NPR News: 08-29-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News: August 29, 2025, 8PM EDT – Detailed Summary

Overview

This concise five-minute NPR News Now episode, anchored by Jeanine Herbst, features a roundup of major national and international news from August 29, 2025. Topics include a major federal appeals court decision on Trump-era tariffs, community response to a mass shooting in Minneapolis, changes to former Vice President Kamala Harris’s Secret Service protection, developments linked to the January 6 Capitol riot, updates on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and recognition for Spanish actress Carla Sofia Gascon’s international achievements.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Federal Appeals Court Ruling on Trump Tariffs

[00:20]

• Main Point: A federal appeals court struck down most of former President Trump’s tariffs, finding they exceeded his legal authority under a 1970s statute not intended for tariffs.
• Significance: The ruling marks a win for small businesses and states that challenged the duties.
• Next Steps: The tariffs remain in effect as the Trump administration plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

2. Minneapolis Mass Shooting and Community Response

[00:58] Vanessa Romo

• Context: Following a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, residents are demanding increased police presence.
• Statement by Authorities:
  • Assistant Police Chief Christopher Gaiters emphasized community concerns and the department’s pledge to safety and reassurance:

    "We recognize that people want to be reassured that our community is going to be safe, that our children are going to be safe. Those visiting and frequenting these facilities, such as schools and worship facilities, are going to be safe. And we take that very seriously." — Assistant Police Chief Christopher Gaiters [01:04]

• Actions Taken:
  • Additional city patrols are being provided by county and state officials, remaining in place for at least another week.

3. Kamala Harris Loses Secret Service Protection

[01:35] Deepa Shivaram

• Development: President Trump revoked former Vice President Kamala Harris’s Secret Service extension as she readies for her national book tour.
• Background: While it’s typical for VP protection to last only six months after leaving office, Harris had received an extension past July 2025.
• Implication:
  • Harris, now residing in Los Angeles, will begin her tour for "107 Days," a memoir of her short-lived presidential run.

4. Air Force Honors for January 6 Rioter

[02:23] Quill Lawrence

• Story Focus: The Air Force will honor military funeral requests for Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran killed inside the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
• Background:
  • Babbitt was shot by Capitol Police while attempting to breach the Speaker’s chamber.
  • Initial denial of military honors was due to the circumstances of her death.
• Legal and Financial Aftermath:
  • All January 6 rioters, including Babbitt, were pardoned or received clemency from President Trump.
  • Babbitt’s family receives a nearly $5 million settlement.
  • The shooting officer was cleared by a federal court, citing self-defense.

5. Gaza War Toll and Humanitarian Crisis

[03:15] Jeanine Herbst

• Update: The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 63,000 deaths in 22 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
• Recent Tragedies:
  • Five more deaths attributed to malnutrition occurred in the last day, raising total malnutrition deaths to 322 (including 121 children).
• Aid Situation: Israel claims to facilitate humanitarian aid, but aid agencies assert that basic needs are not being met.

6. Carla Sofia Gascon Rebounds at Venice Film Festival

[04:16] Chloe Veltman

• Achievement:
  • Spanish actress Carla Sofia Gascon received the Cannes Award for Best International Actress at the Venice International Film Festival for "Amelia Perez".
• Historical Note:
  • Gascon was the first openly transgender artist nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress earlier in the year but faced backlash due to resurfaced racist social media posts.
• Career Outlook:
  • Despite controversy, Gascon’s new film "Trinidad," set in the 19th-century Wild West, is scheduled for release next year.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Community Safety after Minneapolis Church Shooting:

  "We recognize that people want to be reassured that our community is going to be safe... And we take that very seriously."
  — Assistant Police Chief Christopher Gaiters [01:04]

• On Kamala Harris’s Protection Being Revoked:

  "Now President Trump is revoking that extension so Harris will lose her detail that was extended past July of this year."
  — Deepa Shivaram [01:49]

• On Ashli Babbitt’s Controversial Legacy:

  "Ashley Babbitt was an Air Force veteran who was wrapped in a Trump campaign flag as she tried to climb through a broken window of the speaker's chambers inside the Capitol building."
  — Quill Lawrence [02:33]

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Timestamps & Important Segments

• Tariff Court Ruling: [00:20–00:58]
• Minneapolis Shooting Response: [00:58–01:35]
• Kamala Harris Loses Protection: [01:35–02:23]
• Air Force Honors for Babbitt: [02:23–03:15]
• Gaza Crisis Update: [03:15–04:16]
• Carla Sofia Gascon at Venice Film Fest: [04:16–04:54]

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This episode provides listeners a compact but impactful update on pressing U.S. legal, political, public safety, international humanitarian, and entertainment news from August 29, 2025.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Herbst. A federal appeals court today struck down most of President Trump's tariffs, agreeing with a specialty trade court that Trump overstepped his author in using a 1970s era law that wasn't meant for tariffs. That's a big win for small businesses and states that sued over the duties, but the tariffs will remain in effect for now to allow the Trump administration to appeal to the Supreme Court. Following the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis this week, the community is calling for greater police presence. NPR's Vanessa Romo has more.

[Vanessa Romo]

At a press conference, Assistant Police Chief Christopher Gaiters said the community is calling for comfort and security.

[Assistant Police Chief Christopher Gaiters]

We recognize that people want to be reassured that our community is going to be safe, that our children are going to be safe. Those visiting and frequenting these facilities, such as schools and worship facilities, are going to be safe. And we take that very seriously.

[Vanessa Romo]

For now, the Minneapolis Police Department is getting extra help on the ground from county and state officials who are boosting patrols around the city. Gater said they'll remain in place for at least another week. Vanessa Romo, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Former Vice President Kamala Harris will no longer have Secret Service protection after President Trump revoked that Privilege this week. NPR's Deepa Shivaram reports. This comes ahead of a major book tour for Harris.

[Deepa Shivaram]

It's typical that former vice presidents only have Secret Service protection for six months after they leave office. But in Harris case, she received an extension of her detail. Now President Trump is revoking that extension so Harris will lose her detail that was extended past July of this year. This comes as Harris is about to embark on a nationwide tour to promote her new book, 107 Days, a recounting of her historically short run for president last year. Harris currently lives in Los Angeles, where she has been since she left Washington in January. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Air Force will allow military funeral honors for a rioter killed inside The Capitol on January 6, 2021. NPR's Quill Lawrence has more.

[Quill Lawrence]

Ashley Babbitt was an Air Force veteran who was wrapped in a Trump campaign flag as she tried to climb through a broken window of the speaker's chambers inside the Capitol building. The door had been barricaded shut to protect lawmakers from violent rioters and a Capitol Police officer shot Babbitt dead. The Air Force had previously denied Babbitt military honors due to the circumstances of her death. President Trump pardoned or granted clemency to the hundreds of people criminally charged that day and has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to Babbitt's family to settle a wrongful death suit. The officer who shot her was cleared of wrongdoing by a federal court that found he acted in self defense and in defense of members of Congress. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Gaza Health Ministry says the death toll in Gaza has passed 63,000 in the 22 month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This as Palestinians face the start of Israel's expanded offensive in Gaza City. The ministry says five people died from malnutrition related causes over the past day, raising the death toll to 322, including 121 children since the war began. Israel says it intends to keep helping aid into Gaza, but aid groups say people are already deprived of basic needs. Spanish actress Carla Sofia Gascon has bounced back from the scandal surrounding her Oscar nomination earlier this year to receive a major award at the Venice International Film festival this weekend. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports The events past Kaneo Award honorees include Ennio Morricone, Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman.

[Chloe Veltman]

Carla Sophia Gascon is the winner of this year's Kaneo Award for best international actress at the festival for her performance in the movie musical amelia Perez. The 53 year old star made history in January as the first openly transgender artist to be nominated for a best Actress Academy Award for the role. But her hopes of winning were dashed after a journalist resurfaced racist posts she'd written on social media a few years ago, leading to widespread backlash. Gascon's career seems to be regaining traction in other ways ways. Her first film since the controversy Trinidad, set in the 19th century Wild west, is expected to open next year. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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