NPR News: 09-07-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 09-07-2025 10PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Date: September 8, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This concise episode delivers the top international, national, business, and sports news highlights as of September 8, 2025. Key stories cover: escalating EU condemnation of Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, President Trump’s domestic military maneuvers and political strategies, a Boeing labor strike, U.S. Open tennis results, and domestic box office updates.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. EU Condemnation of Russia’s Largest Airstrikes in Ukraine

[00:16 – 01:19]

• Summary: Recent overnight Russian airstrikes—described as the largest since the full-scale invasion—targeted a Ukrainian government building for the first time.
• EU Response:
  • European Council President Antonio Costa denounced Russia:

    "Talking about peace while escalating bombings and targeting government buildings and homes. This is Putin’s version of peace." (Antonio Costa, quoted on X; 00:37)

  • EU Foreign Policy Chief Kayakalis emphasized each Russian strike is deliberate, undermining peace talks brokered by President Trump.
  • European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen called the Kremlin’s actions “mocking diplomacy, trampling international law, and killing indiscriminately.”
  • The EU plans to fast-track its 19th set of sanctions against Russia within the month.

2. President Trump’s Comments & Mobilization of National Guard

[01:19 – 02:10]

• Summary: President Trump attempts to walk back prior remarks about Chicago "finding out why it's called the Department of War," related to his effort to rebrand the Department of Defense, as Chicago braces for a potential deployment of National Guard units.
• Legal Uncertainty:
  • NPR’s Mara Liasson highlights federal limitations, noting courts have previously ruled against Trump’s efforts to override state control of National Guard troops, referencing a denied move in Los Angeles.
• Political Context:
  • Trump’s motivation is linked to the 2026 midterm elections:

    "He says the midterm elections will be about crime. He wants them to be about crime... not about the Jeffrey Epstein files or vaccines or the economy." (Mara Liasson, 01:54)

• Public Reaction: Thousands marched in Washington, D.C., protesting the National Guard’s deployment and demanding federal forces withdraw.

3. Boeing Strike and Labor Dispute

[02:10 – 03:05]

• Summary: Boeing announced plans to hire replacements for 3,200 striking union workers in St. Louis, as contract negotiations remain unresolved.
• Union Perspective:
  • Mechanic Manson Graves criticizes this tactic:

    "Instead of him going in and sitting with the contract negotiation team to bargain a better contract, he's using these tactics to target the union members and to break us." (Manson Graves, 02:38)

  • Company executive Dan Gillian stated he will not adjust the economic framework of the contract.
• Impact: The strike affects key military production facilities, including those for fighter jets.

4. Financial and Sports Updates

[03:05 – 03:47]

• Business: U.S. futures contracts reported as trading higher at the hour (brief update, no elaboration) [03:05].
• Tennis:
  • Carlos Alcaraz claimed his sixth Grand Slam and the U.S. Open men’s title, regaining the world No. 1 ranking.
  • Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in four sets—marking continued dominance by both players over the last two years.
  • A memorable winner’s podium quote from Alcaraz:

    "I'm seeing you more than my family. So it's—Jesus. So it's, I mean, it's great to share the courts." (Carlos Alcaraz, 04:00)

  • The Australian Open remains the only Grand Slam he hasn't yet won.

5. Entertainment – Box Office

[04:20 – 04:53]

• The Last Rites, a horror film, topped the box office with $83 million in ticket sales—making it the third-highest domestic horror opening ever.
  • The horror genre surpassed $1 billion in domestic revenue for 2025.
• Other notable entries:
  • “Hamilton” (Disney's filmed version) was second, grossing $10 million.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “This is Putin’s version of peace.”
  Antonio Costa, quoting on X regarding Russia’s attack on Ukraine [00:37]

• “Every Russian attack is a deliberate choice…Russia does not want peace.”
  EU Foreign Policy Chief Kayakalis, cited by Terry Schultz [00:47]

• “…the midterm elections will be about crime…He says the crime issue is good for Republicans.”
  Mara Liasson, discussing Trump’s political calculus [01:54]

• “He’s using these tactics to target the union members and to break us.”
  Manson Graves, Boeing mechanic [02:38]

• “I’m seeing you more than my family. So it’s—Jesus. So it’s, I mean, it’s great to share the courts.”
  Carlos Alcaraz to Jannik Sinner at the U.S. Open winner’s ceremony [04:00]

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Useful Timestamps

• [00:16] EU condemnation of Russian airstrikes
• [01:19] Trump and National Guard deployment controversy
• [02:30] Boeing strike and union response
• [03:31] U.S. Open victory—Carlos Alcaraz
• [04:20] Weekend box office highlights

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This episode offers a crisp, factual snapshot of critical headlines with direct quotes from those at the center of global and domestic developments, employing NPR’s signature straightforward tone.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. EU leaders are condemning Russia's overnight strikes on Ukraine, the biggest air attack since Moscow's full scale invasion started more than three years ago. Terry Schultz reports. The airstrikes targeted a Ukrainian government building. For the first time in this war.

[Terry Schultz]

Top officials in the European Union vow quick work on tightening up sanctions against Russia. European Council President Antonio Costa wrote On X, talking about peace while escalating bombings and targeting government buildings and homes. This is Putin's version of peace. EU foreign policy chief Kayakalis also addressed Putin's seriousness about the peace talks President Trump is trying to arrange. Every Russian attack is a deliberate choice, kalas wrote On X, and a message Russia does not want peace. European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen described the Kremlin actions as mocking diplomacy, trampling international law and killing indiscriminately. The bloc aims to approve its 19th sanctions package against Russia this month. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump is trying to walk back his comments that Chicago is about to, quote, find out why it's called the Department of War, referring there to his efforts last week to rebrand the Department of Defense. This as Chicago braces for Trump to send in the National Guard, as he did in Washington, D.C. nPR's Mara Liasson has more.

[Mara Liasson]

The District is a federal district, not a state. It's unclear whether courts are going to allow him to do this in places where governors control their state National Guard troops. He's already had one court ruling against him about sending troops to Los Angeles over the objections of the governor there. And part of this, as Trump himself has explained, is political. He says the midterm elections will be about crime. He wants them to be about crime. He says the crime issue is good for Republicans and he doesn't want them to be about the Jeffrey Epstein files or vaccines or the economy.

[Jeanine Herbst]

NPR's Mara Eliasson reporting. Yesterday, thousands marched in D.C. calling for Trump to remove the National Guard and federal law enforcement troops. Boeing says it will start hiring replacement workers for about 3,200 union members on strike in the St. Louis area. St. Louis Public Radio's Olivia Meisel has more.

[Olivia Meisel]

Manson Graves, a mechanic for Boeing, says he thinks the recent announcement from company executive Dan Gillian is a tactic to divide the union.

[Manson Graves]

Instead of him going in and sitting with the contract negotiation team to bargain a better contract. He's using these tactics to target the union members and to break us.

[Olivia Meisel]

Gillian said this week that he is not willing to change the economic framework of the union contract. The workers on strike staff three manufacturing plants in the St. Louis area that produce weapons and equipment for the United States military, including fighter jets.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Olivia Meisel reporting. U.S. futures contracts are trading higher at this hour. You're listening to NPR News. Carlos Alcaraz is the winner of the US Open men's tennis tournament. The 22 year old Spaniard now has six Grand Slam titles to his name, and with this win, he he reclaims the world no. 1 ranking. NPR's Becky Sullivan has more.

[Becky Sullivan]

Alcaraz was on fire at the U.S. open this year. He didn't drop a single set on his way to the men's singles final. There he met who else? Jannik Senner, the 24 year old Italian with whom Alcaraz has taken over the world of men's tennis. In Queens on Sunday, Alcaraz finally lost a set but only won, ultimately beating sinner in four sets. 623-66-6164. Between them, Alcaraz and Sinner have won every Grand Slam title this year and last year. Before accepting his trophy, Alcaraz first thanked his rival.

[Carlos Alcaraz]

I'm seeing you more than my family. So it's Jesus. So it's, I mean, it's great to share the courts.

[Becky Sullivan]

The next Grand Slam isn't until January. That'll be the Australian Open. That's the only Grand Slam title Alcaraz has not yet won in his career. Becky Sullivan, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the weekend box office, the horror film the Last Rites debuted in the top spot with an estimated $83 million in T sales. That makes it the third highest domestic opening for a horror movie. The horror genre has now generated over a billion dollars for this year's domestic box office with the help of other Warner Brothers hits like Weapons, Final Destination, Bloodlines and Sinners. In second place, Disney's filmed version, Hamilton, with an estimated $10 million in ticket sales. This is NPR.

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