NPR News: 09-07-2025 12PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now

Episode: NPR News: 09-07-2025 12PM EDT
Date: September 7, 2025
Host: Windsor Johnston

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Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode delivers a succinct roundup of major headlines from across the United States and around the globe. Key stories include ongoing unrest in Chicago over President Trump's threat to deploy National Guard troops, a massive drone attack in Ukraine, President Trump's appearance at the US Open, the aftermath of a tragic school shooting in Minneapolis, and the canonization of a millennial saint by Pope Leo.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Protests Against National Guard Deployment in Chicago

• Details: Large demonstrations erupted in Chicago in response to President Trump's threats to send National Guard troops and federal immigration agents to the city.

• Community Response: Protester Dahlia Underwood voiced concerns about the impact on immigrant communities, emphasizing the nation’s history of inclusion.

• Legal Action: City and state leaders are considering lawsuits if the administration proceeds. Similar federal deployments have already occurred in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and are being considered for Baltimore and New Orleans.

  • Quote:

    "We're separating families. We're literally separating families. That's what we're doing. And I don't think that's fair. Everyone deserves a chance here. Everyone was given the chance, you know, to make a living. I think everybody deserves that."
    — Dahlia Underwood, protester (00:41)

2. Largest Drone Attack in Ukraine Since War Began

• Incident: Russia deployed over 800 attack drones and multiple missiles across Ukrainian cities, marking the war’s most extensive drone assault to date.

• Casualties: At least 11 Ukrainians were killed, including a mother and her newborn. Dozens were injured.

• Damage: The strikes affected government districts in Kyiv, apartment buildings, and the power grid.

  • Quote:

    "Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said in a social media post that a government building near President Volodymyr Zelensky's office caught fire because of burning debris from a shot down drone."
    — Joanna Kakissis, NPR correspondent (01:35)

3. President Trump at the US Open

• Historic Attendance: President Trump is attending the US Open men’s final in New York City, making him the first sitting US president to do so in 25 years.

• Security and Public Reception: Security is heightened. The US Tennis Association has advised broadcasters to avoid showing crowd reactions, recalling that the last time Trump attended in 2015, he received boos and jeers.

  • Quote:

    "Trump has embraced sporting events. In February, he became the first president to attend the Super Bowl... the US Tennis association has reportedly told broadcasters to avoid showing crowd reaction to Trump's attendance."
    — Lou Garrett, NPR reporter (02:30)

4. Powerball Jackpot Winners

• Event: Two winning tickets were sold for a nearly $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot, the second largest in US history.
• Locations: Winners are from Missouri and Texas.

5. Minneapolis School Shooting Victim Laid to Rest

• Tragic Loss: Fletcher Merkle, age 8, was killed in a shooting during a school mass. Classmate Harper Moisky, age 10, was also killed, and 21 others—most of them children—were wounded.

• Community Mourning: Fletcher’s funeral is open to the public, with mourners encouraged to wear bright colors instead of black.

  • Quote:

    "Fletcher's funeral, which is open to the public, will be held at a Lutheran church in South Minneapolis... Fletcher's family is asking mourners to wear bright colors instead of black."
    — Elizabeth Shockman, Minnesota Public Radio (03:27)

6. Canonization of Carlo Acutis, First Millennial Saint

• Historic Event: At the Vatican, Pope Leo canonized Carlo Acutis, the first millennial to be named a Roman Catholic saint.

• Background: Acutis, a computer programmer and devout Catholic, died of leukemia at 15 and was recognized for his work creating websites documenting miracles.

  • Quote:

    "His family says he was a devout Roman Catholic, creating a website documenting miracles, but he died of leukemia aged 15. After that, Pope Francis supported his family's quest to have Carlo Acutis canonized, in part to help energize the faith among young people."
    — Ali Macbool, BBC (04:13)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (With Timestamps)

• On family separation and immigrant rights in the US:

  "We're separating families. We're literally separating families. That's what we're doing. And I don't think that's fair. Everyone deserves a chance here."
  — Dahlia Underwood (00:41)

• On devastation in Kyiv following the drone attack:

  "A government building near President Volodymyr Zelensky's office caught fire because of burning debris from a shot down drone."
  — Joanna Kakissis (01:35)

• On shifts in sporting event protocol around Trump’s attendance:

  "The US Tennis association has reportedly told broadcasters to avoid showing crowd reaction to Trump's attendance."
  — Lou Garrett (02:30)

• On the aftermath of the Minneapolis school shooting:

  "Fletcher's family is asking mourners to wear bright colors instead of black."
  — Elizabeth Shockman (03:27)

• On modern sainthood and youth engagement:

  "Pope Francis supported his family's quest to have Carlo Acutis canonized, in part to help energize the faith among young people."
  — Ali Macbool (04:13)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Protests in Chicago & Dahlia Underwood's statement: (00:16–00:55)
• Details of Trump’s plan & deployments: (00:55–01:15)
• Ukrainian drone attack coverage: (01:16–02:19)
• US Open presidential attendance: (02:19–02:57)
• Powerball jackpot: (02:57–03:10)
• Minneapolis school shooting funeral: (03:11–03:52)
• Canonization of Carlo Acutis: (03:53–04:45)

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Summary

This NPR News Now episode efficiently covers urgent national and international news, focusing on political tension in US cities, the escalation of the war in Ukraine, historic moments at sporting and religious events, and the mourning of young shooting victims. The episode utilizes clear, direct reporting that highlights both factual developments and the human impact behind each story.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Demonstrators took to the streets of Chicago last night to push back against escalating threats by President Trump to send National Guard troops and federal immigration agents to the city. One of them, Dahlia Underwood, called on President Trump to back down, saying that immigrants have helped build the country.

[Dahlia Underwood]

We're separating families. We're literally separating families. That's what we're doing. And I don't think that's fair. Everyone deserves a chance here. Everyone was given the chance, you know, to make a living. I think everybody deserves that.

[Windsor Johnston]

Details about Trump's plan to send the National Guard into Chicago are unclear. The city and state leaders have threatened to sue the administration if it follows through. The president has already deployed federal troops to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. the White House is also considering sending the National Guard to Baltimore and New Orleans. The Ukrainian Air Force says Russia launched more than 800 attack drones overnight on Ukrainian cities, making it the largest attack since the war broke out. At least 11 Ukrainians were killed and dozens of others were injured. NPR's Joanna Kakisis reports from the capital Kyiv.

[Joanna Kakissis]

This is the sound of a shahed attack drone flying over Kyiv. Ukraine says Russia used 810 such drones as well as 13 missiles in attacks across the country. Among those killed was a mother and her newborn child in Kyiv. The attacks damaged the government district in the capital, an area that is heavily guarded by air defense. Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said in a social media post at a government building near President Volodymyr Zelensky's office caught fire because of burning debris from a shot down drone. The strikes also damaged apartment buildings and the power grid, causing electricity outages. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

President Trump is attending the U.S. open men's final match in New York City today. NPR's Lou Garrett reports. Trump is the first sitting president to attend the tennis tournament in 25 years.

[Lou Garrett]

Security is being ramped up at Billie Jean King National Tennis center in Queens, the president's home borough. Trump has embraced sporting events. In February, he became the first president to attend the Super Bowl. The star studded US Open crowd last saw then Canada Trump in 2015. Some crowd members booed and jeered at the time. This year, the US Tennis association has reportedly told broadcasters to avoid showing crowd reaction to Trump's attendance. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Joint Base Andrews.

[Windsor Johnston]

There were two winning tickets in last night's Powerball drawing. The nearly $1.8 billion jackpot is the second largest in U.S. history. The lucky numbers were sold in Missouri and Texas. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. One of the students killed in the shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis will be laid to rest today. Elizabeth Shockman from Minnesota Public Radio reports.

[Elizabeth Shockman]

Fletcher Merkle was 8 years old. He and his classmate, 10 year old Harper Moisky, were killed while attending a start of school mass last week. The shooter also wounded 21 other people, most of them children. Fletcher's funeral, which is open to the public, will be held at a Lutheran church in South Minneapolis. The service will also be live streamed. Fletcher's family is asking mourners to wear bright colors instead of black. For NPR News, I'm Elizabeth Shockman in St. Paul.

[Windsor Johnston]

At the Vatican today, St. Peter's Square was packed as Pope Leo canonized an Italian teenage, the first millennial to become a Roman Catholic saint. Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006, was a computer coder who built websites to spread Catholic teaching. The BBC's Ali Macbool reports.

[Ali Macbool]

Carlo Acutis was born in London to Italian parents in 1991. But before he was six months old, his family moved to Milan, where he became known for his interest in video games and the Internet. His family says he was a devout Roman Catholic, creating a website documented miracles, but he died of leukemia aged 15. After that, Pope Francis supported his family's quest to have Carlo Acutis canonized, in part to help energize the faith among young people.

[Windsor Johnston]

That's the BBC's Aleem Macbool reporting. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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