NPR News Now: 09-08-2025 10AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Publish Date: September 8, 2025
Episode Theme:
A succinct roundup of the day's top political, economic, and social stories, providing listeners with the latest updates from across the U.S. and around the world.

Major Headlines & Story Breakdown

1. President Trump Addresses Possible Action in U.S. Cities

• Main Points:
  • President Trump, following a provocative social media post referencing "Apocalypse Now" and the Chicago skyline, insists he "doesn't want to go to war in American cities."
  • Instead, he states his administration will "clean up cities," though specific actions remain unclear.
  • Trump leaves the door open about deploying federal troops, saying decisions would be made "over the next day or two."
  • When pressed about Chicago specifically:
    • Quote: "No, not really." (00:42; Trump, via Kat Lansdorf report)
• Reporter: Kat Lansdorf
• Memorable Moment:
  • The implicit allusion to a war scenario via the "Apocalypse Now" reference and ambiguity over federal intervention.

Timestamps:

• [00:19] Korva Coleman introduces Trump’s statement
• [00:42] Kat Lansdorf’s breakdown of uncertainties

2. Increased Immigration Enforcement

• Main Points:
  • Border "czar" Tom Homan announces increased action in sanctuary cities.
  • Federal immigration operations launched in Massachusetts.
• Context:
  • Part of ongoing federal efforts targeting specific cities.

Timestamps:

• [01:01] Korva Coleman reports on immigration actions

3. Vice President J.D. Vance Campaigns for Republican Bill

• Main Points:
  • Vance visits key districts (Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin) to build support for the Republican “big beautiful bill.”
  • Feature stop: Mid City Steel, Wisconsin, a district of political importance.
  • Mixed voter reactions:
    • Positive: Welder Alex Bishop praises overtime tax cuts
      • Quote: "That's big bonus on the end of my check being I work about anywhere from 50 to 60 hours a week." (01:54; Alex Bishop)
    • Negative: Union rep. Jake Cole expresses frustration at attacks on the NLRB
      • Quote: "Frankly, they're dismantled. You know, it's almost like they're non existent right now." (02:13; Jake Cole)
• Reporter: Chuck Kormbach

Timestamps:

• [01:33] Kormbach sets the scene
• [01:54] Alex Bishop’s positive reaction
• [02:13] Jake Cole’s criticism

4. Economy & Financial Markets

• Main Points:

  • Stocks open mixed as investors anticipate key inflation reports.
  • Upcoming Labor Department data on wholesale and retail price inflation will inform Federal Reserve decisions on a potential interest rate cut.
  • Markets anticipate a 0.25% rate cut; Fed also considers job market data, with revised job numbers expected soon.
  • International note: Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba steps down, boosting Asian stocks.
  • Dow Jones down about 80 points early in trading.

• Reporter: Scott Horsley

Timestamps:

• [02:21] Market opening conditions
• [02:33] Horsley on inflation data and Fed decision process
• [03:13] Coleman on Dow’s performance

5. Global & Technology News

• Main Points:
  • Internet slowdowns reported in parts of the Middle East and Asia, with Microsoft citing cuts to underwater Red Sea cables.
  • The cause of the damage to cables remains unclear (source: AP).

Timestamps:

• [03:13] Start of tech/international news roundup

6. Pediatric Self-Harm and Substance Study

• Main Points:

  • Study in Pediatrics covering data from over 1.5 million poison center calls highlights significant rise (over 50%) in child substance exposures (ages 6-12) from 2000 to 2023.
  • Most exposures accidental; sharp increase in intentional exposures for self-harm or suicide, notably among preteen girls between 2008 and 2021.
  • Recent years (2022–2023) show slight decrease in self-harm/suicide-related exposures.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “The vast majority involved accidental exposures, mostly among the youngest children. But the number of intentional exposures, including for suspected self-harm and suicide, also grew over time.” (03:53; Ritu Chatterjee)

• Reporter: Ritu Chatterjee

Timestamps:

• [03:53] Summary of study findings

7. U.S. Open Tennis Results

• Main Points:
  • Carlos Alcaraz claims US Open men's singles title, defeating Jannik Sinner, and now ranks as world number one.
  • Aryna Sabalenka wins the women’s title.

Timestamps:

• [04:39] Coleman reports tennis outcomes

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Trump on city intervention:
  • “No, not really.” (00:42) — Trump, when asked about Chicago
• Welder Alex Bishop on tax cuts:
  • “That’s big bonus on the end of my check being I work about anywhere from 50 to 60 hours a week.” (01:54)
• Jake Cole, United Steelworkers Union:
  • “Frankly, they’re dismantled. You know, it’s almost like they’re non existent right now.” (02:13) — On the NLRB

Overall Tone and Style

• Factual, fast-paced, and neutral in NPR’s signature concise news delivery.
• Direct voices from affected individuals and diverse perspectives on politicized issues add a human element.

Recap

NPR News Now’s 10AM update on September 8th, 2025, provides a tightly focused news digest covering President Trump’s ambiguous urban intervention statements, escalating immigration enforcement, reactions to GOP economic policy, forthcoming inflation and labor data, global tech disruptions, alarming trends in pediatric self-harm, and headline sports results—all interspersed with first-hand accounts and expert reporting.