NPR News Now – August 29, 2025, 7PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Episode Overview:
This five-minute newscast delivers the top national and world news updates of the hour, including a landmark court ruling on tariffs, visa revocations for Palestinian officials, new Texas congressional maps, major business and sports developments, and a snapshot of Wall Street’s performance.

Major Headlines & Key Segments

1. Court Strikes Down Trump-Era Tariffs

[00:20–01:15]

• Summary:
  A federal appeals court has struck down most of former President Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imported goods, judging that he overstepped his authority by utilizing a 1970s law in a manner not previously seen. However, the current collection of tariffs will remain until the administration’s likely Supreme Court appeal plays out.

• Key Insights:

  • The ruling is a setback for Trump’s economic agenda.
  • Small businesses and states opposing the tariffs see this as a significant victory.
  • Government currently collects about $30 billion monthly in tariff revenue; this revenue stream could be at risk pending the Supreme Court’s decision.

• Notable Quote:

  • Scott Horsley: "The court ruling is a major blow to the president's economic agenda and a victory for the small businesses and states that challenge the import taxes." [00:48]

2. US Revokes Visas for Palestinian Officials

[01:15–01:59]

• Summary:
  Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of several Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization officials, and ordered denials of new visa applications from Palestinian officials. The move comes as the UN General Assembly prepares for a high-level meeting in New York next month.

• Key Insights:

  • Unclear how many visas are specifically affected and if Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is among those impacted.
  • Palestinian representatives are assessing the effect on their UN delegation.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Ambassador Riyadh Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN:
    "We will see exactly what it means and how it applies to any of our delegation." [01:49]
    "And we will respond accordingly." [01:56]

3. Texas Congressional Map Signed Into Law: Latino Voters Targeted

[01:59–03:13]

• Summary:
  Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a new congressional map, which Republicans hope will solidify their gains among Latino voters and help them maintain control of the US House. The map redraw is already affecting communities and stirring debate about political loyalty amid economic challenges.

• Key Insights:

  • Some Latino voters who once favored Republicans may reconsider due to economic hardships.
  • Tomas Hernandez Jr., a local business owner and Democrat, expresses skepticism that Latino support for the GOP will hold.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Tomas Hernandez Jr.:
    "Hispanics, whether they're my own family or non-family members that supported Trump, they saw it as good for the economy. But I don't see any, you know, any benefits." [02:50]

4. Spirit Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Again

[03:13–03:40]

• Summary:
  Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy protection for the second time in a year amid intensifying competition and sluggish travel demand. The company plans to cut costs, reduce routes, and shrink its fleet to regain profitability.

5. College Football Season Kicks Off with Historic Matchups

[03:40–04:47]

• Summary:
  This weekend will see the most Top 10 college football matchups ever for an opening week. The Texas Longhorns debut highly anticipated quarterback Arch Manning, already a top contender for the Heisman despite limited collegiate play.

• Key Matchups:

  • Texas (#1) vs. Ohio State (#3)
  • Penn State (#2) and Clemson (#4) also highlighted
  • Notre Dame (#6) at Miami (#10) on Sunday

• Notable Quotes:

  • Becky Sullivan: "Manning spent his first two years at Texas as a backup, so he hasn't even thrown 100 passes yet in his collegiate career. Still, the hype is so huge he's already the betting favorite to win the Heisman." [04:11]

6. Markets Close Lower

[04:47–04:59]

• Summary:
  Wall Street finished the day down across major indices:
  • Dow Jones down 92 points
  • NASDAQ down 249
  • S&P 500 down 41

Memorable Moments & Speaker Attribution

• Scott Horsley on tariffs: “The government’s been collecting about $30 billion a month in import taxes. Most of that revenue would be jeopardized if this ruling stands.” [01:06]
• Ambassador Riyadh Mansour on visa revocations: “We will respond accordingly.” [01:56]
• Tomas Hernandez Jr. on Latino voter sentiment: “But I don’t see any, you know, any benefits.” [02:50]
• Becky Sullivan on Arch Manning: “Still, the hype is so huge he’s already the betting favorite to win the Heisman.” [04:11]

Conclusion

This NPR News Now episode delivered quick, impactful updates on politics, policy, business, and sports, highlighting a major court decision on tariffs, diplomatic tensions at the UN, shifting political maps in Texas, a notable airline bankruptcy, and major college football matchups—all within a concise format for listeners on the go.