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This message comes from Capital One. With the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles on everything you buy, plus get premium benefits at a collection of hotels when booking through Capital One Travel. What's IN your wallet? Terms apply details@capitalone.com live from NPR News.
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In Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump says he's arranging a meeting between himself, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump made the announcement at the end of a day long summit at the White House today with Zelensky and seven other European leaders. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports.
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In a social media post, Trump said the scheduled meeting between the leaders in the White House East Room continued later in the Oval Office. He added that the meeting was very good and that the leaders discussed security guarantees for Ukraine involving both European countries and the U.S. however, the Post did not mention the possibility of a ceasefire or what Trump has called land swaps, two more contentious issues. Trump wrote that he called Putin after the meeting and started planning a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. After that, Trump wrote, will come a trilateral meeting, including him. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, the White House.
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The White House says dozens of homeless encampments have been cleared in Washington, D.C. a week after President Trump sent hundreds of federal agents and the National Guard to the city. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports. It's not clear where the people who have been displaced have gone.
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Homeless service providers say many likely opted to stay outside, moving around to evade authorities. Some are in shelters the city made more beds available, or hotels paid for by community members. Jesse Rabinowitz with the National Homelessness Law center says the mass displacement will make it even harder to eventually connect people to housing.
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It was so fast that I worry people were not able to save vital documents, medication, heirlooms, clothes, things like that.
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The White House says it has not arrested any people for being homeless, and service providers are relieved about that. But they suggest the money this federal surge is costing could have gone toward affordable housing instead. Jennifer Lutton, NPR News, Washington.
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Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for parts of North Carolina's Outer Banks as Hurricane Erin makes its way toward the coast. Charisse Pigott of member station WUNC has.
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More Evacuation orders are in place for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands in Daren Hyde counties, where officials are urging residents to leave starting Tuesday morning. While Hurricane Erin is not expected to make direct landfall, the storm system could increase in size. The National Weather Service says Erin could bring several days of heavy surf and high winds as well as wash out parts of the main highway on the Outer Banks. Coastal flooding is expected to begin as early as Tuesday and last through Thursday. That means beaches in the area are closed, too, at the height of tourism season. For NPR News, I'm Charice Pigott in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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At the close on Wall street, the dow was down 34 points. This is NPR News in Washington. The final defendant accused of illegally selling ketamine to actor Matthew Perry is facing up to 45 years in prison after agreeing to plead guilty. As Steve Fetterman reports, Perry died after overdosing at his Los Angeles nearly two years ago.
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Jasveen Sanga, who prosecutors say was known as the Ketamine Queen, has agreed to plead guilty to five counts, including the most serious distribution resulting in death. Senga is one of five people accused of supplying ketamine to Perry. The others have previously entered guilty pleas when charges were announced last year. Then DEA Administrator Ann Milgram talked about Perry desperately wanting the drug.
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That is how he ended up buying from street dealers who sold the ketamine that ultimately led to his death.
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Perry openly talked about his struggles with substance abuse. In the final three days of his life. Prosecutors say Perry received 27 injections of ketamine. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman.
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In Los Angeles, flight attendants remain on strike against Air Canada. The work stoppage comes despite a government order that they go back on the job. The union is calling the order unconscious, constitutional and designed to protect the airline's profit. One of the major sticking points is compensation. Flight attendants are largely paid only when the plane is moving, but not for time spent before and during the boarding process. Recapping stocks on Wall street, The Dow down 34 points today, the Nasdaq up 6. This is NPR News.
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Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: NPR
Episode Date: August 19, 2025
Runtime: ~5 minutes
Main Theme:
A concise, hourly news update offering listeners the latest developments on US and international politics, local policy, severe weather, legal proceedings, and labor disputes.
Summary:
President Trump announced plans to arrange a meeting involving himself, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin following a major summit at the White House.
Details:
"The scheduled meeting between the leaders in the White House East Room continued later in the Oval Office. He added that the meeting was very good and that the leaders discussed security guarantees for Ukraine involving both European countries and the U.S."
— Danielle Kurtzleben (00:43)
Summary:
Dozens of homeless encampments have been cleared after President Trump deployed hundreds of federal agents and the National Guard.
Details:
"It was so fast that I worry people were not able to save vital documents, medication, heirlooms, clothes, things like that."
— Jesse Rabinowitz, National Homelessness Law Center (01:58)
"The White House says it has not arrested any people for being homeless, and service providers are relieved about that. But they suggest the money this federal surge is costing could have gone toward affordable housing instead."
— Jennifer Ludden (02:07)
Summary:
Mandatory evacuations have been issued as Hurricane Erin approaches, with officials urging residents to leave vulnerable barrier islands.
Details:
"Erin could bring several days of heavy surf and high winds as well as wash out parts of the main highway on the Outer Banks. Coastal flooding is expected to begin as early as Tuesday and last through Thursday. That means beaches in the area are closed, too, at the height of tourism season."
— Charisse Pigott (02:35)
Summary:
The final defendant in the Matthew Perry case, Jasveen Sanga, agreed to plead guilty for illegally distributing ketamine resulting in the actor's death.
Details:
"That is how he ended up buying from street dealers who sold the ketamine that ultimately led to his death."
— Ann Milgram, then-DEA Administrator (04:01)
Summary:
Air Canada flight attendants in Los Angeles continue to strike despite a government back-to-work order, with compensation as a leading point of contention.
Details:
"The union is calling the order unconscious, constitutional and designed to protect the airline's profit."
— NPR News (04:20)
"At the close on Wall Street, the dow was down 34 points… stocks on Wall street, The Dow down 34 points today, the Nasdaq up 6."
— NPR News (03:09, 04:20)
On the mass clearing of homeless encampments:
"It was so fast that I worry people were not able to save vital documents, medication, heirlooms, clothes, things like that."
— Jesse Rabinowitz (01:58)
On Matthew Perry’s fatal overdose:
"That is how he ended up buying from street dealers who sold the ketamine that ultimately led to his death."
— Ann Milgram (04:01)
On the Air Canada strike:
"Flight attendants are largely paid only when the plane is moving, but not for time spent before and during the boarding process."
— NPR News (04:20)
Tone:
Clear, authoritative, and urgent—maintaining NPR’s hallmark of factual, concise delivery without editorializing or dramatization.