NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-27-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: August 28, 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 in Washington, I'm Nora Rom. Police in Minneapolis are trying to determine what motivated a 23-year-old to open fire in a Catholic church today, killing two children and injuring 17 people. Kirstie Marone with Minnesota Public Radio reports. Students at Assumption Catholic Church and school were attending Mass when the attack began. Minnesota Governor Tim Walls says the first few days of school should have been a happy time for students. Instead of that joy and that curiosity and that learning, they were met with evil and horror and death.

And we often come to these and say these unspeakable tragedies or there's no words for this. there shouldn't be words for these types of incidents because they should not happen. Authorities have identified the suspected shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who had no criminal history. Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara says the weapons used in the attack were purchased legally. For NPR News, I'm Kirstie Morone in St. Paul. D.C.'s mayor says President Trump's surge of federal offices has decreased violent crime in the nation's capital. But as NPR's Luke Garrett reports, the mayor also. caused Trump's National Guard deployment inefficient. D.C. Mayor, Muriel Bowser,

says she is pro-Trump's federal officer search. We think that there's more accountability in the system, or at least perceived accountability in the system, that is driving down illegal behavior. During a press conference, the mayor pointed to recent drops in gun crimes, homicides, and carjackings. But Bowser did take issue with the fear some federal agents are creating in D.C. neighborhoods. We know having masked ICE agents in the community, community has not worked. The D.C. Mayor declined to say whether the surge of federal officers would end after the 30-day expiration date of Trump's emergency order. Bowser says she has spoken with Trump about his safety and beautification plans, but didn't give details. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

California's state Supreme Court has rejected a Republican request to stop state officials from moving ahead with a special election ballot measure on redistricting. As NPR's Hansi Luong reports the mid-decade redistricting fight was sparked by a push by President Trump to help the Republican Party keep control of Congress after next year's midterm election. California Democratic officials are trying to offset a new congressional district map in Texas that could help Republicans win five more seats in the U.S. House representatives. So California is now planning to hold a special election in November to ask voters to allow the state to bypass its independent citizen redistricting commission and use a new lawmakers'

drawn map that could give Democrats five more House seats. Some California Republicans asked the state Supreme Court to remove that measure arguing it violates the state's constitution but the court has now denied that request. The Texas congressional map that President Trump requested now faces at least six lawsuits claiming it discriminates against black and Latino voters.

Anzi Luong, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. The U.S. has imposed a 50% tariff on products from India. It went into effect today. President Trump levied the tariff because India continues to buy oil from Russia. India's main exports to the U.S. include textiles, precious gems, and jewelry. However, the U.S. has exempted pharmaceuticals and electronics such as iPhones. In China, Beijing's foreign ministry says it hopes President Trump will honor his commitment

to welcome more Chinese students to the U.S. The comments come following a suggestion by Trump, the U.S. could let some 600,000 Chinese university students enter the country. Jan Cummins and Brumby reports. China's foreign ministry said, quote, we hope that the U.S. side will implement President Trump's statement of welcoming Chinese students. The statement follows President Donald Trump's suggestions that U.S. universities would struggle without Chinese students. Trump added that the U.S. could double the number of Chinese university students in the United States to 600,000. Although Beijing has welcomed the move, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says it hopes the U.S. will also, quote,

stop the unprovoked harassment, interrogation, and repatriation of Chinese students. For NPR news, I'm Jan Kamenzhen-Brunby in Taipei. The Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement today that Susan Menares is no longer the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It did not explain why. Several top agency leaders said today they're resigning. Menares had just been sworn in on July 31st, making her the shortest serving CDC director,

in its 79-year-old history. I'm Nora Rahm, 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.