NPR News Now: August 11, 2025

Host: Dale Willman
Release Date: August 11, 2025

President Trump Targets Washington D.C. with Promised Federal Intervention

President Donald Trump has labeled Washington, D.C. as a "dangerous city" and vowed to launch a swift federal response to enhance its safety. In a recent social media post, Trump shared images depicting tents and trash along D.C. roads, asserting his intention to relocate homeless individuals away from the city and incarcerate criminals. "We will move homeless people far from the city and jail criminals," Trump stated (00:30).

A White House official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that nearly 450 federal officers have been activated in the capital. This move follows Trump's threats to assume federal control of D.C. after a former employee of the D.C. police was assaulted by a group of teenagers last week. However, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser countered these claims, asserting that violent crime in the city is declining. "We are not experiencing a spike in crime," Bowser told MSNBC (01:00). She highlighted a 26% decrease in crime compared to the previous year and clarified that while Trump possesses the authority to deploy the National Guard, no troops have been dispatched yet (01:03).

Trump and Putin to Hold Unexpected Summit in Alaska

In a surprising development, President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The sudden announcement of the summit, just days before its occurrence, has raised concerns about potential challenges in its execution. Greg Myre of NPR explains, "It makes this summit very unpredictable... Traditionally, these US-Russia summits are worked out over weeks or even months. All the details are arranged ahead of time" (01:30). Myre adds that Trump's unconventional approach may lead to unforeseen dynamics, stating, "We don't know what Putin might put on the table. We don't know how Trump will respond" (01:45). The effectiveness of any agreements reached remains uncertain until Ukraine's reaction is observed.

Leader of Terrorgram Collective Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Charges

In a significant legal development, Dallas Humber, a 35-year-old from Northern California and one of the leaders of the Terrorgram Collective, has pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism-related charges. According to Maria Fernanda Bernal from KQED, Humber faces up to 30 years in prison for offenses that include "soliciting the murder of federal officials" and "conspiring to provide material support to terrorists" (02:24). Humber admitted to orchestrating attacks and murders within the United States and influencing international acts of violence, such as the tragic shooting of 11 individuals at schools in Brazil. The Terrorgram Collective, recognized by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization due to its violent white supremacist ideology, awaits Humber's sentencing on December 5th (02:45).

Severe Weather Impacts and Rising Heat Risks in Rural Areas

The final day of the Wisconsin State Fair was canceled due to flash flooding caused by approximately 14 inches of rain in the Milwaukee area over the weekend. The National Weather Service has issued multiple flash flood warnings across Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin, forecasting continued heavy rain, hail, damaging winds, and potential tornadoes (03:09).

In addition to these immediate weather threats, a recent study highlighted the increasing risks of extreme heat in rural communities. Rachel Ray Solomon of KUNC reports that data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals rural areas are particularly vulnerable due to factors like "hard to cool housing" such as mobile homes and a higher proportion of elderly and sick populations (03:51). Grace Wickerson, a researcher involved in the study, emphasized that the rural workforce, especially those in outdoor tourism and natural resource industries, faces heightened exposure to dangerous heat levels during workdays (04:09). The report by Headwaters Economics and the Federation of American Scientists advocates for enhanced investment in rural cooling solutions and public health infrastructure to mitigate these risks (04:22).

International Drug Bust: Cocaine Shipment Seized in Greece

In an international crackdown, Greek authorities intercepted a substantial cocaine shipment valued at over $6.5 million. On Sunday, customs officials discovered 595 pounds of cocaine concealed within banana containers en route from Ecuador. The operation led to the arrest of two Greek nationals and one Bulgarian suspected of orchestrating the drug trafficking scheme (04:33).

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