democratic and Republican-led, that are discussing plans to redraw their congressional lines to the benefit of their respective political parties. I'm Blaise Ganey. The District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit challenging the federal takeover of the city's police department.

This comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi, named the head of the DEA, Emergency Police Commissioner. Religious leaders in D.C. are expressing dismay over the takeover. NPR's Jason DeRose reports they say President Trump's language is inaccurate and dehumanizing. In a joint statement, Jewish Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran leaders in D.C. write the president's actions increase the risk of, quote, indiscriminate arrests and the use of excessive force. They say while the White House sees a lawless wasteland, they see fellow human beings each made in the image of God. The clergy write that everyone deserves to live in safety, but they argue that goal cannot be achieved through what they call political theater and military force. They call on civic leaders to reject governing out of fear and rather work together in the spirit of dignity and respect.

The Trump administration's police takeover comes as crime in D.C. is near a 30-year low. Jason DeRose, NPR News. This is NPR News in Washington. New research shows there's an emerging digital divide around schools teaching artificial intelligence. Lee Gaines explains. Robin Lake studies how schools are beginning to use AI in the classroom. The AI divide is starting to show up in just about every major study that I'm seeing. Lake is director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at Arizona State University.

Her research found that affluent and suburban districts are more likely to provide AI training to teachers than high poverty or rural districts. She says some students are already using AI. And they're starting to use AI to improve their essays, improve their research skills. While others don't know how to use it, she says students need to learn about the technology so that no one is left behind in an AI powered economy. For NPR News, I'm Lee Gaines. Ron DeSantis says the state is getting ready to open a second immigration detention facility at a state prison outside of Jacksonville. DeSantis is calling it deportation depot. It's expected to hold 1,300 beds. The other immigration detention center in Florida's Everglades, dubbed by

some as Alligator Alcatraz, faces a legal challenge by environmental groups and the Mikasuki tribe. Hurricane Aaron is now the first of the Atlantic hurricane season. It's forecast to bring heavy rain across the northern leeward islands, the British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The National Weather Service says flooding could trigger mudslides. Erin reached hurricane strength just this morning. I'm Kristen Wright, and this is NPR News from Washington. Support free. These days, there's so much news.

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