NPR News: 09-07-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now: September 7, 2025 – 9AM EDT

Host: Giles Snyder
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: A concise roundup of major national and international news, with on-the-ground reporting and direct remarks from those in the news.

---

1. Overview

This episode provides a brisk, five-minute update on the morning’s most important headlines, covering national unrest over federal intervention in Chicago, political upheaval in Japan, a significant Russian attack in Kyiv, diplomatic negotiations between South Korea and the U.S., major accolades at the Venice Film Festival, and highlights from the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

---

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

Protests in Chicago Over Federal Troop Threat

• [00:16–01:15]
  • Protesters march in downtown Chicago, responding to President Trump’s threats to deploy National Guard troops and immigration agents.
  • The protests center around concerns for immigrants and the appropriateness of military involvement in domestic policing.
  • Kevin Ryan, a Chicago native and Marine, voices opposition, emphasizing the military’s lack of training for police work and raising constitutional concerns.
  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker strongly condemns the President’s stance, stating on social media:

    “The president of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal.”
    (Governor J.B. Pritzker, [00:56])

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Announces Resignation

• [01:15–02:19]
  • Reporting from Seoul, Anthony Kuhn explains Prime Minister Ishiba’s resignation is meant to soothe divisions in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after a historic electoral defeat.
  • Factors for the loss cited: inflation, party corruption, and the rise of the nationalist, anti-immigrant opposition party Sanseto.
  • The resignation underscores a period of political instability: Ishiba is the eighth of the last ten Japanese Prime Ministers to serve only about a year.
  • Notable insight:

    "Voters' dissatisfaction with the political establishment is also evident in the rise of Sanseto, an opposition party espousing nationalist, anti-immigrant views."
    (Anthony Kuhn, [01:38])

Major Russian Drone and Missile Attack on Kyiv

• [02:19–03:11]
  • Russia launched its largest aerial assault yet on Kyiv's main government compound since the start of the invasion.
  • BBC’s Sarah Rainsford reports live from the scene:
    • Up to 800 drones were launched, with cruise missiles seen flying at extremely high speeds across central Kyiv.
    • Extensive damage with fire and smoke at the official “heart of Kyiv.”
  • Notable on-site description:

    "This street behind me here with a fire engine all the way up there, this is a street that leads up to all of the main government and administrative buildings in Kyiv... This was a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, the biggest yet."
    (Sarah Rainsford, [02:31])

South Korean Workers Detained in Georgia

• [03:11–03:51]
  • South Korea negotiates release of workers detained at a Hyundai plant following a U.S. immigration raid.
  • Approximately 300 South Korean nationals were among the 450 detained.
  • Workers expected to return home on a chartered flight after completion of administrative procedures.

Venice Film Festival Awards

• [03:51–04:31]
  • Jim Jarmusch’s 'Father, Mother, Sister, Brother' wins the coveted Golden Lion for its exploration of family relationships.
  • Mubi plans a December release for the film.
  • Jarmusch and others recently criticized Mubi for receiving investment tied to the Israeli military.
  • Other highlights:
    • Grand Jury Prize: 'The Voice of Hindrajab,' a Gaza-based docudrama.
    • Best Director: Benny Safdie for 'The Smashing Machine,' a sports drama.
  • Wry film quote:

    “You've always been my favorite son. Well, your only son, as far as we know.”
    (Film clip, [03:58])

U.S. Open Tennis Finals

• [04:31–04:56]
  • President Trump anticipated to attend the men’s final at the U.S. Open in New York.
  • Yonex Sinner (Italy) defends his title against Carlos Alcaraz (Spain).
  • In the women's event, Irina Sabulinkum clinches her second consecutive US Open and fourth major.

---

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kevin Ryan on Chicago Troop Deployment

  "The military is not trained to police... It's unconstitutional and it's, it's dangerous."
  (Kevin Ryan, [00:49–00:53])

• Governor J.B. Pritzker on Federal Intervention

  “The president of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal.”
  (Cited by Kat Lonsdorf, [00:56])

• Sarah Rainsford on Kyiv Attack

  "This was a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, the biggest yet..."
  (Sarah Rainsford, [02:31])

• Humor in Jarmusch’s Award-Winning Film

  "You've always been my favorite son. Well, your only son, as far as we know."
  (Film clip, [03:58])

---

4. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Protests in Chicago: [00:16–01:15]
• Japanese PM Resigns: [01:15–02:19]
• Kyiv Attack Report: [02:19–03:11]
• South Korean Workers Detained: [03:11–03:51]
• Venice Film Festival Awards: [03:51–04:31]
• US Open Tennis Finals Preview: [04:31–04:56]

---

This NPR News Now episode offers a rapid, yet nuanced, sweep across high-impact global and national stories, capturing both official actions and the voices of those directly affected.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

This message comes from Progressive Insurance. Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Giles Snyder]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Protesters marched through the streets of downtown Chicago last night in response to President Trump's threats to send National Guard troops and immigration agents into the City. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf is in Chicago.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

Marchers filled the streets for blocks, chanting in support of immigrants and carrying signs against Trump's plan to send troops into the city to address crime. Among the marchers was 33 year old Kevin Ryan, a Chicago native and Marine.

[Kevin Ryan]

The military is not trained to police.

[Giles Snyder]

It's a violation of federal law and.

[Kevin Ryan]

It'S unconstitutional and it's it's dangerous.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

Troops have not been sent into the city yet, but Trump has said he will, something Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker is strongly against. Pritzker posted on social media, quote, the president of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Chicago.

[Giles Snyder]

Earlier Saturday, President Trump posted a doctored image of himself based on the movie Apocalypse Now. It shows the Chicago skyline with helicopters and flames in the background. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced his intention to resign. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul that Ishiba says he wants to avoid division within the ruling ldp, the Liberal Democratic Party.

[Kevin Ryan]

Prime Minister Ishiba had been under mounting pressure to resign to take responsibility for his party's defeat in parliamentary elections this year. Japanese voters, fed up with inflation and LDP corruption, led to the party losing its majority in both houses of Parliament for the first time since the party was established in 1955. Voters dissatisfaction with the political establishment is also evident in the rise of Sanseto, an opposition party espousing nationalist, anti immigrant views. Ishiba is one of eight of the past 10 Japanese Prime Ministers who have only served for about a year, and his resignation may spur anxiety about political instability. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

[Giles Snyder]

For the first time since it invaded Ukraine, Russia has hit the main government compound in Kyiv. Smoke billowed from the cabinet offices with helicopters dousing the flames. Here's a BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Kyiv.

[Sarah Rainsford]

This street behind me here with a fire engine all the way up there, this is a street that leads up to all of the main government and administrative buildings in Kyiv. So the parliament is up there. The cabinet of ministers is up there. Also the presidential palace just a little further up the hill. So this really is the official heart of Kyiv. And overnight this area came under attack. This was a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, the biggest yet, according to the numbers that have been given by Ukraine's air force, more than 800 drones. And we saw two of those cruise missiles at very close range moving at extremely high speed right across the city center here in Kyiv.

[Giles Snyder]

And you're listening to NPR News. South Korea says it has reached a deal with the Trump administration on the release of those South Korean workers who were detained at a Hyundai plant in Georgia. The president's office said today that once administrative procedures are complete, the the workers will return home on a chartered plane. Immigration agents raided the plant on Thursday and detained more than 450 workers, including around 300 South Korean nationals. The 82nd Venice Film Festival has awarded its most prestigious award, the golden lion, to a dark comedy from director Jim Jarmusch. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports.

[Chloe Veltman]

Father, Mother, Sister, Brother is organized in three parts, each focusing on the relationships between the members of three families.

[Giles Snyder]

You've always been my favorite son. Well, your only son, as far as we know.

[Chloe Veltman]

Mubi is planning to release the film in December. Jamish recently joined others in criticizing the movie's streaming platform for accepting investment from Sequoia Capital, a Silicon Valley based venture capital firm with ties to the Israeli military. Venice's other major award winners include the Gaza based docudrama the Voice of Hindrajab, which received the grand jury prize, and Benny Safdie, who won best director for the Smashing Machine, a sports drama. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

President Trump is expected to be in Flushing Meadows, New York, for today's men's final at the US Open. Italy's Yonex center is set to defend his title against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. The men's championship follows a repeat victory in the women's finals. Yesterday, Irina Sabulinkum won her second U.S. open title in a row and her fourth major overall. I'm Giles Snyder, NPR News.

[Commercial Announcer]

This message comes from Grainger. For the ones who get it done, Grainger offers access to over a million products and the scale to deliver when and where you need them. The right tools and supplies are never far away. Call clickgrainger.com or just stop by.