NPR News Now: August 15, 2025, 7PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: ~5 minutes
Main Theme: Latest U.S. and global news highlights, focusing on politics, international relations, legal milestones, and scientific discoveries.

Episode Overview

This episode delivers concise updates on several major stories of the day, including the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, Texas redistricting battles, a rare video of Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti, a historic mayoral indictment in New Orleans, and a new study on Stone Age toolmaking. Each segment provides essential developments and key context, offering listeners a snapshot of prominent national and global events.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Trump-Putin Summit in Alaska

[00:01–00:49]

• Summit Setting: President Trump and Russian President Putin hold a press conference after a 2.5-hour summit with top aides at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, centered on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
• Expectations: On the flight to Anchorage, President Trump offers vague goals, expressing uncertainty about what would constitute “success” for the summit:
  • Quote: "I can't tell you that. I don't know. There's nothing set in stone." – President Trump, as reported by Tamara Keith [00:22].
• Lowered Expectations: Trump clarifies he is not there to negotiate for Ukraine but aims to “set the table” for a potential follow-up meeting.
• Reporting: Tamara Keith, NPR's White House correspondent, provides insight into the administration's approach to the summit.

2. Texas Redistricting and Political Standoff

[00:49–01:35]

• Legislative Walkout: Texas Republicans end a special legislative session without passing new congressional maps favored by President Trump. Some Democrats left the state to block a quorum.
• Immediate Response: A new session commences swiftly, introducing maps that shrink Democratic-leaning districts and could net the GOP up to five additional House seats.
• Debate Over Maps:
  • GOP Argument: Republicans claim the new maps reflect changing demographics.
  • Critics’ View: Opponents denounce the move as gerrymandering with negative impacts on minority communities.
• Accountability: House Speaker Dustin Bureau stresses that absent lawmakers will not be subsidized for their absence:
  • Quote: "Those costs will not be borne by the Texas taxpayers. They will be paid back by absent members as provided for in our House rules." – House Speaker Dustin Bureau [01:26].
• Wider Implications: The redistricting battle is now national. California Democrats are preparing their own countermeasures with a special election for a redrawn district in November.

3. Rare Sighting of Marwan Barghouti in Israeli Prison

[02:06–02:54]

• Historic Video: For the first time in years, the public sees Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian prisoner in Israel, via video.
• Barghouti’s Image: He appears pale, white-haired, and frail, unlike his former self when considered a leading figure for the Palestinian Authority.
• Background: Barghouti is serving five life sentences for orchestrating attacks during the Second Intifada (early 2000s).
• Confrontation: In the video, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (himself previously convicted of supporting terrorism) lectures Barghouti:
  • Quote: "Anyone who murders our women or children, we will wipe them out." – Itamar Ben Gvir, as reported by Emily Fang [02:35].
• Reporting: Emily Fang contextualizes the significance of the footage and the tense Israeli political dynamics.

4. Indictment of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell

[02:54–03:55]

• Historic Legal Action: For the first time, a sitting mayor of New Orleans faces criminal charges. Mayor LaToya Cantrell and former police officer Jeffrey Vappy are indicted on 18 felony counts, including conspiracy and wire fraud.
• Allegations: The two allegedly used city resources to conceal an affair from 2021, covering up evidence, making false statements, and misusing public time and funds.
• Cantrell’s Response: The mayor has publicly and repeatedly denied wrongdoing:
  • Quote: "She called the allegations levied against her disrespectful." – Reporting by Mel Bridges [03:41].
• Details: Charges include deleting evidence and lying to federal investigators and a jury.

5. Stone Age Toolmaking Study

[03:55–04:25]

• New Findings: Research reveals that early human ancestors were selective in their stone choices for making tools as far back as 2.6 million years ago.
• Site Discovery: At a Kenyan site, scientists found durable quartzite blades whose materials had been sourced from miles away, suggesting complex planning and a “mental map” of local geography.
• Implications: The study highlights an advanced level of foresight and resource selection among early humans, challenging previous assumptions about their cognitive abilities.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• President Trump on Summit Goals:
  "I can't tell you that. I don't know. There's nothing set in stone."
  — [00:22], as reported by Tamara Keith

• House Speaker Dustin Bureau on Texas Democrats:
  "Those costs will not be borne by the Texas taxpayers. They will be paid back by absent members as provided for in our House rules."
  — [01:26], House Floor, Texas

• Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Security:
  "Anyone who murders our women or children, we will wipe them out."
  — [02:35], Video confrontation with Barghouti

• Mayor LaToya Cantrell Responds to Indictment:
  "She called the allegations levied against her disrespectful."
  — [03:41], Mel Bridges reporting

Notable Timestamps

• 00:01–00:49: Trump-Putin summit coverage
• 00:49–01:35: Texas redistricting and national political response
• 02:06–02:54: Marwan Barghouti video and Israeli-Palestinian context
• 02:54–03:55: Indictment of New Orleans mayor
• 03:55–04:25: Stone Age human tool selection study

Conclusion

In this fast-paced news roundup, NPR provides essential updates on major political, legal, and scientific stories, offering both immediate facts and wider context. Key moments include candid remarks from President Trump, escalating political fights over redistricting, a symbolic Palestinian-Israeli confrontation, a groundbreaking mayoral indictment, and evidence of Stone Age sophistication. The episode is informative, wide-ranging, and a concise snapshot of the day’s most consequential news.