NPR News: 08-24-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: 08-24-2025 10PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Date: August 25, 2025
Podcast: NPR News Now

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Overview

This five-minute NPR News episode delivers concise updates on major U.S. and international stories, including political tensions over federal intervention in cities, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the pandemic’s impact on children starting school, developments in spaceflight, and dangerous wildfires across the western U.S.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Political Tensions Over Troop Deployments (00:20–01:11)

• Maryland Governor on Trump’s Threats:
  • Governor Wes Moore criticized President Trump’s threats to send National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities like Baltimore to address crime, labeling the move “performative and ultimately unsustainable.”
  • Trump has not made similar threats to Republican-run cities with high crime rates.
  • Potential federal funding for Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge (collapsed in 2024) is at risk due to presidential threats.
  • National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., are now carrying service-issued weapons, increasing tension in the capital.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “You cannot continue this type of pace.” — Jeanine Herbst (00:46)
  • “Of operations, particularly when…it’s costing over a million dollars a day in order to do this.” — Jackie Northam (00:48)

2. Gaza Crisis Escalates (01:11–02:18)

• Israeli Military Push in Gaza:
  • Israel is ramping up attacks on Gaza City, considered a Hamas stronghold.
  • Tens of thousands of Israeli reservists have been mobilized; widespread airstrikes continue.
  • Civilians and health care professionals urged to evacuate, but there are few safe options.
  • Fears over hostages and mounting famine; condemnation mounts both domestically and abroad.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “There's widespread condemnation of the military offensive both domestically and internationally.” — Jackie Northam (01:58)

3. Pandemic Babies Enter Kindergarten (02:18–03:09)

• Pandemic’s Lingering Educational Effects:
  • 3.6 million children born during 2020’s pandemic are entering kindergarten; studies show they are less prepared than pre-pandemic cohorts.
  • Reading readiness for kindergartners has dropped from 89% in 2019 to 81% in 2024.
  • Experts emphasize that with proper support, teachers and students can reverse this decline.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Even students who were not in school because they were too young to be in kindergarten during the pandemic are less prepared.” — Kristin Huff, Curriculum Associates (02:46)

4. Market Update (03:09–03:19)

• U.S. Futures Down Slightly:
  • All major stock indices are down around 0.1% at this hour.

5. SpaceX Starship Test Flight Delayed (03:19–04:24)

• SpaceX Delays Major Starship Launch:
  • The highly anticipated 10th test flight of Starship was called off due to a “ground systems” issue.
  • Starship is critical for NASA's moon ambitions and Musk’s Mars plans; previous failures have increased national interest.
  • New launch windows are expected soon as engineers troubleshoot.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “SpaceX did start loading propellant into the rocket at its Texas launch facility. But soon after, on social media, SpaceX said it was standing down….” — Nell Greenfield Boyce (03:50)

6. Western Wildfires Amid Heat Dome (04:24–04:59)

• Multiple Large Wildfires Force Evacuations:
  • Northern California’s Pickett Fire has burned 6,500+ acres (11% contained); cause is unknown.
  • Oregon’s Flat Fire, 21,000+ acres, has prompted mass evacuations.
  • Hot, dry, windy conditions drive the threat; millions under a “heat dome.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Military Troop Deployments:
  “You cannot continue this type of pace.” — Jeanine Herbst (00:46)
  “Of operations, particularly when…it’s costing over a million dollars a day in order to do this.” — Jackie Northam (00:48)
  “More said…Trump’s recent comments…is performative and ultimately unsustainable.” — Ashley Lopez (00:38)

• On the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis:
  “There's widespread condemnation of the military offensive both domestically and internationally.” — Jackie Northam (01:58)
  “Gaza City and other areas are in the grip of a famine…Israelis fear an attack…could lead to the deaths of more Israeli hostages held by the militants.” — Jackie Northam (02:09)

• On Pandemic-Era Kindergarten Readiness:
  “Even students who were not in school because they were too young to be in kindergarten during the pandemic are less prepared.” — Kristin Huff (02:46)
  “Just 81% of five year olds are arriving kindergarten ready and reading. That’s down from 89% in 2019.” — Vanessa Romo (02:55)

• On SpaceX Starship Delay:
  “SpaceX did start loading propellant…But soon after, on social media, SpaceX said it was standing down to allow time to troubleshoot what it called an issue with ground systems.” — Nell Greenfield Boyce (03:50)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• (00:20) President Trump’s threats, Baltimore and National Guard issues
• (01:11) National Guard in D.C.; escalation in Gaza
• (02:18) Pandemic-born children starting kindergarten
• (03:09) Stock market update
• (03:34) SpaceX Starship launch postponed
• (04:24) Wildfires in California and Oregon

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Conclusion

This tightly structured episode covers urgent national issues, global conflicts, and the lingering effects of the pandemic in education, highlighting both the immediate and long-term challenges facing the U.S. and world. The reporting remains factual and direct, mirroring NPR’s signature concise, balanced tone.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

News, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Maryland Governor Wes Moore is speaking out on President Trump's threats to deploy more troops to Democrat run cities, including Baltimore, to fight crime. NPR's Ashley Lopez has more.

[Ashley Lopez]

More said on Face the Nation on Sunday that Trump's recent comments that he could dispatch more military personnel, including the National Guard, to Democratic run cities like Baltimore is performative and ultimately unsustainable.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You cannot continue this type of pace.

[Jackie Northam]

Of operations, particularly when you're when it's costing over a million dollars a day in order to do this.

[Ashley Lopez]

Trump also threatened to pull funding to rebuild Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed last year. The president has said he also could deploy troops to Chicago and New York. Not announced plans to send military to the various Republican run cities with high crime rates. Ashley Lopez, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Meanwhile, some National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. are now carrying their service issued weapons, which may include pistols or rifles. It's another deadly day in Gaza as the Israeli military continues its push into the besieged territory. Dozens of Palestinians were killed as Israeli warplanes and tanks struck around Gaza City as part of an offensive to capture it. NPR's Jackie Northam reports.

[Jackie Northam]

Israel considers the densely populated Gaza City to be one of the last major strongholds of Hamas and has been preparing for an assault over the past week, mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists and hammering the outer regions with airstrikes. Israel has been warning Palestinians and health care facilities to evacuate Gaza City ahead of a full scale attack, but there are few places to go. There's widespread condemnation of the military offensive both domestically and internationally. Gaza City and other areas are in the grip of a famine, and Israelis fear an attack on a Hamas stronghold could lead to the deaths of more Israeli hostages held by the militants. Jackie Northam, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Millions of children born during the global pandemic are starting kindergarten this year. NPR's Vanessa Romo reports. Studies show they might not be ready.

[Vanessa Romo]

3.6 million children were born in 2020 as the coronavirus ushered in one of the most extraordinary periods in modern history, and experts are still trying to figure out its long term effects. Kristin Huff is head of measurement at Curriculum Associates, which provides national grade level testing. Its latest study looked at the 2023-24 school year.

[Jackie Northam]

Even students who were not in school because they were too young to be in kindergarten during the pandemic are less prepared.

[Vanessa Romo]

Just 81% of five year olds are arriving kindergarten ready and reading. That's down from 89% in 2019. Hough says teachers and students can buck the trend with the right support. Vanessa romo, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contracts are trading lower at this hour, all three major indices down around 1/10 of a percent. You're listening to NPR news from Washington. SpaceX had to call off an attempt to launch its massive starship rocket. As NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports, that means space enthusiasts are still waiting for test flight number 10.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

Starship is a two stage space vehicle that stands nearly 400ft tall. It's a key part of NASA's effort to return astronauts to the surface of the moon as well as Elon Musk's effort to colonize Mars. But so far this year, starship rockets have suffered a string of failures in flights. One even blew up on the launch pad during a test. All of that is why this 10th flight has been highly anticipated. And SpaceX did start loading propellant into the rocket at its Texas launch facility. But soon after, on social media, SpaceX said it was standing down to allow time to troubleshoot what it called an issue with ground systems. If it can get this issue fixed, the company has additional launch windows in the coming days. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Several wildfires are burning in the west amid hot, windy weather and dry vegetation as millions are under a heat dome in northern California's Napa Valley. A fast moving wildfire has prompted mandatory evacuation. Cal fire says the Pickett fire burned more than 6,500 acres and is 11% contained. The cause is under investigation. Meanwhile, the flat fire about 150 miles southeast of Portland, Oregon, has grown to more than 21,000 acres and thousands of homes are under evacuation orders and warnings. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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