NPR News: 09-12-2025 2PM EDT

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NPR News Now 4 min 3 speakers 5 chapters transcribed 28 days ago

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Who was the suspect arrested for the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk and what evidence was found?

Lakshmi Singh 0:01

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Utah authorities say they have custody of the man accused of assassinating right wing activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk. And PR's Bobby Allen with details.

Unknown 0:14

Tyler Robinson is twenty-two years old. He was arrested after a family member of Robinson's apparently reached out to authorities. Robinson, uh the investigators said, you know, made some kind of confession to a family member who then who then went to law enforcement. They they also have an incri incriminating message from him on uh the social media platform Discord about the location of a rifle.

Lakshmi Singh 0:38

NPR's Bobby Allen reporting. Kirk was fatally shot Wednesday as he was addressing a large crowd, including many college age students at Utah Valley University. The suspect is expected to be charged with aggravated murder.

Why are local officials in Memphis skeptical about a National Guard deployment after the President’s announcement?

Lakshmi Singh 0:51

President Trump has said that the person responsible should get the death penalty. The city of Memphis seems to be next on the president's list for a National Guard deployment. Christopher Blank of Member Station WKNO reports that local officials responded to today's announcement with more skepticism than protest.

Unknown 1:09

We're going to Memphis.

Unknown 1:21

Both Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, and Tennessee's Republican governor Bill Lee have welcomed federal crime intervention. They've asked for more police, more FBI agents, more financial resources. But given the city's declining murder rate and overall crime at a 25-year low, according to Memphis police, local officials aren't sure how the National Guard would have much impact in a city four times the size of Washington. Washington DC for NPR News, I'm Christopher Blank in Memphis.

Lakshmi Singh 1:51

More than two hundred recent heat waves were made worse by human caused global warming and the activity of fossil fuel producers. NPR's Julia Simon reports on the findings of a major study out this week.

How did the new ETH Zurich study link fossil‑fuel companies to recent extreme heat waves?

Julia Simon 2:06

First, the scientists found that two hundred and thirteen heat waves were substantially more likely and intense because of climate change, but that wasn't all. The team from ETH Zurich University used a database of major fossil fuel producers and calculated how much their greenhouse gas emissions contributed to global warming. They found dozens of heat waves would be virtually impossible without the activity of big fossil fuel companies because of how high their emissions are. As states, cities, and countries sue oil companies for damages from climate disasters, climate researchers say studies attributing specific events to specific corporations could become important in litigation. ExxonMobil, BP, and Chevron did not respond to NPR's request for comment.

Julia Simon 2:50

Julia Simon, NPR News.

Lakshmi Singh 2:52

The Dow's down more than two hundred points, SP's up four. The NASDAQ has gained one hundred three points. It's NPR News. The US holds high level trade talks with China this weekend.

What are the key points of the upcoming U.S.–China trade talks and the concerns over TikTok?

Lakshmi Singh 3:05

Treasury Secretary Steve Bessant leaves for Madrid, the side of the meeting. Delegations from the world's two biggest economies are expected to discuss tit for tat tariffs And national security threats, including ownership of the Chinese company TikTok. Washington's concern that Beijing could use Bite Dance to collect intel on American users and advance propaganda. Brazil Supreme Court sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to twenty-seven years and three months in prison for a coup attempt after his twenty twenty-two re-election loss. Julie Carneiro reports.

Julia Carneiro 3:40

A former army captain, then congressman, then president, and now heading to prison. The more than twenty-seven year sentence follows a momentous trial that gripped Brazil. Jair Bolsonaro, the divisive far right leader, was convicted on all five charges, including attempting a coup and leading a criminal organization. A panel of judges voted four to one to convict Bolsonaro and co-conspirators.

What were the charges and reactions surrounding former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction?

Julia Carneiro 4:04

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the sentence unjust in a post on X and said the US will quote respond accordingly to this witch hunt. The US had slapped fifty percent tariffs on Brazilian goods over Bolsonaro's prosecution. For NPR News, I'm Julia Carneiro in Rio de Janeiro.