NPR News: 09-20-2026 5PM EDT
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What are President Trump's plans for the proposed Washington DC arch and why are they controversial?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Linda Kenyon. President Trump says he plans to make his proposed two hundred fifty foot arch in Washington DC a military complex that will include areas for military snipers and weaponry. NPR's Christian Wright has the story.
Президент Трамп сейчас утру соціального ач нерва мall are needed for national security purposes. He says at the request of the military, the arch will post snipers and house store and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones and ammunition. The administration's plans to build the arch between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial have been met with opposition. Three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian sued, claiming the president needs congressional approval and that the arch would obscure a historically symbolic sight line. The National Park Service hasn't given final approval. Trump has also framed plans for a White House ballroom and underground bunker as a matter of national security.
As NPR Stephen Fowler reports, political campaigns and outside groups have pledged nearly two billion dollars in ads between now and election day.
How much money are political campaigns and outside groups spending on the upcoming Senate races?
Republicans have a spending advantage in eight of the nine most competitive US Senate races. That's thanks to outside groups like two Trump aligned super PACs that have dumped hundreds of millions of dollars into races in just the last two weeks. But if you look at where that money is going, you see the GOP is playing defense, like spending in House districts where Trump won by more than 10 or 15 points in 2024 in Texas, Kentucky, and Alabama. And those Senate races in reliably red states that Democrats now have a chance to flip. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.
The number of measles infections continues to grow in Pennsylvania. Sydney Roach from Member Station WPSU reports the state has recorded at least 767 cases so far this year, with at least four deaths.
Almost a hundred of those cases were reported in the past week. Governor Josh Shapiro called on Pennsylvanians on Friday to get vaccinated.
Why is Pennsylvania experiencing a surge in measles cases and what actions are officials taking?
I hope and pray that we lose no more lives. I hope and pray that the spread stops.
The State's Department of Health has administered more than 1,500 MMR vaccines so far this month. Pennsylvania's Department of Health is asking the CDC for on-the-ground help. But Governor Josh Shapiro has said he won't accept federal help until the CDC acknowledges the deaths in Pennsylvania. Currently, the CDC hasn't recorded any measles deaths this year. For NPR News, I'm Sydney Roach in State College, Pennsylvania.
New York City Mayor Zarun Lamdani's office says he will meet with President Trump at Gracie Mansion tomorrow. The statement says the meeting at the mayor's official residence will focus on issues affecting New York City and New Yorkers. You're listening to NPR News. New York regulators will be taking a closer look at how the state's utilities use AI. Samuel King with the New York Public News Network says the efforts come as concerns grow about how the technology could affect key infrastructure.
How is New York regulating utility companies' use of artificial intelligence and what risks are involved?
More utilities are using AI for things like facility inspections, outage modeling, and customer service, but New York's Public Service Commission says their growing use of AI comes with risks like hacking or model errors that could impact the electrical grid or other resources. So they want utilities to file semi-annual reports to better inform potential regulations. Dennis Dabari is with the state's Department of Public Service.
How are you monitoring this? Are there humans in the loop? Um do you have professionals on staff in the utility industry that know what they're doing and can actually control this?
Tabari says it's one of the first efforts of its kind in the country. National Grid, one of New York's major utilities companies, says it's reviewing the state's order. For NPR News, I'm Samuel King in Albany.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney says she's going to introduce a new measure to cap the number of foreign students in classrooms and ban the wearing of burkas in schools.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What are President Trump's plans for the proposed Washington DC arch and why are they controversial?
0:01–1:16
2
How much money are political campaigns and outside groups spending on the upcoming Senate races?
1:16–2:07
3
Why is Pennsylvania experiencing a surge in measles cases and what actions are officials taking?
2:07–3:14
4
How is New York regulating utility companies' use of artificial intelligence and what risks are involved?
3:14–4:12
5
What new measures is Italy's Prime Minister proposing for foreign students and school dress codes?
4:12–5:04