NPR News Now: September 1, 2025, 2AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Date: September 1, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes
Network: NPR

Episode Overview

This brief NPR News Now edition covers major U.S. and global news stories from the previous day, including political developments, an update on Rudy Giuliani's accident, international diplomatic tensions in Greenland, a devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, new research on animal feeding operations in poor communities, and sports headlines.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Federal Response to Urban Crime

[00:19] Dale Willman (Host):

• Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem intensified rhetoric about crime in U.S. cities.
• There are talks within the Trump administration of deploying National Guard troops to certain cities, despite some local leaders rejecting federal intervention.

[00:36] Christy Noem (on CBS’s Face the Nation):

“I think there's a lot of cities that are dealing with crime and violence right now. And so we haven't taken anything off the table. We've been making sure that we have the resources and the equipment to go in. We've been working to partner with every single agency that we can.”
[00:36] Christy Noem

• Emphasis is placed on a comprehensive approach and readiness, with no specific actions ruled out yet.
• Focus is on cities like Chicago, but local officials (mayor, governor of Illinois) insist federal troops are not needed.

2. Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized After Car Accident

[01:08] Chandelys Duster (NPR Correspondent):

• Rudy Giuliani injured in a high-speed car accident on a New Hampshire highway.
• Diagnosed with multiple lacerations, contusions, a fractured thoracic vertebrae, and injuries to his left arm and leg.
• Hospitalized and reportedly in “good spirits and recovering tremendously.”
• No evidence the accident was a targeted attack; outlined by his head of security.

3. Mid-Air Plane Collision in Colorado

[01:54] Dale Willman:

• Two private planes collided while trying to land near Denver.
• One killed, three injured.
• Cessna struck on approach; survivors sustained minor injuries.
• FAA investigating the incident.

4. Alleged U.S. Influence Operation in Greenland; French Response

[02:31] Terry Schultz (NPR Correspondent):

• Danish media report Americans, allegedly linked to the Trump administration, tried to encourage secessionist sentiment in Greenland.

[02:31] Terry Schultz:

"President Trump has repeatedly made clear he expects Greenland to become part of the U.S., in his words, 'one way or the other.'"

• French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, during a visit to Nuuk, denounced outside interference, emphasized Greenland is not for sale, and called on the U.S. not to sow division.

[02:57] Jean-Noël Barrot (French Foreign Minister):

"You will not make a nation greater again by imposing yourself on your neighbor and allies. You will make your nation greater again by contributing to the freedom of the world."
[02:57] Jean-Noël Barrot

• Announced a French consulate will open in Greenland in early 2026.

5. Earthquake in Afghanistan

[03:14] Dale Willman:

• Magnitude 6.0 quake in eastern Afghanistan, near Jalalabad.
• At least 250 dead, 500 injured. Reports of major damages yet to come.
• No further details due to ongoing developments overnight.

6. Study: Animal Feeding Operations & Environmental Justice

[03:52] AJ Jones (WCMU, Michigan):

• University of Michigan study analyzed 15,000+ cattle and hog lots in the U.S.
• Operations are disproportionately in low-income areas with poor air quality.
• Higher levels of PM2.5 contamination found in these counties.

[04:03] Shenaz Kamanara (Air Pollutant Researcher):

"There is no safe level of PM2.5, and PM2.5 actually is linked to, like, asthma, cancer—like leukemia, cardiovascular diseases."
[04:03] Shenaz Kamanara

• Study notes correlation, not causation.
• Communities near feeding operations often have lower health insurance and education levels.
• Researchers hope findings guide policies to protect vulnerable populations.

7. College Football Highlights

[04:34] Dale Willman:

• Miami Hurricanes (No.10) beat Notre Dame (No.6) 27-24; QB Carson Back threw 205 yards and 2 touchdowns in his debut.
• Carter Davis secured win with a 47-yard field goal in the last minutes.
• South Carolina (No.13) beat Virginia Tech 24-11, with Vicari Swain returning an 80-yard punt for a touchdown.

Notable Quotes

• [00:36] Christy Noem: “We haven't taken anything off the table… working to partner with every single agency that we can.”
• [02:31] Terry Schultz: “President Trump has repeatedly made clear he expects Greenland to become part of the U.S., in his words, 'one way or the other.'”
• [02:57] Jean-Noël Barrot: “You will not make a nation greater again by imposing yourself on your neighbor and allies… by contributing to the freedom of the world.”
• [04:03] Shenaz Kamanara: “There is no safe level of PM2.5, and PM2.5 actually is linked to, like, asthma, cancer… cardiovascular diseases.”

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:19 — Urban Crime & Federal Response (Dale Willman & Christy Noem)
• 01:08 — Rudy Giuliani Car Accident (Chandelys Duster)
• 01:54 — Colorado Plane Collision (Dale Willman)
• 02:31 — U.S.–Greenland Influence & French Response (Terry Schultz, Jean-Noël Barrot)
• 03:14 — Afghanistan Earthquake (Dale Willman)
• 03:52 — Environmental Justice Study (AJ Jones, Shenaz Kamanara)
• 04:34 — College Football Scores (Dale Willman)

Summary

This news-packed episode provides rapid global, political, and scientific updates, including U.S. federal-state tensions on urban crime, high-profile accidents, international diplomatic maneuvering, natural disaster responses, environmental justice research, and college football highlights—all delivered in NPR’s concise, factual style.