NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-21-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: August 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. Here's the latest on Hurricane Erin. The large Category 2 hurricane is packing sustained winds of 105 miles per hour as it creeps northerly up the Atlantic coast. Aaron is now about 200 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Forecasters say it's not expected to make landfall, but authorities are warning. The high surf and high winds will whip up life-threatening conditions along the outer banks, of North Carolina and caused rip currents from Florida to North Carolina.

At Pops Roy Bar in Buxton, North Carolina, Christian Gray Hanberger was enjoying the last moments of sunshine before the storm hits, deciding not to evacuate. All my friends are still here, and it looks like it's going to be mandatory, I mean, mainly ocean side flooding. And if it's only ocean side floating, I live on the sound side, and I've got a creek right by my house, so I should be good. So I didn't see a big threat. Mandatory evacuations are in place for Hatteras and Oricoke Islands.

The White House has launched an official account on TikTok. NPR's Bobby Allen reports this comes ahead of a new deadline for the popular video app to be sold away from its Chinese owners. The White House joining TikTok marks the culmination of President Trump's complete reversal on the hit video service. He tried to ban the app in his first term, but then gave it credit with helping to drive young voters to the polls this past November. A law banning TikTok in the U.S. unless it breaks off from Beijing-based bite dance took effect earlier this year. Since then, the Trump administration has not enforced the law and instead has pushed off a sell-by-deadline three times. The next deadline is September 17th. Trump officials say a deal with U.S. investors to take over a majority stake in the company will emerge by then.

But if not, Trump could extend the deadline again. Bobby Allen and PR News. President Trump has said he intends to expand his administration's review of the Smiths, institution to museums across the country. NPR's Anastacio Ticoke's reports that museum leaders say they're concerned. President Trump called museums, quote, the last remaining segment of woke, and the White House says he intends to, quote, start with the Smithsonian and then go from there. The U.S. has some 22,000 museums, including art museums, local historic houses, and botanical

gardens. Many addressed topics like history, identity, and the environment, subjects. that have become politically polarizing. Patty Gerstenblith is a professor at DePaul University in Chicago and a specialist in museum law. Museums have a First Amendment right of expression. Artistic expression is protected by the First Amendment as another form of speech. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the federal government has to pay for that speech.

Anastasi Aet Silkus and Pierre News, New York. Higher prices for food and airfare pushed inflation up higher than expected in July in the United Kingdom. This is NPR. Israel's defense minister has approved a plan to call up an estimated 60,000 military reservists for an expanded operation in Gaza City. Another 20,000 reservists will see their missions extended. In Israeli official, who spoke to the Associated Press, said the operation aims to target Hamas' underground tunnel network. Meanwhile, negotiation continued for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Hamas has agreed to a proposed 60-day halt in the fighting. Israel has yet to

respond. Near-record temperatures are expected across southern California the next couple of days in what officials are calling the most significant heat wave of the year. NPR's Nate wrote reports the high temperatures are expected through the weekend. Weather forecasters are warning the temperatures should be near or into the triple digits across most of Southern California over the next three days. The heat is expected to bring health concerns for at-risk populations and raise the risk of major wildfires. On top of that, there's a possibility of monsoonal thunderstorms that could bring high winds, rain, and lightning beginning on Friday. Public health officials are urging people to drink water, limit their activity outside, and to check up on their neighbors. Nate Rott and PR News.

China is expanding the use of solar energy officials are showcasing what they say is the world's largest solar farm. covering an estimated 235 square miles. That's as large as the city of Chicago. When completed, the solar farm will be able to power an estimated 5 million households in China. From Washington, you're listening to NPR News. I'm Dan Ronan.