NPR News: 08-18-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – August 18, 2025, 8PM EDT – Episode Summary

Overview

This concise five-minute episode of NPR News Now delivers the latest headlines for the evening of August 18, 2025. The broadcast covers a high-profile White House summit on Ukraine, updates on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, immigration detention policy changes in Florida, Hurricane Erin’s intensification, a notable shift for Latter Day Saint women’s garments, and the rebranding of MSNBC.

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Major Headlines & Key Insights

White House Summit on Ukraine

• [00:20] President Trump held a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders at the White House, focusing on negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.
• Discussion & Quote:
  • Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, emphasizes the need for honest dialogue:
    • Susan Rice [00:44]: "I think that is the necessary next step if there is to be any progress toward resolving this. I'd like to again see what comes out of the discussion today. Zelensky obviously needs to be at the table. It's urgent and that's the only way forward."
• Trump reported speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin about a direct meeting with Zelenskyy, followed by a meeting of all three leaders.

Investigation into Jeffrey Epstein

• [01:02] The Department of Justice will comply with a congressional subpoena for unredacted files related to Jeffrey Epstein, following an Oversight Committee vote.
• Context & Details:
  • All names of victims and child sex abuse material will be redacted.
  • Notable closed-door interviews have been conducted, including with former Attorney General Bill Barr. Former President Clinton has also been subpoenaed.
• Deidre Walsh, [01:24]: "Comer says DOJ has agreed to begin sending documents starting this Friday. He noted there are many records and it will take some time to send them."

Changes in Immigration Detention Practices in Florida

• [02:04] Detainees at "Alligator Alcatraz" will have cases heard by immigration judges at a different South Florida detention center, following a lawsuit over court jurisdiction ambiguity.
• Discussion & Reactions:
  • Eunice Cho (ACLU Attorney), [02:25]: "As part of the lawsuit filed in Miami, attorneys said that they've been unable to determine which immigration court has jurisdiction over their clients cases."
  • The new court designation was a key demand of the lawsuit and is seen as a victory by advocates.
  • Some issues remain, including difficulty for lawyers in meeting clients and gaining confidential access.
    • Eunice Cho, [02:49]: "Lawyers who represent detainees say they're still not able to meet with their clients in a timely manner and confidential setting."
• The presiding judge is weighing further actions to ensure detainees’ rights to legal counsel.

Market Update

• [03:06] Mixed day on Wall Street:
  • Dow Jones down by 34 points
  • NASDAQ up by 6 points
  • S&P down “a fraction”

Hurricane Erin Approaches U.S.

• [03:12] Mandatory evacuations are underway for parts of North Carolina’s Outer Banks as Hurricane Erin strengthens to Category 4 and heads for the US, after hitting the Caribbean as a Category 5 earlier in the day.

Latter Day Saint Women’s Garment Changes

• [03:42] For the first time in nearly 200 years, the LDS church is allowing sacred garments without sleeves, providing some relief from summer heat.
• Discussion & Perspectives:
  • Dara Layton (BYU Student), [04:12]: "So I went on probably the biggest shopping spree I've ever gone on in my entire life, but I was just like so excited to have new styles that I could wear."
  • Some church members question the shift and why shoulder covering was required for so long.
• Reported by Ciara Hewlett from KUER.

MSNBC Rebranding

• [04:38] MSNBC announces it will rebrand as "msnow"—My Source News Opinion World—later this year, marking a formal separation from NBC.

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Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Susan Rice [00:44]: "Zelensky obviously needs to be at the table. It's urgent and that's the only way forward."
• Deidre Walsh [01:24]: "He noted there are many records and it will take some time to send them."
• Eunice Cho [02:25]: "Attorneys said that they've been unable to determine which immigration court has jurisdiction over their clients cases."
• Eunice Cho [02:49]: "Lawyers who represent detainees say they're still not able to meet with their clients in a timely manner and confidential setting."
• Dara Layton [04:12]: "So I went on probably the biggest shopping spree I've ever gone on in my entire life."

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Timeline / Timestamps for Segments

• 00:20 — Ukraine Summit at White House: President Trump, Zelenskyy, and Susan Rice's comments
• 01:02 — House Oversight Committee & DOJ files on Jeffrey Epstein (Deidre Walsh)
• 02:04 — Immigration case jurisdiction change in Florida (Greg Allen, Eunice Cho)
• 03:06 — Market Update: Dow, NASDAQ, S&P
• 03:12 — Hurricane Erin: North Carolina evacuations
• 03:42 — Latter Day Saint Garment Change (Ciara Hewlett, Dara Layton)
• 04:38 — MSNBC rebranding announcement

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Tone and Style

The report is brisk, matter-of-fact, and maintains NPR's established tone of concise, neutral journalism. Firsthand statements and interviews provide insight and personal perspectives, particularly regarding the Ukraine summit, immigration detainee policy, and changes within religious practices.

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Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump has wrapped up a day long summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Europe at the White House. The talks focused on a possible agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Former US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice says all sides must be honest about what it will take to move forward.

[Susan Rice]

I think that is the necessary next step if there is to be any progress toward resolving this. I'd like to again see what comes out of the discussion today. Zelensky obviously needs to be at the table. It's urgent and that's the only way forward.

[Windsor Johnston]

Trump says he's spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about arranging a one on one with Zelensky. He says there will be a meeting of all three leaders afterwards. Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer says the Justice Department will comply with a subpoena for files related to Jeffrey Epstein. NPR's Deidre Walsh reports. The deadline is tomorrow.

[Deidre Walsh]

The oversight panel voted last month to subpoena the unredacted Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The disgraced financier and convicted sex offender was charged with sex trafficking in 2019. The committee set an Aug. 19 deadline, but Comer says DOJ has agreed to begin sending documents starting this Friday. He noted there are many records and it will take some time to send them. All names of victims and child sex abuse material will be redacted. The panel held a closed door interview with former Attorney General Bill Barr and subpoenaed others, including former President Clinton, for interviews. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

The Trump administration says the cases of detainees held at the site, dubbed Alligator Alcatraz, will now be heard by immigration judges at another South Florida Detention Center. NPR's Greg Allen reports. The federal government announced that decision in response to a lawsuit filed by detainees and their lawyers earlier.

[Eunice Cho]

As part of the lawsuit filed in Miami, attorneys said that they've been unable to determine which immigration court has jurisdiction over their clients cases. The Trump administration says it has now designated a separate federal facility in South Florida as the immigration court that will handle their cases. ACLU attorney Eunice Cho says that meets one of their key demands.

[Greg Allen]

This is a victory for people held at the facility, a victory for civil rights and a victory for immigrants. All over the country.

[Eunice Cho]

Lawyers who represent detainees say they're still not able to meet with their clients in a timely manner and confidential setting. The judge says he's still considering the request for a preliminary injunction to force state and federal authorities to ensure detainees rights to legal counsel are respected. Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks traded mixed today on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial Average was down 34 points at the close. The NASDAQ Composite up 6 points. The S and P down a fraction. This is npr. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for parts of North Carolina's Outer Banks as Hurricane Erin pushes its way to the coast. The storm began as a tropical system before rapidly intensifying into a Category 5. Hurricane Erin slammed the Caribbean earlier today and is now headed toward the U.S. at Category 4 strength. It's a new kind of summer for some members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that are getting relief from the heat by showing their shoulders. Saria Hewlett from member station KUER spoke to Mormon women faithful.

[Ciara Hewlett]

Latter Day Saints wear religious garments under their normal clothes, but this is the first summer the church is offering the sacred garment without sleeves Its nearly 200 year history. Brigham Young University student Dara Layton is very excited.

[Greg Allen]

So I went on probably the biggest shopping spree I've ever gone on in my entire life, but I was just like so excited to have new styles that I could wear.

[Ciara Hewlett]

Adult church members receive the garments in temple ceremonies. Leighton says they're part of a commitment to God. But some Latter Day Saint women are frustrated by the garment change. They wonder why they had to cover their shoulders for so long only for them to be okay to show now. For NPR News, I'm Ciara Hewlett in Provo, Utah.

[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. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.

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