NPR News Now – September 8, 2025, 9PM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston
Length: 5 minutes
Episode Purpose:
A concise update on major national and international news events, including new developments on U.S. immigration enforcement, legal updates involving former President Trump, international unrest and disasters, and financial market closes.

1. U.S. Immigration Enforcement Crackdown

• [00:20] Windsor Johnston announces increased immigration enforcement operations in multiple U.S. cities under the Trump administration, highlighting actions in Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore, New Orleans, Boston, and western Massachusetts.
• [00:59] Simone Rios (WBUR) explains “Operation Patriot 2.0,” which targets unauthorized immigrants in Boston.
• Key Details:
  • DHS cites the need to address perceived “mess” left by sanctuary city policies.
  • Local officials highlight Boston’s low crime rate and safety relative to other cities.
  • Boston mayor refuses to allocate local resources to federal deportation efforts.
• Notable Quote:

  "From the Boston area out to western Mass, we are seeing a lot of early morning activity and we are seeing a lot of larger groups of agents. And so we just encourage folks to continue to stay aware, to stay vigilant, to know their rights."
  —Gillian Phillips, volunteer monitor of ICE actions [01:19]

2. Trump Defamation Verdict Upheld

• [01:45] Federal appeals court upholds a jury’s verdict against Donald Trump in a defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.
• [02:04] Jacqueline Diaz details the court's rejection of Trump’s appeal, which had claimed presidential immunity and excessive damages.
• Key Details:
  • Jury previously found Trump defamed E. Jean Carroll, awarding over $80 million in damages.
  • Court declares verdict “fair and reasonable.”
• Notable Quote:

  “Trump appealed the jury verdict, claiming he is entitled to presidential immunity or at least a new trial... But an appeals court rejected these claims, saying the jury verdict is fair and reasonable.”
  —Jacqueline Diaz [02:16]

3. New Guidelines on Prayer in Public Schools

• [02:38] Windsor Johnston reports President Trump’s announcement regarding new Department of Education guidelines on student prayer rights.
• [02:52] Trump’s statement at the Bible Museum in Washington, D.C., emphasizes a push for religious values in education and public life.
• Notable Quote:

  “We have to bring back religion in America, bring it back stronger than ever before as our country grows stronger and stronger.”
  —Donald Trump [02:52]

• Key Context:
  • References Trump’s first-term policies tying federal funding to allowance of student religious expression.

4. International: Deadly Protests in Nepal

• [03:08] At least 18 killed and 400 injured in protests in Kathmandu, Nepal, over social media bans and government issues.
• Key Details:
  • Protesters rallied against new government restrictions on social media.
  • Police opened fire near parliament.
  • Government asserts regulation needed to curb fake news and fraud.

5. South Asian Floods Devastate Millions

• [03:53] Omkar Kandikar provides an update on catastrophic floods in Pakistan and India’s Punjab region.
• Key Details:
  • Major rivers connecting both countries overflow after dam water release.
  • Villages submerged, crops destroyed, dozens killed.
  • Over a million displaced in Pakistani cities Multan and Jhalalpur Perwala.
  • Environmentalists cite illegal riverbank development and blocked drainage as contributing factors.
• Notable Quote:

  “Heavy rains forced Indian authorities to release dam water into these rivers, and that has submerged villages, drowned crops and killed dozens of people living downstream in the two countries.”
  —Omkar Khandikar [04:06]

6. Stock Market Recap

• [04:48] The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes up 114 points; NASDAQ up 98.

Summary Remarks:
This fast-paced newscast covers pressing U.S. policy changes, court decisions involving public figures, ongoing international crises, and major financial updates. The episode is distinguished by clear, factual reporting and includes brief but impactful quotes from officials, local activists, and journalists, maintaining the signature clarity and conciseness of NPR reporting.