NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-03-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: September 3, 2025

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Life is a mystery for those of faith or no faith. Ye gods with Scott Carter is the podcast that makes sense of how we make sense of life. Each week we talk to celebrities, scholars, and mere mortals to unearth what on earth we believe and what we don't. Listen to Ye gods with Scott Carter, part of the NPR Network wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shay Stevens. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says federal officers are not needed to fight crime in Chicago, and Maryland's Governor West Moore is opposed to having federal agents on streets in Baltimore. But President Trump says he's sending federal officers to those cities, whether they like it or not.

Chicago is a hellhole right now. Baltimore is a hell hall right now. Parts of Los Angeles are terrible. If we didn't put out the fires, and I mean the other fires, the bullet fires. The federal judge has President Trump's use of federal agents, in Los Angeles in June was illegal, but stayed the ruling pending appeal. The House Oversight Committee has begun releasing Justice Department files on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A group of lawmakers had been pushing to release the data before the congressional summer recess. As NPR's Barbara Pshmunt reports, the lawmakers are back and the push is back on. Several accusers of Epstein are meeting with members of the Oversight Committee,

which is in the middle of an investigation into the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. The committee's already received files subpoenaed from the Justice Department. But some lawmakers are pushing for more public access to the files. Democrat Roe Kana and Republican Thomas Massey are using a procedural maneuver in hopes of forcing a vote on the House floor that could compel the Justice Department to release the investigation files. Barbara Sprint and Peer News, the Capitol. U.S. Senator Joni Ernst says she will not seek re-election next year. The Iowa Republicans' family considerations weighed in her decision.

Her departure could help Democrats gain a seat in the Republican-controlled Senate. Two Republicans had already announced plans to challenge Ernst before her announcement. Google has dodged a bullet in a landmark antitrust case. Rachel Myro of Member Station KQED reports from San Francisco. A federal judge rejected calls from the Justice Department to break up the search giant. Google gets to keep Chrome, Android, and its multi-billion-dollar deals for prime placement on smartphones. But for Adam Kovacovic, who runs the Tech Industry Trade Association Chamber of Progress, this case is already ancient history.

Generative AI tools like chat GPT are nipping at the heels of traditional search engines like Google. And there's a lot of competition in generative AI. Google is still expected to appeal. In the meantime, it's already embedded its own AI answers at the top of search results, along with the option for users to engage with its chatbot. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Myra. in San Francisco. President Trump says the headquarters for U.S. Space Command will be relocated from an Air Force Base in Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama. Trump says there was a lot of competition for the

center, but that Huntsville fought harder than anyone else for it. Space Command was created in 1985 to oversee military defense operations in space. This is NPR. Israel is mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists for its expanded offensive in God. Gaza City and amid a shortage of soldiers. Israeli officials say Hamas still controls Gaza City and a vast tunnel network in the area. Health officials there say at least 47 people were killed in attacks across Gaza early Tuesday. Civilians there are once again being warned to evacuate. President Trump is monitoring a corruption trial that's underway against former Brazilian President Zaire Bolsonaro, who's charged with attempting a coup to stay in power. Trump has

rally to Bolsonaro's defense, as NPR's Kerry Kahn reports. Jaya Bolsonaro faces five charges, including leading an armed criminal organization to stay in power after his 2020 election loss. Trump has demanded the case be dropped. He slapped Brazil with 50 percent tariffs. The U.S. sanctioned the lead justice in the trial and revoked his visa. Opening the trial that Justice Alessandre de Morais referred to, quote, enemies of national sovereignty without mentioning the U.S. President Trump. National sovereignty will never be vilified, negotiated, or extorted, he stated before reading the trial summary. Seven other defendants are on trial with Bolsonaro. If convicted Bolsonaro, who is 70, could face more than 40 years in prison. Carrie Khan, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

The leaders of North Korea, India, and China gathered in Beijing Wednesday for a show of strength and military parade, marking 80 years since the end of World War II. They were among two dozen foreign leaders looking on as troops march in lockstep with China's president. This is 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. Tease and Cs apply.