NPR News Now – August 24, 2025, 7AM EDT

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Giles Snyder
Date: August 24, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: Hourly news update covering major national and international headlines

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode provides a concise update on key global and domestic events as of August 24, 2025. Topics span escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war, impacts of a record heat wave in the Pacific Northwest, postal disruptions linked to new US tariffs, political controversy over possible military deployment in Chicago, missile tests in North Korea, and alarming new findings about Antarctic ice loss due to climate change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Ukrainian Independence (00:19–00:59)

• Drone Attack at Russian Nuclear Plant: Russia alleges Ukraine launched drone strikes triggering a fire at a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region. Russia claims to have shot down 95 drones overnight.
• Ukrainian Independence Marked at Home and Abroad:
  • As Ukraine marks 34 years since independence, Ukrainian refugees in Raleigh, North Carolina, gather in solidarity.
  • Quote:

    "We just hope that this aid which we have, this help which we have from America, it will continue, it will increase and eventually we will win the war."
    — Angelina Shostak, Raleigh refugee event [00:48]

2. Pacific Northwest Heat Wave and Health Concerns (00:59–01:54)

• Record Temperatures: Portland reaches triple-digit heat; Seattle mid-90s. Dangerous conditions likely to persist until Tuesday.
• Health Emergencies: Over 20 emergency calls for heat exhaustion in Portland on Friday.
  • Quote:

    "They stuffed ice packs under my arms and on my groin, and by the time we got to the hospital, the ice was all melted and the packs were warm."
    — David Loftus, relay race incident [01:32]

• Access to Cooling: 25% of Portland renters lack air conditioning, prompting officials to distribute A/C units.

3. Wildfire Response in Northern California (01:54–02:07)

• Fire crews tackle the "Picket Fire" in Napa County, burning 6,000+ acres and prompting evacuations.

4. International Postal Delivery Suspensions Due to US Tariffs (02:07–03:12)

• New US Tariffs Disrupt Europe-US Mail:
  • Postal services across Europe, including Britain’s Royal Mail, suspend some US-bound shipments.
  • Confusion surrounds implementation of new tariffs on all imports, except gifts under $100, taking effect August 29.
  • Quote:

    "There's confusion, though, over just how the duties are to be collected and by whom."
    — Vicki Barker, from London [02:27]

  • Royal Mail aims to resolve system issues before the deadline.

5. Domestic Politics: Military Deployment Controversy (03:12–03:31)

• Gov. J.B. Pritzker Criticizes Trump: Illinois governor slams President Trump for "manufacturing a crisis" following reports the Pentagon could deploy troops to Chicago.
• Context: Such a move would expand military use beyond Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Chicago’s mayor notes city crime rates are down.

6. North Korean Missile Tests Amid Diplomatic Talks (03:31–04:06)

• North Korea: Kim Jong Un oversees test–firing of new air defense missiles, coinciding with high-level meetings between South Korea, Japan, and President Trump.

7. Antarctic Ice Sheet at Risk—Global Implications (04:06–04:53)

• Nature Report Sounds Alarm: The Antarctic ice sheet faces possible collapse due to rising seas.
• Large-Scale Impact:
  • As many as 750 million coastal residents worldwide could be impacted.
  • Quotes:

    "This includes around 750 million people live in low elevation coastal zones."
    — Professor Jan Strugnall [04:24]
    "And what happens in Antarctica really doesn't stay there."
    — Professor Jan Strugnall [04:41]

  • The report calls for urgent global action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ukrainian hopes for US support:
  “We just hope that this aid...from America...will continue, it will increase and eventually we will win the war.” — Angelina Shostak [00:48]

• On extreme heat resilience:
  "They stuffed ice packs under my arms and on my groin, and by the time we got to the hospital, the ice was all melted and the packs were warm." — David Loftus [01:32]

• On tariff confusion:
  “There's confusion, though, over just how the duties are to be collected and by whom.” — Vicki Barker [02:27]

• On Antarctic risks:
  “What happens in Antarctica really doesn't stay there.” — Professor Jan Strugnall [04:41]

Segment Timestamps

• [00:19] Russia-Ukraine & US Ukrainian community
• [00:59] Pacific Northwest heat wave & heat-related emergency
• [01:54] California wildfires
• [02:07] European postal suspensions / US tariffs
• [03:12] Political controversy: Potential military action in Chicago
• [03:31] North Korean missile tests during diplomatic meetings
• [04:06] Antarctic ice sheet collapse—global sea level threat

Summary for Listeners:
This five-minute newscast efficiently covers international conflict, US domestic responses to global and environmental crises, and new economic and diplomatic challenges. Urgent quotes and expert insights highlight the human and political stakes in each story.