NPR Up First – August 29, 2025

Episode Summary: Minneapolis Shooting Latest, New Acting CDC Director, North Korean Leader to Beijing

Overview

This episode of NPR’s Up First focuses on three major news stories shaping the day: the aftermath and community response to a tragic school shooting in Minneapolis, the political shakeup at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following a wave of resignations, and the upcoming unprecedented summit of North Korea, Russia, and China’s leaders for a military parade in Beijing. The hosts—Michelle Martin and Layla Fadel—provide in-depth coverage with field reporting and expert analysis.

1. Minneapolis Shooting: Community Mourning and Search for Meaning

[02:28–06:18]

Main Points

• Victims Identified: The two children killed during a church mass at Annunciation Church and Catholic School were 10-year-old Harper Lillian Moisky and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel.
• Family and Community Grief: Fletcher’s father, Jesse Merkel, gave a heartfelt public statement aiming to memorialize who his son was, not the violent act that claimed his life.
• Support and Empathy: The family and broader community ask for empathy rather than sympathy and emphasize the importance of remembering the victims for their lives, not their deaths.
• Shooter Information: The alleged shooter, 23-year-old Robin Westman, had ties to the church and school but no criminal history or confirmed grievance. Police report no sign of radicalization, but note a fascination with mass violence.

Notable Quotes

• Jesse Merkel, Fletcher’s father:
  • “Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life.” (00:07, 04:10)
  • “We will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him, and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming.” (03:23)
  • “We ask not for your sympathy but your empathy as our family as and the Annunciation community grieve and try to make sense of such a senseless act of violence.” (04:10)
• Michael Burt, parent of Harper’s friend:
  • “[My daughter] was telling me stories as we were going to bed last night of sleepovers they've had and goofiness of fifth grade girls… just makeup gone wrong and staying up late and watching movies.” (05:07)

Segment Flow

• [02:28] Victims’ names are announced.
• [03:05] NPR’s Jason DeRose reports from Minneapolis, sharing further details from the family and friends.
• [04:49] Background on Harper Moisky and the ongoing community trauma.
• [05:25] Discussion of law enforcement’s current findings about the shooter.

2. CDC Turmoil: Leadership Shakeup Amid Resignations

[06:28–10:30]

Main Points

• Leadership Change: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed Jim O’Neill as the acting director after the forced resignation of Susan Minares, who left under protest along with several top CDC officials.
• Qualifications and Concerns: O’Neill is not a physician or scientist but has strong libertarian views and significant experience in investment, notably working with Peter Thiel. Former directors see his appointment as part of a troubling pattern.
• Internal Dissent: Resigned officials cite concerns about anti-science directives and a move away from evidence-based public health practices.
• Congressional Oversight: Lawmakers, particularly Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), signal plans for oversight in response to the CDC’s leadership upheaval.

Notable Quotes

• Deb Howard, former CDC Chief Medical Officer:
  • “We said, okay, this is our time. And we decided to do it together because when a single senior leader leaves, you know, it gets a little blip. But for us, we care about the agency and the people, and this is the way we could make that strong statement.” (09:02)
  • “You can be a great administrator, but you do need to at least have a knowledge of how you'd handle an outbreak or an emerging pathogen.” (00:29, 09:33)
• Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR health policy correspondent:
  • “It’s notable that he [Jim O’Neill] is not a physician or a scientist. … Most CDC directors through the decades have had medical degrees.” (08:02)
• Reported O’Neill Quote (2009 Speech):
  • “Eleven people every day die while waiting for a kidney that could save their life. And there are plenty of healthy, spare kidneys walking around unused.” (07:53)

Segment Flow

• [06:28] Announcement of Jim O’Neill’s appointment and the reasons for Susan Minares’ removal.
• [07:03] Analysis of O’Neill’s background and beliefs.
• [08:27] Discussion of resignations and direct quotes from departing officials.
• [09:49] Congressional response and what comes next for CDC leadership.

3. Beijing Military Parade: A New Axis?

[10:39–14:02]

Main Points

• Historic Meeting: The leaders of North Korea, Russia, and China—Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping—will gather together for the first time for a military parade marking World War II’s end.
• Geopolitical Implications: The event signals a tightening of strategic ties between the three countries, framed as opposition to the U.S.-led world order.
• International Attendance and Messaging: While U.S. President Trump will not attend, heads of state from 26 nations, many aligned with China and Russia, will be present. China seeks to emphasize its World War II sacrifices as part of its leadership narrative.
• North Korea's Diplomatic Maneuvers: Kim Jong Un, having recently bounded closer to Russia, may be shifting focus as peace talks develop and possibly preparing to engage with the U.S. again.

Notable Quotes

• Anthony Kuhn, NPR Correspondent (from Seoul):
  • “It’s not only the first meeting of Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un. It’s a meeting of the three nations’ leaders that we didn’t even see during the Cold War.” (11:14)
• John Delury, Asia Society senior fellow (quoted by Anthony Kuhn):
  • “We can certainly read this as Kim Jong Un realizing, okay, I can’t put all my eggs in the Russian basket and again, need to kind of improve the ties with China, but also looking beyond China at Donald Trump and see what may be in play with the Americans.” (13:06)

Segment Flow

• [10:39] Overview of Beijing’s parade.
• [11:06] The historic nature of the three-way meeting and its limited military cooperation.
• [12:07] Discussion of guest list and diplomatic positioning.
• [12:43] Analysis of Kim Jong Un’s strategic approach and potential for renewed U.S. contacts.
• [13:39] China’s message of military power, national sacrifice, and global leadership.

Memorable Moments & Quotes With Timestamps

• Jesse Merkel’s emotional remembrance of his son (03:23–04:10):
  “We will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him, and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming.”

• Deb Howard on CDC leadership (09:33):
  “You can be a great administrator, but you do need to at least have a knowledge of how you'd handle an outbreak or an emerging pathogen.”

• Anthony Kuhn on the Beijing summit’s historic nature (11:14):
  “It’s a meeting of the three nations’ leaders that we didn’t even see during the Cold War.”

Conclusion

This episode provides a somber yet informative look at a community shattered by violence, the uncertainty facing America’s public health leadership, and a major geopolitical gathering signaling global realignments. Through interviews, on-the-ground reporting, and analysis, Up First offers listeners essential context behind today’s headlines, combined with the personal stories that define them.