NPR News: 08-28-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – August 28, 2025, 4PM EDT

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a succinct update on the latest national news, focusing on the aftermath of a Minneapolis church shooting, changes at the CDC under the Trump administration, and economic trends amid rising tariffs. The broadcast features reactions from officials, expert advice for parents, and insights into consumer habits from top retailers.

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Key News Highlights and Insights

1. Minneapolis Mass Shooting Update (00:25–01:35)

• New Injury Count Confirmed
  • Minneapolis police announced that the number of people injured in the previous day’s mass shooting is now 18, with a total of 20 victims affected by gunfire.
  • Victims included children and elderly adults attending a church service tied to the start of the school year for Annunciation Catholic School.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Chief Brian O'Hara (00:38):
    "We have identified a total of 20 victims that had injuries resulting from gunfire, including the 8 and 10 year old who were killed yesterday."
• Attack Details:
  • 15 of the wounded were children ages 6–15; three adults were in their 80s.
  • The shooter was found dead by suicide.
  • Police executed four search warrants, confiscating 116 rifle rounds, three shotgun shells, and a live pistol round from an apparent misfire.
  • Hundreds of pieces of evidence recovered from the scene and the shooter’s residences.

2. Guidance for Parents Discussing Tragedy with Children (01:35–02:10)

• Expert Recommendations:
  • Parents are advised to have honest discussions with their children about traumatic events to avoid misinformation from peers or social media.
  • Melissa Breimer (Director, National Center for Child Traumatic Stress) suggests reminding kids about school safety protocols.
• Notable Quotes:
  • White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt (01:59):
    "Do you see sometimes that the doors are locked at school? There's a reason for that because that's one way your school is trying to make sure that you stay safe at school."
  • Katie Riddle, NPR (02:10):
    "Children, she says, can handle the truth, even when it's difficult."

3. CDC Leadership Shakeup (02:16–03:12)

• Leadership Change:
  • President Trump fired CDC Director Susan Minares, who served less than a month.
  • Several top CDC officials resigned in protest.
  • Minares’ legal team claims she was dismissed for refusing to endorse "unscientific, reckless directives" and to fire experts.
• White House and Health Secretary Responses:
  • Press Secretary Caroline Levitt (02:53):
    "It was President Trump who was overwhelmingly reelected...and the president has the authority to fire those who are not aligned with his mission."
  • White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt (03:03):
    "The job of administration officials is to execute on the vision and promises of President Trump."

4. CDC Staff Reaction (03:12–04:12)

• Applause for Resigned Officials:
  • CDC staff in Atlanta publicly expressed gratitude to leaders who resigned following Minares' removal.
  • Minares’ attorney restates her commitment to science-based initiatives.
  • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended the ouster, asserting the CDC is a “troubled agency.”

5. Retailers & Consumer Trends Amid Tariffs (04:12–04:55)

• Economic Resilience:
  • Major retailers (Best Buy, Dollar General, Dick’s Sporting Goods) reported continued strong consumer spending despite higher prices due to new tariffs.
  • Chains are selectively raising prices, often absorbing costs to limit impact on shoppers.
  • Alina Selyukh, NPR (04:12):
    "Price increases for shoppers have so far been sporadic and surgical. As Dick's Sporting Goods executives put it, that chain is actually raising its financial forecast for the year, as it says people are visiting more often and spending more when they do."
  • All income brackets are reported to be shopping more; demand for deals and select big-ticket items remains high.

6. Stock Market Update (04:55–05:04)

• Closing Numbers:
  • Dow up 71 points (45,635)
  • S&P up 20 points
  • Nasdaq up 115 points (about 0.5%)

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Police Chief Brian O'Hara (00:38):
  "We have identified a total of 20 victims that had injuries resulting from gunfire, including the 8 and 10 year old who were killed yesterday."
• Caroline Levitt, Press Secretary (01:59):
  "Do you see sometimes that the doors are locked at school? There's a reason for that because that's one way your school is trying to make sure that you stay safe at school."
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (02:53):
  "It was President Trump who was overwhelmingly reelected on November 5th. This woman has never received a vote in her life. And the president has the authority to fire those who are not aligned with his mission."
• Alina Selyukh, NPR (04:12):
  "Price increases for shoppers have so far been sporadic and surgical."

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• Minneapolis Shooting Update: 00:25–01:35
• Parent Guidance: 01:35–02:10
• CDC Director Firing: 02:16–03:12
• CDC Staff Reaction: 03:12–04:12
• Retail and Tariffs: 04:12–04:55
• Market Update: 04:55–05:04

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This concise but impactful five-minute news roundup covers ongoing national trauma, political shakeups in public health leadership, economic adaptation to tariffs, and stock market optimism.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

Immigration raids, masked ICE agents, Operation Patriot. Our podcast here and Now Anytime is looking at Trump's agenda of mass deportation through the eyes of one state.

[Police Chief Brian O'Hara]

I'm coming to Boston. I'm bringing hell with me.

[Podcast Host]

Listen to the podcast here and now Anytime from NPR and wbur.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Minneapolis police are now confirming an an 18th person was injured in yesterday's mass shooting. Police Chief Brian o' Hara spoke moments ago.

[Police Chief Brian O'Hara]

We have identified a total of 20 victims that had injuries resulting from gunfire, including the 8 and 10 year old who were killed yesterday.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The injured include 15 children between the ages of 6 and 15 and three adults in their 80s. They were attacked as they were worshiping during a church service marking the first week back to school for Annunciation Catholic school students, teachers. Authorities say the shooter was later found dead of a self inflicted gunshot wound. Chief Ojares officers executed four search warrants at the church and three Minnesota residences. Hundreds of pieces of evidence were recovered, including 116 rifle rounds, three shotgun shells and one live pistol round from an apparent misfire. For parents across the country who are talking to their children about yesterday's attack in Minneapolis, experts say it's important to Be honest. Here's NPR's Katie Riddle.

[Katie Riddle]

It's tempting to try to shield kids from these kinds of events, but if parents don't talk to their kids about it, they risk them finding out through social media or their peers. Melissa Breimer is director of terrorism and disaster programs at the UCLA Duke University national center for Child Traumatic Stress. She suggests parents remind their kids that there are protocols in place in their schools to protect them.

[White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt]

Do you see sometimes that the doors are locked at school? There's a reason for that because that's one way your school is trying to make sure that you stay safe at school.

[Katie Riddle]

Children, she says, can handle the truth, even when it's difficult. Katie Riddle, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The White House says a new leader for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be announced soon. NPR's Tamara Keith reports. President Trump fired CDC Director Susan Minares last night after she had been on the job for less than a month.

[White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt]

Several top CDC officials resigned after Manara's was pushed out. Her lawyers say she was targeted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy when she, quote, refused to rubber stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says that explains why she had to go.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

It was President Trump who was overwhelmingly reelected on November 5th. This woman has never received a vote in her life. And the president has the authority to fire those who are not aligned with his mission.

[White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt]

Levitt said the job of administration officials is to execute on the vision and promises of President Trump. Tamara Keith, NPR News, the White House.

[Lakshmi Singh]

At last check on Wall street, The Dow is up 69 points at 45,635. From Washington, this is NPR News. Well, moments ago in Atlanta, the staff of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention applauding and expressing gratitude to the several top officials who resigned after CDC Director Susan Manaros was ousted. Menares attorney said she would not back initiatives not supported by science at the department led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Today, Kennedy again defended his decision, saying the CDC is a troubled agency. A trio of retailers saying Americans are still shopping more even as prices are ticking up slightly from tariffs. Best Buy, Dollar General, Dick's Sporting Goods all describe shopper stores as resilient, reporting their financial results from the latest quarter. NPR's Alina Selyukh has details.

[Alina Selyukh]

Big retail chains have been acknowledging that some prices are rising because of new tariff costs on virtually all imports. But big stores and their suppliers have also been absorbing many of those costs. So price increases for shoppers have so far been sporadic and surgical. As Dick's Sporting Goods executives put it, that chain is actually raising its financial forecast for the year, as it says people are visiting more often and spending more when they do. Dollar General says it also has raised some prices, but so far, people across all income brackets are still shopping more than before. And Best Buy says shoppers are hunting for deals and discounts, but still willing to spend more on big ticket items when needed. Alina Seluk, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The dows closed up 71 points, S&P gained 20, and the Nasdaq was up 115 points, or roughly half a percent. It's NPR News.

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