NPR News: 09-17-2026 11AM EDT
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Why did House Speaker Mike Johnson adjourn early and halt impeachment votes?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. House Speaker Mike Johnson has adjourned his chamber early so members can go home and campaign. The move prevents lawmakers from voting on articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports the House also won't vote on legislation affecting military veterans, a measure that has languished for years.
The bill would close a loophole that prevents some veterans who get VA disability benefits from also collecting full military retirement pay.
We've earned it. I was willing to give my life, no problem, for this country.
That's Jen Knott, who saw combat in Iraq. After years of waiting, she says the votes are finally there to force a vote on the bill, and Congress is going home.
It has a real-world effect on myself and my family and the other veterans and their families that are involved in this.
How will the veterans’ benefits bill affect retirement pay for service members?
You know, in this economy, we need our retirement.
Around 50,000 veterans are affected. The bill has been blocked from a vote by fiscal hawks in the past, but advocates hope it will pass after Congress returns in November. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
One measure the House did pass before adjourning was a sanctions bill against Russia. The measure is now going to President Trump for his signature. It's named for late South Carolina GOP Senator Lindsey Graham, who supported Ukraine strongly. NPR's Joanna Kakissas reports Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is praising the measure.
Writing on social media, Zelensky called the sanctions, quote, an extremely powerful tool that can stop this terrorist war and bring Russia to the point where it has to make peace. Zelensky added that the sanctions have to be powerful enough so diplomatic efforts to end the war can succeed.
What impact does the new Russia sanctions bill have on the war in Ukraine?
The bill enables the introduction of tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy. Shortly after the House of Representatives approved it, Russia launched a drone and missile attack throughout Ukraine. At least 20 people were injured in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. The bill is now on President Trump's desk awaiting his signature. Joanna Kikissis, NPR News, KU.
A team of U.N. investigators says there are reasonable grounds to think the U.S. committed war crimes in two airstrikes in Iran. This happened on February 28th when the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran.
What evidence links U.S. airstrikes in Iran to possible war‑crimes?
NPR's Aya Batraoui says the strikes targeted an elementary school.
There's a report out today by a U.N. investigative body that says there are reasonable grounds to believe the U.S. committed war crimes and airstrikes on Iran at the start of that war. They say those airstrikes killed at least 178 civilians, including 120 schoolchildren at a school in Minab in southern Iran. The Pentagon is still investigating that attack.
NPR's Aya Batraoui reporting. This is NPR. The Senate Committee on Health has held a confirmation hearing for some of President Trump's picks for the Department of Health and Human Services. That includes for U.S.
What controversies arose during the Surgeon General confirmation hearing?
Surgeon General. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reports the nominee was questioned about measles and vaccines.
President Trump's pick for Surgeon General is Dr. Nicole Sapphire, a radiologist and former Fox News commentator. At the very beginning of the hearing, Chair Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana who's a physician, challenged Sapphire on the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles.
Does it cause autism?
I do not believe childhood vaccines cause autism. Cassidy then asked if parents should get their kids vaccinated against measles.
The best tool we have to combat these infections to save the most lives and to also create population herd immunity is vaccination against the MMR.
Those are different positions than that of the man who will be Sapphire's boss if she's confirmed, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist. Salina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
How could the proposed Missouri congressional map change political representation?
Missouri Republican officials are arguing one more time today for a redrawn congressional map for their state. They're appearing before a federal appeals panel, but the chances of winning may be slim.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Why did House Speaker Mike Johnson adjourn early and halt impeachment votes?
0:00–0:55
2
How will the veterans’ benefits bill affect retirement pay for service members?
0:55–1:50
3
What impact does the new Russia sanctions bill have on the war in Ukraine?
1:50–2:28
4
What evidence links U.S. airstrikes in Iran to possible war‑crimes?
2:28–3:11
5
What controversies arose during the Surgeon General confirmation hearing?
3:11–4:05
6
How could the proposed Missouri congressional map change political representation?
4:05–4:53