NPR News: 08-21-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – 08-21-2025 4PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh (& news correspondents)
Date: August 21, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Overview

This tightly packed news episode covers some of the day's key stories: President Trump's planned ride-along with law enforcement in D.C., Israel's controversial West Bank settlement approval, new corruption charges against a top NYC advisor, a deadly listeria outbreak in Virginia, the Menendez brothers' parole hearings, ongoing impacts of tariffs on Walmart and shoppers, and upcoming Broadway openings featuring prominent stars.

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Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Trump’s Ride-Along and D.C. Crime

[00:23]

• President Trump announced on the Todd Starnes Show that he plans to join National Guard and police for a ride-along in Washington, D.C. tonight.
• Trump recently ordered federal oversight of D.C. law enforcement “on the grounds that crime in the city is surging.”
• Context: While crime is high in some D.C. neighborhoods, overall violent crime rates have actually dropped nearly 30%.

Lakshmi Singh:
“Crime rates are high in some parts of D.C. but data show that overall violent crime in the District has fallen nearly 30%.” ([00:23])

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2. Israel’s West Bank Settlement Approval

[00:53]

• Israel finalized approval for thousands of housing units in the E1 settlement project, east of Jerusalem.
• The project, long delayed by US and international pressure, is controversial because it could bisect the West Bank and undermine prospects for a Palestinian state.
• The Palestinian Authority calls it illegal and says it “would destroy the chance of a two state solution.”
• Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, an ultra-right leader, declared this will “erase any notion of a Palestinian state.”

Jackie Northam (NPR correspondent, Tel Aviv):
“The controversial development, which involves more than 3,400 housing units, will be built on a tract of land east of Jerusalem, effectively slicing the West Bank in two.” ([01:09])

“Israel’s ultra right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who approved the plans, said the E1 settlements will erase any notion of a Palestinian state.” ([01:31])

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3. Charges Against NYC Mayor's Senior Advisor

[01:48]

• Ingrid Lewis-Martin, former advisor and confidant to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, faces new corruption indictments.
• Alleged crimes include trading influence in real estate development, street redesign, and migrant shelter contracts for bribes.
• Prosecutors say she pocketed tens of thousands of dollars; all defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Samantha Max (WNYC):
“Lewis Martin was already facing other corruption charges. Now she and various co-defendants are facing four new indictments.” ([02:23])

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4. Listeria Outbreak at Boar’s Head Plant

[02:36]

• The USDA is taking over inspections at the Jarrett, Virginia Boar’s Head deli meat plant for at least three months.
• This follows a deadly listeria outbreak: 10 dead, dozens sickened.

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5. Menendez Brothers Seek Parole

[02:50]

• Erik and Lyle Menendez, convicted of murdering their parents in 1989, are before the parole board after 30+ years in prison.
• They maintain they acted in self-defense after abuse; their case remains among the most infamous in modern US criminal history.

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6. Walmart and Rising Tariffs

[03:25]

• Walmart reports tariff costs are rising weekly, expecting continued growth through year-end.
• While prices for some items are up, others (like back-to-school products) remain low as Walmart absorbs some added costs.
• CEO Doug McMillan notes that shopper habits haven’t shifted dramatically—yet.

Doug McMillan (via Alina Selyukh, NPR):
“The impact of tariffs has been gradual enough that any behavioral adjustments by the customer have been somewhat muted.” ([03:52])

• Higher prices are leading middle- and lower-income buyers to sometimes switch or skip purchases, while Walmart attracts more higher-income shoppers looking for deals.

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7. Broadway Revivals with Celebrity Leads

[04:10]

• Several TV and film stars are set for Broadway debuts or major returns:
  • Carrie Coon ("White Lotus," "Gilded Age") will star in a revival of Tracy Letts’ thriller Bug this December.
  • Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri ("The Bear") will appear as father and daughter in the Pulitzer-winning play Proof next March.

Jeff London (NPR):
“In March, two Golden Globe winners, film and television actor Don Cheadle and Ayo Edeburi[…]make their Broadway debuts as a father and daughter in Proof.” ([04:40])

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8. Markets

[04:57]

• The Dow closed down 152 points.

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Notable Quotes

• Lakshmi Singh:
  “Crime rates are high in some parts of D.C. but data show that overall violent crime in the District has fallen nearly 30%.” ([00:23])

• Jackie Northam:
  “The number of settlements has quickly grown over the past few years despite international condemnation.” ([01:41])

• Doug McMillan (Walmart CEO):
  “This has not prompted, quote, dramatic shifts in shopper behavior.” ([03:40])

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Memorable Moments

• The Menendez brothers’ parole hearings draw fresh attention to a landmark criminal case.
• Major Broadway stars cross over from screen to stage, highlighting trends in entertainment.

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Episode Flow & Tone

Concise. Authoritative. Factual. The episode maintains the classic NPR style of clear, measured reporting, providing context and multiple viewpoints where relevant. Correspondents from various bureaus contribute localized insight. Personalities such as Doug McMillan and Bezalel Smotrich are quoted directly, keeping the news current and grounded in the words of primary actors.

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Transcript

[A]

Peter.

[B]

I'm Peter Sagal. NPR is very serious. Mostly it treats newsmakers with all due respect almost all the time. It brings you the most important information about the issues that really matter usually. And it never asks famous people about things they don't know anything about except once in a while. Join us for the great exception. Listen to Wait, wait, Don't tell Me the News Quiz from npr.

[C]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump tells conservative talk radio's the Todd Starnes show that he is planning a ride along in D.C. tonight with National Guard forces and police. Last week, Trump ordered federal oversight of law enforcement in the nation's capital on the grounds that crime in the city is surging. Crime rates are high in some parts of D.C. but data show that overall violent crime in the District has fallen nearly 30%. Israel has given final approval to build thousands of new homes in the occupied West Bank. Criminal critics say the long delayed settlement project will bury the chances of a Palestinian state. NPR's Jackie Northam reports.

[A]

The so called E1 settlement project has been on the drawing board for more than two decades, but pressure from the US and other nations prevented it from becoming a reality until now. The controversial development, which involves more than 3,400 housing units, will be built on a tract of land east of Jerusalem, effectively slicing the west bank in two. The Palestinian Authority called the development illegal and said it would destroy the chance of a two state solution. Israel's ultra right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who approved the plans, said the E1 settlements will erase any notion of a Palestinian state. The number of settlements has quickly grown over the past few years despite international condemnation. Jackie Northam, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[C]

A former advisor and longtime confidant of New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing new corruption charges. WNYC Samantha Max has more.

[D]

Prosecutors say Ingrid Lewis Martin traded her power for bribes while serving as mayor. Eric Adams top advisor. She's accused of intervening in real estate development, a controversial street redesign and the awarding of government contracts for migrant shelters. In return, prosecutors say she pocketed tens of thousands of dollars. Lewis Martin was already facing other corruption charges. Now she and various co defendants are facing four new indictments. They have all pleaded not guilty. For NPR News, I'm Samantha Max in New York.

[C]

Federal officials are taking over inspections for at least the next three months at a Boar's Head Deli meat plant in Jarrett, Virginia, following a deadly listeria outbreak. The contamination killed 10 people and sickened dozens of others. The Menendez brothers are now going before the parole board hoping to be granted freedom after spending more than 30 years in prison for murdering their parents. Eric Mendez's hearing was scheduled this morning. His brother Lyle appears before the panel tomorrow. The siblings maintain they were victims of abuse and acted in self defense when they killed their parents at the family Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. The criminal case was among the most famous of the 20th century. This is NPR News. Walmart says tariff costs are rising every week and will keep climbing for the rest of the year. Here's NPR's Alina Selyukh.

[E]

Walmart says it's been able to mitigate many of the tariff costs so far, but they are rising and will keep rising for the next six months. For now, Walmart says it's raising some prices while others are actually lower, like top back to school products, for example, as the company absorbs many costs. Broadly, Walmart CEO Doug McMillan told investors the this has not prompted, quote, dramatic shifts in shopper behavior.

[C]

The impact of tariffs has been gradual enough that any behavioral adjustments by the customer have been somewhat muted.

[E]

McMillan says Walmart continues to attract more higher income shoppers looking for deals, and higher prices are prompting middle and lower income shoppers to sometimes switch or skip purchases. Alina Seluk, NPR News.

[C]

The upcoming Broadway season will feature some well known stars from television and film in a couple of revivals announced yesterday. More from Jeff London.

[F]

In December, Carrie Cooper, who starred in both the White Lotus and the Gilded Age on hbo, this season will headline in a revival of the Off Broadway hit Bug, a tense thriller which is almost 30 years old. It's by Tracy Letts, Coon's husband. In March, two Golden Globe winners, film and television actor Don Cheadle and Ayo Edeburi, who recently starred in the Bear, make their Broadway debuts as a father and daughter. In proof, the 2001 Pulitzer Prize winning play by David Auburn, receives its first Broadway revival. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

[C]

The Dow's closed down 152 points. It's NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or.

[A]

Any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.