NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-23-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: August 23, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has a major bill being sent to his deaths. A Republican-led Texas Senate gave the state's new congressional map final approval overnight over Democratic objections. Republican State Senator Phil King is the chairman of the Chambers' redistricting committee. I believe HB4 meets the critically important goals of legality, of political performance, for Republicans and of improved compactness. King said the maps were drawn blind to race, but Democratic State Senator Boris Miles isn't buying it.

He contends the maps racially gerrymandered his Houston District. I want you to know I thoroughly disagree with you because Senate District 18 is more than packed. Senator's 9 was cracked. The new map was requested by President Trump. It improves Republican prospects to retain control of the U.S. House and next year's midterm elections, that redistricting fight in Texas has set off a similar move in California and potentially other states. Trump administration has indicated it may withhold tens of

millions of dollars in election security funding if states don't comply with its voting policy goals. Here's NPR's Miles Parks. Almost $28 million in election security grants are now at risk after the Trump administration changed the requirements for how states can qualify for them. NPR is the first to report on the development. The Department of Homeland Security, which manages the grant program is now requiring states to prioritize compliance with election certifications that are so new, no jurisdiction in the country has equipment yet that meets the standards. DHS also wants officials to use a new tool that developed this year for citizenship verification, but it hasn't proven the tool works or explained how the

data the tool analyzes is secured. MPR spoke with multiple state voting officials who say in many places the money just won't be spent because of the new rules. Miles Parks, and NPR News, Washington. To Wall Street, now where stocks got a lift on Friday when Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell hinted at a possible interest rate cut. NPR Scott Horsley reports of Powell's comments came at the end of a mixed week for Wall Street. Powell told a gathering of economists and central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, that it could soon be time for a change in Fed policy. He stopped short of promising a rate cut at the next Fed meeting in September, but said the risk of inflation, which is still elevated, has to be weighed against signs of a budget. weakening job market. Investors were already betting on a September rate cut, but Powell's

comments made them more confident. Several big retailers warned this week that President Trump's tariffs will lead to rising prices, but so far retailers have absorbed most of the cost of those import taxes for the week the Dow jumped one and a half percent, the S&P 500 index rose a quarter percent, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ fell six-tenths of a percent. Scott Horsley, Impairn News, Washington. And from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. California officials have denied parole for another Menendez brother. The two were found guilty of killing their parents in 1989, as Steve Futterman reports. On Thursday, Eric Menendez was denied parole.

On Friday, his older brother met the same fate. During his hearing, Lyle Menendez described repeated abuse by his father, and for the first time, he disclosed that he was also sexually abused by his mother. The panel called Lyle Menendez in many ways of mine. model prisoner, but said he has disobeyed many prison rules, including possessing a contraband cell phone, and said he isn't quite ready to be set free. Anna Maria Baralt, the brother's first cousin, who has campaigned for their release, was encouraged. A couple of years ago, this was not even a possibility. There is still light at the end of the tunnel. The brother's next appearance

is set in three years, but they could request an earlier parole review. For NPR News, I'm Steve Fudderman in San Diego. The deadly crash of a tour bus in New York State remains under investigation. The bus was returning to New York City from Niagara Falls when it flipped over on Interstate 90. Five people were killed and dozens were sent to hospitals. No charges have been filed. And authorities say mechanical failure and driver impairment have been ruled out. Dangerous heat wave that could break records has the Western U.S. in its grip. Heat advisory stretch from Arizona to Washington State this weekend. On the East Coast, forecasters are warning of excessive rainfall with the heaviest along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and North Florida, leading to concerns about flash flooding.

I'm Gail Snyder. This is NPR News.