NPR News: 08-12-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: August 12, 2025 | 2AM EDT

Released on August 12, 2025

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1. National Guard Deployment in Washington D.C.

Host: Doua Elisa Kowtel
Timestamp: [00:19]

President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of approximately 800 National Guard troops to Washington D.C., stating that he is taking over the city's police department due to a purported "dire public safety crisis." This move leverages the unique status of the District of Columbia, which, unlike other cities, falls directly under federal jurisdiction.

Reporter: Greg Meg Anderson
Timestamp: [00:45]

While the D.C. government typically maintains local control over most city operations, federal law permits the president to assume control of the local police for up to 30 days. Greg Anderson highlights that despite President Trump's claims, crime rates in the capital have been declining.

Expert Commentary:
Vanessa Batters Thompson, director of the D.C. Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, expressed uncertainty about the takeover's implications for residents.
Quote: "The big concern is more arrests and perhaps more intentional targeting of the black and brown populations in D.C., including juveniles and those currently unhoused."
Timestamp: [01:08]

2. Political Tensions in Texas and California

Host: Doua Elisa Kowtel
Timestamp: [01:31]

In California, a legal trial has commenced regarding the federalization of National Guard members, a move opposed by the state's governor. Concurrently, Texas House Democrats are engaging in a second week-long quorum break to protest a Republican-led redistricting plan perceived as benefiting President Trump.

Reporter: Blaise Gainey
Timestamp: [01:59]

During the quorum break, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued arrest warrants for Democratic members and sought the removal of Minority Leader Gene Wu from office.
Key Exchange:
Gene Wu: "We're hoping that the next special session does not also have to be corrupt."
Timestamp: [02:16]

Democrats argue that the Republican agenda prioritizes redistricting over addressing the aftermath of last month's devastating Hill Country floods.
Timestamp: [02:20]

3. International Diplomacy: Germany and U.S. Relations

Host: Doua Elisa Kowtel
Timestamp: [02:32]

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has requested a teleconference with President Trump and European leaders ahead of Trump's scheduled summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Reporter: Tari Shultz
Timestamp: [02:42]

Leaders from Britain, Finland, France, Italy, Poland, and the European Commission will join Chancellor Merz in efforts to persuade President Trump that Ukraine should determine the future of its territories currently occupied by Russia. Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is invited to participate.
Concerns Raised:
Shultz: "Doesn't Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine risk altering international borders?"
Timestamp: [03:07]

4. Tragic Shooting Incident in Austin

Host: Doua Elisa Kowtel
Timestamp: [03:07]

A tragic shooting outside a Target store in Austin resulted in the deaths of two adults and a child. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Timestamp: [03:07]

5. Extension of Tariffs on Chinese Imports

Host: Doua Elisa Kowtel
Timestamp: [03:07]

An extension of tariffs on Chinese imports has been approved for an additional 90 days, pushing the new deadline to November 10th. This decision follows President Trump's executive order announced on his Truth Social platform, which pauses the increase of tariffs beyond the current 30%. Without this extension, tariffs could spike dramatically above 30%.
Economic Impact: The move aims to provide stability for businesses importing goods from China, mitigating financial uncertainties caused by fluctuating tariff rates.
Timestamp: [03:07]

6. Enhanced Protections for the Mojave Desert Tortoise

Host: Doua Elisa Kowtel
Timestamp: [04:52]

California has taken significant steps to protect the Mojave Desert tortoise, a species deemed threatened nationally. Despite its presence beyond California's borders—in Nevada, Arizona, and northwestern Mexico—the population has dwindled by an estimated 90%.

Reporter: Nate Perez
Timestamp: [04:05]

Conservation Advocate:
Patrick Imblage of the Mojave Desert Land Trust emphasizes the dire situation:
Quote: "If tortoises are going extinct, we're doing something wrong and everything else is suffering as well."
Timestamp: [04:25]

California's Fish and Wildlife Department asserts that the updated endangered status could attract more federal funding for conservation efforts. However, conservationists remain skeptical due to recent federal budget cuts and reduced staffing in agencies responsible for protecting endangered species.
Timestamp: [04:33]

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This episode of NPR News Now provided succinct updates on critical national and international issues, from political maneuvers in the U.S. and diplomatic efforts in Europe to pressing environmental concerns and tragic local events. For a comprehensive understanding of these topics, tuning into the full episode is recommended.

Transcript

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[Doua Elisa Kowtel]

In New York City. I'm Doua elisa Kowtel. Some 800 National Guard troops may soon patrol the nation's capital after President Trump announced that he's taking over the police department, claiming that there's a, quote, dire public safety crisis. As NPR's Greg Meg Anderson reports, because the District of Columbia is not a state, it's more connected to the federal government than other cities.

[Greg Meg Anderson]

The D.C. government has local control over how most things run in the city, but city law does allow the federal government to take over the local police department for up to 30 days, and that's what Trump has done. Vanessa Batters Thompson, who runs the D.C. appleseed center for Law and justice, says it's unclear what exactly the takeover will mean for people who live in the.

[Vanessa Batters Thompson]

District, but the big concern is more arrests and perhaps more intentional targeting of the black and brown populations in D.C. are juveniles and those individuals who are currently unhoused.

[Greg Meg Anderson]

The police takeover comes at a time when, despite the president's claims, crime rates are down and Washington. Meg Anderson, NPR News.

[Doua Elisa Kowtel]

While President Trump announced the deployment of National Guard in the nation's capital, a trial on federalizing National Guard members in California against the wishes of the governor there, began in San Francisco. Texas House Democrats are still out of the state for a second week on a quorum break protesting a Republican redistricting plan they say is meant to help President Trump. The Texas newsroom's Blaze Gainey reports.

[Blaise Gainey]

During this quorum break, Republican Governor Greg Abbott has issued arrest warrants for Texas Democrats and asked the court to remove Minority Leader Gene Wu from office. Abbott says if they don't return before the special session ends, he'll just call another. Wu says Democrats would gladly come back if the agenda was solely focused on flood recovery.

[Gene Wu]

We're hoping that the next special session does not also have to be corrupt.

[Blaise Gainey]

Flood related bills are technically on the call, but Democrats say Republicans are fast tracking redistricting instead of addressing damage from last month's deadly Hill country flooding. For NPR News, I'm Blaise Gainey in Austin.

[Doua Elisa Kowtel]

The German chancellor has asked President Trump to meet with European leaders by teleconference before his Friday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tari Shultz reports.

[Tari Shultz]

The leaders of Britain, Finland, France, Italy, Poland and the European Commission will join German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in trying to convince President Trump that only Ukraine can decide the fate of its territory currently occupied by Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also been invited to join European Union leaders. Don't Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine to be rewarded by changing international borders?

[Doua Elisa Kowtel]

Police say two adults and a child have been killed in a shooting outside a Target store in Austin. You're listening to NPR News. Another 90 days tariffs extension has been approved with China. The last deadline by President Trump was set to expire at midnight. But tonight on his Truth Social platform, the president said he signed an executive order to pause hiking tariffs against Beijing, adding all other elements of the agreement will remain the same. The new deadline is now set for November 10th. If an extension had not been announced, taxes on Chinese imports could have increased dramatically again from its current high of 30%. The Mojave desert tortoise is considered a threatened species nationally, but California took an extra step this year. As NPR's Nate Perez reports, Mojave desert.

[Patrick Imblage]

Tortoises live beyond California. They're in parts of Nevada, Arizona and northwestern Mexico, too. Estimates show that up to 90% of these tortoises have disappeared. That's why California decided in June to give the tortoise more protections. Patrick Imblage is with the conservation nonprofit the Mojave Desert Land Trust.

[Nate Perez]

If tortoises are going extinct, we're doing something wrong and everything else is suffering as well.

[Patrick Imblage]

California's Fish and Wildlife Department said the endangered status could bring in more federal funds for protection and recovery actions, but conservationists say that's unlikely given that federal cuts and staffing losses have diminished agencies tasked with protecting endangered species. Nate Perez, NPR News.

[Doua Elisa Kowtel]

And I'm Douahly Sai Kaotao, NPR News, in New York.

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