NPR News: 09-07-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now

Episode: NPR News: 09-07-2025 7PM EDT
Host: Jeanine Herbst
Date: September 7, 2025
Length: ~5 minutes
Summary: The latest headlines from national and international news, focusing on presidential actions in Chicago, global responses to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, U.S. postal traffic disruptions, Broadway news, and Hurricane Kiko.

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Main Theme & Episode Purpose

A concise roundup of top news stories shaping U.S. and international affairs, providing listeners rapid updates on political, cultural, and weather events as the evening of September 7, 2025 unfolds.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Remarks on Chicago & National Guard Deployment

• Context: President Trump faces backlash for referring to the “Department of War,” referencing efforts to rebrand the Department of Defense, and his threat to send the National Guard to Chicago.

• Legal & Political Nuance:

  • Challenges in deploying federal troops stem from state vs. federal control of National Guards.
  • There has been a court ruling against Trump attempting similar action in Los Angeles.
  • Analyst Mara Liasson interprets these efforts largely through a political lens, as Trump seeks to make “crime” the focal issue for the midterms, diverting attention from controversies like Jeffrey Epstein or pandemic issues.

• Quote:

  • “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.”
    —Mara Liasson [00:55]

• Public Response:

  • Thousands marched in D.C. urging withdrawal of troops from the capital.

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2. EU Condemnation of Russian Strikes on Ukraine

• Event: Russia’s largest air attack on Ukraine since the full invasion 3+ years ago; EU leaders forcefully respond.
• EU Leadership’s Stance:
  • European Council President Antonio Costa condemns attacks as mock diplomacy, targeting civilians and government buildings.
  • EU Foreign Policy Chief Kayakalis notes every Russian attack is “a deliberate choice,” countering Russian peace rhetoric.
  • The EU aims for quick approval of a 19th sanctions package against Russia.
• Quote:
  • “Talking about peace while escalating bombings and targeting government buildings and homes. This is Putin's version of peace.”
    —Terry Schultz, summarizing Antonio Costa [01:37]
  • “Russia does not want peace.”
    —Terry Schultz, citing Kayakalis [01:49]

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3. U.S. Postal Traffic Disruption After Trade Rule Change

• Policy Change: Trump administration ended the “de minimis” trade exemption (exempted packages under $800 from tariffs) on August 29th, 2025.
• Impact:
  • International postal traffic to the U.S. plummeted by 81%.
  • 88 global postal operators suspended or limited service to the U.S.
  • The Trump administration’s stated objective: crack down on counterfeit products.
• Quote:
  • “Postal traffic to the US came to a near halt, dropping 81% after August 29th. That's when the de minimis trade exemption... ended.”
    —Chandelyse Duster [02:31]

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4. Broadway’s “Cabaret” Revival Closing Early

• Details:
  • The $24 million revival at the August Wilson Theatre will close nearly a month early due to the withdrawal of Billy Porter (who was ill with sepsis).
  • The production had the highest price tag for a Broadway revival, included major theater renovations, but suffered from mixed reviews and low ticket sales following Eddie Redmayne’s departure.
  • Financial struggles ultimately sealed the show’s fate.
• Quote:
  • “The final cast replacement in the role was Billy Porter, but he had to withdraw due to sepsis. While Porter is expected to recover, the production is closing at a loss.”
    —Jeff Lunden [03:49]

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5. Hurricane Kiko Threatens Hawaii With Dangerous Surf

• Current Status:
  • Category 2 storm, 110 mph sustained winds, expected to weaken soon.
  • Will pass north of the Hawaiian Islands; outer bands already causing hazardous conditions, with potentially life-threatening surf.
• Timeframe:
  • Expected to weaken to a tropical storm by Tuesday.
  • Northward passage by midweek.
• Notable Facts:
  • Swells could be dangerous even as the hurricane weakens.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He says the midterm elections will be about crime. He wants them to be about crime...he doesn't want them to be about the Jeffrey Epstein files or vaccines or the economy.”
  —Mara Liasson [00:55]

• “Talking about peace while escalating bombings and targeting government buildings and homes. This is Putin's version of peace.”
  —Terry Schultz, summarizing Antonio Costa [01:37]

• “Postal traffic to the US came to a near halt, dropping 81% after August 29th...”
  —Chandelyse Duster [02:31]

• “The final cast replacement in the role was Billy Porter, but he had to withdraw due to sepsis. While Porter is expected to recover, the production is closing at a loss.”
  —Jeff Lunden [03:49]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:11 — Trump’s Chicago remarks and National Guard controversy
• 00:39–01:09 — Mara Liasson on political and legal implications
• 01:09 — Protests in D.C. for removal of federal troops
• 01:31–02:16 — EU response to Russia’s strikes on Ukraine
• 02:16–03:08 — Postal disruption following US trade exemption changes
• 03:08–03:31 — Broadway news: “Cabaret” closing early
• 03:31–04:17 — Details on the “Cabaret” production and closure
• 04:17–04:53 — Hurricane Kiko threatens Hawaii

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Tone & Language

The episode maintains a brisk, factual tone, relaying news with clarity and urgency. Correspondents balance explanatory context with direct reporting, featuring direct quotations from affected leaders and official sources.

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For those who missed it, this five-minute episode encapsulates the day’s critical stories—political maneuvering, global strife, major postal and cultural disruptions, and a looming natural hazard—all with authoritative brevity and NPR’s signature clarity.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herst. 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 says Chicago braces for Trump to send in the National Guard, as he did in Washington, D.C. nPR's Mara Liasson has more.

[C]

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.

[B]

NPR's Mara Liaison reporting. Yesterday, thousands of people marched in D.C. calling for Trump to remove the National Guard and federal law enforcement troops from the nation's capital. EU leaders are condemning Russia's overnight strikes on Ukraine, the biggest air attack since Russia's full scale invasion began more than three years ago. Terry Schultz has more.

[D]

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, callis 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.

[B]

A UN Agency says postal traffic to the US has fallen significantly after the Trump administration suspended a trade exemption rule in late August. And Pierre Chandelyse Duster has more.

[E]

The Universal Postal Union says postal traffic to the US came to a near halt, dropping 81% after August 29th. That's when the de minimis trade exemption that allowed packages worth less than $800 to be exempt from tariffs ended. At least 88 postal operators have suspended some or all services to the US until there is a solution, the union says. The agency also says it is working on ways to get postal traffic flowing back to the U.S. the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the Trump administration has defended ending the trade exemption as a way to crack down on counterfeit products.

[B]

NPR's Chandelyse Duster reporting. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The $24 million Broadway revival of Cabaret is closing earlier than planned after the withdrawal of actor Billy Porter. Set to close on October 19, it will now close September 21. That's according to its produce producers. Jeff Ludden reports.

[F]

The revival, fresh from rave reviews in London, opened In April of 2024 with a record breaking 24 million dollar price tag, the highest for a Broadway revival. The August Wilson Theatre was extensively modified into an environmental setting and rebranded the Kit Kat Club. Eddie Redmayne played the emcee, but reviews were mixed to negative. The weekly break even was high and once Redmay ticket sales went down. The final cast replacement in the role was Billy Porter, but he had to withdraw due to sepsis. While Porter is expected to recover, the production is closing at a loss. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London.

[B]

In New York, Hurricane Kiko is expected to generate swells that could bring potentially life threatening surf to Hawaii today. Forecasters say Kiko's outer bands extend up to 35 miles from the center of the storm and tropical force winds are up to 80 miles out. The storm has weakened to a Category 2 with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles an hour. The National Hurricane center says Kiko, which is expected to weaken to a tropical storm by Tuesday, is expected to pass north of the Hawaiian Islands by midweek. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[A]

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