NPR News: 08-24-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – August 24, 2025, 6PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: 5 minutes
Summary by NPR News Now Team

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode provides a five-minute update on the day’s most pressing national and international news. Key topics include President Trump’s threats of increased military deployments to Democrat-run cities, South Korea’s new President visiting Washington for a summit, new research on how climate disasters imperil U.S. drug manufacturing, the passing of veteran actor Jerry Adler, and an update on this weekend’s box office race.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. President Trump Threatens More Military Presence in Cities

[00:16–01:15]

• President Trump threatens additional military deployments to Democrat-led cities, naming Chicago, New York, and Baltimore as possible targets for intervention in a purported crackdown on crime.
• Ashley Lopez reports no formal federal request has been made to Illinois. Governor J.B. Pritzker alleges Trump is "manufacturing a crisis and abusing his power."
• Trump further threatens to reconsider federal aid for repairing Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, citing state leadership (damaged by a cargo ship in 2024).
• Notable Quote:

  "There's no emergency in the state that warrants this kind of intervention."
  — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, via Ashley Lopez [00:48]

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2. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Visits the White House

[01:15–02:15]

• President Lee Jae Myung travels to Washington to meet President Trump after his June inauguration, which followed his predecessor’s impeachment over martial law.
• Anthony Kuhn explains the summit seeks to solidify a trade deal: $350 billion in South Korean investment in exchange for lower U.S. tariffs.
• The two nations are focusing on shifting their alliance “toward countering China” rather than just deterring North Korea.
• Lee made a prior stop in Tokyo to confer with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, emphasizing trilateral coordination.
• Notable Quote:

  “Lee apparently wanted to coordinate with Ishiba before meeting Trump.”
  — Anthony Kuhn [02:11]

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3. Climate Disasters Threaten U.S. Drug Supplies

[02:15–03:07]

• New Harvard study finds thousands of U.S. drug-making sites are in counties hit by climate disasters within the past five years.
• Alejandra Barunda highlights last year’s Hurricane Helene, which shut down an IV fluid facility in North Carolina (producing 60% of U.S. supply).
• The study warns intensifying climate events increasingly threaten pharmaceutical supply chains nationwide.
• Notable Quote:

  “…the study… warns continued climate change and the disasters it brings will inevitably put the US drug supply chain at risk.”
  — Alejandra Barunda [03:01]

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4. Veteran Character Actor Jerry Adler Dies at 96

[03:07–04:19]

• Jerry Adler, famed for his role as Hesh on "The Sopranos" and appearances in "The Good Wife," passes away.
• Jeff Lunder details Adler’s theatrical background: director and stage manager for Broadway hits like "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" before transitioning to acting in his 60s.
• Noted connections: Cousin of acting teacher Stella Adler; worked on TV hits and Broadway until recently.
• Notable Quote:

  “It wasn’t until he was in his sixt [that] Adler started acting, and he constantly worked on Northern Exposure, Mad about You, and Transparent…”
  — Jeff Lunder [03:56]

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5. Weekend Box Office Update: 'K Pop Demon Hunters' vs 'Weapons'

[04:19–04:54]

• The Netflix film "K Pop Demon Hunters" leads the weekend box office with an estimated $16–18 million, despite Netflix not reporting official sales.
• The film, a supernatural action-comedy featuring a K-Pop trio as demon hunters, was produced by Sony and later acquired by Netflix.
• Without Netflix data, "Weapons" is said to top the box office with $15 million.*
  • *Based on rival studio estimates and the absence of Netflix’s reporting.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There's no emergency in the state that warrants this kind of intervention.” — Governor J.B. Pritzker [00:48]
• “Lee apparently wanted to coordinate with Ishiba before meeting Trump.” — Anthony Kuhn [02:11]
• “…the study… warns continued climate change and the disasters it brings will inevitably put the US drug supply chain at risk.” — Alejandra Barunda [03:01]
• “It wasn’t until he was in his sixt that Adler started acting, and he constantly worked on Northern Exposure, Mad about You, and Transparent…” — Jeff Lunder [03:56]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:16] – Trump’s threats of military deployment and response from Illinois/Baltimore
• [01:15] – South Korean President’s DC summit and Japan visit context
• [02:15] – New study: Climate disasters and drug supply risks
• [03:07] – Obituary: Jerry Adler’s life and career
• [04:19] – Box office results, “K Pop Demon Hunters” and “Weapons”

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This tightly packed NPR News Now update covers key national and global developments, focused on high-level government actions, international relations, pressing societal risks, and significant cultural news—all within a quick, digestible five-minute format.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

LIVE from NPR News. I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump is threatening to send more military deployments to Democrat run cities. He has said Chicago, New York and possibly Baltimore could follow Washington, D.C. in having a military presence. Ashley Lopez has more.

[Ashley Lopez]

Trump recently announced Chicago could be the next city in which he will deploy active duty troops for an alleged crackdown on crime. Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker said in a statement Saturday that the state has not yet received any request or outreach from the federal government. Pritzker said there's no emergency in the state that warrants this kind of intervention. He accused Trump of manufacturing a crisis and abusing his power. In a truth social post Sunday, Trump also went after Maryland's governor and threatened to send troops to Baltimore. Trump also wrote he'd now have to rethink federal funding to repair Baltimore's Francis Key Scott Bridge, which was demolished by a Cargo ship in 2024. Ashley Lopez, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

South Korean President E.J. myung is headed to the U.S. for a summit with President Trump tomorrow. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul that Lee took office in June after his predecessor was impeached for declaring martial law.

[Anthony Kuhn]

In Washington, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will try to hammer out details of a trade deal reached last month. It includes a pledge for South Korea to invest $350 billion in the US in exchange for lower tariffs. The US has been talking about modernizing its alliance with South Korea, which includes focusing less on deterring North Korea and more on countering China. Most South Korean presidents visit the US first, but Lee will be coming from Tokyo, where he met with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Japan and South Korea are both US Allies who depend on exports to the US and host large numbers of American troops. And Lee apparently wanted to coordinate with Ishiba before meeting Trump. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Climate disasters like hurricanes and wildfires threaten thousands of facilities that produce medical drugs across the U.S. that's the finding of a new study. NPR's Alejandra Barunda has more.

[Alejandra Barunda]

Last year, flooding from Hurricane Helene shut down a manufacturing facility in North Carolina that produces about 60% of the country's IV fluid bags. It was a wake up call for many in the medical field. Now, a team of Harvard researchers asked how many drug producing facilities existed in a county that had experienced a climate disaster in the last five years. It turns out there were thousands. Most hadn't experienced disruptions, at least not as dramatic as the IV facility during Helene. But but the study, which is published in the journal jama, warns continued climate change and the disasters it brings will inevitably put the US Drug supply chain at risk. Alejandra Burunda, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Meanwhile, millions of people in the west are facing a dangerous heat wave. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Veteran character actor Jerry Adler died this weekend at the age of 96. He was best known for roles in TV series such as the Sopranos and the Good Wife, but Jeff Lunder reports. Acting was Adler's second career.

[Jeff Lunder]

Long before he became known as Hesh, Tony Soprano's advisor on the HBO hit the Sopranos, Jerry Adler had a distinguished first act as a stage manager and director on Broadway. Born to a theatrical family, his cousin was famed acting teacher Stella Adler. He worked on the original Broadway productions of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and My Fair lady as a stage manager. It wasn't until he was in his sixt that Adler started acting, and he constantly worked on Northern Exposure, Mad about yout, and Transparent, among other shows, and returned to Broadway as an actor in a couple of roles beginning in 2000. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the Weekend Box office, the Netflix film K Pop Demon Hunters appears to have taken the top spot with an estimated 16 to 18 million dollars in ticket sales. Now, that's a prediction from rival 33 rival studios because Netflix doesn't report ticket sales. The film, which centers on a K Pop superstar trio who double as Demon Hunters, was developed and produced by Sony Pictures, which then sold it to Netflix. Bacom Score absent Netflix numbers puts the horror film Weapons in the top spot with an estimated $15 million in ticket sales. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News.

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