NPR News: 09-16-2026 3PM EDT
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Why is the Federal Reserve raising interest rates despite political pressure?
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Federal Reserve is defying President Trump's repeated calls to lower interest rates instead for the first time in more than three years. The central banks raising them and Pierre Scott Horsley reports on the Fed's decision today. To stick with its strategy to bring down inflation.
The central bank raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point. The move, which was widely expected, will make it more expensive to borrow money, to buy a car, or grow a business, or carry a balance on your credit card. The Fed is trying to combat stubborn inflation which has been rekindled by the US war with Iran. Gasoline prices are averaging well above four dollars a gallon, and diesel fuel is at a record high of six dollars thirty one cents a gallon. Raising interest rates won't necessarily bring lower prices at the gas pump, but it may help tamp down demand. Retail sales data released earlier today show consumers continued to spend freely in August, even as prices rose faster than wages.
How will higher rates affect everyday costs like car loans and credit cards?
Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington.
The economic fallout of the war is a major consideration for many voters who will decide the makeup of Congress come November. House Speaker Mike Johnson said today he was canceling legislative business starting tomorrow and sending lawmakers to the campaign trail.
It's time for our members to go home to their districts and make their case the American people to go and explain all the great things we've done.
The House Speaker also expressed solidarity with Defence Secretary Pete Heggseth. This week Republican Congressman Thomas Massey introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth. Speaker Johnson says that will be table, but probably not until lawmakers get back. Israel continues to launch near daily attacks in Gaza. Its health ministry says at least nine people were killed in strikes in the past twenty-four hours. The attacks come as Israel continues to reject a US proposal that would see Hamas disarm alongside an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
What impact does the Iran‑U.S. conflict have on U.S. inflation and voter concerns?
and Pierzanis Baba has details.
The aid group, medical aid for Palestinians known as MAP, says a 65-year-old man was shot and killed inside a health clinic by an Israeli quad captor in northern Gaza on Tuesday. That same day, an Israeli airstrike killed a 23-year-old paramedic. Video shows a 15-year-old boy running to the body before he too was killed in what's known as a double tap strike. Gaza's Health Ministry says a man and an eight-year-old girl were killed and fourteen others wounded when Israeli fired three missiles on a tent. Israel's military says that attack killed a Hamas commander in the south, the third this week. Israel Defense Minister said after the attack that quote Hamas won't be in Gaza, and Esbaba and Piranus Gaza.
From Washington, this is NPR News. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Junior will be the keynote speaker at a conference of anti-vaccine advocates tomorrow.
Why are House leaders canceling business and heading to the campaign trail?
The Children's Health Defense is having its annual gathering in Washington DC. And PR Sidney Lepkin has more.
Kennedy helped lead children's health defense before President Trump picked him to oversee the Department of Health and Human Services. He left in 2024. Now, Kennedy will be the headline speaker at its upcoming conference. Andrew Wakefield will also make an appearance. Wakefield's 1998 study linked to the MMR vaccine and autism, but it was later debunked and then retracted after an investigation by the medical journal that published it. Wakefield also lost his medical license. Children's Health Defense has filed dozens of lawsuits. Some involved suing states over vaccine requirements.
What are the latest developments in the Gaza conflict and civilian casualties?
One suit was against Meta for allegedly suppressing anti-vaccine content. Sydney Lupkin, NPR News.
Scientists are announcing they have found a crater on the moon that is bigger than the Roman Colosseum. They write in one of two studies appearing today in the journal Science Advances. The crater is about seven hundred twenty eight feet across and up to one hundred forty one feet deep.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Why is the Federal Reserve raising interest rates despite political pressure?
0:01–0:59
2
How will higher rates affect everyday costs like car loans and credit cards?
0:59–2:08
3
What impact does the Iran‑U.S. conflict have on U.S. inflation and voter concerns?
2:08–3:10
4
Why are House leaders canceling business and heading to the campaign trail?
3:10–3:51
5
What are the latest developments in the Gaza conflict and civilian casualties?
3:51–4:38
6
What new scientific discovery about a lunar crater was announced today?
4:38–5:03