NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-22-2025 4AM EDT

Episode Date: August 22, 2025

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There's a lot of news happening. You want to understand it better, but let's be honest, you don't want it to be your entire life either. Well, that's sort of like our show, here and now, anytime. Every weekday on our podcast, we talk to people all over the country about everything from political analysis to climate resilience, video games. We even talk about dumpster diving on this show. Check out Here and Now Anytime, a daily podcast from NPR and WBUR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Roran. California voters will decide. in a November special election, whether to approve redrawn congressional districts that could give Democrats an advantage in five House elections in next year's midterms. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law Thursday, taking the question to voters. Open your eyes to what is going on in the United States of America in 2025. That's what this is about. We're responding what occurred in Texas.

We're neutralizing what occurred and we're giving the American people a fair chance. Newsom said the special election is a direct response by Democrats to a plan being pushed by President Trump to redraw congressional districts in Texas, possibly adding five seats in that state. California currently uses a nonpartisan independent commission. A federal judge has ruled that President Trump's former personal attorney Elena Haba is unlawfully serving as the acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey. The ruling is the latest in the legal battle over Haba and the administration's workarounds to install some top prosecutors. In his 77-page opinion, Judge Matthew Brand says Alina Haba is not lawfully performing the functions and duties of the top federal prosecutor for New Jersey. And he says that she hasn't lawfully done so since July 1st. Brand adds that because of

that, Haba must be disqualified from taking part in any ongoing cases. The Trump administration employed what Brand calls a, quote, novel series of legal and personnel moves to try to keep Haba as acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. In his opinion, Judge Brand rejects those workarounds. The decision comes in response to challenges raised by criminal defendants to Haba's authority as acting U.S. attorney. The ruling is expected to be appealed. Ryan Lucas NPR News, Washington. An FBI agents group is writing Congress with urgent concerns about recent firings at the Bureau. NPR's Kerry Johnson reports the FBI Agents Association says there's a lack of due process. No FBI agent should be dismissed without receiving fair treatment.

That's the new message from leaders of the FBI agents association to key lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The president of the group Natalie Barra says summary terminations at the Bureau are creating instability and uncertainty. Among those recently dismissed was a man who served as acting director of the FBI. earlier this year. None of the people who were fired have been accused of misconduct or given a chance to keep their job. Barra says those firings threatened to jeopardize public safety and undermine morale. She wants the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to investigate. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington. On Wall Street, the Dow, the NASDAQ, and the S&P all closed lower on Thursday. You're listening to NPR News. Long-time Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett, who represents Austin, Texas, reportedly will not seek re-election next year if the new redrawn map is in place for the 20-26 midterm.

Doggett is seating the new 37th Democratic Congressional District to Congressman Greg Sazar, who represents a nearby district. So Sazar, who's 42 years younger, can seek re-election to Congress without having the two Democrats hefting. to run against each other. Meanwhile, the Texas State Senate is expected to vote Friday on new district maps, which could give the Republicans five additional seats in Congress. The Trump administration is calling for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting Friday to discuss the latest violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 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. And from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. It's that time of gear again. Planet Money Summer School is back.

This semester with help from professors, policy experts, and yes, even a Nobel laureate, we're diving into how government and the economy mix and asking the big questions like, what role should government play in our economy? Does government intervention help or hurt? And how big should the government be? That's on Planet Money Summer School from NPR, wherever you get your podcasts.