NPR News: 08-08-2025 10AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: August 8, 2025, 10AM EDT Summary

Host: Korva Coleman

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1. Armenia and Azerbaijan Peace Talks

Korva Coleman [00:17]:
The White House announced that the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan are slated to meet with President Donald Trump today to sign a roadmap for a peace agreement. These two nations, both former Soviet satellites, have been embroiled in a prolonged conflict over a disputed enclave in Azerbaijan that sought independence with Armenian support. This meeting, potentially occurring as early as next week in the United Arab Emirates, marks the first summit between the two countries' leaders since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

Mayan Schechter [00:57]:
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham expressed optimism about the dialogue, stating, "I'm glad the two leaders could talk." However, he voiced concerns regarding President Trump's tariff strategy linked to his sanctions bill, which now boasts 85 co-sponsors. The bill proposes imposing tariffs up to 500% on imports from nations purchasing Russian gas, oil, or uranium. Despite its backing, the bill remains stagnant, and Senator Graham fears Trump's unilateral tariff approach might face legal challenges.

Lindsey Graham [01:18]:
"His ability to issue tariffs, I think, is going to be legally challenged, and I don't know if he wins or loses, but the bill would allow him to do the same thing."

Mayan Schechter [01:27]:
Addressing President Putin's sincerity in seeking peace, Graham remarked, "I don't trust him as far as I can throw him."

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2. Escalation of Conflict in Gaza

Korva Coleman [01:38]:
The Israeli security cabinet has greenlit a plan to intensify military operations in Gaza, aiming to seize control of Gaza City. This decision has sparked significant criticism internationally and has caused divisions within Israel itself. A notable Israeli citizen shared concerns:

Israeli Citizen [01:56]:
"I know the plan is to get rid of Hamas, but we've been trying for two whole years. We haven't made that much progress and we've lost so many soldiers and we still haven't brought all the hostages home. So it just doesn't seem that there's any real forward movement with this plan."

Additionally, tens of thousands of Israelis participated in nationwide protests yesterday, reflecting the nation's polarized stance on the matter.

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3. Federal Reserve Board Nomination and Market Response

Korva Coleman [02:10]:
In economic news, the stock market opened higher this morning as President Trump announced a temporary appointment for the Federal Reserve Board.

Scott Horsley [02:27]:
President Trump intends to nominate White House economist Stephen Myron to fill a vacancy on the Fed's seven-member governing board for six months. This position became available when Fed Governor Adriana Coogler decided to depart early to return to her role at Georgetown University, ahead of her term's original end in January. While Trump seeks a permanent nominee, he has criticized the Federal Reserve for not taking more aggressive actions to reduce interest rates. The cautious stance of the Fed is attributed to concerns that Trump's tariff policies might reignite inflation. In related market movements, Asian stocks showed mixed results overnight, with Japan's Nikkei index experiencing a significant rise, contrasted by declines in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Seoul.

Korva Coleman [03:08]:
Reflecting on Wall Street's performance, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up by 225 points, and the NASDAQ has increased by 130 points.

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4. Increased Federal Law Enforcement in Washington, D.C.

Korva Coleman [03:08]:
The White House has directed a heightened presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., in response to rising crime concerns. President Trump has recently criticized the district's safety, citing incidents such as the attack on a former Doge worker. He has also hinted at the possibility of a federal takeover of Washington D.C.'s local government to address these issues.

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5. NASA's Ambitious Lunar Nuclear Reactor Project

Korva Coleman [03:08]:
In aerospace news, NASA is accelerating its plans to install a nuclear reactor on the moon.

Chandelyse Duster [03:49]:
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy has issued a directive to develop a lunar nuclear reactor by 2030. Space nuclear power expert Roger Myers emphasized the necessity of this initiative, stating, "Long lunar nighttime, the sun and batteries does not work. We're going to have to have nuclear power." While Myers commends the accelerated timeline, Katie Huff from the University of Illinois expressed concerns about the financial implications, noting that funding the reactor could divert resources from critical programs such as Earth science, climate observation, and space-based weather forecasting.

Katie Huff [04:21]:
"Earth science, climate observation, space-based weather forecasting, all the kinds of things that NASA does in a public-serving way for our day-to-day needs."

The Trump administration has proposed significant budget cuts to these essential programs in the upcoming fiscal year, raising alarms among the scientific community.

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6. Wildfires Ravage Southern California

Korva Coleman [04:38]:
Wildfire activity continues to escalate in the western United States. The Gifford Fire in Southern California has expanded to over 150 square miles, prompting evacuation orders in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Firefighters are battling the blazes as residents brace for further developments.

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This summary encapsulates the major news segments from the NPR News Now episode released on August 8, 2025. For real-time updates and comprehensive coverage, please refer to NPR's official channels.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

News In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The White House says the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet with President Trump today and sign a roadmap for a peace agreement. Both countries are former Soviet satellites. They've been at war for years and ever since an enclave in Azerbaijan broke away. With help from Armenia, Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Trump could meet as early as next week in the United Arab Emirates. It would be the first summit for the two leaders since Russia launched its full scale attack in Ukraine three years ago. South Carolina Public Radio's Mayan Schechter reports. U.S. senator Lindsey Graham says he's glad the two leaders could talk.

[Mayan Schechter]

Send. Senator Graham says Trump has followed the roadmap of his sanctions bill that now has 85 co sponsors. It would impose up to a 500% tariff on imports from countries that buy Russian gas, oil or uranium. But the bill has not moved and Graham says he's worried Trump's own tariff plan could fall flat in court.

[Lindsey Graham]

His ability to issue tariffs, I think, is going to be legally challenged, and I don't know if he wins or loses, but the bill would allow him do the same thing.

[Mayan Schechter]

Whether Graham thinks Putin is sincere in calling for a meeting, Graham said, quote, I don't trust him as far as I can throw him. For NPR News, I'm Ayan Schechter in Columbia, South Carolina.

[Korva Coleman]

The Israeli security cabinet has approved a plan to expand the war in Gaza and take control of Gaza City. The decision has drawn strong criticism from other nations and opinion is divided within Israel. Some Israelis say the first priority should not be a military one.

[Israeli Citizen]

I know the plan is to get rid of Hamas, but we've been trying for two whole years. We haven't made that much progress and we've lost so many soldiers and we still haven't brought all the hostages home. So it just doesn't seem that there's any real forward movement with this plan.

[Korva Coleman]

Tens of thousands of Israelis protested across the country yesterday. Stocks opened higher this morning as President Trump names a short term pick for the Federal Reserve Board. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average rose about 220 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

President Trump says he plans to nominate White House economist Stephen Myron to a seat on the Fed's seven member governing board, but only for the next six months. Fed Governor Adriana Coogler created the short term vacancy when she announced last week she's leaving the central bank early to return to her job at Georgetown University. Coogler's term was set to expire in January. Trump says he's still looking for a nominee to fill the Fed seat on a permanent basis. The president's been critical of the central bank for not moving more aggressively to cut interest interest rates. The Fed has been cautious out of concern that Trump's tariffs could rekindle inflation. Asian stocks were mixed overnight. Japan's Nikkei average jumped sharply, but stocks were down in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, the Dow is now up 225 points. The NASDAQ is up 130 points. This is NPR. The White House says President Trump has ordered more federal law enforcement to appear on the streets of Washington, D.C. trump has recently critic D.C. over crime. He's pointed to a recent attack on a former Doge worker in the city. The president has also threatened a federal takeover of the Washington district government. NASA is accelerating plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon. As NPR's Chandelyse Duster reports, some researchers believe it's time, but others worry about the cost.

[Chandelyse Duster]

A new directive from acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy calls for development of a nuclear reactor for the moon by 2030. Roger Myers is a space nuclear power expert. He says that nuclear power is the only option for astronauts facing two week.

[Roger Myers]

Long lunar nighttime, the sun and batteries does not work. We're going to have to have nuclear power.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Myers applauds the decision to accelerate the nuclear power program. But Katie Huff of the University of Illinois is worried the moon reactor will come at the cost of other important work.

[Katie Huff]

Earth science, climate observation, space based weather forecasting, all the kinds of things that NASA does in a public serving way for our day to day needs.

[Chandelyse Duster]

The Trump administration has proposed slashing those programs in next year's budget. Chandelyse Duster, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Wildfires continue to grow in the west. The Gifford fire in Southern California has spread to more than 150 square miles. Evacuations have been ordered in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.

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