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

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Published: August 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode provides updates on key national and international stories. The episode covers President Trump’s threats to send National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities, legal battles over Texas’s new congressional map, Ukraine’s Independence Day amidst stalled ceasefire talks, a tragic incident at a Colorado dairy farm, and mass evacuations in the face of Typhoon Kajiki in Southeast Asia. The report concludes with a quick markets-and-business update.

Key Discussion Points

1. Potential National Guard Deployments and Federal-State Tension

[00:18–01:04]

• President Trump's Threat:
  President Trump is threatening to send the National Guard into several Democrat-led cities, notably New York and Baltimore, after already having done so in Washington D.C.
• Exclusive Pentagon Planning:
  According to The Washington Post, the Pentagon has been preparing plans to deploy troops to Chicago to combat crime, homelessness, and undocumented immigration.
• State-level Response:
  Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker publicly criticized the federal threats, stating the following:
  • Quote – "Donald Trump's threat to bring in the National Guard to Chicago isn't about safety. It's a test of the limits of his power and a trial run for a police state." (J.B. Pritzker, 00:49)
  • Governor Pritzker emphasized the state's ongoing cooperation with federal law enforcement, but insisted Illinois "won't let a dictator impose his will."

2. Maryland’s Similar Position

[01:04–01:25]

• NPR's Tamara Keith reports that Maryland's governor also criticized the President’s actions, though no direct quote was given.

3. Texas Congressional Map and Legal Challenge

[01:25–02:09]

• New Map Details:
  The Texas legislature, led by Republicans, passed a new congressional map after a prolonged conflict, allegedly to boost Republican performance in the upcoming midterms at President Trump’s request.
• Litigation:
  • A lawsuit has been filed against Governor Greg Abbott and Secretary of State Jane Nelson by 13 Texas residents (the "Gonzales plaintiffs").
  • The suit alleges that the map is racially discriminatory and claims that redrawing congressional maps before the next census violates the Constitution.
• Democratic Opposition:
  • Earlier, Texas Democrats temporarily fled the state to break legislative quorum in protest of the redistricting.
• Reporter’s summary:
  • Quote – "The map was pushed through by Republicans after a lengthy battle which saw Democrats at one point fleeing the state to break quorum." (Jerry Clayton, 01:54)
• Attribution: Jerry Clayton, Texas Public Radio.

4. Ukraine’s 34th Independence Day Amid Ceasefire Stalemate

[02:09–03:14]

• Historic Marker:
  Ukraine commemorates 34 years since its parliament voted to leave the Soviet Union. This anniversary coincides with 3.5 years of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
• Presidential Address:
  • President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Ukrainians from Kyiv’s Maidan Square, underscoring the fight for a “just peace” and national self-determination.
  • Quote – "Ukraine is fighting for a just peace and the right to determine its own future. Today, both the US and Europe agree Ukraine hasn't yet fully won, but it will certainly not lose." (Polina Litvinova reporting, 02:42)
• Diplomatic Situation:
  Ceasefire talks have stalled, despite President Trump’s recent claims of a diplomatic breakthrough toward a peace deal.
• Attribution: Polina Litvinova, NPR.

5. Colorado Dairy Farm Tragedy

[03:14–04:17]

• Incident:
  Six male workers died at a dairy farm near Denver; the cause is under investigation.
• Victims Identified:
  • Among the dead were 50-year-old Alejandro Espinoza Cruz and his two sons, 29-year-old Carlos Espinoza Pardo and 17-year-old Oscar Espinoza Leos (a local high school student).
• Cause:
  • The likely cause of death is gas exposure in a confined space, with final results pending toxicology tests.
  • Authorities and OSHA see no evidence of criminal involvement at this time.
• Attribution: Emma Van Dindie, KUNC.
• Memorable Details:
  "Four victims were extended family members... The coroner says the cause of death was likely a gas exposure in the confined space, but the office is waiting on additional testing. There is no indication a crime took place." (Emma Van Dindie, 03:44)

6. Typhoon Kajiki and Mass Evacuations

[04:17–04:47]

• Affected Regions:
  Typhoon Kajiki prompts evacuation of half a million people in Vietnam; boats ordered to port and flights canceled.
• Regional Impact:
  Southern China preemptively closes businesses and suspends transport.
• Forecast:
  The typhoon is expected to skirt southern China before making landfall in Vietnam; it is forecast to intensify.

7. Brief Markets Update

[04:47–04:57]

• US Futures:
  Trading flat as investors await earnings reports, notably from Nvidia.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• J.B. Pritzker on federal intervention:
  "Donald Trump's threat to bring in the National Guard to Chicago isn't about safety. It's a test of the limits of his power and a trial run for a police state." (00:49)

• On Ukraine’s resilience:
  "Ukraine is fighting for a just peace and the right to determine its own future. Today, both the US and Europe agree Ukraine hasn't yet fully won, but it will certainly not lose." (Polina Litvinova reporting, 02:42)

• On the Colorado tragedy:
  "Four victims were extended family members... The coroner says the cause of death was likely a gas exposure in the confined space, but the office is waiting on additional testing. There is no indication a crime took place." (Emma Van Dindie, 03:44)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• National Guard and Democrat-led cities: 00:18–01:04
• Texas redistricting legal challenge: 01:25–02:09
• Ukraine Independence Day and war update: 02:09–03:14
• Colorado dairy tragedy: 03:14–04:17
• Typhoon Kajiki evacuations: 04:17–04:47
• Markets brief: 04:47–04:57

Summary

This episode provides a rapid-fire but thorough overview of major national and international headlines. The central themes are political struggles over federal power and elections, the persistence of war and efforts toward peace, and the impact of natural and industrial disasters. With crisp reporting and strong attributions, it brings listeners up to date on urgent developments across the globe.