NPR News Now – 08-28-2025 10PM EDT

Main Theme

This five-minute newscast, anchored by Jeanine Herbst, covers major developments in the U.S. and abroad. The main stories include the aftermath of a mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, significant turmoil at the CDC following high-level dismissals, the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran, new scientific findings about forest elephants and ebony trees, and details about the near-billion-dollar Powerball jackpot.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minneapolis Catholic Church Mass Shooting (00:19 – 01:38)

• Incident Summary:
  A mass shooting erupted during the first school mass of the year at a Catholic church in Minneapolis. The shooter fired 116 rounds, leaving written materials expressing hate. Two children were killed, including 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, whose father was quoted emotionally, asking the public to remember his son for who he was, not just as a shooting victim.
• Victim Update:
  • Two Merkel children present survived.
  • 18 people wounded (15 children).
  • Hospital updates: 3 children still hospitalized at Children’s Hospital; others treated or discharged at Hennepin Healthcare. Six are in satisfactory condition, 22 in serious, and one child is in critical condition.
  • Law enforcement and school employees were praised for quick response and mutual protection during the crisis.

Notable Quotes:

• “Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that he was allowed to play.”
  — NPR Reporter (00:51)
• “Hospital staff today praised law enforcement for acting quickly, and they praised students and teachers who protected each other when the shooting began just after morning mass started on Wednesday.”
  — Jason DeRose (01:28)

2. CDC Leadership Turmoil (01:38 – 02:44)

• Federal Shakeup:
  HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill was appointed interim CDC director after the Trump administration dismissed Director Susan Menarez, who is pursuing legal action to remain in her position.
• Employee Response:
  • Significant backlash within the agency: dozens of CDC employees staged a walkout along with members of the public.
  • Multiple top CDC officials, including Chief Medical Officer Deborah Howery and two directors of immunization and infectious diseases (Daniel Jernigan and Dimitri Daskalakis), resigned and were escorted from CDC property.
  • Employees and the crowd demonstrated support for outgoing CDC leadership.

Notable Quotes:

• “I just can’t tell you like what CDC means to all of us, the mission, the work, your commitment. Thank you. And we're so honored to have done this for you.”
  — Deborah Howery (02:21)

3. UN Sanctions Reimposed on Iran (02:44 – 03:22)

• International Developments:
  France, Germany, and the UK are reinstating UN sanctions on Iran, intensifying Tehran’s isolation following a series of bombings at its atomic sites during a 12-day conflict with Israel.
• Diplomatic Context:
  • The “snapback” of sanctions comes from a provision in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that is veto-proof at the UN.
  • Sanctions will refreeze Iranian assets, halt arms transactions, and penalize ballistic missile development.

4. Forest Elephants and Ebony Trees – New Ecological Study (03:22 – 04:14)

• Scientific Discovery:
  A study in Science Advances finds a crucial link between endangered forest elephants and the dispersal of rare ebony trees in West African forests.
• Ecological Importance:
  • Elephants eat ebony fruit, and the seeds found in their dung help sustain the tree’s population.
  • Declines in elephant numbers from poaching are causing corresponding drops in new ebony trees.

Notable Quotes:

• “Ebony is often found in elephant dung, and these seedlings often sprout in elephant dung.”
  — Indigenous partners via NPR field reporter (03:51)
• “They found that by eating ebony fruit and depositing the seeds, the elephants are moving the tree through the forest.”
  — Nate Rott (03:58)

5. Powerball Jackpot Approaches $1 Billion (04:14 – 04:57)

• Lottery Update:
  With no winner in the latest draw, the Powerball jackpot rises to $950 million—the sixth largest in the game's history.
  • Winner options: multi-year payout or $428 million lump sum (before taxes).
  • Tickets available in 45 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Odds of winning: 1 in 292,201,338.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Fletcher Merkel’s Legacy:
  “Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that he was allowed to play.”
  — NPR Reporter (00:51)

• Hospital Staff Praise:
  “…They praised students and teachers who protected each other when the shooting began just after morning mass started on Wednesday.”
  — Jason DeRose (01:28)

• CDC Walkout Solidarity:
  “I just can’t tell you like what CDC means to all of us, the mission, the work, your commitment…”
  — Deborah Howery (02:21)

• Ecological Surprise:
  “Ebony is often found in elephant dung, and these seedlings often sprout in elephant dung.”
  — Indigenous partners via NPR (03:51)

• Elephants as Seed Dispersers:
  “They found that by eating ebony fruit and depositing the seeds, the elephants are moving the tree through the forest.”
  — Nate Rott (03:58)

Important Timestamps

• 00:19: Shooting at Minneapolis Catholic church; victims and aftermath
• 01:09: Updates on wounded children and hospital conditions
• 01:38: CDC leadership shakeup, employee walkout, public support
• 02:44: Europe reimposes UN sanctions on Iran
• 03:32: New study linking elephants to ebony tree regeneration
• 04:14: Powerball jackpot update

This NPR News Now segment delivers a concise yet comprehensive update on urgent domestic and global developments, blending hard news, scientific insights, and cultural moments with clear, human-centered reporting.