NPR News Now – August 28, 2025, 12PM EDT

Summary & Key Segments

Episode Overview

Theme:
A concise, five-minute update on the most urgent breaking news globally, this episode covers a school shooting aftermath in Minneapolis, a high-profile legal standoff involving the Federal Reserve, deadly Russian airstrikes in Ukraine, advances in US high-speed rail, and innovative efforts against invasive pythons in the Florida Everglades.

Major News Stories & Insights

1. Minneapolis Church Service Shooting Aftermath

[00:18]

• Incident Update: Nine people, including five children, remain hospitalized after a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School's church event. One child is critically injured, and two children died.
• Community Response: Numerous stories of heroism have emerged.
• Personal Highlight:
  • Dr. John Gacken (Trauma Surgeon):

    “A nurse manager stepped in the room to hold her hand...She put a little lead on and stayed there and held her hand and held her hair while she went through the scanner so she didn’t have to go through it alone.”
    (01:02)

• Political Response:
  • Mayor Jacob Fry:

    “There are certainly other countries around the world where a horrific act takes place and then they make the change to ensure that out of love for their kids…it doesn't happen again.”
    (01:18)

  • Calls for stronger gun control legislation

2. Federal Reserve Board Legal Battle

[01:32]

• Situation: President Trump announced the removal of Fed Governor Lisa Cook over unproven allegations of mortgage fraud.
  • Franco Ordonez (NPR):

    “Cook has not been charged criminally. In her lawsuit, Cook is asking the court to declare Trump's removal order unlawful and void. If Trump replaces Cook, his appointees would make up a majority of the Fed board.”
    (01:40)

• Implication: The case could determine the future independence of the Federal Reserve and the boundaries of presidential power.
• Next Steps: Likely headed for the Supreme Court.

3. Russian Airstrikes Hit Kyiv, Ukraine

[02:21]

• Event: First major Russian attack on Ukraine’s capital in weeks, killing at least 18 people.
  • EU and UK diplomatic offices were damaged.
• International Reaction:
  • Lauren Frayer (NPR):

    “The EU and Britain have summoned their Russian envoys…Last week, Russia also struck a US Owned electronics plant…”
    (02:32)

• Diplomatic Accusations:
  • Ursula von der Leyen (EU Commission) accuses Russia of specifically targeting EU interests.
  • UK’s PM Keir Starmer:

    “[Putin is] sabotaging hopes for peace by killing children and civilians.”
    (cited 02:32)

• Russia’s Response: Claims strikes targeted military sites and reiterates interest in “peace talks.”

4. Next-Gen High-Speed Rail Debuts in Northeast US

[03:13]

• Launch: Amtrak begins service with faster Acela trainsets (up to 160 mph, 27% more seats).
  • Joel Rose (NPR): "The first new trains will begin running today along the Northeast Corridor." (03:26)
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy:

    “They’re beautiful. They’re going to be faster, but most importantly, a better experience for the traveling public.” (03:44)

• Context: US high-speed rail expansion faces uncertainty, with the Trump administration seeking to pull funding from California’s rail project.
• Ridership: Amtrak marks record numbers despite policy turbulence.

5. Everglades Invasive Species Battle: Robotic Rabbits

[04:07]

• Problem: Burmese pythons continue to devastate native Everglades wildlife.
• New Solution:
  • Researchers deploy robotic rabbits to lure and study the elusive python population.

    “Officials are now enlisting the help of robotic rabbits designed to look, move, even smell like the real thing to lure the snakes out of their hiding spots.” (04:07)

• Early Stage: Too soon to gauge effectiveness, but optimism remains high.

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• Dr. John Gacken, on bravery in the hospital:

  “She put a little lead on and stayed there and held her hand and held her hair while she went through the scanner…" (01:02)

• Mayor Jacob Fry, on gun control after tragedy:

  “…out of love for their children, it doesn’t happen again.” (01:18)

• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, on new Acela:

  “They’re beautiful. They’re going to be faster, but most importantly, a better experience for the traveling public.” (03:44)

Quick Market Update

[04:56]

• Dow down 5 points
• S&P up 3
• Nasdaq up 50

Listen for:

• Compassionate acts amid tragedy (01:02)
• Major legal and governance battles (01:40)
• Direct consequences of global conflict (02:32)
• Infrastructure innovation and political hurdles (03:26-03:50)
• Novel science in wildlife management (04:07)

End of NPR News Now: 08-28-2025 12PM EDT Summary.