NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-21-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: August 22, 2025

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Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theshmit.org. Live from NPR News, I'm Janine Herbst. The U.S. and European Union have now put in writing the trade agreement they reached last month to avert further tariff escalation. But Harry Schultz reports there are still some sectors under negotiation. EU officials have been eager to get the trade truce they reached with Washington on paper, even though most exports from the bloc will still be subject to a 15% tariff upon entering the U.S. market, pending further negotiations. The Trump administration had threatened at least 30%.

This is not a final legally enforceable trade agreement, but EU Trade Commissioner Maro Schaevich, the deal's chief negotiator, still portrays it as a positive step. because it caps most EU tariffs at 15%. This is not the end. It's the beginning. This framework is the first step, one that can grow over time to cover more sectors. One of those sectors is cars, where U.S. tariffs will remain at 27.5% for now. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

The Trump administration has called for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss the latest violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, President Trump often says he's resolved that war. Less than two months ago, President Trump hosted officials from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to sign what he was calling a peace agreement to end a decades-long conflict in the minerals-rich east of the DRC. But rights groups and UN officials are reporting recent deadly attacks on civilians, including by the Rwandan-backed M23 Rebel Group. The State Department says it called for the Emergency Security Council meeting to discuss these, quote, horrific abuses, and it says it will make sure that those who undermine peace and stability in Eastern Congo will face consequences.

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. In Western Colorado, another wildfire is burning uncontrolled. That area has already seen several large blazes this fire season. Colorado Public Radio, Stina Sig, says the Derby Fire has. destroyed at least one structure and has grown to more than 2,600 acres with no containment. Lightning ignited the Derby Fire Saturday, outside the small community of Dotsero, two half hours west of Denver. It grew quickly, prompting evacuations and closing national forest land. Philip Knaub, Operation Section Chief, with the team fighting the fire, says it's now burning into favorable terrain.

The fuel type changes from pretty solid timber down into some broken, open country with a lot of grassy, that's real good for us. Making it easier to contain the fire. This is Colorado's most active fire year since 2020, when a blaze devastated scenic Glenwood Canyon, just west of this fire. For NPR News, I'm Steenacke in Grand Junction, Colorado. This is NPR News.

The Kennedy Center has fired the team responsible for dance programming. A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center says three people were terminated. And Pierce Andrew Limbaugh reports, this is just the latest move since President Trump took over the center earlier this year. The Kennedy Center spokesperson wrote, quote, We will have an exciting announcement about the new direction for dance programming coming soon. Kamanu Kyi, a curator who leads free dance classes at the Kennedy Center, confirmed the turnover. Adding that, since President Trump installed himself as chair of the Kennedy Center's board, many of Chi's fellow curators have chosen to leave too.

but Chi will continue the classes he has this weekend as scheduled. Just last week, President Trump surprised Kennedy Center staff by naming his picks for this year's Kennedy Center honors, including George Strait, Gloria Gainer, and the rock band Kiss. The president also said the board asked him to host the ceremony later this year. Andrew Limbong and Pierre News. James Dobson, a child psychologist who founded the conservative ministry focus on the family and was a politically influential campaigner against a abortion, LGBTQ rights has died. He was 89 years old. He launched a radio show counseling Christians on how to be good parents and started focus on the family in 1977, becoming a force in the 1980s for pushing conservative Christian ideals in mainstream American politics alongside

fundamentalist giants like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. 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 C's Apply.