NPR News: 08-31-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now — August 31, 2025, 4 PM EDT

Host: Nora Ramm
Podcast: NPR News Now
Date: August 31, 2025

---

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now segment covers major current events in U.S. politics, international affairs, a notable journalist's passing, and new labor data. Topics include a federal court ruling on President Trump’s authority, Chicago's new immigration enforcement limits, escalating protests in Indonesia, Pope Leo’s remarks on gun violence, and Gallup’s latest survey on union support.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Court Curbs Trump’s Emergency Powers (00:18 - 01:18)

• A U.S. appeals court ruled that President Trump overstepped his authority by imposing sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
• Key implications: The White House plans to appeal. This case could set precedent for other challenges to Trump’s use of emergency powers, including military deployments and domestic law enforcement interventions.
  • Quote:
    “Trump has sought to use his emergency powers liberally. That was the justification for sending the military to the border as well as the National Guard to Los Angeles to quell protests...”
    —Franco Ordonez (00:40)
  • The White House continues to defend the tariffs’ legality.

---

2. Chicago Limits Police Collaboration on Immigration—Response to Trump Crackdown Threat (01:18 - 02:17)

• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order restricting local police cooperation with federal immigration operations.
  • Police are now barred from aiding federal agents in civil immigration enforcement or working with U.S. military personnel on patrols.
  • Officers must wear identifiable uniforms and not masks, distinguishing them from federal agents.
  • Quote:
    “Johnson says he doesn't want the Chicago Police Department to be deputized by Trump.”
    —Joe Hernandez (02:11)

---

3. Indonesia: President Prabowo Offers Rollback Amidst Violent Protests (02:17 - 03:13)

• President Prabowo Subianto pledges to scale back controversial lawmaker benefits after anti-government protests turn violent.
  • Riots escalated after politicians approved a generous housing allowance; violence followed a police vehicle killing a motorcyclist.
  • Prabowo cancels China trip, emphasizing a zero-tolerance stance for “terrorism or treason.”
  • Quote:
    “President Prabowo Subianto says he supports the right to peaceful protest, but some actions from the past week amounted to terrorism or treason.”
    —Ashish Valentine (02:33)
  • This marks the most significant challenge yet to his presidency.

---

4. Pope Leo’s Plea Against Gun Violence (03:13 - 03:30)

• During the Vatican’s Sunday blessing, Pope Leo appeals for an end to what he calls "the pandemic of arms," referencing a recent church shooting in Minneapolis where two children were killed and eighteen wounded.
  • Pope Leo addresses the tragedy directly and speaks in English to reach a global audience.

---

5. Mark Knoller, Legendary White House Reporter, Dies at 73 (03:30 - 04:31)

• Mark Knoller, renowned for his detailed White House coverage and presidential statistics, passes away.
  • Known as the "Wikipedia of the White House," his legacy includes meticulous record-keeping of presidents' activities since 1988.
  • Quote:
    “He tallied speeches and interviews, the minutiae that make history... didn’t mind the long hours. He told CBS’s Katie Couric, ‘I’m one of those lucky people that gets to work at something he loves doing.’”
    —Amy Held (04:11, 04:27)

---

6. Gallup Labor Day Union Survey Results (04:40 - 04:57)

• Annual Gallup poll shows U.S. support for unions remains strong:
  • 68% of adults say they approve of unions (consistent with last year),
  • 15% report living in a union-member household.
  • Labor Day remains a focal point for union sentiment.

---

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Franco Ordonez (Federal powers):
  “Trump has sought to use his emergency powers liberally. That was the justification for sending the military to the border...” (00:40)
• Joe Hernandez (Chicago policy):
  “Johnson says he doesn't want the Chicago Police Department to be deputized by Trump.” (02:11)
• Ashish Valentine (Indonesia protests):
  “Some actions from the past week amounted to terrorism or treason.” (02:33)
• Amy Held (Mark Knoller):
  “He tallied speeches and interviews, the minutiae that make history.” (04:11)
  “I’m one of those lucky people that gets to work at something he loves doing.” —Mark Knoller, as recalled by Amy Held (04:27)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump Tariffs & Court Ruling: 00:18 – 01:18
• Chicago & Immigration Enforcement: 01:18 – 02:17
• Indonesia Protests: 02:17 – 03:13
• Pope Leo Address: 03:13 – 03:30
• Mark Knoller Tribute: 03:30 – 04:31
• Gallup Union Poll: 04:40 – 04:57

---

This concise NPR update delivers critical news and perspectives from the U.S. and abroad, with a mix of political, social, and human-interest stories in under five minutes.

Transcript

[Carvana Announcer]

This message comes from Carvana. Explore Carvana's quick and easy financing and browse thousands of car options, all within.

[NPR Reporter]

Your budget and timeline.

[Carvana Announcer]

Get pre qualified [e-mail] financing subject to credit approval.

[NPR Reporter]

Additional terms and conditions may apply.

[Nora Ramm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. A federal appeals court has ruled that President Trump does not have unlimited authority to impose tariffs. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports on how the case could affect some of Trump's other priorities.

[NPR Reporter]

A U.S. appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that said Trump did not have the authority under what's called the International Emergency Economic Powers act to impose his sweeping tariffs. Trump has sought to use his emergency powers liberally. That was the justification for sending the military to the border as well as the National Guard to Los Angeles to quell protests and and try and take over law enforcement. Here in Washington, D.C. the White House is defending the legality of the tariffs and plans to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. The outcome could have implications for other cases where Trump's opponents challenge the administration's use of emergency powers. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

The mayor of Chicago is limiting how much the city's police force is can cooperate with federal law enforcement agents. As NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, it's in response to threats from the Trump administration to launch an immigration crackdown in the Midwest city.

[Carvana Announcer]

President Trump has criticized Chicago leaders for not doing enough to prevent crime, and now federal officials are suggesting they may ramp up immigration enforcement operations there. But on Saturday, Chicago's Democratic mayor, Brandon Johnson, signed an executive order setting limits on how the city's police department can be involved. It bars Chicago police from collaborating with federal officers conducting civil immigration enforcement operations or with US Military personnel on patrols. It also requires Chicago police to wear their uniforms and refrain from wearing masks so they can be distinguished from federal agents. Johnson says he doesn't want the Chicago Police Department to be deputized by Trump. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

The president of Indonesia is offering to roll back some of the benefits lawmakers receive in an effort to quell anti government protests, which turned violent last week. But he signaled zero tolerance for extreme behavior. Ashish Valentine reports.

[Ashish Valentine]

President Prabowo Subianto says he supports the right to peaceful protest, but some actions from the past week amounted to terrorism or treason. Protests escalated into riots last week after lawmakers gave themselves a housing allowance 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage. Then a police vehicle ran over and killed a motorcycle driver. Rioters started attacking police stations and the homes of senior politicians. Prabowo canceled a trip to China yesterday. Protests have taken place on and off since the former general took office. But this latest wave represents the most serious challenge yet of Prabowo's five year term. For NPR News, I'm Ashish Valentine.

[Nora Ramm]

This is NPR News in Washington. During the Sunday blessing at the Vatican today, Pope Leo called for an end to what he called the pandemic of arms. He spoke directly in English about last week's shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis that killed two children. Eighteen people were wounded. Former CBS News Radio White House correspondent Mark Knoller has died at the age of 73. He was known as a number guy listeners and later social media users counted on him for his meticulous record keeping of the president's activity. NPR's Amy Held reports.

[Amy Held]

Born in Brooklyn in 1952, Mark Knoller became known as the Wikipedia of the White House starting at CBS News in 1988. The network says he grew frustrated by the lack of a central database chronicling the president's daily actions. So he became an unofficial presidential statistician.

[Nora Ramm]

Let me pull up my numbers, a.

[Amy Held]

Lot of numbers, how many trips the president made and where summits and golf outings. He tallied speeches and interviews, the minutiae that make history. Knoller reported across eight administrations and didn't mind the long hours. He told CBS's Katie Couric, I'm one.

[Carvana Announcer]

Of those lucky people that gets to work at something he loves doing.

[Amy Held]

Nola retired from the radio in 2020 but kept up on Twitter as a source of presidential news. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

Every year around Labor Day, Gallup takes a survey to gauge support for unions. This year, 68% of U.S. adults said they approve unions, about the same as last year. But only 15% said they live in a household with a union member. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News, in Washington.

[Carvana Announcer]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to npr news now +@ +npr.org that's +npr.org.