NPR News Now: 08-29-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News episode presents key national news updates as of August 29, 2025. The topics range from the aftermath of a tragic school shooting in Minneapolis, new tariffs on global small packages, upheaval at the CDC, the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and developments in the AI tech sector. The coverage delivers both empathy and analysis, with first-hand accounts and policy implications highlighted for each headline.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting and Community Response

[00:20 – 01:23]

• Coverage: Windsor Johnston opens with a story about a devastating shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, resulting in two children killed and 18 injured.

• Personal Impact: Reporter Jason DeRose relays the sentiments of grieving parent Jesse Merkel, whose 8-year-old son Fletcher was among the victims. Merkel wishes for his son to be remembered for "the boy he was and not for the way he died."

• Community Loss: The loss is felt broadly, underscoring the community-wide impact.

• Victims Named: Besides Fletcher Merkel, 10-year-old Harper Lillian Moisky was also killed.

  Jesse Merkel [00:53]: "Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that he was allowed to play."

2. New Tariffs on Small International Packages

[01:23 – 02:14]

• Policy Change: Tamara Keith explains President Trump's executive order ending de minimis tariff exemptions for all countries. Previously, items under $800 entered the U.S. duty-free.

• Rationale: Aimed at closing loopholes facilitating tariff evasion and the flow of counterfeit goods.

• Uncertain Impact: The practical effects on U.S. consumers remain unclear; official stance is unwavering.

  Tamara Keith [01:46]: "The White House says this eliminates a loophole that made it easier for foreign entities to avoid tariffs and funnel counterfeit goods and illicit drugs into the U.S. ... a White House official said this policy is here to stay and there are no exceptions."

3. CDC Leadership Crisis

[02:14 – 03:00]

• Instability: Chaos at CDC as President Trump fires the director via social media, but she refuses to step down.

• Concerns Raised: NPR’s Selena Simmons Duffin outlines worries from public health leaders about leadership vacuum in the face of a potential emergency.

• Agency Role: Emphasis on CDC’s unique resources and legal authority that cannot be replaced by other agencies.

  Selena Simmons Duffin [02:46]: "The truth is there's no replacement for the federal government, not just in terms of resources, but in terms of legal authority."

4. 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

[03:00 – 03:42]

• Commemoration in New Orleans: The city honors lives lost and survivors with events, including a second line parade in the Lower Ninth Ward.

• Community Leadership: Actor Wendell Pierce, New Orleans native, participates, emphasizing empowerment and resilience.

  Wendell Pierce [03:33]: "I had an opportunity with my platform to give voice to the voiceless, to make sure that we exercised our right of self determination."

5. Nvidia and the Artificial Intelligence Frenzy

[03:42 – 04:52]

• Stock Market Reaction: Despite Nvidia posting more than $26 billion in profit, its shares tumbled.

• Investor Skepticism: Maria Aspen reports that questions about the true profitability of AI investments—highlighted in an MIT survey—have cooled market enthusiasm for tech stocks.

• Broader Concerns: Reflects anxiety about the AI bubble and broader U.S. economic uncertainty.

  Maria Aspen [04:15]: "Its status as a big tech bellwether has put Nvidia squarely at the center of questions about politics, the US Government's control over private business and the huge AI bubble."

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Grief:

  "Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that he was allowed to play."
  — Jesse Merkel, [00:53]

• On Policy Certainty:

  "There are no exceptions."
  — Tamara Keith summarizing White House official, [02:00]

• On Public Health Authority:

  "There's no replacement for the federal government, not just in terms of resources, but in terms of legal authority."
  — Selena Simmons Duffin, [02:46]

• On Community Resilience:

  "I had an opportunity with my platform to give voice to the voiceless..."
  — Wendell Pierce, [03:33]

• On AI Market Jitters:

  "...made some investors question their optimism about big tech companies..."
  — Maria Aspen, [04:30]

Segment Timestamps

• Minneapolis Shooting Coverage: 00:20 – 01:23
• Tariffs on International Packages: 01:23 – 02:14
• CDC Leadership Shakeup: 02:14 – 03:00
• Katrina Anniversary: 03:00 – 03:42
• Nvidia & AI Bubble: 03:42 – 04:52

This episode combines thorough reporting with powerful personal perspectives, giving listeners a snapshot of pressing national issues and the voices affected by them.