NPR News: 09-16-2025 5PM EDT
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Why was Utah activist Charlie Kirk assassinated and what are the charges against Tyler Robinson?
Live from MPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Prosecutors in Utah have charged twenty-two-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and other crimes for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, authorities seeking the death penalty as MPR's Bobby Allen reports.
Say Robinson targeted Charlie Kirk over his political views. Utah City Attorney Jeff Gray says Robinson shot and killed Kirk from a roof of a campus building a hundred and sixty yards away from where Kirk was speaking before a crowd of some three thousand at Utah Valley University.
Charlie Kirk was murdered while engaging. In one of our most sacred and cherished American rights.
Grace says Robinson had started to lean more left wing and became more pro-gay and trans rights oriented in recent months. Robinson was romantically involved with his roommate, a man transitioning to a woman. Officials say a note that he left for the roommate before the shooting read, I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I'm going to take it.
How is the FBI Director responding to criticism over the Charlie Kirk investigation?
Bobby Allen, MPR News.
FBI Director Cash Patel appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, pushing back against questions about his handling of the Charlie Kirk investigation and the firings of veteran FBI officials who claim they were dismissed for political reasons. Terrorism charges against Luigi Mancioni, the man charged in the murder of United Healthcare executive Brian Thompson, have been dropped. As NPR's Quill Lawrence reports,
the Manhattan Supreme Court judge wrote there wasn't evidence for terrorism charges against the twenty-seven year old Mangioni. The charge of second degree murder stands for last December's killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The fifty year old father of two was in Midtown Manhattan for an investor conference. The state murder charge could send Mangioni to prison for life, and he also faces federal charges that carry the death penalty. The killing tapped into widespread public frustration against the U.S. healthcare industry, and some have even celebrated Mangioni as concern about political violence in the United States is on the rise.
What led to the dismissal of terrorism charges against Luigi Mancioni in the Brian Thompson murder case?
Quill Lawrence NPR News, New York.
Israeli troops are not yet in the dense urban center of Gaza City, but the military says they're advancing closer. Israel has intensified its bombardment of the city with scores of people killed, according to Gaza health officials. Hundreds of thousands of civilians still remain in the city, despite Israeli orders for them to leave to southern Gaza. The UN reports traffic jams on one narrow route out of Gaza City. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is trying to open more routes for people to leave. Some who fled the city returned, saying southern Gaza is overcrowded. Also Israeli warplanes struck a port in Yemen, continuing Israel's campaign against Iranian backed Houthi rebels.
How is the conflict in Gaza evolving and what are the humanitarian impacts on civilians?
Daniel Estran, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
And you're listening to MPR News. Tributes are being paid to legendary actor Robert Redford. Redford died today at age eighty-nine. His publicist says he died at his home in the mountains of Utah, but did not immediately provide a cause of death. Actor Coleman Domingo says Redford had an everlasting impact on movies, and director Ron Howard called Redford Sundance Film Festival a game changer. Spending at stores and restaurants increased six tenths of a percent in August compared to July. That's according to new data from the Commerce Department. Retail sales, a key economic indicator, and MPR Selena Silyuk reports that today's report comes as a Federal Reserve is widely expected to start lowering interest rates at the close of its two day meeting tomorrow.
What are the latest trends in U.S. retail sales and how might they influence the Federal Reserve’s interest‑rate decision?
Companies like Walmart and Dollar General have described shoppers as resilient but also careful hunting for deals, and the new retail sales data seems to illustrate that. In August, compared to July, retail spending inched up a little bit almost across the board, including on going out to eat and drink. Online sales got the biggest boost at two percent. Back to school shopping likely played a role, people spent more on clothes and electronics.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why was Utah activist Charlie Kirk assassinated and what are the charges against Tyler Robinson?
0:00–0:59
2
How is the FBI Director responding to criticism over the Charlie Kirk investigation?
0:59–2:02
3
What led to the dismissal of terrorism charges against Luigi Mancioni in the Brian Thompson murder case?
2:02–2:53
4
How is the conflict in Gaza evolving and what are the humanitarian impacts on civilians?
2:53–3:42
5
What are the latest trends in U.S. retail sales and how might they influence the Federal Reserve’s interest‑rate decision?
3:42–4:38