Tuesday morning news: August 26, 2025

Editor's note: The following text is a transcript of a podcast story. To listen to the story, click on the arrow beneath the headline above.

Trump executive orders: flag burning » Burn the American flag, and go to jail.

That was President Trump’s message at the White House as he signed an executive order that seeks to penalize anyone who desecrates the flag.

TRUMP:  You burn a flag, you get one year in jail. You don't get 10 years, you don't get one month. You get one year in jail and it goes on your record and you will see flag burning stopping immediately.

But there is no jail sentence outlined in the order. Instead, it directs the Justice Department to prosecute people for setting fire to the flag by using existing laws like those penalizing an incitement to violence.

TRUMP:  When you burn the American flag, it incites riots. People go crazy.

The order also instructs the attorney general to challenge a 1989 Supreme Court ruling that that protected flag burning as political expression.

Critics say the president is overstepping his authority. Legal challenges already in the works to that order.

Trump exec orders: Cashless bail » And to another executive order Trump signed on Monday.

That one targets cashless bail, whereby some states and jurisdictions now allow many suspects after their arrest to leave jail, pending trial, without posting a cash bond.

President Trump and other critics say that allows more criminals out on the street.

TRUMP:  Somebody kills somebody, they go in. Don't worry about it, no cash. Come back in a couple of months, we'll give you a trial. You never see the person again.

But proponents of the policy called Trump‘s remarks an exaggeration, saying cashless bail reforms generally apply to nonviolent offenses.

And they say the cash-based bail system is discriminatory because some people have the financial means to post bail that others do not.

Trump’s executive order threatens to withhold federal funds from cities and states that refuse to scrap cashless bail.

Trump-South Korea president meet » A short time later, President Trump welcomed the new president of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, to the Oval Office.

MYUNG: Mr. President, let me begin by thanking you on behalf of the Korean people. I would like to thank you for giving your time for today’s meeting.

Before a row of cameras, Myung praised Trump’s peacemaking efforts around the world, and had kind words for his economic policies.

In trade talks, the two presidents moved closer to a deal to cut US tariffs on South Korean imports from 25% to 15%, with Seoul also pledging to invest another $350 billion dollars in the US.

Before the meeting, Trump voiced concern over political raids there — including government crackdowns on certain churches and even a prosecutor’s search at a joint U.S.–South Korean military base. Myung called it a misunderstanding.

Abrego Garcia » Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters Monday that federal authorities had arrested Salvadorian national Kilmar Abrego Garcia

BONDI: We've got him under control. He will no longer terrorize our country. He's currently charged with human smuggling and including children.

The Justice Department says he’s a member of the MS-13 gang and a danger to society. Garcia denies those accusations.

Authorities on Monday arrested him shortly after he met with federal officials for an immigration appointment. The Trump administration plans to deport him now to Uganda.

Defense attorney Simon Sandoval‑Moshenberg:

ATTORNEY: For them to insist on fighting out a deportation to Uganda shows that the real motive in this matter is not getting him out of the country. It's punishing him and keeping him locked up.

Garcia entered the country illegally in 2011, but he had been shielded from deportation by a judge’s order. The Trump administration mistakenly deported him earlier this year, sparking a legal battle and political firestorm … before prosecutors say they brought him back to the U.S. to face charges.

U.S.-Indonesia drills » The United States and Indonesia today launched joint military drills in the Indo-Pacific region aimed at keeping China in check. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has that story.

BENJAMIN EICHER: Thousands of troops are training with tanks, artillery, helicopters, and warships in the annual exercises.

Indonesia is leading the drills, along with the United States and nearly a dozen other countries. It’s an annual exercise known as the Super Garuda Shield, which began back in 2009.

Over the years, it has become increasingly focused on countering the threat that China poses in the region.

Beijing has grown more aggressive, claiming more of the South China Sea as its territorial waters.

Jakarta has expressed its own concern about what it sees as Chinese encroachment on its exclusive economic zone in the sea. Though Indonesia generally maintains positive ties with Beijing.

This year’s drills will wrap up next week with a combined live-fire drill.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

SpaceX Starship launch » SpaceX had to scrub a scheduled launch of its Starship rocket again last night, this time due to weather.

Officials had hoped to try again one day after engineers had to call off a Sunday launch due to problems with the ground systems at the Starbase launch site in south Texas.

No word yet on when they’ll try again.

The mission is designed to test upgrades to the rocket’s engines and heat shield — key steps toward future deep-space flights.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: California families are voicing concern about a proposed law that’s supposed to protect minors. Plus, a visit to a Pittsburg church with an interesting collection of religious artifacts.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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