NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-21-2025 1AM EDT

Episode Date: August 21, 2025

NPR News: 08-21-2025 1AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On the next due line from NPR, the man who saw a dangerous omission in the U.S. Constitution and took it upon himself to fix it. If something happened to a president who was still alive, the consequences for the country would have been enormous. The 25th Amendment. Listen in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. Hurricane Aaron is moving towards the outer banks of North Carolina, prompting evacuation orders in some areas. Shurice Piggott of Member Station WUNC reports Erin is expected to bring a storm surge that could cause potential flooding and dangerous tropical winds to the region. A storm surge warning and a tropical storm warning remain in effect for parts of the coast of North Carolina. Chief Jack Scarborough, with the local rescue squad in the Outer Banks, says although emergency officials are ready,

the storm surge could potentially limit their ability. While we are ready, we are also concerned that with the impacts we are expected to see, we may not be able to. With two to four feet of storm surge and large breaking waves, pushing water inland over the next couple of days, we may not be able to respond. The National Weather Service says the greatest hazards in North Carolina continue to be life-threatening rip currents and ocean overwash. For NPR news, I'm Cherise Piggott in Chapel Hill.

Lawmakers in Texas have approved a new congressional map. It's aimed at helping Republicans pick up an additional five seats in next year's midterm elections as requested by President Trump. Andrew Schneider, with Houston Public Media, reports the proposal next heads to the state Senate. Democrats had left the state for two weeks to try to slow the passage. Democratic State Representative John Rosenthal called the entire process, quote, a sham from beginning to end. If you're losing a game, so bad. badly that you feel the need to change the referees and change the rules to help you win, maybe it's time to have a look in the mirror. Republican State Representative Todd Hunter, the author of the redistricting bill, said repeatedly that the aim of the bill was to enable Republicans to maximize Republican political performance,

which he said has been allowed by the courts. Democrats countered the bill was racial gerrymandering, which is illegal. For NPR News, I'm Andrew Schneider in Houston. Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is saying she won't be bullied and won't resign her seat after a Trump appointee that regulates federal mortgages made accusations that Cook committed mortgage fraud in 2021. NPR Scott Horsley reports the accusations are being leveled by a Trump loyalist who runs the federal housing finance agency. Bill Pulte has leveled similar charges against a number of high-profile Democrats who have antagonized the president. including California Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. They both denied any wrongdoing. Last month, the Associated Press and a number of other news outlets reported that Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton of Texas signed mortgage documents listing three different homes as his primary residence.

Paxton has not commented, and so far, Pulte has not had anything about that. The president is calling on Cook to resign as he has put pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The upcoming Broadway season will feature some well-known stars from television and film and a couple of revivals announced Wednesday. It's a formula that worked well last season when several revivals were the most popular tickets. Here's Jeff London. In December, Carrie Coon, who starred in both the White Lotus and the Gilded Age on HBO this season,

will headline in a revival of the off-Broadway hit, Bug. A tense thriller, which is almost 30. years old, it's by Tracy Letts, Coon's husband. In March, two Golden Globe winners, film and television actor Don Cheadle and Iyo Adebore, who recently starred in The Bear, make their Broadway debuts as a father and daughter in proof. The 2001 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Auburn receives its first Broadway revival. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of National Intelligence, says she is dramatically cutting the size of the nation's intelligence gathering apparatus, saying the existing

counterterrorism and counterintelligence gathering system is, in her words, bloated and inefficient. Gabbard estimates the cuts will reduce the budget by more than $700 million annually. Gabbard's latest move comes just days after she revoked the security clearances of dozens of former and current government officials. As the new school year begins around the country's 17 states in Washington, D.C., are imposing new cell phone restrictions in the classrooms. Limiting cell phone usage has gained support because of concerns about scrolling in class. This is NPR News.

Support for NPR comes from. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit wise.com. T's and Cs apply.