NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-26-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: August 27, 2025

NPR News: 08-26-2025 10PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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 Giles Snyder. SpaceX is celebrating the latest launch of its massive Starship. Starship blasted off from the company's launch pad and racks up some much-needed successes on its 10th test flight. NPR's Nell Greenfield-Boyce reports this time the rocket hit key test objectives. The silver and black two-stage rocket, which stands about 400 feet tall, blasted off from the SpaceX facility in South Texas.

Five, four, three, two, one. Once the upper stage reached space, a payload bay door opened and a device similar to a big Pez dispenser ejected eight dummy satellites. Then the spacecraft returned to Earth and made a controlled descent down into the Indian Ocean as planned. The smooth test flight had SpaceX employees cheering. The last three flights saw the upper stage explode or disintegrate, and the last time around, the payload bay door wouldn't open. Nell Greenfield-Boyce, NPR News. More than two weeks into the deployment of federal forces in Washington, D.C. Many say they welcome more law enforcement, but distrust President Trump's motives.

Here's NPR's Frank Langford. Nancy Barnes was delighted to learn last week that federal agents had arrested a rogue ATV driver on the city streets. I'm all for this arrest. Next, I hope there will be arrests for scooters and motorcycles on sidewalks. I have almost been hit countless times outside my home, and I'm sick of it. At the same time, Barnes says there's no justification for sending in the National Guard. Diana Fitzgerald, who works in early childhood education, agrees. I don't think it has anything to do with crime in the city.

I just think it's to make him look tough. Fitzgerald's referring to President Trump, who claims the federal crackdown is so successful there's no crime in the city, which is false. Frank Langford, NPR News, Washington. President Trump is trying to shake up the Federal Reserve, but as NPR's Maria Aspen reports, that's having little impact on Wall Street.

President Trump is escalating his attacks on the Federal Reserve with an extraordinary attempt to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Trump says he's dismissing Cook in response to allegations that she had made false statements on a mortgage application, but she says he has no authority to do so and that she won't resign. It's the latest effort by Trump to exert more control over the Fed, which is designed to be independent. But the president wants the central bank to lower interest rates and has been publicly pressured, ensuring the Fed and its leaders to do so. Yet investors are mostly shrugging off the latest threats to the Fed's independence. Maria Aspen, NPR News. Fed Governor Lisa Cook says she will sue the Trump administration over its attempt to fire her. Cook's lawyer issued a statement today. This is

NPR News. Australia is cutting off diplomatic relations with Iran. Prime Minister Anthony Alvinese says Australian intelligence has gathered credible evidence that Iran was behind at least two anti-Semitic arson attacks in Melbourne and Sydney. Australia today gave Iran's ambassadors seven days to leave the country. It's Australia's first diplomatic expulsion since World War II. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatening to withhold federal funding from three Western states if they continue to fail to enforce English language requirements for truckers. Duffy said today that California, Washington, state, and New Mexico could lose millions if they do not comply within 30 days. Cracker Barrel, that southern-styled staple of American

Road Trips, is changing its logo. Again, gone as the company's short-lived streamlined logo after some passionate backlash from fans and even the White House. Mariana Bakiala, member station WPLN reports. The old man and barrel that have represented Cracker Barrel for decades were initially scrapped from the restaurant's new logo for a more modern minimalist design. What followed could be a case study in the perils of rebranding and cultural polarization. The move was met with falling stocks and public outcry, particularly from MAGA supporters who called the change woke. President Donald Trump weighed in asking Cracker Barrel to bring back the old design. And now Cracker Barrel has confirmed that its beloved old-timer and his

his barrel will be back. The fried chicken and biscuits never left. This is in 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 Cs apply.