NPR News: 08-29-2025 10PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Date: August 30, 2025
Length: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode delivers the latest headlines from across the United States and globally. Major topics include a significant court ruling on President Trump’s tariffs, Israel’s escalating military actions in Gaza City, heightened police security in Minneapolis after a church shooting, developments in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Secret Service protection changes for former Vice President Kamala Harris, shifting electric vehicle sales trends in the US and Europe, and a brief market update.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs (00:16)

• Summary:
  A federal appeals court invalidated most of former President Trump’s tariffs, supporting the Special Trade Court’s earlier finding that he exceeded his authority in applying a 1970s-era law unsuited for tariff imposition.

  • Impact: A considerable victory for small businesses and the states that sued.
  • Status: Tariffs remain temporarily while the Trump administration considers a Supreme Court appeal.

• Notable Quote:

  "That's a big win for small businesses and states that sued over the duties. But the tariffs do remain in effect for now to allow the Trump administration to appeal to the Supreme Court."
  —Jeanine Herbst (00:20)

2. Israeli Military Advances in Gaza City (00:32)

• Summary:
  The Israeli military has intensified operations in Gaza City, ending a previously announced unilateral pause in airstrikes and officially labeling it a combat zone.

  • Residents, nearly a million, face famine and displacement, with Israeli forces ordering evacuation south—yet those southern areas are also being bombed.
  • Local tragedy highlighted: a family of four killed in southern Gaza after fleeing Gaza City.

• Notable Quote:

  "The military says it's ending a partial pause on bombing the city, declaring it a combat zone."
  —Jeanine Herbst (00:37)
  "Gaza City is home to just under a million Palestinians, many of them surviving in makeshift tents."
  —Ayal Batrawi (01:02)

3. Minneapolis Increases Security after Church Shooting (01:42)

• Summary:
  Following a deadly church shooting at Assumption Catholic Church that left two children dead and injured 18, Minneapolis police are boosting presence near schools and religious institutions for at least a week.

  • Authorities credit the church’s practice of locking doors after Mass began for saving additional lives.

• Notable Quote:

  "Police say the church's practice of locking its doors after the start of each mass likely saved countless lives."
  —Matt Zepik (02:05)

4. Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Steps Down (02:11)

• Summary:
  Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley will not seek re-election, citing partisanship on the court and pledging to seek a new path to "rebuild the conservative movement".

  • The seat opens after record-breaking campaign spending in recent years; context includes the current liberal majority on the court.

• Notable Quote:

  "She blamed partisanship on the court and said will seek a different path to, quote, rebuild the conservative movement and fight for liberty."
  —Anya Van Wagtendonk (02:31)

5. Trump Revokes Harris's Secret Service Protection Extension (03:10)

• Summary:
  President Trump has rescinded the extension of Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, an uncommon move, as she embarks on a nationwide book tour for her memoir about her brief presidential run.

• Context:

  • Standard policy: former vice presidents receive protection for six months post-tenure.
  • President Biden had extended Harris's protection; Trump has now revoked that extension.

6. EV Sales Surge in US, Mixed Trends in Europe (03:45)

• Summary:
  US electric vehicle sales climbed nearly 20% in July, driven by consumers rushing to benefit from an expiring $7,500 tax credit. In Europe, government support is being extended or reinstated, with even greater year-on-year growth, though not all makers fare equally—Tesla sales drop while Chinese brands surge.

• Notable Quote:

  "Compared to last year, European EV sales were up nearly 40% and plug-in hybrid sales rose 57%... Tesla sales are down sharply in Europe. Meanwhile, sales of the Chinese EV giant BYD have tripled."
  —Camila Domonosky (04:21)

7. Market Update (04:40)

• Summary:
  The Dow closed down 92 points while the Nasdaq dropped 249 points (1.1% decline).

Notable Quotes

• On Gaza Evacuation:

  "Gaza City is home to just under a million Palestinians, many of them surviving in makeshift tents."
  —Ayal Batrawi (01:02)

• On Partisanship in Wisconsin Court:

  "She blamed partisanship on the court and said will seek a different path to, quote, rebuild the conservative movement and fight for liberty."
  —Anya Van Wagtendonk (02:31)

• On EV Market Trends:

  "Tesla sales are down sharply in Europe. Meanwhile, sales of the Chinese EV giant BYD have tripled."
  —Camila Domonosky (04:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Court Ruling on Tariffs: 00:16 – 00:32
• Israel in Gaza: 00:32 – 01:42
• Minneapolis Security Response: 01:42 – 02:11
• Wisconsin Court Reshuffling: 02:11 – 03:10
• Harris’s Security Detail Revoked: 03:10 – 03:45
• EV Sales Trends (US & Europe): 03:45 – 04:40
• Market Update: 04:40 – 04:53

For more detailed context and further developments, listeners are encouraged to follow up on NPR’s full reporting.