NPR News: 09-18-2025 4PM EDT
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Why is President Trump trying to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook?
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump is now taking his bid to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to the US Supreme Court. A lower court had blocked him from firing Cook, arguing that doing so Would violate the Federal Reserve Акт, which includes provisions intended to shield the central bank from political influence. The president concluded his historic second state visit to the United Kingdom earlier today. Trump met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Russia-Ukraine war was on the agenda. Н Пірс Тамар Кит репорт Трамп серед Русін лідер Владимир Путін лем да
са.
How did Trump’s UK state visit address the Russia‑Ukraine war and pressure on Putin?
Трамп'ян осикун і до воро. Бад прес конференція Трампedс.
It doesn't affect the United States and he look, it doesn't so much affect you. Of course you are a lot closer to the scene than we are. We have a whole ocean separating us.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer jumped in.
We have to put extra pressure on Putin. Um and it's only um when the President has put pressure on Putin that he's actually um shown any inclination to move. So we have to ramp that pressure up.
Starmer said the UK and France are willing to take the lead.
What new legislation are Congressional Democrats proposing to protect free speech from federal retaliation?
Tamar Keith, NPR News.
Congressional Democrats are proposing new legislation to protect speech by individuals, media outlets, and others from any retaliatory action by the federal government. More from NPR's Deirdre Walsh.
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy says President Trump and others in his administration are weaponizing the federal government to silence their critics. He pointed to ABC's decision to suspend late night host Jimmy Kimmel following Trump's FCC chairman, Brendan Carr's warning he would take action against the network.
That's censorship. That's state speech control. That's not America.
The No Political Enemies or NOPE Act would make it harder to hold someone liable for constitutionally protected speech. It would establish consequences for government officials who target protected speech and provides an ability for anyone targeted to recoup attorneys' fees.
Why is the federal advisory committee on vaccines raising concerns about panel member selection?
No Republican has signed onto the legislation, and it's unlikely to advance in a GOP controlled Congress. Deirdre Walsh and PR News said.
The Capitol. Today a federal advisory committee begins weighing questions about vaccines. And many in the medical community are watching with concern because Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stacked the panel with members who question the safety of long established vaccines.
MPR's Ping Wong has more. This group is really influential. You know, they decide what vaccines are offered for free to children through the Vaccines for Children program.
How are falling mortgage rates and the Fed’s recent rate cut affecting home buyers?
They decide what a lot of health insurers will cover. A lot of states have laws that are tied to, you know, school requirements based on what this group recommends. And so It is very possible that this group, if they choose to limit access, could make it harder for people to get vaccines.
NPRS Ping Wang reporting from Washington. This is NPR News. Home buyers are finding borrowing costs for a thirty year loan have fallen this week to six point two six percent from Six point three five percent last week. The housing finance giant Freddie Mac says the average rate on a 15-year mortgage has also fallen since last week, too, 5.41%. Yesterday the Fed lowered short term interest rates for the first time this year by a quarter percentage point.
What is Fat Bear Week and why are brown bears competing for the title of ‘Fattest Bear of the Year’?
This comes as critics accuse President Trump of trying to assert his authority on the central bank which was designed to be independent. Fat Bear Week, which celebrates the resilience of brown bears, has its main event next week with adult bears fighting for the title of Fattest Bear of the Year. First up though, Chubby Cubs competing in Fat Bear Junior, then Pierre's Ava Pucatch reports voting in the junior tournament open today.
The National Park Service encourages voters to vote for the bear they best believe exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears. The bears beef up for the winter, gorging on salmon in Brooks River in Alaska's Catmine National Park and Preserve.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Why is President Trump trying to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook?
0:01–0:37
2
How did Trump’s UK state visit address the Russia‑Ukraine war and pressure on Putin?
0:37–1:16
3
What new legislation are Congressional Democrats proposing to protect free speech from federal retaliation?
1:16–2:08
4
Why is the federal advisory committee on vaccines raising concerns about panel member selection?
2:08–2:39
5
How are falling mortgage rates and the Fed’s recent rate cut affecting home buyers?
2:39–3:26
6
What is Fat Bear Week and why are brown bears competing for the title of ‘Fattest Bear of the Year’?
3:26–4:39