NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-26-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: August 27, 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 Giles Snyder. President Trump held a more than three-hour cabinet meeting today in which he highlighted his crime-fighting efforts in Washington, D.C. For the last 13 days, we've worked so hard. We've taken so many. There are many left, but we've taken so many criminals over 1,000. Trump said his decision to deploy national guard troops and federal law enforcement agents in D.C. has made the nation's capital safe.

Democrats are pushing back against Trump's threat to send guard troops to other cities. Democrats say it's a political move meant to intimidate opponents. After being delayed twice, SpaceX is celebrating the latest, launch of its massive Starship rocket. Starship blasted off from its launch pad in South Texas earlier this evening for its 10th test flight, splashing down a short time ago in the Indian Ocean overcoming a string of setbacks this year. Some violence prevention and counterterrorism experts say decades of work are being dismantled under the Trump administration, including grant programs. Here's MBR's Odette Yousaf reporting. Over the last nearly 25 years,

violence prevention programs in the U.S. have increasingly focused on directing federal grant money to local programs. But under the current administration, there have been changes. Ryan Greer heads Bedrock, a nonprofit coalition of groups that counter hate-fueled violence. Whether those are nonprofits with anti-Semitism programs in South Carolina or Christian pastors in Texas looking to reduce hate and reduce the likelihood that people engage in ideologically motivated violence, those programs have largely been cut or in the process of being cut by administration. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions from NPR about these reductions in staff and delays in grant disbursement. Odette Yousef, NPR News. It's been another

extremely hot summer in Arizona, but in the Phoenix area, the number of heat-related deaths reported this year is on track to be lower than it was last year. From member station KJZZ, Catherine Davis-Young reports. Extreme heat is once again taking a devastating toll in the Phoenix area with 64 deaths confirmed so far this year and 413 more under investigation. But those numbers are about 18% lower than the same point last summer. Dr. Nick Staub, chief medical officer for Maricopa County, says it's too soon to draw conclusions. But the possible decrease could be thanks to city and county investments in heat relief, like more cooling centers which are open at more hours of the day across the county. Just having the extended hours that have been

provided over the last couple summers. I think that that is a useful tool, and we're seeing it bear out in lower numbers. The county won't release a final report on heat-related deaths until early next year. For NPR News, I'm Catherine Davis-Young in Phoenix. And you're listening to NPR News. The White House says a judge's decision to throw out the Trump administration's lawsuit against all federal judges in Maryland will not be the final word. A Trump-appointed judge today dismissed the suit, slamming it as potentially calamitous. The administration filed the lawsuit in June over a court order that slowed down deportations. The Wisconsin judge accused of helping him and evade federal immigration agents has lost a bid to get the charges dropped.

A federal judge said that Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan cannot claim immunity upholding magistrate's ruling that the case against her should proceed. Dugan was arrested in April. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is doubling down on plans to remove street murals, including LGBTQ rainbow crosswalks across the state. From member station WMNF, Chris Young, reports that this comes after a rainbow crosswalk near the Orlando Pulse Nightclub Memorial was painted over in the middle of the night. Governor DeSantis backed the removals at a press conference on Tuesday in Tampa. We're not doing the commandeering of the roads to put up messaging.

Earlier this summer, the Florida Department of Transportation sent the removal notice to, quote, ensure the safety of the traveling public. Various cities across Florida have responded in different ways. Del Rey Beach and Key West have challenged the removal. After a request for an appeal was denied by FDOT, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch encouraged, quote, good trouble, but no legal action was taken against the removal. of five of the city's murals. For NPR news, I'm Chris Young.

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