NPR News: 08-09-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: August 9, 2025, 5 PM EDT

Host: Dwahali Psykowtao
Release Date: August 9, 2025

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Ukraine-Russia Tensions Escalate Ahead of U.S.-Russia Summit

Timestamp: [00:25]

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has firmly stated that Ukraine will "not recognize Russian control over any part of its territory" ([00:50]). In a recent video message on social media, Zelenskyy emphasized that "Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier" and "we will not reward Russia for what it has perpetrated" ([00:50]). This declaration comes as former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare for a summit scheduled next Friday in Alaska, a meeting that notably excludes Zelenskyy.

Trump has expressed his intention to seek an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine, suggesting that "it could involve some swapping of territory" ([00:50]). However, Zelenskyy has made it clear that "no decisions can be made without his country's full participation", positioning Ukraine’s involvement as non-negotiable ([00:50]). Currently, Russian forces control nearly 20% of Ukraine’s territory in the eastern and southern regions ([00:50]).

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International Condemnation of Israel’s Military Operations in Gaza

Timestamp: [01:33]

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting to address Israel's announcement to "take over Gaza after 22 months of fighting" ([01:33]). Foreign ministers from Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and Britain have "strongly condemned the Israel government's decision to launch a new large-scale military operation" ([01:46]). They highlighted concerns that such actions "risk violating international humanitarian law", underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Germany, traditionally one of Israel’s staunch supporters, alongside the United States, has announced a halt in the export of military equipment to Israel that "could be used in the Gaza Strip" ([01:46]). This move is particularly significant given the historical context, especially the legacy of the Holocaust, making it a pivotal point for Israeli officials who regard the decision as "huge" ([01:46]).

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Texas Political Turmoil: Quorum Break and Legal Battles

Timestamp: [02:15]

In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit with the Texas Supreme Court to "vacate the seats of 13 state House Democrats" ([02:15]). These Democrats left the state to prevent the legislature from achieving a quorum during a special session aimed at redrawing district maps. Texas Public Radio’s Jerry Clinton reports that the Democrats' action was a strategic move to "block Republican efforts to create new district maps that could give the GOP five new congressional seats" ([02:15]).

Gerry Clayton adds that the "1pm Friday deadline set by the Texas House speaker passed without the return of the Democratic lawmakers", who are now dispersed across several states ([02:41]). This legal maneuver by Paxton mirrors a previous attempt by Governor Greg Abbott to remove House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Woo ([02:41]). Democrats have criticized Paxton's actions as a "dangerous assault on the separation of powers" ([02:41]). Additionally, Paxton has initiated an investigation into former Congressman Beto O’Rourke’s political group, alleging that it "is funding Democrats" ([02:41]), further escalating the political tension within the state.

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SpaceX Successfully Returns Crew from International Space Station

Timestamp: [03:15]

In space news, SpaceX has successfully returned a crew of four astronauts to Earth after nearly five months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The team, comprising two U.S. astronauts, one from Japan, and a Russian cosmonaut, made a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California ([03:15]). Brendan Byrne from Central Florida Public Media reports that the capsule decelerated from "over 16,000 miles per hour in orbit to a gentle 16 mph under a canopy of parachutes" ([03:40]).

During their 148-day mission, the crew conducted more than 200 science experiments and performed essential maintenance on the ISS ([03:40]). Their successors arrived at the station a week prior, having launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, and are expected to spend approximately six months aboard ([03:40]). This seamless transition underscores the ongoing collaboration in international space endeavors.

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Tragic Shooting at CDC Headquarters: Two Lives Lost

Timestamp: [04:16]

A tragic incident unfolded at a CVS drugstore near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters on Friday. A 30-year-old gunman, Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia, opened fire before succumbing to an exchange of gunfire with local police ([04:16]). The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed that Officer David Rose, a DeKalb County officer and recent graduate of the police academy, was fatally shot during the confrontation ([04:16]).

Authorities are currently investigating the motive and circumstances that led to the shooting, with the GBI emphasizing that there is "extensive evidence to collect" ([04:16]). The community mourns the loss of Officer Rose, while law enforcement continues to piece together the events that culminated in this tragic event.

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Transcript

[NPR Announcer]

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[Dwahali Psykowtao]

Live from NPR News in New York City. I'm Dwahali Psykowtao. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country has no intention of recognizing Russian control over any part of its territory. This as President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are preparing for a summit without zelenskyy next week. NPR's Greg Myre.

[Greg Myre]

President Zelenskyy made his position clear in a video on social media. He said Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier. He added, we will not reward Russia for what it has perpetrated. President Trump announced he'll hold a summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska. Trump is seeking an end to the war in Ukraine and says it could involve some swapping of territory. Ukraine is not part of the summit and Zelenskyy says no decisions can be made without his country's full participation. Russian forces control close to 20% of Ukraine's territory in the east and south of the country. Greg Myhre, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Dwahali Psykowtao]

The UN Security Council announced another emergency meeting today to discuss Israel's announcement to take over Gaza after 22 months of fighting. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley is in Tel Aviv with the latest.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

The foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Britain all strongly condemn the Israel government's decision to launch a new large scale military operation. They say it risks violating international humanitarian law. Germany, one of Israel's stock staunchest longtime supporters, along with the US Obviously due to historical reasons, the Holocaust said it will stop exporting military equipment to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip. And Israelis I was talking to say that is huge.

[Dwahali Psykowtao]

NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reporting from Tel Aviv. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the Texas Supreme Court to vacate the seats of 13 state House Democrats. They left the state to deny the body a quorum during a special session. Texas Texas Public Radio's Jerry Clinton reports, the Democrats broke quorum to block Republican efforts to create new district maps that could give the GOP five new congressional seats.

[Gerry Clayton]

A 1pm Friday deadline set by the Texas House speaker passed without the return of the Democratic lawmakers, who are now in several different states. The move by Paxton follows a similar suit by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who sought to remove House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Woo. An attorney for the Democrats, called the move a dangerous assault on the separation of powers. And Paxton has also launched an investigation into former El Paso Congressman Beto o' Rourke's political group, asserting the group is funding Democrats. Quorum break. I'm Gerry Clayton in San Antonio.

[Dwahali Psykowtao]

President Donald Trump has removed former U.S. rep. Billy Long as IRS commissioner. This is NPR News from New York. A crew of four is back on Earth after a nearly five month stay on the International Space Station after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California. Central Florida Public Media's Brendan Byrne reports.

[SpaceX Representative]

On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home.

[Brendan Byrne]

The crew of two U.S. astronauts, one from Japan and a Russian cosmonaut, made the trip back home in the same capsule that took them to the station back in March. Over the course of an hour, the SpaceX capsule went from over 16,000 miles per hour in orbit to a gentle 16 under a canopy of parachutes at splashdown off San Diego. In total, the crew spent 148 days in space, conducted more than 200 science experiments and and perform maintenance on the orbiting lab. Their replacements arrived at the station a week ago, launching from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. They'll spend about six months aboard the station. For NPR News, I'm Brendan Byrne in Orlando.

[Dwahali Psykowtao]

A 30 year old gunman who opened fire at a CVS drugstore near the headquarters of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday has been identified. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia, died at the scene following an exchange of gunfire with local police. Went off of officer was shot and killed and later identified as a DeKalb county officer, David Rose. He was a recent graduate of the police academy. An investigation is underway to determine the motive and circumstances that led to the shooting. GBI says there is extensive evidence to collect. You're listening to NPR News from New York City. I'm Dwahili Sai Kowtow.

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