NPR News: 09-05-2025 11AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 5, 2025, 11AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This rapid-fire news update, hosted by Korva Coleman, covers major national and international stories from the morning of September 5, 2025. Key topics include the latest U.S. jobs report, a secretive military mission to North Korea, potential renaming of the Department of Defense, Missouri’s congressional redistricting efforts, a major immigration raid at a Hyundai plant, a new HIV prevention drug for low-income countries, and a record Powerball jackpot.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Latest U.S. Jobs Report

• [00:17] The Labor Department’s August jobs report shows only 22,000 new jobs created, falling short by about 50,000 compared to analysts’ expectations.

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Secret Navy SEAL Mission in North Korea

• [00:17] The New York Times reports that during President Trump’s first term, he authorized a clandestine mission in North Korea.
  • In 2019, a Navy SEAL team landed on North Korean shores to plant a device intended to monitor leader Kim Jong Un’s communications.
  • The mission failed after an unexpected encounter with a civilian boat; the SEALs opened fire, killing those onboard.

Quote:

“They were expecting this shore to be empty... Instead, they encountered a boat that started flashing lights down at the submarines. The seals who were on the shore watching this didn’t know what to do and so they opened fire and killed everybody on the boat.”
— David Phillips, New York Times [01:02]

• Congressional leaders were reportedly not informed of the mission.

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Department of Defense Renaming Proposal

• [01:20] President Trump is expected to change the name of the Department of Defense back to the "Department of War."
• Historical context: The U.S. had a War Department until 1947, when it was renamed Defense by President Truman.
• It is unclear if the president has authority to change the name without congressional approval; the process would also be costly.

Quote:

“Even just changing signs, seals, and titles could cost tens of millions of dollars.”
— Quill Lawrence, NPR [01:36]

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Missouri Congressional Redistricting

• [02:14] Missouri Republicans are moving forward with redrawing the state's congressional maps, following a push by President Trump and mirroring actions in Texas.
• The revised lines would flip Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-based district to favor the GOP.
• Missouri Republicans hold supermajorities, making the change likely even without Democratic participation.

Quote:

“Not only are they wasting taxpayer money by doing this, but they’re actually subverting the will of most of our voters and the people of the United States whenever they do this.”
— Jeremy Dean, Democratic State Representative [02:57]

• Debate is scheduled to begin the following week.

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Immigration Raid at Hyundai Plant

• [03:13] Over 450 people detained at a Hyundai plant construction site in Savannah, Georgia; officials state the workers are in the U.S. illegally.
• The incident has halted construction on a factory meant to produce EV batteries.

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U.S. Supports Global HIV Prevention

• [03:55] The U.S. is partnering with the drugmaker Gilead and the Global Fund to help distribute Lenacapavir, a new injectable HIV prevention drug, in low-income countries.
• The aim is to reach millions over three years, despite prior sizable cuts in U.S. foreign aid.

Quote:

“Many of us were in a great deal of dismay and despair, but this announcement really brings a mixture of hope and relief.”
— Linda Gail Becker, University of Cape Town [04:22]

• The Trump administration is positioning this as a model for future global health policy.

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Record Powerball Jackpot

• [04:43] The Powerball jackpot has climbed to approximately $1.7 billion, making it one of the largest in the game’s history. Next drawing is scheduled for tomorrow night.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• David Phillips on the failed North Korea mission:
  “They were expecting this shore to be empty...” [01:02]

• Quill Lawrence on the potential costs of renaming the Department of Defense:
  “Even just changing signs, seals, and titles could cost tens of millions of dollars.” [01:36]

• Rep. Jeremy Dean on Missouri redistricting:
  “...subverting the will of most of our voters and the people of the United States...” [02:57]

• Linda Gail Becker on new HIV drug aid:
  “This announcement really brings a mixture of hope and relief.” [04:22]

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Timeline of Major Segments

• [00:17] Jobs report & secret North Korea mission
• [01:36] Department of Defense renaming proposal
• [02:31] Missouri redistricting controversy
• [03:13] Hyundai plant immigration raid
• [03:55] HIV prevention drug for low-income nations
• [04:43] Powerball jackpot update

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This episode delivers a concise but comprehensive summary of the day's top news, highlighting significant political, economic, and global health developments with key voices from reporters and newsmakers.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The Labor Department has released its latest monthly jobs reports. In August, only 22,000 new jobs were created. That's about 50,000 fewer jobs than analysts were expecting. The New York Times is reporting that during President Trump's first term in office, he authorized a top secret military mission into North Korea. In 2019, a Navy SEAL team landed on the North Korean shoreline. According to the Times, they were supposed to plant a device to monitor the communications of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But the mission failed after the seals were discovered by some North Koreans who were killed. They were apparently civilians. David Phillips was one of the New York Times reporters for this article.

[David Phillips]

They were expecting this shore to be empty when they reached this area. Instead, they encountered a boat that started flashing lights down at the submarines. And the seals who were on the shore watching this didn't know what to do and so they opened fire and killed everybody on the boat.

[Korva Coleman]

He spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. The New York Times is also reporting leaders in Congress were not informed about the SEALs mission. President Trump is expected to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports.

[Quill Lawrence]

Almost from the country's founding, the U.S. military was overseen by the War Department. Then after World War II, President Harry S. Truman changed the name to the Department of Defense, housed in the newly finished Pentagon building in Virginia. Last month, at an event at the Oval Office, President Trump said the department should go back to the old name, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said it was in the works. It's not clear Trump can officially change the name without congressional action, but the president said he would do so regardless as the largest department in the US Government. Even just changing signs seals and titles could cost tens of millions of dollars. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Missouri Republicans are closer to redrawing the state's congressional maps. They would be following Texas Republicans who did the same after a demand from President Trump. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum reports. The Republicans goal is to send more GOP lawmakers to the US Congress.

[Jason Rosenbaum]

A state House committee approved revised congressional lines that would convert Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver's Kansas City based district into a GOP leaning seat. Unlike places like Texas, Missouri Republicans hold a supermajority in the state House and Senate and could likely pass the map even if Democrats don't show up to vote. But Democratic state Representative Jeremy Dean says the GOP may face backlash at the polls.

[Jeremy Dean]

Not only are they wasting taxpayer money by doing this, but they're actually subverting the will of most of our voters and the people of the United States whenever they do this.

[Jason Rosenbaum]

The Missouri House is slated to begin debate over the new map early next week. For NPR News, I'm Jason Rosenbaum in Jefferson City.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Immigration officials say they have detained more than 450 people at a Hyundai plant in Savannah, Georgia. Federal officials say they're construction workers and they're in the US Illegally. The plant makes electric vehicles. The operation has forced the Hyundai facility to stop construction on a factory on site that is supposed to produce EV batteries. The US has announced it's helping to procure a new HIV prevention drug. Over the next three years. Millions of people in low income countries could receive it. NPR's Gabriela Emanuel reports. The medication has been called a game changer.

[Gabriela Emanuel]

With just two injections a year, you are almost completely protected against contracting hiv. The US Says it's going to work with the drug maker Gilead and the Global Fund, the international financing organization, to get Lenacapavir to the country's hardest hit by HIV after billions cut in foreign aid. Linda Gail Becker of the University of Cape Town says this is welcome news.

[Linda Gail Becker]

Many of us were in a great deal of dismay and despair, but this announcement really brings a mixture of hope and relief.

[Gabriela Emanuel]

The Trump administration says this approach of buying commodities and focusing on medical breakthroughs will be a model for how it does global health work in the future. Gabriela Emanuel, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The Powerball jackpot is growing. It's now worth about $1.7 billion. The next drawing is tomorrow night. This is one of the largest Powerball jackpots ever. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.

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