NPR News: 09-17-2026 1AM EDT
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Why did the Federal Reserve raise interest rates despite President Trump's opposition?
Live from NPR News, I'm Childs Snyder. The Federal Reserve defied President Trump and raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point Wednesday. The decision marks the first time in more than three years that the central bank has raised rates. NPR's Scott Horsley on what's behind the move.
In a word, inflation. And that is largely due to the U.S. war with Iran. Back in February, before the war started, inflation had fallen to just 2.4%. It looked to be headed towards the central bank's target of 2%.
How is the war in the Strait of Hormuz affecting U.S. inflation and fuel prices?
But with the fighting in the Strait of Hormuz, crude oil prices have soared. Gasoline and diesel prices are way up. And last month, inflation was clocked at 3.4%.
President Trump is blasting the Fed in North Carolina for a midterm campaign rally. Trump said he still has confidence in Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh, but that the board as a whole is very hostile towards the Trump administration. The White House turning its attention again to Venezuela. The oil industry there has been in disrepair for decades, but NPR's Willa Rubin reports that the American oil company Continental Resources says it's now developing an oil field there.
Continental Resources says it's planning to develop a block holding about 30 billion barrels of oil in a part of Venezuela rich with the kind of thick, heavy crude the country is known for. Continental says it evaluated opportunities in Venezuela after President Trump urged American energy companies to invest.
What is the significance of Continental Resources' new oil development plan in Venezuela?
The Oklahoma-based company was founded by Trump ally and donor Harold Hamm. Continental's move comes weeks after Chevron announced it's expanding operations in Venezuela. That announcement came days after the Trump administration said it's working with a private company headquartered in Barbados to develop 17 Venezuelan oil fields. All of these projects will take months, if not years, to develop. Willa Rubin, NPR News.
An Afghan man convicted of aiding the Islamic State terrorist group in Afghanistan has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. The case against Mohammad Sharifullah was tied to a deadly bombing at the Kabul airport during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Here's NPR's Ryan Lucas reporting.
Why was Afghan man Mohammad Sharifullah sentenced to 20 years for aiding ISIS?
U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga handed down the 20-year sentence for Mohammad Sharifullah. The maximum allowed for his one-count conviction. In April, a federal jury found Sharifullah guilty of of providing material support to a terrorist group, ISIS-K. But jurors deadlocked on whether he was responsible for the deadly Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul's airport. Thirteen American troops and more than 150 Afghans were killed in the blast. The bombing became a symbol of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan under the Biden administration.
How are extreme heat conditions impacting workers and safety regulations in Oklahoma?
Sharifullah was arrested in 2025, an event touted by senior Trump administration officials, including the president himself, who mentioned it during his address to Congress that year. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
And you're listening to NPR News. President Trump is back at the White House, arriving there late Wednesday night after campaigning in North Carolina for Republican Senate candidate Michael Watley. Watley is a former party chair. He's locked in a challenging race against his Democratic opponent, the former Governor Roy Cooper. The seat is critical to Democratic efforts to flip control of the Senate. Extreme heat lingering in Oklahoma, which could have its hottest September on record.
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Anna Pope from member station KOSU reports the state has no heat safety regulations for workers.
Oklahoma is one of 23 states without state laws regulating heat safety standards in public and private sectors, relying entirely on the federal government's Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules. OSHA has a nationwide recommended standard, but it hasn't been updated in a decade and it's not mandated. Forrest Bennett is president of the Oklahoma AFL-CIO.
Certainly, I don't mean to suggest that there's rampant disregard for safety standards in Oklahoma, but oftentimes people who've never been on the worksite can't fully appreciate how hot it can be.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Why did the Federal Reserve raise interest rates despite President Trump's opposition?
0:00–0:32
2
How is the war in the Strait of Hormuz affecting U.S. inflation and fuel prices?
0:32–1:27
3
What is the significance of Continental Resources' new oil development plan in Venezuela?
1:27–2:09
4
Why was Afghan man Mohammad Sharifullah sentenced to 20 years for aiding ISIS?
2:09–2:42
5
How are extreme heat conditions impacting workers and safety regulations in Oklahoma?
2:42–3:26
6
Which toys are finalists for the National Toy Hall of Fame 2026 and how can the public vote?
3:26–5:04