NPR News Now – August 18, 2025, 2AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Episode Theme:
A succinct roundup of top world and U.S. headlines, covering international diplomacy on Ukraine, severe weather on the U.S. East Coast, the ongoing impact of the Israel-Gaza conflict, wildfire emergencies in Europe, immigration policy developments, and a standout sports moment.

1. Ukraine Talks at the White House

[00:19–01:19]

• Main Issue:
  European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are gathering at the White House for pivotal discussions with President Trump about the ongoing war in Ukraine.
• Macron’s Stance:
  • Macron expressed skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness for peace, stating:
    • Quote: “Do I think President Putin wants peace? My answer is no.” (Rebecca Rossman quoting Macron, 00:38)
  • The comments come after a recent, inconclusive three-hour Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska.
• Shift in U.S. Position:
  • President Trump initially focused on seeking a ceasefire, but later changed his message to promote a broader "peace agreement," aligning more with Putin’s position.
• European and Ukrainian View:
  • Continued advocacy for an immediate ceasefire, considered by them as the most realistic solution to halt fighting.

2. Hurricane Erin Emergency on U.S. East Coast

[01:19–01:54]

• Situation:
  • A state of emergency has been declared for the Outer Banks, North Carolina, as Hurricane Erin advances north.
  • Mandatory evacuations are underway for visitors; the storm threatens tidal surges up to 12ft and dangerous waters, potentially affecting as far north as Maine.
• On-the-Ground Perspective:
  • Massachusetts lifeguard Gillian Boyle reports preparations for hazardous conditions:
    • Quote: “We’re looking to see some rip currents. We’ve heard anywhere from 8 to 10ft on any given day next week. So with that big surf is going to come the rip currents.” (Gillian Boyle, 01:46)

3. Israel-Gaza Conflict & Nova Festival

[01:54–02:58]

• Ongoing Impact:
  • Nearly two years since the deadly Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, which targeted the Nova music festival, the event’s organizers persist in hosting dance parties—now as acts of mourning and solidarity.
• Festival Organizers:
  • Ophir Amir, Nova producer wounded in the 2023 attack, organized a recent Tel Aviv festival so bereaved families could gather and dance for healing.
  • Amir’s position on the conflict:
    • Quote: “The war should end and the hostages should be brought back home. And it’s almost two years.” (Ophir Amir, 02:43)
  • Amir's best friend and fellow producer, Elkanah Bokhbot, remains among the hostages in Gaza.
• Wider Context:
  • Recent Israeli cabinet decision to escalate military action in Gaza has faced strong opposition from Israeli society, particularly families of hostages out of fear for their loved ones’ safety.
  • Gaza Health Ministry’s reported death toll exceeds 62,000 Palestinians.

4. Remembering Terence Stamp

[02:58–03:21]

• Obituary:
  • British actor and writer Terence Stamp died at age 87.
  • Noteworthy roles include an Oscar-nominated performance in Billy Budd (1962) and critical acclaim for his portrayal of Bernadette in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994).

5. Wildfires in Northwestern Spain

[03:21–03:54]

• Overview:
  • Over 1,400 soldiers are fighting 12 active blazes near Orans, with a recent deployment of an additional 500 troops.
  • Homes are at risk and evacuations are ongoing.
  • Wildfires in Spain have burned more than 390,000 acres this year.

6. Immigration Detention Camp at Fort Bliss, Texas

[03:54–04:37]

• Facility Opening:
  • A massive new immigration detention camp has opened at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas.
  • First detainees arrived Sunday; the camp starts with 1,000 beds, planning to expand to 5,000.
• Community Response:
  • At least 50 protesters gathered with “close the camp” signs.
• Policy and Impact:
  • ICE says the facility will house single adults facing deportation from across the country.
  • Fernando Garcia, executive director of Border Network for Human Rights, highlighted concerns about targeted detentions:
    • Quote: “The people that is going to end up in these centers are the people that are going to be picked up, that are being picked up right now in Home Depot, in the fields, in the construction sites.” (Fernando Garcia, 04:17)

7. Sports Highlight: Scotty Scheffler’s PGA Victory

[04:37–04:58]

• Achievement:
  • Scotty Scheffler sealed victory at the PGA Championship in Maryland by sinking an 82-foot chip on the 17th hole.
  • Overcame a four-stroke deficit to win by two strokes over Robert McIntyre.
  • Notably, this marks Scheffler’s fifth PGA win of the year and the second consecutive year with five or more wins.

Memorable Quotes

• Emmanuel Macron (via Rebecca Rossman, 00:38):
  • “Do I think President Putin wants peace? My answer is no.”
• Gillian Boyle (01:46):
  • “We’re looking to see some rip currents. We’ve heard anywhere from 8 to 10ft on any given day next week.”
• Ophir Amir (02:43):
  • “The war should end and the hostages should be brought back home. And it’s almost two years.”
• Fernando Garcia (04:17):
  • “The people that is going to end up in these centers are the people that are going to be picked up, that are being picked up right now in Home Depot, in the fields, in the construction sites.”

This summary captures the compressed, factual tone of NPR’s hourly news bulletins while highlighting powerful moments and key global stories for listeners who missed the episode.