NPR News: 09-10-2025 3AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 10, 2025, 3AM EDT

Host: Shea Stevens
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise update on significant global and national events. Key stories include upcoming Supreme Court hearings on Trump-era tariffs, a judicial block against the firing of a Federal Reserve governor, escalating violence surrounding a Gaza ceasefire proposal, Russian drones breaching NATO airspace, Jair Bolsonaro’s high-stakes trial in Brazil, Ethiopia’s controversial dam opening, sweeping layoffs at Novo Nordisk, and a record-breaking box office weekend.

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Major News Stories and Discussion Points

1. Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Trump’s Tariffs

[00:21–01:10]

• Issue: The Supreme Court will take up the legal challenge to President Trump’s sweeping tariffs in early November.
• Context:
  • Tariffs were justified as measures to hinder fentanyl smuggling and address major trade deficits.
  • Two lower courts found the tariffs exceeded authority granted by Congress.
• Stakeholder Impact:
  • The business community, usually pro-Trump, opposes the tariffs due to “profound harms” on especially small businesses.
• Notable Quote:

  “The business community, which normally backs Trump policies, is on the other side this time, contending that the tariffs have inflicted profound harms on American businesses, particularly small businesses.” — Nina Totenberg [00:54]

2. Federal Judge Blocks the Firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook

[01:10–01:51]

• Event: A federal judge has blocked the attempt to fire Lisa Cook, citing the crucial legal separation between the Federal Reserve and political forces.
• Backstory:
  • Bill Pulte of the Federal Housing Finance Agency pushed for Cook’s firing over allegations of double-claiming primary residences—a situation reportedly mirrored by Pulte’s family and several cabinet members.
• Political Undertone:
  • The action is presented as a defense of central bank independence during a period of heightened political engagement with financial oversight.

3. Israeli Strike in Doha Amid Gaza Ceasefire Talks

[01:10–02:03]

• Incident: Israel launched an attack on a Doha building with top Hamas officials meeting about a Gaza ceasefire proposal.
  • Casualties: At least five Hamas officials and a Qatari security officer killed.
• US Response:
  • President Trump commented:

    “I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not a good situation. But I will say this. We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down.” — President Trump [01:51]

• Background:
  • The strike followed Hamas’s claim of responsibility for the killing of six Israelis in Jerusalem, prompting warnings of possible Israeli retaliation.

4. Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace

[02:03–02:43]

• Event: Poland reports shooting down Russian drones during strikes near Ukraine’s border—an escalation involving a NATO member’s airspace.
• Wider Context:
  • Occurred one day after Russia’s largest air assault on Ukraine to date (24 killed, 19 wounded).

5. Brazil’s Supreme Court Nears Verdict in Bolsonaro Coup Trial

[02:43–03:15]

• Event: Brazil’s Supreme Court nears a watershed verdict in ex-President Jair Bolsonaro’s coup attempt trial post-2022 election.
• Judicial Process:
  • Justice Alexandre de Moraes, himself sanctioned by the US, leads the trial, voting to convict Bolsonaro.
  • His assessment: Bolsonaro orchestrated a criminal organization to overturn the government and eviscerate the rule of law.
• Notable Quote:

  “He found that Jair Bolsonaro did, in fact, lead a criminal organization that planned to overthrow the government and violently abolish the rule of law.” — Giulia Canaro [02:50]

  • At least three out of five judges need to convict; verdict expected by week’s end.

6. Ethiopia Opens Massive Dam on Nile Tributary

[03:15–03:44]

• Development: Ethiopia inaugurates a $5 billion dam to power its economy and grid.
• Tension: Egypt opposes the project over fears of diminished Nile water access.

7. Novo Nordisk Slashes 9,000 Jobs Amid Restructuring

[03:44–04:10]

• Corporate Move: The Danish pharmaceutical company, known for Ozempic and Wegovy, announces 9,000 layoffs.
• Projected Savings: About $1.2 billion.

8. Box Office Record: ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’

[04:10–04:58]

• Cultural Impact: The fourth "Conjuring" film scores the biggest horror opening ever ($194 million global debut).
• Theater Industry Reaction:

  “It really became a cultural event, and so we’re really excited. It really changed the trajectory of September.” — Bobby Bagby Ford, B&B Theaters [04:28]

• Industry Outlook:
  • The strong box office performance is expected to continue with upcoming releases like “Demon: Infinity Castle,” “Wicked for Good,” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”

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Notable Quotes and Moments

• Nina Totenberg [00:54]:

  “…the tariffs have inflicted profound harms on American businesses, particularly small businesses.”

• President Trump [01:51]:

  “We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down.”

• Giulia Canaro [02:50]:

  “He found that Jair Bolsonaro did, in fact, lead a criminal organization that planned to overthrow the government and violently abolish the rule of law.”

• Bobby Bagby Ford [04:28]:

  “It really became a cultural event, and so we’re really excited…”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump Tariffs Supreme Court Hearing: 00:21–01:10
• Fed Governor Firing Blocked: 01:10–01:51
• Israeli Attack in Doha & Trump’s Response: 01:51–02:03
• Russian Drones Over Poland: 02:03–02:43
• Bolsonaro Trial Advances: 02:43–03:15
• Ethiopian Dam Opens: 03:15–03:44
• Novo Nordisk Layoffs: 03:44–04:10
• ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Box Office: 04:10–04:58

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This rapid-fire news update covers pressing legal, geopolitical, financial, and cultural developments, providing listeners with a snapshot of a fast-moving global news cycle.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The U.S. supreme Court will hear arguments on the legality of President Trump's far reaching tariffs in early November. More from NPR's Nina Totenberg.

[Nina Totenberg]

The Trump administration has justified its sprawling tariffs against other countries as needed to stem the flow of fentanyl across US Borders and to rectify what Trump has called country killing trade deficits. But two lower courts have ruled that the tariffs exceed any power authorized by Congress. And the business community, which normally backs Trump policies, is on the other side side this time, contending that the tariffs have inflicted profound harms on American businesses, particularly small businesses. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

A federal judge is blocking the firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, signing a law that separates the central bank from political interference. Bill Pulte of the Federal Housing Finance Agency recommended that President Trump fire Cook, alleging she claimed two homes as primary residences. According to Reuters News Service, members of Pulte's family and three three Trump Cabinet members have done the same. Israel has attacked a building in Doha, Qatar, where Hamas leaders were discussing a Gaza ceasefire proposal. At least five Hamas officials and a member of Qatar's security force were killed in the attack. President Trump was asked about the incident during an evening out with some cabinet officials in Washington.

[President Trump]

I'm not thrilled about the whole situation. It's not a good situation. But I will say this. We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down.

[Shea Stevens]

Israel says officials had been notified of possible retaliation for the shooting deaths of six Israelis at a bus stop in Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility for Monday's shootings. NATO member Poland says it shot down Russian drones that violated its airspace during attacks on Ukraine near the Polish border. That incident coming a day after Russia carried out its largest air assault of the war in Ukraine, killing 24 people and wounding 19 others. Brazil's Supreme Court is nearing a verdict in the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of attempting a coup after losing reelection in 2022. Julia Caniro has more from Rio.

[Giulia Canaro]

Justice Alejandro de Moraes, who's leading the case and has been sanctioned by the US Government, was the first to vote to convict. He found that Jair Bolsonaro did, in fact lead a criminal organization that planned to overthrow the government and violently abolish the rule of law. The second to vote, Justice Flaviogino found Bolsonaro and the seven other defendants guilty, but suggested milder sentences for three of them. A vote to convict from three justices on the five judge panel are needed to convict Bolsonaro. The court will reach a verdict by the end of this week.

[Shea Stevens]

Giulia Canaro in Rio. This is npr. Ethiopia has opened a massive dam that's designed to boost the East African nation's economy and support its electric grid. The the nearly $5 billion project is located on a tributary of the Nile River. Egypt has long opposed the project, citing concerns that it could deplete its share of Nile waters. Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk says it's slashing 9,000 jobs as part of a restructuring. The maker of diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy says the cuts are expected to save around 8 billion Danish crowns, or roughly $1.2 billion. The conjuring last Rites resuscitated the weekend box office to become the top horror movie opening in history. NPR's Mandalito Barco has details.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

In the latest conjuring movie, the fourth in the franchise, Paranormal investigators and demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren confront a family's haunted house.

[Shea Stevens]

There's an evil here.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

Bobby Bagby Ford, who heads back B and B theaters, says the supernatural horror movie became a surprising smash hit.

[Bobby Bagby Ford]

It really became a cultural event, and so we're really excited. It really changed the trajectory of September.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

Analysts had predicted a sleepy September at the box office after a somewhat slow summer. But on opening weekend, last rites conjured $194 million globally. The momentum could continue next weekend with the anime movie Demon, Infinity Castle, and in the fall, Wicked for Good and the new Avatar movie Fire and Ash. Mandalit Del Barco, NPR News.

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