NPR-up first.

"Fighting in Ukraine escalates ahead of Trump-Putin summit."

Views expressed in this World and U.S. News update are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 14 August 2025, 1332 UTC.

Content and Source:  "NPR-up first."

 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzQcpKfdFbjgxZxvPpmxtVHNHKlZ

URL--https://www.npr.org.

Please check email link, URL, or scroll down to read your selections.  Thanks for joining us today.

Russ Roberts (https://trendsingeopolitics.blogspot.com).

Was this newsletter shared with you? Subscribe now.

by Brittney Melton August 14, 2025 Good morning. Starting tomorrow, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) is heading back to theaters to celebrate its 35th anniversary. Here’s the news we’re following today: Fighting in Ukraine escalated in recent days as President Trump prepares to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska tomorrow. This week, a small number of Russian troops slipped through Ukraine’s defensive lines on the main battlefront near the town of Pokrovsk, NPR’s Greg Myre tells Up First. As the war continues, Trump will attempt to broker a ceasefire deal at the summit. Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images 🎧 Russia is now unleashing waves of drones most nights, says Myre, who is in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. Until this year, Russia fired about a couple of dozen drones a night. In July, it averaged over 200 a night, sending many at civilian targets across the country. Ukraine is on the offensive with its own drones, striking deep inside Russia at oil refineries and railway stations and targeting transportation systems used to send supplies, including ammunition, to troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Putin shows no signs of preparing for a truce, and it appears Russia might expand military operations.  The Trump administration is building a large detention camp at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, near the U.S.-Mexico border. The project will cost billions of dollars. The tent facility is part of an effort to increase detention space to carry out mass deportations. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the location will open with 1,000 beds, with plans to expand to 5,000. The first detainees are expected to arrive on Sunday.  🎧 El Paso is an area that has advocated for immigrants, according to Angela Kocherga with NPR’s network station KTEP. Some locals have voiced concerns about using a military base to carry out immigration enforcement. None of the active duty soldiers will be involved in operations at the camp. At a time when funding for education, housing and healthcare is being cut, people are concerned about the amount of money going into building and operating facilities like the one opening at Fort Bliss, says Kocherga.  Trump announced this year’s Kennedy Center honorees and said that he would host the ceremony — a presidential first — in December. This comes after the president’s takeover of the performing arts center in February, when he named himself chairman and appointed loyalists to the board. The 2025 honorees include country singer George Strait, Broadway star Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone, disco singer Gloria Gaynor and the rock band KISS.  🎧 Traditionally, nominees for the award come from Kennedy Center board members, the general public and past honorees, explains NPR’s Elizabeth Blair. The U.S. president was never closely involved the way Trump has been this year. The president stated that he rejected some candidates whom he referred to as “wokesters.” Blair says Trump’s passion for the performing arts stood out to her as he spoke of each honoree, because he has proposed eliminating the arts and humanities endowments that support music and theater across the country.  Newsletter continues after sponsor message  master1305/Getty Images There are moments in life when you need to deliver a pep talk to someone. To inspire courage and motivation, it's essential to show you are on the message receiver’s side. Josh Linden and Paula Skaggs, co-authors of the book Tiny Pep Talks, share with Life Kit the perfect ingredients to deliver a message that inspires — whether it's for a loved one or for yourself. 💬 Instead of saying, “You can do this!” tailor the message to the person and what they are anxious about. 💬 Be a cheerleader for your loved ones in everyday moments. Don’t save support and encouragement only for life’s bigger challenges.  💬 Remember to assess the situation. Not every pep talk has to include advice or a solution. Try being an active listener and provide comfort.  For more guidance on giving pep talks, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more. Donovan Smith/NPS The Mojave Desert tortoise has been considered a threatened species for a while. In June, California took measures to protect it further., The tortoises, with their unmistakable domed patterned shells, live in California, parts of Nevada, Arizona and northwestern Mexico. Over the years, they have lost their habitat due to encroaching development. Some estimates show that around 90% of Mojave Desert tortoises have disappeared since 1984 in four out of the five primary regions where they can be found. As a response to the declining population, California has declared the tortoise as endangered under the state's Endangered Species Act. See photos of the tortoise in its natural habitat and read more about why it's significant to the environment. Did you hear? With federal funding for public media all but eliminated, NPR relies more than ever on support from listeners like you. That’s why we’re inviting you to take part in a special giveaway to help keep public media strong — and maybe win a once-in-a-lifetime trip in the process! One lucky winner (and their guest!) will visit NPR HQ and see a Tiny Desk Concert live in person — and even get to choose from a lineup of upcoming shows. It’s free to enter, but when you donate through this giveaway page, you’ll score exclusive, limited-run merch and boost your chances to win.  Donate for Merch & Extra Entries! Enter for Free ➔ Julio Cortez/AP This year, 54% of Americans said they drink alcohol, breaking the record low set in 1958, according to a new Gallup poll. HUNTR/X, the girl group from the movie KPop Demon Hunters, took the No.1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 this week with "Golden." The real-life singers who make up the group have now become the first women K-pop artists ever to get the top spot on the chart. Spotify, the most popular streaming service globally, is not taking steps to label AI-generated content, unlike other tech giants like YouTube. Spotify says it doesn’t police the tools artists use in their creative process, but experts say more transparency is key. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from Hawai‘i Public Radio (edit station). This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen. Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can  sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Politics, Health and more!