NPR News: 08-10-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: August 10, 2025, 7 PM EDT

Hosted by Jeanine Herbst

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European Support for Ukraine Amid U.S.-Russia Summit

European leaders are intensifying their support for Ukraine as tensions escalate between the United States and Russia. Jeanine Herbst reports that the European Union's foreign policy chief, Kayak Hollis, has called for an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled for tomorrow. This move comes in the wake of the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska set for Friday.

Terry Schulz provides further insights, detailing that leaders from Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the European Commission released a joint statement. They begin by commending President Trump's efforts to halt the violence in Ukraine and to end Russia's "war of aggression." However, Schulz notes that the statement also reveals underlying concerns regarding the U.S.-led process. The European leaders emphasized their commitment to continuing military and financial support to Ukraine and maintaining stringent sanctions on Russia. This stance is particularly critical in light of reports suggesting that President Trump might consider easing U.S. measures against Moscow.

A key point of contention is the issue of international borders. Trump has hinted at the possibility of swapping territories between Russia and Ukraine, a proposal that European leaders have firmly rejected. Schulz highlights their insistence that no agreement can be reached without respecting Ukraine's sovereignty: “International borders must not be changed by force,” the joint statement asserts. The EU leaders maintain that any deal must prioritize Ukraine's territorial integrity, reflecting their unwavering support for the country’s independence.

President Trump Threatens Federal Intervention in Washington, D.C. Over Crime

In a contentious development, President Trump has declared that crime in the nation's capital is "out of control," threatening to deploy federal troops to Washington, D.C., to remove homeless individuals and incarcerate criminals. This statement has ignited a fierce debate over local versus federal jurisdiction.

Mayor Muriel Bowser of D.C. responded robustly to Trump's claims, defending the city's autonomy over its police department. Speaking to MSNBC, Bowser addressed the recent surge in crime: “Is true that we had a terrible spike in crime in 2023, but this is not 2023, this is 2025. And we've done that by working community, working with the police, working with our prosecutors and in fact, working with the federal government” ([01:49]). She emphasized that crime rates have actually decreased by 26% compared to the previous year, attributing this improvement to collaborative efforts among local authorities and the federal government.

Despite Bowser's reassurances, the threat of federal intervention remains a point of tension, raising concerns about federal overreach and the potential impact on local governance and community relations within D.C.

Shooting at CDC Headquarters in Atlanta Sparks Union Demands

A tragic incident unfolded at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, where Patrick Joseph White fatally shot a police officer and himself in an attempted carjacking. The shooting prompted a campus-wide alert, instructing individuals to "run, hide, fight" as gunfire echoed through at least four CDC buildings adjacent to Emory University ([02:34]).

Melissa Fay from WABE reports that no civilians were injured, but the event has left CDC staff deeply shaken. In the aftermath, the American Federation for Government Employees, representing CDC workers, has called on the federal government to bolster trust and ensure the safety of its employees. The union is advocating for flexible leave policies, a delayed return to the office, and enhanced perimeter security on all CDC campuses. Moreover, the union demands that federal leadership must unequivocally condemn vaccine disinformation, which they argue jeopardizes the safety of scientists ([02:07]).

A CDC spokesperson mentioned that enhanced security measures had been in place for weeks prior to the incident, indicating ongoing concerns about campus safety. The union's response underscores the broader implications of workplace violence and the urgent need for comprehensive security strategies in federal agencies.

Civil Rights Groups Oppose President Trump's Census Changes

President Trump's recent proposal to alter the U.S. census has stirred significant opposition from civil rights organizations. The proposed changes aim to exclude individuals residing in the United States without legal status from the national headcount, a move that civil rights groups argue contravenes the Constitution's requirements.

Hansi Lo Wang reports that the 14th Amendment mandates the inclusion of all persons residing in each state in the census, which is crucial for determining congressional representation and Electoral College allocations for the 2030 census. In a social media post, President Trump suggested excluding undocumented immigrants from the census, a proposal that has sparked legal and constitutional debates ([03:16]).

Sophia Lynn Lakin of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stated, “We won't hesitate to go back to court to protect representation for all communities. The census isn't just a headcount. It's meant to reflect America as it is, not as some would prefer it to be” ([03:59]). Lakin emphasized that the integrity of the census is fundamental to ensuring fair political representation and resource allocation.

In response, the Commerce Department announced that the Census Bureau will employ modern technological tools to analyze data in line with President Trump's directives. However, legal challenges are anticipated as civil rights groups prepare to defend the inclusivity mandated by the Constitution.

Earthquake Strikes Northwestern Turkey

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck Northwestern Turkey today, resulting in at least one fatality and causing the collapse of approximately a dozen buildings. Rescue operations have so far recovered one body from the rubble, and four individuals have been successfully rescued ([04:20]).

The earthquake’s tremors were felt as far away as Istanbul, with officials issuing warnings about aftershocks and advising residents to steer clear of damaged structures throughout the weekend. The seismic event has significantly impacted local infrastructure, and emergency services continue to assess the full extent of the damage and coordinate rescue efforts.

Additional Highlights

• Box Office Update: "Horror" has taken the top spot at the weekend box office, grossing an estimated $42 million in ticket sales.

• Financial Markets: U.S. futures contracts are trading higher in anticipation of upcoming economic reports.

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For comprehensive coverage and more updates, stay tuned to NPR News.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Herbst. European leaders are teaming up to support Ukraine, with European Union foreign policy chief Kayak Hollis calling for an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers tomorrow. This as President Trump and Russian President Putin prepare for their summit meeting in Alaska on Friday, Terry Schulz has more.

[Terry Schulz]

The leaders of Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the European Commission begin their joint statement by welcoming Trump's efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine and end Russia's war of aggression. But after that, their concerns about the U S led process become evident. The leaders say they'll continue military and financial support to Ukraine as well as tough sanctions on Russia. That last point comes amid reports Trump may consider loosening the US Measures on Moscow. The seven emphasize international borders must not be changed by force. Trump had suggested he supports a swapping of territories between Russia and Ukraine, and the leaders insist no deal can be made without Ukraine. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump says crime in the nation's capital is out of control and he's threatening to send in federal troops to take over and remove homeless people and jail criminals. But D.C. s Mayor Muriel Bowser defended the District's control over its police department, countering Trump's claims that out of control violent crime is taking over D.C. it.

[Muriel Bowser]

Is true that we had a terrible spike in crime in 2023, but this is not 2023, this is 2025. And we've done that by working community, working with the police, working with our prosecutors and in fact, working working with the federal government.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Bowser speaking there to MSNBC. She says crime is actually down 26% compared to last year. This after a former Doge worker was assaulted in an attempted carjacking. The union for workers at the CDC is calling on the federal government to reinforce trust in the agency and protect its employees. This after a shooting at the Atlanta building Friday that left one police officer and the gunman dead. Melissa Fay of member station WABE reports.

[Melissa Fay]

Law enforcement say Patrick Joseph White shot at CDC headquarters located adjacent to Emory University, prompting a campus wide alert to run, hide, fight. There were no civilian injuries, but at least four CDC buildings were damaged by gunfire. The local chapter of the American Federation for Government Employees says staff are shaken and should not be required to immediately return to work next to bullet holes. It wants flexible leave, a delayed return to office and perimeter security on all its campuses. The group says federal leadership must clearly condemn the vaccine disinformation, which it says it's putting scientists at risk. A CDC source told WABE that there had been enhanced security on campus for weeks prior to the shooting. For NPR News, I'm Melissa Fato in Atlanta.

[Jeanine Herbst]

This is NPR News. Civil rights groups say they're watching for more details about President Trump's call for an unprecedented change to the U.S. census. The group say if carried out, the change would violate the Constitution's requirements for the national headcount. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang has more.

[Hansi Lo Wang]

The 14th Amendment requires the whole number of persons in each state to be counted in the 2030 census numbers used to determine each state's share of congressional seats and Electoral College votes. In a social media post, President Trump called for people living in the states without legal status to be excluded in a new census. Sophia Lynn Lakin of the American Civil Liberties Union says she'll be monitoring as the Trump administration tries to carry out this change.

[Sophia Lynn Lakin]

We won't hesitate to go back to court to protect represent for all communities. The census isn't just a headcount. It's meant to reflect America as it is, not as some would prefer it to be.

[Hansi Lo Wang]

In a statement, the Commerce Department says the Census Bureau will use modern technology tools to analyze data in response to Trump's call. Hansi Loong, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit Northwestern Turkey today, killing at least one person and causing around a dozen buildings to collapse. Rescue workers recovered at least one body from the rubble. Four others were rescued. Shocks were felt as far away as Istanbul. Officials are reporting aftershocks and warning residents to avoid damaged buildings at the weekend box office. Horror ruled the day. Weapons debuted in the top spot with an estimated $42 million in ticket sales. U.S. futures contracts are trading higher at this hour. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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