Here's the Scoop (NBC News)

Episode Summary: "Trump’s U.N. Return: Nationalism Gets Top Billing; Nvidia’s Mega-Bet on ChatGPT Maker"

Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Yasmin Vesugian
Guests: Garrett Hake (NBC Senior White House Correspondent), Jason Abruzzese (NBC News Digital, Assistant Managing Editor)
Main Topics: President Trump’s address at the United Nations, Nvidia’s $100 billion deal with OpenAI, top news headlines

Episode Overview

This episode digs into two of the day’s biggest stories: President Trump’s high-profile return to the United Nations with a nationalist speech that doubled down on “America First” themes, and Nvidia’s staggering $100 billion investment in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, highlighting the ongoing AI arms race. The hosts also round up crucial headlines including a Supreme Court case about presidential powers and the nation’s biggest measles outbreak in decades.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump at the United Nations: Nationalism First

[01:26–10:44]

Heightened Security and Tense Atmosphere

• The 80th UN General Assembly convened in New York amid extreme security, with the Secret Service dismantling a network of electronic devices suspected of being able to disrupt citywide communications.
• The security threat announcement came just before President Trump’s return to the UN podium.

Trump’s Nationalist Rhetoric and Confrontational Tone

• Trump’s opening lines set the theme:

  “America is blessed with the strongest economy, the strongest borders, the strongest military, the strongest friendships, and the strongest spirit of any nation on the face of the earth. This is indeed the golden age of America.”
  — Donald Trump [02:38]

• He openly questioned the UN’s effectiveness and legitimacy:

  “What is the purpose of the United Nations? ... All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up.”
  — Donald Trump [03:08]

Expert Breakdown: Campaign Speech in Diplomatic Clothing

• Senior White House Correspondent Garrett Hake analyzed the speech:
  • Felt like a campaign rally, designed to energize Trump’s political base and push back against globalism.
  • Described Trump’s approach as “muscular,” directly challenging European allies and the UN, and akin to a “lecture” rather than diplomatic engagement.

  • “This felt like it was designed to talk to his political base, who, by the way, loved it, ate it up.”
    — Garrett Hake [03:58]

  • “Your countries are being ruined,” Trump scolded European counterparts—a theme picked up in real-time reactions.

Real-Time International Reaction

• Many world leaders expected Trump’s antagonistic style and sought to avoid open conflict, hoping to maintain workable relationships despite the harsh rhetoric.

• “I only do business with people I like. ... When I don’t like them, I don’t like them.”
  — Donald Trump [05:42]

• This personality-driven approach shapes US foreign policy interactions.

Trump’s Relationships With Putin and Zelensky

• Trump reflected on his perceived ability to influence President Putin and end the Ukraine war, but as Hake pointed out, “good vibes” have not translated into substantive changes:

  “I thought that [Ukraine] would be the easiest because of my relationship with President Putin, which had always been a good one.”
  — Donald Trump [06:30]

• Meeting with President Zelensky unlikely to yield major breakthroughs. The U.S. remains reluctant to increase pressure on Russia or Israel despite partner requests.

Middle East Policy: Palestinian Statehood and Reluctance to Pressure Israel

• France and the UK recognized a Palestinian state, which the Trump administration criticized as counterproductive.
• Trump avoids direct pressure on Netanyahu and remains more focused on courting Middle Eastern allies than on diplomatic pressure.

Unfiltered Trump: Foreign Policy Without Restraint

• According to Hake, Trump is “totally unencumbered by the traditional way of getting things done ... He’s not interested in taking advice from anybody.” [09:32]

Atmosphere Outside the UN

• Large, well-managed protests and mass media presence signify the event’s global attention.

2. Nvidia’s $100 Billion Mega-Bet on OpenAI (ChatGPT)

[12:46–18:15]

The Deal Explained

• Nvidia is set to funnel up to $100 billion into OpenAI, forging a close partnership where OpenAI will use Nvidia chips to power new AI models and data centers.
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called it:

  “... monumental in size. There’s never been an engineering project, a technical project of this complexity and this scale ever.”
  — Jensen Huang (quoted by Yasmin Vesugian) [13:11]

Why Nvidia, Why Now?

• Jason Abruzzese (NBC Digital) explains:
  • Nvidia makes the market-leading chips that power AI; OpenAI needs massive compute power and those chips.

  • “At some point, chips moved from becoming just what powers computers to what many in the technology world now see as powering the future. AI has to run on something. You need compute power. These chips are the best.”
    — Jason Abruzzese [13:47]

  • Few companies can build chips at this scale; Nvidia’s shift from gaming to AI has made it incredibly valuable in just a few years.

Mutually Beneficial… or Just Circular Logic?

• The deal structure draws skepticism:
  • OpenAI gets chips and compute power; Nvidia gets guaranteed business.
  • But, as Abruzzese notes, the large numbers might obscure genuine profitability:

  • “If I paid you $500 for something and then you paid me $500 for something, well, looks like we both made $500, but nothing really happened… Investors seem to love this stuff... There is a creeping skepticism that these deals are starting to cloud the reality of the challenges these companies face.”
    — Jason Abruzzese [17:02]

Financial Health and Potential Pitfalls

• OpenAI is not cash-starved, but scaling generative AI on this scale is massively expensive.
• The big deals drive up valuations but may not reflect sustainable business models if the growth does not translate to real-world revenue.

3. Rapid Headlines Rundown

[18:18–20:51]

• Supreme Court and FTC Independence
  • SCOTUS will hear a challenge on whether the President can fire Federal Trade Commissioners at will—a move pushed by Trump.

    “Giving the White House unchecked power… could have, quote, seismic consequences for the economy and everyday Americans.”
    — Yasmin Vesugian [19:21]

• Failed Assassination Attempt Conviction
  • Ryan Routh found guilty of attempted assassination of Trump; dramatic scenes in courtroom as he tried to stab himself upon conviction.
• Largest U.S. Measles Outbreak in Decades
  • Utah and Arizona experiencing a surge due to plummeting vaccination rates, dropping below herd immunity threshold.

4. Notable Lighter Moment

[20:51]

• Alaska’s Fat Bear Week Returns
  • The annual online competition to crown the fattest brown bear is underway—a humorous end-note to the episode.

Notable Quotes & Moments (Timestamps)

• Trump’s UN Opening:

  “This is indeed the golden age of America.”
  — Donald Trump [02:38]

• On the UN’s Effectiveness:

  “All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up.”
  — Donald Trump [03:08]

• Trump, Personal Diplomacy:

  “I only do business with people I like.”
  — Donald Trump [05:42]

• Garrett Hake on Trump’s Approach:

  “He’s not interested in taking advice from anybody. He’s going to do what he wants to do and, you know, let the consequences be what they may.”
  — Garrett Hake [09:32]

• Jensen Huang (Nvidia CEO) on OpenAI Deal:

  “There’s never been an engineering project, a technical project of this complexity and this scale ever.”
  — Quoted on show [13:11]

• Jason Abruzzese on Tech Investment Skepticism:

  “There is a creeping skepticism that these deals are starting to cloud the reality of the challenges these companies face.”
  — Jason Abruzzese [17:02]

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Key Topics | Start | |------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-------| | UN Security & Trump’s Speech | UN Assembly, Trump’s address, immediate reactions | 01:26 | | Trump’s Foreign Policy Approach | Ukraine, Putin, Zelensky, Palestine, Netanyahu | 06:13 | | UN Correspondent Report | Protests, NYC atmosphere | 10:05 | | Nvidia’s $100B AI Investment | Nvidia’s business, OpenAI partnership, implications | 12:46 | | Rapid Headlines | Supreme Court, assassination verdict, measles outbreak | 18:18 | | Fat Bear Week | Human interest, light close | 20:51 |

Tone & Style

The episode blends clear, rapid-fire reporting with sharp expert analysis and a conversational, sometimes lightly wry tone — especially in transitions between heavy political news and lighter segments. Insights are delivered with a focus on clarity, relevance, and the implications for listeners’ daily lives.

For Listeners: Why This Matters

• Global Politics: Trump’s nationalist rhetoric and adversarial stance at the UN reinforce shifts away from multilateralism, affecting world alliances and potentially U.S. foreign policy outcomes.
• Technology: The scale of the Nvidia/OpenAI deal reaffirms the centrality of AI to the next decade, but also raises questions about sustainability and tech sector transparency.
• Public Health & Governance: Headline updates tie together political decisions with their direct impact—on regulation, disease outbreaks, and civic stability.
• Moment of Levity: Fat Bear Week showcases viral cultural trends that bring audiences together beyond hard news.

End of Summary