NPR News: 08-21-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – Summary

Episode: NPR News: 08-21-2025 12AM EDT
Date: August 21, 2025
Host: NPR (Dan Ronan)

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Overview

This concise five-minute newscast provides updates on major national and international news, including the situation in Washington, D.C. with National Guard deployments, Hurricane Erin’s advance on the Atlantic coast, U.S. sanctions against International Criminal Court officials, a leadership change at Target, a new Hulu series about Amanda Knox, and the latest economic and market headlines.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. National Guard and Federal Law Enforcement in Washington, D.C.

[00:19]

• Troops and federal law enforcement continue to patrol D.C. streets.
• There's uncertainty about how long additional reinforcements will remain.
• Rachel Treisman (00:33):
  • The president’s control over D.C. police lasts 30 days without Congressional approval (per the Home Rule Act).
  • Trump indicated he would seek an extension.
  • Use of the D.C. National Guard is less restricted.
  • The White House offered no withdrawal timeline.
  • Legal paths for troop withdrawal include court rulings or Congressional action.
  • Practical factors could prompt withdrawals, such as Southern state guards being needed for hurricane relief efforts.

2. Hurricane Erin Threatens Atlantic Coast

[01:07]

• Hurricane Erin is a large Category 2 storm with sustained winds at 110 mph.
• Location: about 215 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, NC.
• While landfall is improbable, life-threatening surf and rip currents are expected along a wide swath of the East Coast.
• Interview at Pop's Raw Bar in Buxton, NC:
  • Christian Gray Hamburger (01:46):

    “All my friends are still here. And it looks like it's going to be mandatory. I mean, mainly oceanside flooding. And if it's only oceanside flooding. I live on the sound side and I've got a creek right by my house, so I should be good. So I didn't see a big threat.”

  • Mandatory evacuations are in place for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

3. U.S. Sanctions Against the International Criminal Court

[02:00]

• Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on ICC officials.
• Terry Schultz (02:22):
  • Sanctions target two prosecutors and two judges involved in investigations of U.S. actions in Afghanistan and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
  • The ICC decries the measures as a "flagrant attack on judicial freedom."
  • The measures freeze assets of judges from Canada and France, and deputy prosecutors from Fiji and Senegal.
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls the ICC a “security threat.”
  • France calls for the U.S. to remove the sanctions.

4. Target Names New CEO

[02:58]

• Target promotes COO Michael Fiedelkiel to CEO, succeeding Brian Correll effective February 1.
• Correll served 11 years as CEO.

5. Amanda Knox Hulu Series

[02:58]

• Hulu premieres a new limited series about Amanda Knox, the American exchange student imprisoned in Italy after her British roommate was murdered in 2007.
• Mandalit Del Barco (03:36):
  • The eight-part dramatization revisits Knox’s vilification in the media and legal battles.
• Amanda Knox (03:52):

  “After having been ostracized and vilified and literally imprisoned, I wanted people to relate to my experience. I wanted them to say I understand.”

• Knox co-produces with Monica Lewinsky, both now podcasters, activists, and TV producers.
• Monica Lewinsky (04:10):

  “I had so much compassion for what she had gone through.”

6. UK Inflation and Financial Markets

[04:21]

• UK inflation rose to 3.8% in July, up from 3.6%, surpassing the Bank of England's 2% target due to higher food and airfare prices.
• US markets closed as follows:
  • Dow: +16 points at 44,938
  • Nasdaq: -142 points at 21,172
  • S&P: -15 points at 6,395

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Rachel Treisman (regarding DC’s National Guard presence):
  “The Home Rule act only allows the president to control D.C. police for 30 days without authorization from Congress.” [00:33]

• Christian Gray Hamburger (Outer Banks resident):
  “I live on the sound side and I’ve got a creek right by my house, so I should be good. So I didn’t see a big threat.” [01:46]

• ICC Statement via Terry Schultz:
  “The ICC calls it a flagrant attack on judicial freedom that the Trump administration has imposed sanctions…” [02:22]

• Amanda Knox (on her renewed public narrative):
  “After having been ostracized and vilified and literally imprisoned. I wanted people to relate to my experience. I wanted them to say I understand.” [03:52]

• Monica Lewinsky (about producing with Knox):
  “I had so much compassion for what she had gone through.” [04:10]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:19: National Guard situation in D.C.
• 01:07: Hurricane Erin update and Outer Banks local perspective
• 02:00: ICC sanctions by Trump administration
• 02:58: Target CEO succession; Amanda Knox Hulu series begins
• 03:36: Amanda Knox and Monica Lewinsky on the Hulu series
• 04:21: UK inflation surge and market wrap

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NPR News Now delivers quick, critical coverage of developing stories with voices from on the ground and expert commentary, keeping listeners informed in real time.

Transcript

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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 [e-mail] live from NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

In Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. National Guard troops and federal law enforcement are patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C. with additional reinforcements on the way. NPR's Rachel Treisman reports. It's not clear how long they can stay.

[Rachel Treisman]

The Home Rule act only allows the president to control D.C. police for 30 days without authorization from Congress. Trump said last week he would ask for an extension. The president can use DC's National Guard as long as he wants. The White House did not respond to questions about a potential timeline for withdrawing Guard troops. Legal experts say they could potentially be removed through court rulings or congressional action. There are also practical considerations. Republican governors in the south could recall their state guards to help with hurricane relief. Rachel Treisman, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

Here's the latest on Hurricane Erin. The large Category 2 storm is now packing sustained winds of 110mph as it creeps up the Atlantic coast. Aaron is about 215 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Forecasters say Erin is not likely to make landfall, but authorities are warning the heavy surf and high winds will whip up life threatening conditions along the Outer Banks of North Carolina and cause rip currents from Florida to New York. At Pop's Raw Bar in Buxton, North Carolina, this man, Christian Gray Hamburger, was enjoying the last moments of sunshine before the storms hit, electing not to evacuate.

[Christian Gray Hamburger]

All my friends are still here. And it looks like it's going to be mandatory. I mean, mainly oceanside flooding. And if it's only oceanside flooding. I live on the sound side and I've got a creek right by my house, so I should be good. So I didn't see a big threat.

[Dan Ronan]

But mandatory evacuations are in place for Hatteras and Oricoke Islands. The International Criminal Court. The ICC is blasting the latest round of sanctions imposed on its judges by President Trump. Terry Schultz reports the White House is penalizing the Hague based ICC for investigating us as well as Israeli officials.

[Terry Schultz]

The ICC calls it a flagrant attack on judicial freedom that the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on two prosecutors and two judges involved in the Court's probe of U.S. actions in Afghanistan and of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It's the second round of sanctions Washington has launched against the court, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls a security threat to the US the measures freeze the assets of two judges from Canada and France, as well as deputy prosecutors from Fiji and Senegal. The French government, which reaffirmed its support for the icc, is calling on the US to remove the sanctions. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.

[Dan Ronan]

Minneapolis based Target is promoting its chief executive officer, the COO, Michael Fiedelkiel, to the CEO's position, taking oven for Brian Correll, who led the company for 11 years, who will step aside on February 1st. You're listening to NPR News. Hulu is now streaming the twisted tale of Amanda Knox. She's the American exchange student imprisoned in Italy after her British roommate was murdered in 2007. NPR's Mandalique del Barco reports. Knox is one of the executive producers along with Monica Lewinsky.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

The eight part series dramatizes the 20 year old who was vilified in the media as Foxy Knoxy. Amanda Knox spent four years in prison in Perugia, convicted of murder twice before Italy's highest court exonerated her based on DNA. Knox says she hopes the series clears.

[Amanda Knox]

Her name after having been ostracized and vilified and literally imprisoned. I wanted people to relate to my experience. I wanted them to say I understand.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

Knox joined forces with Monica Lewinsky. The former White House intern was at the center of a sex scandal in 1998 with then US President Bill Clinton.

[Monica Lewinsky]

I had so much compassion for what she had gone through.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

These days, both Lewinsky and Knox are podcasters and activists and now TV producers. Mandalit Del Barco, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

In London, higher prices for food and airfare pushed inflation in the UK above expectations in July. Consumer inflation in July was 3.8%, up from 3.6%, well above what the bank of England is seeking at 2%. On Wall street, the Dow finished up 16 points at finished up 16 points at 44,938. The Nasdaq declined by 142 points to close at 21,172. The S&P had a loss of 15 points, 6,395.

[Capital One Announcer]

This is NPR support for NPR.

[Monica Lewinsky]

This message comes from Bombas. Socks, underwear and T shirts are the top three requested clothing items by people experiencing homelessness. Bombas makes all 3 and donates one item for every item purchased. Go to bombas.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off.