Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – August 18, 2025, 5PM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston (with reporting by Carrie Johnson, Scott Horsley, Ada Peralta)
Length: 5 minutes
Episode Theme: The latest developments in U.S. and international news, with a focus on White House diplomacy, FBI staffing upheaval, the state of the economy, environmental action in Central America, hurricane warnings, and a cable network rebranding.

White House Diplomacy: Peace Efforts in Ukraine

[00:25]

President Trump is hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders of various European nations at the White House, following a landmark meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska three days earlier.
Main objective: To build on the "groundwork for a broader deal to end the war in Ukraine."
Trump has also proposed a three-way summit (U.S., Ukraine, Russia), but the Kremlin has not agreed to participate as of this update.
Trump is calling for the release of more than 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners as part of a potential settlement deal.

Notable Quote

Constitutional Expert [00:48]:
"The Alaska summit reinforced my belief that while difficult, peace is within reach. And I believe that in a very significant step, President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine. And this is one of the key points that we need to consider and we're going to be considering that at the table."

FBI Staff Shakeup Raises Questions of Due Process

[01:37]
Reporter: Carrie Johnson

Dozens of FBI agents have been fired or forced to resign since Trump took office in 2025, causing concern among the bureau's veterans.
The Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI is demanding an explanation, specifically for the firing of senior agents this month.
Mike Clark, president of the society, emphasizes the need for fairness:

"They're all exceptional agents and individuals and deserve better treatment." [01:52]
Among those leaving:
- Former acting director Brian Driscoll
- Former head of the Washington field office Steve Jensen
- Other seasoned agents not yet eligible for a pension. Friends have started a fundraising effort for some of the dismissed agents.

Economic Outlook: Retail and Fed Policy

[02:16]
Reporter: Scott Horsley

Major retailers (Walmart, Home Depot, Target) are releasing quarterly earnings, offering a window into consumer spending habits.
Key indicators:
- Wholesale prices jumped higher than expected last month.
- Retail sales rose by 0.5%.
- Market close: Dow Jones -34 points; NASDAQ +6 points. [03:10]
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will address the Jackson Hole conference later in the week, with possible policy shifts ahead:

"The Fed's nearly finished with its long range policy review, which it does once every five years. ... The Fed's strategy could shift to underscore the importance of stable prices." [02:29-03:10]

Extreme Weather: Hurricane Erin Threatens U.S. Coast

[03:10]

Mandatory evacuation orders are in force in parts of North Carolina’s Outer Banks as Hurricane Erin approaches at Category 4 strength.
The storm intensified rapidly after hitting the Caribbean and is now targeting the U.S. coastline.

International Conservation: New Mayan Rainforest Preserve

[03:59]
Reporter: Ada Peralta

Presidents of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize signed a historic agreement to create a 14-million acre nature preserve in the Mayan rainforest.
Location: Near Calakmul, Mexico, a site important both ecologically and archaeologically.
Mexican President Claudia Chainbaum:

"The area represents the second biggest nature preserve in the Americas, following the Amazon rainforest." [03:59]
"The expansive jungle is much more than a preserve... lungs for our planet, home to thousands of animal species in the heart of an invaluable cultural legacy that she says must be preserved for the future." [03:59-04:38]

Media Business: MSNBC Rebranding

[04:38]

MSNBC announces a rebranding to "msnow" (My Source News Opinion World) as part of its separation from NBC.
Historical Note: MSNBC's original launch was a 1996 partnership with Microsoft.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On the Alaska Summit:

"Peace is within reach. ... Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine."
— Constitutional Expert [00:48]
On FBI firings:

"They're all exceptional agents and individuals and deserve better treatment."
— Mike Clark, president of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI [01:52]
On the Mayan Rainforest:

"The area represents lungs for our planet, home to thousands of animal species in the heart of an invaluable cultural legacy that she says must be preserved for the future."
— Mexican President Claudia Chainbaum [03:59-04:38]

Important Timestamps

00:25 — White House summit on Ukraine peace process
01:37 — FBI dismissals and demands for due process
02:16 — Retail earnings and economic outlook
03:10 — Markets and Hurricane Erin evacuation orders
03:59 — Creation of major new rainforest preserve
04:38 — MSNBC's upcoming rebrand announcement

Compiled by NPR News Now.
All information current as of August 18, 2025, 5PM EDT.

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Transcript16 lines

[00:01]
NPR Host
On the next through line from NPR.
[00:03]
Narrator
The man who saw a dangerous omission in the U.S. constitution and took it upon himself to fix it.
[00:10]
Constitutional Expert
If something happened to a president who is still alive, the consequences for the country would have been enormous.
[00:18]
Narrator
The 25th Amendment. Listen in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
[00:25]
Windsor Johnston
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump is hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of several European nations this hour at the White House. The meeting comes just three days after Trump met face to face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump says that meeting laid the groundwork for a broader deal to end the war in Ukraine.
[00:49]
Constitutional Expert
The Alaska summit reinforced my belief that while difficult, peace is within reach. And I believe that in a very significant step, President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine. And this is one of the key points that we need to consider and we're going to be considering that at the table.
[01:08]
Windsor Johnston
Also, Trump is also calling for a three way summit between the U.S. ukraine and Russia. So far, the Kremlin has not agreed to take part. The president is also calling for the release of more than 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners as part of a potential deal. Dozens of FBI agents have been fired or forced to resign since President Trump took office this year. But But NPR's Carrie Johnson reports. It's the way they're being removed that concerns some veterans at the bureau.
[01:37]
Carrie Johnson
The Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI wants the Trump administration to explain why it fired a batch of senior FBI agents and officials this month. Mike Clark's president of the society. He says those agents are owed due process under the law.
[01:53]
NPR Host
They're all exceptional agents and individuals and deserve better treatment.
[01:59]
Carrie Johnson
Among those who recently left the bureau are former acting director Brian Driscoll, former head of the Washington field office, Steve Jensen. Others dismissed include two seasoned agents not yet eligible for a pension. Friends have started an online fundraiser for those men. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.
[02:17]
Windsor Johnston
Several big retailers are set to release their quarterly numbers this week. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The news could carry a signal about the strength of consumer spending, which is the biggest driver of the U.S. economy.
[02:29]
Scott Horsley
Walmart, home Depot and Target stores all report their quarterly earnings this week. Investors will be listening for clues about how shoppers are spending money and possible price hikes. Wholesale prices jumped more than expected last month. Retail sales rose by half a percent. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks on Friday at the annual Jackson Hole conference of economists and central bankers. The Fed's nearly finished with its long range policy review, which it does once every five years. Back in 2020, the central bank said it would not raise interest rates preemptively just because of a tight job market. But after several years of inflation, that's above target. The Fed's strategy could shift to underscore the import importance of stable prices. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
[03:10]
Windsor Johnston
Stocks traded mixed on Wall street today. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 34 points at the close, the NASDAQ composite up 6 points. This is NPR News from Washington. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for parts of North Carolina's Outer Banks as Hurricane Erin pushes its way closer to the coast. The storm began as a tropical system before rapidly intensifying into a category. Hurricane Erin slammed the Caribbean earlier today and is now headed toward the U.S. at Category 4 strength. The leaders of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize have agreed to create a massive new nature preserve. NPR's Ada Peralta reports. It covers 14 million acres of the Mayan rainforest.
[03:59]
Ada Peralta
The three heads of state signed the agreement. In southern Mexico, near Calakmul, an important Mayan archaeological site that sits in the middle of a jungle. Mexico's president, Claudio Chambaum said the area represents the the second biggest nature preserve in the Americas, following the Amazon rainforest. Chainbaum said the expansive jungle is much more than a preserve. Chainbaum said the area represents lungs for our planet, home to thousands of animal species in the heart of an invaluable cultural legacy that she says must be preserved for the future. Ada Pralta, NPR News, Mexico City.
[04:38]
Windsor Johnston
MSNBC says it's planning to change its name later this year. The decision is part of the Cable News Network's separation from NBC. The new name will be msnow, which stands for My Source News Opinion World. MSNBC was originally launched in 1996 in partnership with Microsoft. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.
[05:04]
NPR Host
Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now +@plus.NPR.org that's plus.NPR.org.