NPR News: 09-16-2025 5AM EDT

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NPR News Now 4 min 4 speakers 5 chapters transcribed 29 days ago

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What are the details of the alleged shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah?

Dave Mattingly 0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingley. The man suspected of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Provo. Twenty two year old Tyler Robinson is expected to be formally charged with multiple counts, including aggravated murder. The murder charge carries a potential death penalty under state law. Authorities say Utah's uh Utah's governor, Spencer Cox, has said Robinson is not cooperating with investigators, but Robinson's roommate is. Dozens of people in the U.S. have been fired, suspended, or otherwise disciplined by their employer for posting comments about the slang of Charlie Kirk on social media. NPR's Ho Jing Nan has more.

Huo Jingnan 0:49

They worked in places like schools, government offices, hospitals, and corporations.

How have employers responded to employees commenting on Charlie Kirk and what are the free‑speech implications?

Huo Jingnan 0:53

The comments arranged in tone. Some called it karma, others focused on lack of gun control. Conservative online influencers mobilized their followers to pressure employers to take action, and some of those who criticized Charlie Kirk have received threats. In his lifetime, Kirk focused on the Christian faith and growing families, but also made incendiary comments about gun deaths and some marginalized groups. Scholars who focus on freedom of speech issues are taking note that some members of Congress and government officials have indicated that they would go after speech they deem problematic. Those scholars say the closest parallel to that is McCarthyism. What you none, MPR News.

Dave Mattingly 1:30

The US military has carried out a second deadly airstrike on a small boat in the Caribbean. NPR's Quill Lawrence says both vessels were destined for the US carrying drug shipments from Venezuela.

Why did the US military conduct a second airstrike on a Caribbean boat suspected of carrying Venezuelan drugs?

Quill Lawrence 1:44

President Trump posted a video of an airstrike on social media saying the US had confirmed the three people on a small boat in international waters were carrying drugs on board. Two US officials who requested anonymity because they're not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that Congress had been notified of the strike. The previous strike on a Venezuelan boat killed eleven people who appeared to be heading back to shore. President Trump has moved ships and troops into the waters off Venezuela and says the US is hunting what he called narco terrorists. Venezuela is considered a minor player in smuggling of cocaine to the US. The far deadlier drug, fentanyl, is made and smuggled into the US from Mexico.

Quill Lawrence 2:22

Quill Lawrence and PR News.

Dave Mattingly 2:25

The Trump administration is adding Colombia to its list of countries not cooperating with the US to combat illegal drugs. It's been almost thirty years since Columbia was on that list.

What is the significance of President Trump’s meeting in Britain and the Federal Reserve’s upcoming rate decision?

Dave Mattingly 2:37

It reflects a recent surge in cocaine production amid strained relations between the White House and Columbia's leftist president. The Israeli military says its expanded operation in Gaza City is underway and Palestinians reported heavy Israeli airstrikes overnight as Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Doha. This is NPR News. Later today in Britain, President Trump is scheduled to meet with King Charles at Windsor Castle and to hold talks with the UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Sheckers. This is Trump's second state visit to Britain. The Federal Reserve begins its latest policy meeting today. Economists are expecting the Fed to announce a quarter point cut in interest rates when talks wrap up tomorrow.

Dave Mattingly 3:25

Concerns about a slowdown in hiring in the US are expected to prompt the Fed to lower rates for the first time in nine months.

How are religious vaccine exemptions affecting Mississippi’s public health and what disaster aid is North Carolina seeking after Hurricane Helene?

Dave Mattingly 3:33

Officials in Mississippi say vaccination rates have been declining since the state began allowing parents to file for exemptions to school policies based on religious beliefs. And be ours Katie Riddle has more.

Katie Riddle 3:46

The vaccination rates in Mississippi are still relatively high, but thousands of families have filed for religious exemptions. Pediatrician Anita Henderson says this is an issue she deals with nearly every day. And I can say as a general pediatrician, I am now getting more and more and more moms who are questioning vaccines, refusing vaccines, and we really have become a victim of our own success.