NPR News: 09-09-2025 8AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – 09-09-2025 8AM EDT

Date: September 9, 2025
Host: Korva Coleman

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now update covers the Supreme Court’s latest decisions impacting government oversight and immigration, South Korea’s diplomatic efforts amid a workplace raid in Georgia, U.S. education test score declines, tropical storm risks in Hawaii, a protest against Spotify by musical artists, and a new mural by Banksy in London.

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Key News Segments & Insights

1. U.S. Supreme Court Decisions

[00:20–00:58]

• The Supreme Court issued two significant orders:
  • Presidential Authority Over Independent Agencies:
    • Chief Justice John Roberts cleared the way for President Trump to fire the last Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission.
    • Insight: This is a move toward undoing a nearly century-old rule limiting the president's ability to remove independent agency commissioners.
    • Nina Totenberg (00:35):

      “It's yet another strong indication that the court's conservatives are aiming to reverse a nearly century old decision barring presidents from firing independent agency commissioners except for misconduct.”

    • Potential future implications referenced—the case could echo RFK Jr’s firings of medical experts.
  • Federal Immigration Enforcement:
    • The court allowed agents in Los Angeles to continue random searches that had been previously blocked due to concerns of racial or job-based profiling.

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2. South Korea-US Diplomatic Incident: Worker Raids

[00:58–02:18]

• South Korea is sending a chartered flight to Atlanta to repatriate over 300 workers detained during a major ICE raid at the Hyundai/LG EV and battery plant in Georgia.
  • Diplomatic Response:
    • South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyon flew to the US to oversee the process.
    • ICE called the action its "biggest enforcement operation ever."
  • Economic Tension:
    • Despite South Korea’s $350 billion investment pledge in the US, visa restrictions have hampered bringing in essential skilled workers.
    • Anthony Kuhn (01:48):

      “A survey by South Korean pollsters Realmeter found that 60% of respondents considered measures used in the raid excessive.”

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3. Declining U.S. Education Test Scores

[02:18–03:15]

• National Assessment for Educational Progress:
  • 8th grade science and 12th grade math and reading scores declined noticeably compared to 2019.
  • The decline follows significant cuts to the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Sequoia Carillo (02:29):

    “Math scores for students in the 12th grade dropped three points from the previous test in 2019, while eighth graders followed a similar pattern with a four point average drop in science.”

    • All groups were affected, including high- and low-performing students.
    • The 12th-grade reading score average is now 10 points lower than when the assessment began over thirty years ago.

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4. Tropical Storm Kiko Approaches Hawaii

[03:15–03:44]

• Storm Alert:
  • While Kiko isn’t expected to make landfall, the National Weather Service warns of life-threatening surf and rip currents along Hawaii’s beaches.
  • No further details or damage reports discussed.

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5. Spotify Protest by Musicians

[03:44–04:30]

• At least a dozen major artists have removed their music from Spotify, protesting CEO Daniel Ek’s investment firm’s ties to the defense tech startup Helsing.
  • Reason for Protest:
    • Helsing specializes in artificial intelligence applications for military and drone technology.
    • Artist reaction is moral opposition to art “as a means to fund war.”
    • Bands named include Deerhoof, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, and Xiu Xiu.
    • Jamie Stewart, Xiu Xiu (04:20):

      “It's a noticeable amount that we are no longer making.”

    • Stewart emphasizes loss of revenue but underscores the ethical stand.

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6. New Banksy Mural in London

[04:30–04:59]

• Street artist Banksy unveiled a mural on a central London courthouse depicting a judge beating a protester with a gavel.
  • No specific cause is associated, and London officials quickly covered it up.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nina Totenberg (00:35):

  “It's yet another strong indication that the court's conservatives are aiming to reverse a nearly century old decision barring presidents from firing independent agency commissioners except for misconduct.”

• Anthony Kuhn (01:48):

  “A survey by South Korean pollsters Realmeter found that 60% of respondents considered measures used in the raid excessive.”

• Sequoia Carillo (02:29):

  “Math scores for students in the 12th grade dropped three points from the previous test in 2019, while eighth graders followed a similar pattern with a four point average drop in science.”

• Jamie Stewart, Xiu Xiu (04:20):

  "It's a noticeable amount that we are no longer making."

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Supreme Court Decisions: 00:20–00:58
• South Korea Worker Raid Response: 00:58–02:18
• National Test Score Drops: 02:18–03:15
• Tropical Storm Kiko Update: 03:15–03:44
• Spotify Artist Protest: 03:44–04:30
• Banksy Courtroom Mural: 04:30–04:59

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This concise newscast delivers a rapid sweep through judicial, international, educational, environmental, cultural, and artistic news, providing essential updates with direct reporting and relevant context.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm KORVA COLEMAN. The U.S. supreme Court has issued a pair of orders, including in one, Chief Justice John Roberts has cleared the way for President Trump to fire the last Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission. NPR's Nina Totenberg explains.

[Nina Totenberg]

It's yet another strong indication that the court's conservatives are aiming to reverse a nearly century old decision barring presidents from firing independent agency commissioners except for misconduct. And if the administration prevails in this case, take a look at RFK Jr and his firings of medical experts as a forecast of things.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Nina Totenberg reporting. In a separate decision, the high court allowed federal immigration agents to continue random searches of people in Los Angeles. That overturned a lower court order that blocked agents from stopping people because of their race, language, job or location. South Korea's government is preparing to send a chartered flight to Atlanta. Officials will bring home Korean workers who were detained last week by US Agents on charges of immigration violations. They were working at a South Korean auto plant. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul.

[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.

[Korva Coleman]

In the US New national test scores have been released today. These measure 8th graders science skills and 12th graders math and reading skills. NPR's Sequoia Carillo reports.

[Sequoia Carrillo]

These test scores are part of the National Assessment for Educational Progress, also known as the nation's report card, and they come in the wake of massive cuts to the U.S. education Department. Math scores for students in the 12th grade dropped three points from the previous test in 2019, while eighth graders followed a similar pattern with a four point average drop in science. In both science and math, drops happened across all achievements. Achievement levels so low and high performing students dropped this cycle. Reading scores also dipped for nearly all 12th graders compared to the last test. But when you compare these scores to the first nation's report card for 12th grade reading more than 30 years ago, today's average score is 10 points lower. Sequoia Carrillo, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Tropical Storm Kiko is sweeping to the north of Hawaii. It's not going to make landfall, but forecasters are warning of the chance of life threatening surf and rip currents on Hawaii's beaches. Since June, nearly a dozen prominent artists have removed their music from the largest music streaming service in the world. NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reports. Musicians are leaving Spotify in protest.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiento]

A wave of artists has left Spotify in objection to CEO Daniel X ties to the defense company Helsing. The German startup focuses on artificial intelligence for military applications. It also manufactures drones. In June, Eck's venture capital firm raised more than $700 million for Helsing. Since then, some artists have criticized Eck for investing in military technology. Rock bands including Deerhoof, King Gizzard and the Lizard wizard and Shushu have all pulled their music from Spotify. Jamie Stewart of Shoeshoes says Spotify was a large source of digital revenue for their band.

[Jamie Stewart]

It's a noticeable amount that we are no longer making.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiento]

But Stewart says they morally oppose art as a means to fund war. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The elusive British street artist Banksy has put up a new mural. It's on the side of a major British courthouse in central London. It depicts a judge wearing a robe and traditional British court wig beating down a protester who is lying on the ground. The judge is using his gavel. The mural is not associated with any particular cause, but it was quickly covered up by London officials. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.

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