NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-15-2025 1PM EDT

Episode Date: August 15, 2025

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I'm Jesse Thorne. On Bullseye, we'll talk with Eugenio Derbez. Did you know that he voices donkey in Shrek? In the Spanish language, Shrek. I feel that the donkeys are Mexican, basically. So it sounds more Mexican in Spanish. Derbiz, one of the most famous people in Mexico. It's on Bolzai for Maximumfund.org and NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Tension in Washington, D.C. is growing over the question of who controls the city's police department. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi moved last night to appoint an emergency police commissioner. NPR's Brian Mann reports a lawsuit is now challenging that move.

When President Trump asserted control over D.C. Metropolitan Police, city officials said they would cooperate with White House directives, but they insisted their own local police chief, Pamela Smith, would maintain operational control. But last night, A.G. Bondi announced that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Chief Terry Cole will now be in charge of street cops during what Trump describes as a crime emergency. Now Washington D.C.'s Attorney General Brian Schwab is challenging that move in federal court, calling it an unlawful violation of Washington's Home Rule Act established by Congress. While that legal fight plays out, the question on the street is who's in charge of metropolitan cops, patrolling alongside federal agents and the National Guard. Brian Mann, NPR News, Washington. The U.S. will attempt to lay the foundation today for ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine, but as President Trump and his delegation make their way to Alaska for a summit,

and P.R. Charles Means, reports Russian leader Vladimir Putin is casting today's face-to-face as a chance to make a deal on business and other issues beyond talk of a ceasefire. Progress on arms control is a good thing, particularly given the looming end of the New START Treaty. This is the last major arms control deal between the U.S. and Russia, which expires in early 2026. You know, but this gesture, it came after Trump resurfaced economic threats on Russia if this Alaska summit doesn't make progress on Ukraine. So it seems to be Russia tempting Trump with agreements beyond the Ukraine issue. A nuclear deal would seem to appeal to Trump's desire to be seen as a global peacemaker. And for Russia, you know, it certainly gives the Alaska Summit a Cold War table, the superpowers back at the negotiating table for nuclear issues. NPR's Charles Mainz.

The United Nations and countries in Europe and the Middle East, sharply criticized an Israeli minister's decision to advance a proposed Jewish settlement directly in the occupied West Bank just east of Jerusalem. With the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary calling the project to, quote, flagrant breach of international law, here's NPR's Emily Fang. The E1 Settlement Project has been long delayed because it would further cut into the occupied West Bank, one of the main territories that could one day be part of a future Palestinian state. Kaya Callas, the European Union's top diplomat, said the settlement project is fueling tensions and, quote, eroding any possibility for peace.

The United Nations in Germany said the settlements are illegal by international law. But Zell-L Smotrich, Israel's finance minister who is pushing for the settlement, said in a press conference this week, his express intention is to make sure, quote, there is nothing to recognize and no one to recognize in terms of a Palestinian state. Emily Fang, NPR News, Tel Aviv. The Dow is up nearly 100 points. You're listening to NPR News. Nearly 10% of Medicaid-enroll kids visiting emergency departments in a mental health crisis remain stuck there for days, waiting for inpatient psychiatric care.

That's according to a new study published in JAMA Health Forum. NPR's REITU Chatterjee reports there's a dire shortage of pediatric psychiatric beds in the country. Researchers looked at the 22 data on Medicaid claims from 44 states. They found over 250,000 visits by children and teens seeking care for mental health crises, primarily depression and suicide. Nearly one in ten of those visits resulted in stays of three to six days waiting for inpatient admission. Lead author John McConnell is at Oregon Health and Science University. Really challenging, heartbreaking situation for families that have a child like this and they're trying to find a place to stabilize them and they're stuck in the emergency department. He says ERs aren't equipped to provide mental health care and can worsen symptoms for kids in crisis.

Read the Chatterjee, NPR News. Republican state lawmakers in Texas have ended a legislative session without approving new congressional maps, but they were prepared to call back lawmakers for a new session and take up the redistricting matter again. Weeks ago, their Democratic colleagues blocked the plan by leaving Texas. They argue redrawing a map mid-decade that favors a GOP is unlawful. In a move to counter Texas Republicans, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a special election to approve redrawn districts in his state in a bit to increase Democratic seats in the U.S. House in the midterms. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow Plus at plus.npr.org.

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