NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-26-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: August 26, 2025

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These days, with all the information coming at you, it can be hard to know what's accurate, what's not, and what's worth your time. Here to help you navigate it all is 1A. Five days a week, the 1A podcast provides a forum for Curia's Minds to explore different angles on the biggest headlines and give you a more balanced take on what's happening. Listen to the 1A podcast from NPR and WAMU. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. A federal judge in Maryland is expected to halt the deportation of Kilmar-Abrego-Garcia, at least for now. Abrago-Garcia was wrongfully sent by the Trump administration to El Salvador, despite the court order barring his deportation there. Abrago-Garcia was detained again Monday morning just days after being freed from a detention facility in Tennessee,

where he was awaiting trial on human smuggling charges that his lawyers say are preposterous. Amper Sergio Martinez-Beltran reports. Based on a standing court order, The earliest Abrego Garcia could be removed is Wednesday, but Maryland District Judge Paula Sinis says she is likely to hold his deportation until at least Friday. Sinis expressed concerns about the U.S. government's decision to send Abrago Garcia to Uganda, a country to which he has no connection, and that has not said which protections it will grant the deportee. Cynics also prohibited the government from moving Abrago Garcia from the immigration detention facility where he is now and proposed a new hearing for. Friday. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News. Legal challenges are mounting against the new Texas congressional election map requested by President Trump. As NPR's Hansilo Wong reports, several groups are

claiming the redrawn maps discriminate against black and Latino voters. Texas voters, voting rights advocates, and the state's Mexican-American legislative caucus are leading at least three lawsuits against the Texas congressional district map recently passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature. If it's used for next year's midterm election, the map could help Republicans win five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. First, the map has to face legal claims that it dilutes the collective voting power of Latino and black voters in the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas. This Republican-led redistricting polls has sparked a response amongst Democratic leaders in California, which is set to hold a special election in November to ask voters to allow the state to offset Texas by using a new lawmaker-drum map that could give Democrats five more House seats. Anzi Luong and PR News. And critics and reporters say Israeli attacks on a hospital complex in Gaza have left at least 21 people dead.

Those killed include several Palestinian journalists working for international news organizations. And Pierre's Ayabatrawe has more. An Israeli strike appears to have hit a live position for Reuters broadcast at a main hospital before the military struck the medical complex a second time, striking a stairwell where more journalists and rescue workers had gathered. Media outlets, including Reuters, confirmed their journalists were killed in Israel's attention. attack on the Nossar Medical Complex in southern Gaza. The four journalists killed were identified as Reuters cameraman Hossam al-Masirah, al-Jazeera cameraman Mohamed Salama, freelance journalist Mariam Abol-Dakka, a mother who freelance with the AP and others, and journalists Moez Abultaha. Aeroa,

a Reuters photographer is among several wounded. Palestinians count more than 240 journalists killed in Gaza in Israeli attacks in the war. A. Abatrawi, Empire News, Dubai. You're listening to NPR News. Mexico's biggest drug lords has plated guilty to drug trafficking in a U.S. federal court. M. Pierre Zeta Peralta reports that he will be sentenced to life in prison. Ismael and Mayo Zambada said few words at a federal courthouse in New York. The 77-year-old admitted to founding the Sinaloa cartel. He said he first got involved in illegal drugs by planting marijuana when he was 19.

He said over the course of 50 years as a criminal, he ordered assassinations, he bribed police, military officials, and Mexican politicians. After the hearing, U.S. Attorney General Pambandhi called the guilty plea a, quote, landmark victory and said Sambada will be sentenced to life in prison. He will die in a U.S. federal prison where he belongs. Sambada's lawyers said the drug lord will not cooperate with U.S. officials. Sambada, he said, will not reveal names. Whatever he knows, he said, will die with him. Adapralta, NPR News, Mexico City. India has alerted Pakistan about possible cross-border flooding.

the alert comes as unusually heavy monsoon rains continue to hit the region. Floods triggered by rains have already killed almost 800 people in Pakistan since late June. Dozens of people, meanwhile, have been killed in Indian-administered Kashmir, an area which is split between the two countries. A fire that began in an auto-luprican plant on Friday in southeastern Louisiana is now almost completely out. Officials say an explosion started the fire that led to the evacuation of nearby residents and the closing of an elementary school. It's still not clear what caused the explosion, but residents have now begun to return to their homes.

I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News. 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.