NPR News: 09-09-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – September 9, 2025, 10PM EDT

Host: Louise Schiavone
Date: September 10, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This fast-paced NPR News Now update delivers the latest top headlines from Washington and around the world. Major stories include a Supreme Court case on Trump’s tariffs, Trump’s response to Israeli strikes in Doha, a diplomatic incident involving South Korean workers in Georgia, revised jobs numbers, a new discovery in Uranus’s orbit, and a significant development in the Murdoch family media empire succession.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Supreme Court to Consider Challenge to Trump Tariff Policies

(00:21–01:10)

• The Supreme Court will examine the legality of sweeping tariffs imposed by President Trump earlier in 2025, using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
  • “This case centers on a move Trump made back in April when he announced sweeping tariffs on countries around the world…given that Congress, not the White House, traditionally controls the country's tariff moves.”
    (Elena Moore, 00:36)
• Two lower courts have already ruled the tariffs illegal.
• The decision could force the White House to refund billions collected from the tariffs if the lower rulings stand. Alternatively, a high court win for Trump keeps the tariffs in place.

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2. President Trump Criticizes Israeli Strikes on Hamas in Doha

(01:10–01:46)

• President Trump publicly disapproved of Israeli military action targeting Hamas in Doha, Qatar.
• The White House issued a formal rebuke, highlighting that unilateral strikes in Qatar do not further US or Israeli interests.
  • “Unilateral strikes inside a close US ally, in this case Qatar, does not advance Israel’s or America’s goals.”
    (White House statement paraphrased by Louise Schiavone, 01:18)
• Trump to give a full statement the following day.
  • “I was very unhappy about it, very unhappy about every aspect, and we got to get the hostages back, but I was very unhappy about the way that went down.”
    (President Donald Trump, 01:31)

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3. South Korea Sending Flight for Detained Workers in Georgia

(01:46–02:54)

• Over 300 South Korean workers, detained by US authorities at a Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia for alleged immigration violations, are being repatriated.
• The operation follows what ICE calls its biggest enforcement raid ever; South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyon is overseeing the process.
• South Korea has significant investment planned in the US ($350 billion), but struggles with US visa restrictions for skilled workers.
  • “A survey by South Korean pollsters Realmeter found that 60% of respondents considered measures by ICE in the raid excessive.”
    (Anthony Kuhn, 02:42)

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4. Labor Department Reports Downward Adjustment on Jobs Data

(02:54–03:29)

• Revised figures reveal employers added about 900,000 fewer jobs than previously estimated between early 2024 and March 2025.
• The update paints a less robust economic recovery than initial numbers suggested.

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5. Discovery of a Tiny Moon Orbiting Uranus

(03:29–04:19)

• Astronomers identify a new, smallest-known moon of Uranus, just six miles wide.
• University of Idaho's Professor Matthew Hedman, part of the discovery team, highlights the ongoing mysteries within Uranus’s narrow rings and chaotic moon system:
  • “It indicates we don’t really understand what’s going on in this system, and that tells us there’s still a lot about how things are going on in space that we still need to learn.”
    (Matthew Hedman, 03:56)
• These findings could inform broader research on asteroid belt physics.

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6. Rupert Murdoch’s Succession Plan Finalized

(04:19–04:59)

• Rupert Murdoch, aged 94, cements succession for his son Lachlan to take control of the considerable Murdoch global media empire (including Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and more).
• A deal is struck to buy out Lachlan’s siblings—Prudence, Elizabeth, and James—each set to receive $1.1 billion, but only upon Murdoch’s death.
• The process draws parallels to high-stakes family succession sagas like HBO’s “Succession.”

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Elena Moore (on tariffs): “If the Supreme Court sides with Trump, the tariffs would be allowed to stay. But if the justices uphold the lower court rulings, the White House could be forced to refund the billions it’s already collected from the tariffs.” (00:51)
• President Donald Trump (on Israel/Doha strike): “I'll be giving a full statement tomorrow, but I would tell you this. I was very unhappy about it, very unhappy about every aspect, and we got to get the hostages back, but I was very unhappy about the way that went down.” (01:31)
• Matthew Hedman (on Uranus discovery): “It indicates we don’t really understand what’s going on in this system, and that tells us there’s still a lot about how things are going on in space that we still need to learn.” (03:56)

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Timestamps for Notable Segments

• Supreme Court Tariffs Case: 00:21–01:10
• Israeli Strikes in Doha/Trump Statement: 01:10–01:46
• South Korean Workers Detained in Georgia: 01:46–02:54
• Jobs Report Revision: 02:54–03:29
• New Moon of Uranus: 03:29–04:19
• Murdoch Succession News: 04:19–04:59

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This episode provides a concise yet comprehensive panorama of international and national affairs, science advances, and media industry news, all within the brisk, authoritative tone of NPR’s flagship news bulletin.

Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. The Supreme Court has cleared the way to consider a challenge to President Trump's tariff policies. The high court will hear arguments in case in the first week of November. NPR's Elena Moore has details.

[Elena Moore]

This case centers on a move Trump made back in April when he announced sweeping tariffs on countries around the world using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. It marked a stark break from precedent given that Congress, not the White House, traditionally controls the country's tariff moves. Two federal courts have since said the policy is illegal. Now, if the Supreme Court sides with Trump, the tariffs would be allowed to stay. But if the justices uphold the lower court rulings, the White House could be forced to refund the billions it's already collected from the tariffs. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

President Trump says he disapproves of Israeli strikes today on Hamas targets in Doha. In a formal statement, the White House said unilateral strikes inside a close US Ally, in this case Qatar, does not advance Israel's or America's goals. This evening, he spoke with reporters outside of a restaurant around the corner from the White House.

[President Donald Trump]

I'll be giving a full statement tomorrow, but I would tell you this. I was very unhappy about it, very unhappy about every aspect, and we got to get the hostages back, but I was very unhappy about the way that went down.

[Louise Schiavone]

Qatar has been a key player in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The South Korean government is preparing to send a chartered flight to Atlanta this week. Officials will bring home Korean workers who were detained last week by U.S. agents at an electric battery factory in Georgia. The charges were immigration violations. NPR's Anthony Kyung.

[Anthony Kuhn]

The Yonhap news agency reports that the flight could leave as early as Wednesday with enough seats to bring home the more than 300 detained workers. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyon flew to the US On Monday to oversee the process. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ice, is calling the raid on the Hyundai LG electric vehicle and battery plant in Bryan County, Georgia, its biggest enforcement operation ever. South Korea has pledged to invest $350 billion in the U.S. but experts argue that U.S. visa restrictions make it difficult to bring in the skilled workers needed to build factories. A survey by South Korean pollsters realmeter found that 60% of respondents considered measures used in the raid excessive. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

[Louise Schiavone]

Revised jobs data from the Labor Department show a less robust employment picture than reported over the year that ended in March of this year. And benchmark revisions issued today, data show employers added about 900,000 fewer jobs than originally estimated in the 12 month period beginning in 2024 and ending the first quarter of this year. This is NPR News. A new moon has been discovered orbiting Uranus. From member station Northwest Public Broadcasting, Lauren Patterson has more.

[Lauren Patterson]

At just six miles in diameter, the newest moon discovered orbiting Uranus is also the same smallest. That's according to University of Idaho physics professor Matthew Hedman, who was part of the team led by the Southwest Research Institute that made the discovery. Hedman says the 13 rings encircling Uranus are exceptionally narrow and the icy giant's moons are orbiting so closely that their gravitational pulls can tug on each other, leading to collisions.

[Matthew Hedman]

It indicates we don't really understand what's going on in this system, and that tells us there's still a lot about how things are going on in space that we still need to learn.

[Lauren Patterson]

He says understanding more about how the moons interact could help scientists learn more about the physics of asteroid belts. For NPR News, I'm Lauren Patterson in Moscow, Idaho.

[Louise Schiavone]

In a family business, strategic planning as closely watched as the HBO series succession, 94 year old patriarch Rupert Murdoch has set a path for his son Lachlan to control his father's media empire. When the baton has finally passed, the Murdoch corporate empire includes Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, along with significant international outlets in the UK And Australia. Now Rupert Murdoch and his son have reached a deal to buy out the shares of Lackland's siblings, Prudence, Elizabeth and James. It's reported each will receive $1.1 billion and the elder Murdoch's death. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

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