NPR News Now: Sept. 1, 2025 – 5AM EDT

Host: Dave Mattingly, NPR
Date: September 1, 2025

Overview

This five-minute news update covers overnight global and national headlines, including a deadly earthquake in Afghanistan, major developments in China’s regional strategy, U.S. immigration enforcement, an update on Rudy Giuliani’s health, a key immigration court ruling, the state of financial markets, and the swelling Powerball jackpot.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Earthquake in Eastern Afghanistan

[00:18–01:05]

• Casualties: A magnitude 6 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near Jalalabad, killing at least 800 people and injuring about 2,500.
• Challenges: Remote, mountainous terrain is significantly slowing rescue efforts.
• International Coverage:
  • Dave Mattingly: “Officials say efforts to reach some of the injured are being slowed because of the remote mountainous terrain.”

2. China’s Push for a New Economic Order

[01:05–01:42]

• Xi Jinping's Statement: At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, Xi announced $280 million in free aid and an additional $1.5 billion for a proposed development bank.
  • Laura Bicker, BBC [01:15]: “The Chinese leader described this as a mega-scale market to improve trade and investment between their countries. This is Mr. Xi’s vision of a new global and economic order which he may hope will challenge the United States.”

3. U.S. Immigration and Domestic Security

[01:42–02:27]

• Enforcement Expansion: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the Trump administration will expand immigration enforcement in major cities, including Chicago.
• Political Pushback: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson publicly opposed President Trump’s threats to deploy the National Guard.
• No Specifics: Noem refused to say if the Guard would be deployed.
  • Summary quote: “Noem would not specify whether the Guard would be deployed there.”

4. Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized After Car Crash

[02:27–03:13]

• Incident: Giuliani was injured in a high-speed rear-end collision in Manchester, New Hampshire.
• Injuries: He suffered multiple lacerations, contusions, a fractured thoracic vertebra, arm, and leg injuries.
• Condition: He is reportedly “in good spirits and recovering tremendously.”
  • Chandelyse Duster, NPR [02:52]: “‘The spokesperson, who is also Giuliani’s head of security, said the accident was not a targeted attack.’”

5. Federal Judge Blocks Deportation of Guatemalan Children

[03:13–03:52]

• Court Ruling: Hundreds of unaccompanied Guatemalan minors due for deportation must be returned to U.S. government facilities pending further legal proceedings.
• Immediate Impact: The order came after children had already boarded planes for deportation.

6. U.S. Economic Outlook

[03:52–04:33]

• Labor Market Suspense: Investors await Friday’s new job numbers, with additional intrigue due to recent leadership changes at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Presidential Interference: President Trump previously fired the top official after unfavorable jobs data, claiming manipulation.
  • Rafael Nam, NPR [04:05]: “The president claimed, without evidence, that the data was being manipulated to make his administration look bad.”

7. Stock Markets and Powerball Lottery

[04:33–04:57]

• Markets: The Dow, S&P, and NASDAQ start September after months of steady gains. No U.S. trading due to Labor Day.
• Lottery: The Powerball jackpot surpasses $1 billion after no winner on Saturday; the odds of winning are 1 in 292 million.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Xi Jinping’s ambitions:
  • Laura Bicker [01:15]: “This is Mr. Xi’s vision of a new global and economic order which he may hope will challenge the United States.”
• On Giuliani’s crash:
  • Chandelyse Duster [02:52]: “He is, quote, in good spirits and recovering tremendously.”
• On labor data controversy:
  • Rafael Nam [04:05]: “The president claimed, without evidence, that the data was being manipulated to make his administration look bad.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Afghanistan Earthquake: [00:18–01:05]
• China’s Aid & Economic Bloc: [01:05–01:42]
• US Immigration Enforcement: [01:42–02:27]
• Giuliani Hospitalized: [02:27–03:13]
• Judge Blocks Deportations: [03:13–03:52]
• Labor Market/Economy: [03:52–04:33]
• Markets & Powerball: [04:33–04:57]

Note: Ads, intro, and outro segments have been omitted.