NPR News Now: September 4, 2025, 4PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh

Episode Theme:
A brisk, five-minute update on the day’s most pressing national stories. Main topics include bipartisan scrutiny of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s vaccine policies, a high-profile White House business dinner, Congressional action on Jeffrey Epstein case files, and promising LSD research for anxiety.

1. Senate Critiques Health Secretary Kennedy on Vaccines

[00:32 – 01:21]

• Main Issue:
  Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. faced bipartisan criticism from the Senate Finance Committee for his stance on vaccines and handling of COVID vaccine distribution.
• Key Exchange:
  • Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) challenges Kennedy on the availability and access to COVID vaccines:
    • Senator Warren, 00:52: "You just changed the classification of the COVID vaccine."
    • Kennedy, 00:56 / 01:01 (responding to charge of limiting access): "I'm not taking them away from people, Senator... Most Americans are going to be able to get it from their pharmacy for free."
    • Warren, 01:10: "The question is, everyone who wants it? That was your promise."
    • Kennedy, 01:15: "I never promised that I was going to recommend products with which there is no indication."
  • Bipartisan Pushback:
    Republican Senator Bill Cassidy joins the criticism, focusing on Kennedy’s decision to cancel certain COVID vaccine contracts and ongoing CDC leadership turnover.

2. NIH Whistleblower Complaint Against Trump Administration

[01:21 – 02:27]

• Complaint Filed:
  Two former top NIH officials, Dr. Gene Marrazzo and Dr. Kathleen Nuzil, allege illegal retaliation by the Trump administration for defending vaccine science and critical research programs.
• Nature of Allegations:
  • Retaliation for resisting canceled research.
  • Politicization of scientific studies.
  • Hostile actions against vaccine and public health initiatives.
• Official Response:
  Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesman Andrew Nixon defended the administration’s actions.

3. Trump Hosts Top Business Leaders (Notably Excluding Musk)

[02:27 – 03:20]

• Event:
  President Trump is hosting a private dinner for dozens of high-profile business executives, including:
  • Mark Zuckerberg (Meta CEO)
  • Tim Cook (Apple CEO)
  • Sam Altman (OpenAI CEO)
  • Notable exclusion: Elon Musk, former senior Trump advisor, due to a recent public falling out.
• Policy Implications:
  • Trump’s use of presidential influence over private enterprise noted, including criticism of business leaders and alleged attempts to change corporate leadership.
• Quote, Danielle Kurtzleben (reporter), 02:41:
  "A White House official…confirmed that Elon Musk is not on that list. Musk…led the Department of Government Efficiency before leaving the administration amid a public falling out with Trump."

4. Congressional Moves on Jeffrey Epstein Files

[03:20 – 03:56]

• Pending Vote:
  Bipartisan efforts in the House seek to force a vote on the full public release of materials concerning Jeffrey Epstein’s associates and alleged accomplices.
• Survivor Perspective:
  • Some of Epstein’s accusers are considering compiling a confidential list of individuals allegedly involved.
  • Liz Stein (Epstein accuser), 03:56:
    "But I think that we're willing to sit down, hear each other's stories and look for any commonalities between us that could help this investigation."
• Concerns:
  Releasing names may be detrimental to survivors and the integrity of ongoing investigations.

5. Study: LSD Shows Promise for Treating Anxiety

[04:07 – 05:06]

• Research Highlight:
  New study in JAMA indicates that a medicinal form of LSD (MM120) significantly reduces symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder.
• Study Details:
  198 adults participated; those receiving higher doses of MM120 experienced rapid, sustained relief from anxiety and depression.
• Expert Quote, Dr. David Feifel, 04:39:
  "By the next day, the drug, for all intents and purposes, was out of their system. And yet the patient's average anxiety was...greatly reduced, and this improvement lasted for the duration of the 12 week study."
• Future Research:
  Company Mindmed is running two larger studies, due next year.

6. Market News

[03:20]

• Stock Market Update:
  US stocks closed with strong gains; Dow rose by 350 points.

7. Notable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

• Senator Elizabeth Warren (00:52): "You just changed the classification of the COVID vaccine."
• Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (00:56): "I'm not taking them away from people, Senator."
• Liz Stein, Epstein accuser (03:56): "But I think that we're willing to sit down, hear each other's stories and look for any commonalities between us that could help this investigation."
• Dr. David Feifel, study author (04:39): "By the next day, the drug, for all intents and purposes, was out of their system. And yet the patient's average anxiety was...greatly reduced, and this improvement lasted for the duration of the 12 week study."

8. Summary Table of Major Stories

| Story | Segment Start | Key Figures Involved | Main Takeaway | |-------------------------------------------|:-------------:|-------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------| | Kennedy grilled on COVID vaccines | 00:32 | Kennedy, Warren, Cassidy | Access to vaccines under scrutiny | | NIH whistleblower complaint | 01:21 | Marrazzo, Nuzil, Trump admin | Alleged retaliation against science advocates | | Trump’s tech/biz dinner (Musk absent) | 02:27 | Trump, Cook, Zuckerberg, Altman, Musk | Musk excluded amid White House tensions | | Epstein files release debate | 03:20 | House reps, Liz Stein | Bipartisan move; survivor caution | | LSD for anxiety study | 04:07 | John Hamilton, Dr. Feifel | Positive clinical results for MM120 (LSD) | | Stock market wrap | 03:20 | - | Dow up 350 points |

Tone and Delivery

NPR’s signature brisk, factual tone is maintained throughout, with key moments of emotion and gravity in survivor testimony and scientific developments.

This NPR News Now episode succinctly captures critical public health debates, high-stakes political maneuvers, sensitive justice efforts, and emerging science, all in five minutes—a trademark of the NPR News Now format.