NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-17-2025 2PM EDT

Episode Date: August 17, 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 Nora Rahm. Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky is bringing several European leaders when he visits Washington for tomorrow's meeting with President Trump. As NPR's Greg Myrie reports, Zelensky and the Europeans want to present a united front amid the current diplomatic efforts to bring a halt to the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelensky will be accompanied by the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany, among others.

Zelensky met in Brussels on Sunday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who's also traveling to war. Washington. In a social media post, Zelensky said, quote, we agreed on the necessity of a ceasefire for subsequent diplomatic steps. Ukraine says the shooting should stop before it holds negotiations with Russia on a permanent peace deal. President Trump was also calling for a ceasefire. But after meeting Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Trump now appears more aligned with the Russians who say a ceasefire is not a necessary first step. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Kiev. Israel, protesters are blocking highways and staging a labor strike. They're demanding the Israeli government reach a deal with Hamas to release hostages from Gaza.

NPR's Daniel Estrin reports. Families of the hostages are helping lead the protest. They failed to convince the National Labor Union to declare a nationwide strike, but major companies are allowing their employees to go on strike. Many municipalities and universities are supporting the day-long strike. Major theaters and cinemas are closed for the day-long strike. day. Israeli government ministers say protesters are playing into the hands of Hamas. Police are trying to clear the roads of protesters. Israel's military is prepping to expand the war by taking

control of Gaza City, but says it's open to a ceasefire deal with Hamas. Meanwhile, Israel's military struck a power plant in Yemen's capital, retaliating for Houthi missile attacks on Israel. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Republican governor is from South Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, are sending in hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington to support President Trump's crackdown on street crime and homelessness. Many residents are voicing their anger at his efforts to overhaul policing. NPR's Brian Mann reports. Hundreds of people marched to the White House Saturday demanding Trump withdraw national

guard troops and hundreds of federal agents. D.C. resident John Smith says he doesn't believe Trump's claim the city is being overwhelmed by criminals. He thinks the deployment is a threat to democracy. came because I'm concerned about the occupation of D.C., the overreach. There's no sign Trump plans to pull back this show of force anytime soon. Troops already on the street will now be supported by guard members from West Virginia. Vermont's Republican governor, meanwhile, declined a White House request that he also send National Guard soldiers. Brian Mann, NPR News, Washington.

This is NPR News. The deadline is now for Air Canada Flight Attendance to get back. to work. They went on strike yesterday. The government ordered both sides into arbitration and the workers back on the job. But the union said it will not comply and will challenge what it calls an unconstitutional order. A new study says affluent households nationwide are more likely than poorer ones to move after a climate disaster. Vermont public's Abigail Giles reports. Researchers at the University of Vermont found this was especially true after floods and hurricanes. Human-caused climate change is making both phenomena more frequent and severe.

Many lower-income households also moved, but didn't go far. The researchers say this could mean they're being forced into another unsafe living situation in the same community. Study author Jillian Galford says this net loss of resources from a community likely hurts disaster recovery. Individual's ability to respond to floods could be undermined as well as things like tax revenues. Galford says more research is needed to understand how climate change is making people across the U.S. move. For NPR News, I'm Abigail Giles in Burlington, Vermont. The Associated Press is reporting that British actor Terrence Stamp died today.

He began his film career in 1962 as an 18th century merchant seaman in Billy Budd. In 1994, he portrayed a transgender nightclub entertainer in the Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. He may be best known as the villainous General Zod in the early Superman films. Terran Stamp was 87. I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.