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

Episode Date: August 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington. I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump has won his appeal to throw out a massive civil fraud penalty in New York. Today, an appeals court ruled that the more than $500 million fine was excessive. Last year, a New York judge found Trump liable for inflating financial statements for better rates from lenders and insurers. New York Attorney General Lettisha James brought that case. This latest ruling comes four days after Trump's political. weaponization czar at the Justice Department, Ed Martin, began investigating the New York AG for alleged mortgage fraud and urged James to resign. California state legislators are expected to take a final vote today on a plan to redraw the state's congressional lines. Democrats are eyeing a handful of currently Republican seats to offset the GOP's attempt to pick up more seats in Texas ahead of next year's midterm elections. In California, lawmakers need to approve the measure in order to put it before voters this November. For member station KQED, Guy Marzorati reports.

Democrats in California are hoping to flip five House districts held by Republicans to match the five seats GOP lawmakers in Texas are eyeing with their own redistricting plan. California state Senate and Assembly will vote on the proposed map and on a separate bill calling the November 4th special election. California's current district lines are drawn by a voter-created commission, So Democrats will need voter approval to pass the plan. Republicans in the legislature have filed a lawsuit to block the new maps, claiming they've been unlawfully rushed to a vote.

For NPR News, I'm Guy Marzorati in San Jose. Though offshore an unusually large hurricane errand is delivering dangerous surf and rip currents all along the eastern seaboard, mandatory evacuations were ordered in parts of North Carolina's outer banks. Will Michaels, with member station WUNC and Chapel Hill, describes a state especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Climate change has accelerated beach erosion and washed away dunes in many areas. So when we have exceptionally high tides, low-lying areas that were once protected are now more likely to flood. And it's also worth pointing out that it's not just happening on the coast.

North Carolina is still recovering from Helene, which tore through the western part of the state almost a year ago. Then Chantal flooded parts of central North Carolina this year over the 4th of July weekend, and both of those were deadly storms. WUNC's Will Michaels reporting. The Federal Reserve's annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming is expected to offer the American public further insight into the direction the Fed's taking its monetary policy, especially on whether to lower borrowing costs. Tomorrow, Fed Chair Jerome Powell is slated to deliver his final speech at the annual gathering before his term ends next May. From Washington, this is NPR News. The government of Uganda confirms it has agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States,

a day after a top official denied knowing anything about it. NPR's Jewel Bright has more. Officials say unaccompanied children and migrants with criminal records will not be allowed into Uganda under the agreement. This is the third migrant deportation agreement between the U.S. and an African country. Fulain deals with Rwanda and the Kingdom of Eswantini. Critics have accused the Trump administration of forcing African countries to accept deportees from third countries.

Last month, Niger's foreign minister said the U.S. was trying to use his country and others in Africa as a dumping ground for third country deputies. Joe Bright, MPR News, Vegas. Golf's Tour Championship tees off today in Georgia. Alex Helmick with Member Station W.ABE reports from Atlanta. The PGA's top players will compete for a share of $40 million. The East Lake Golf Club is the oldest in Atlanta, and it's the permanent home to a tournament where the winner gets the FedEx Cup and $10 million. Only the top 30 golfers compete in the end of the year tour championship, where even last place will collect $355,000.

The rules this year are a little different. the golfers used to get an advantage based on ranking through the season. Now they'll all start at the same even par. World number one, Scotty Sheffler, is a huge favorite to repeat as champion. Rory McElroy is the second betting favorite. For NPR News, I'm Alex Helmick in Atlanta. The Dow is down nearly 200 points. It's NPR News.