NPR News: 09-11-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now: 09-11-2025 12AM EDT

Host: Shea Stevens
Date: September 11, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes

---

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now segment delivers a concise roundup of major events on September 11, 2025. Top stories include the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a high school shooting in Colorado, President Trump’s ongoing attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, diplomatic tensions following immigration arrests at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, the approach of flu and COVID-19 vaccination season, and the passing of actress Polly Holiday.

---

Key Stories & Discussion Points

---

1. Assassination of Charlie Kirk (00:22 – 02:05)

• Summary:
  Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was killed during a Q&A event focused on gun violence at Utah Valley University. President Trump publicly condemned the assassination and blamed the political left for inciting violence. Flags have been ordered to half staff.

• Political Response:

  • President Trump expressed both anger and grief, condemning the act and its broader implications.
  • Trump stated:

    "President Trump is expressing anger and grief over the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk...Trump blamed the slaying of Kirk on rhetoric from the political left." (Shea Stevens, 00:22)

• Supporters’ Sentiments:

  • A spokesperson or supporter of Charlie Kirk emphasized his lasting legacy:

    "An assassin tried to silence him with a bullet, but he failed because together we will ensure that his voice, his message and his legacy will live on for countless generations to come. Today, because of this heinous act, Charlie's voice has become bigger and grander than ever before." (Charlie Kirk spokesperson, 00:43)

• Profile and Legacy:

  • Stephen Fowler provides background on Kirk's impact:

    "Kirk was well known as an energizing speaker and organizer, getting young conservatives registered to vote...He co founded Turning Point USA as a college campus free speech organization." (Stephen Fowler, 01:25)

  • Kirk, on his founding vision:

    "I had the crazy and wild idea I want to try to start a youth organization to try and save Western civilization." (Charlie Kirk, 01:41)

---

2. High School Shooting in Evergreen, CO (02:05 – 02:29)

• Incident Report:
  • At least two teenagers critically wounded during a shooting at their high school.
  • The alleged shooter, also a teenager, died by suicide.
  • "Evergreen is situated about 30 miles west of Denver." (Shea Stevens, 02:05)

---

3. Trump’s Attempt to Fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook (02:29 – 03:11)

• Legal Battle:

  • President Trump is appealing a ruling that prevented the firing of Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board.
  • Cook denies accusations of mortgage fraud from several years prior.
  • The federal judge asserted that Cook should not be removed for actions before her service at the Fed, highlighting the intended independence of the central bank.

• Notable Quote:

  "The campaign to fire Cook comes amid a months long effort by the president to exert more control over the Fed, even though the central bank was designed to be insulated from that kind of political pressure." (Scott Horsley, 03:11)

---

4. Stock Market Summary (03:11 – 03:19)

• Market Close:
  • "The Dow lost 220 points. The Nasdaq added six." (Shea Stevens, 03:11)

---

5. Diplomatic Tensions: Hyundai Plant Immigration Arrests (03:19 – 04:00)

• Event Details:
  • South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyung met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio following ICE raids at a Hyundai auto plant in Georgia.
  • 300 Korean nationals among 475 people arrested; chartered plane in Atlanta to send workers home.
  • Korean officials expressed dismay at images of detained workers in shackles.

---

6. Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Challenges (04:00 – 04:38)

• Access Concerns:

  • FDA approvals for COVID boosters are narrower this year, but supply volume remains steady.
  • Claire Hannon, Executive Director, Association of Immunization Managers:

    "I think it's going to be harder to access, but I think anybody that wants it, you know, will be able to get it, but they're just going to have to work hard to find it." (Claire Hannon, 04:17)

• Actionable Info:

  • Patients are encouraged to use vaccine-finding tools from Pfizer and Moderna to locate doses.

---

7. Actress Polly Holiday Dies at 88 (04:38 – 05:00)

• Obituary:
  • Polly Holiday, famed for her role as Flo on the sitcom “Alice,” passed away at 88.
  • Her character’s catchphrase "kiss my grits" became iconic in American television.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Kirk’s Legacy:

  "Today, because of this heinous act, Charlie's voice has become bigger and grander than ever before." (Charlie Kirk Supporter/Spokesperson, 00:43)

• Kirk’s Mission:

  "I had the crazy and wild idea I want to try to start a youth organization to try and save Western civilization." (Charlie Kirk, 01:41)

• Vaccination Reality:

  "I think it's going to be harder to access, but I think anybody that wants it, you know, will be able to get it, but they're just going to have to work hard to find it." (Claire Hannon, 04:17)

---

Timeline of Segments

• 00:22: Charlie Kirk assassination coverage and reactions
• 01:41: Kirk’s archival quote and organization’s evolution
• 02:05: Evergreen, CO school shooting
• 02:29: Trump vs. Lisa Cook and Federal Reserve independence
• 03:11: Wall Street closing numbers
• 03:19: South Korea–US diplomatic tension on Hyundai arrests
• 04:00: Flu/COVID-19 vaccination access update and advice
• 04:38: Polly Holiday obituary

---

This summary curates all major news items from NPR's 09-11-2025, 12AM broadcast, providing context and key statements for listeners and non-listeners alike.

Transcript

[Sponsor/Advertiser]

Support for npr and the following message come from indeed. You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com NPR terms and conditions apply.

[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump is expressing anger and grief over the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The 31 year old co founder of Turning Point USA was gunned down Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University. Trump blamed the slaying of Kirk on rhetoric from the political left.

[Charlie Kirk Supporter/Spokesperson]

An assassin tried to silence him with a bullet, but he failed because together we will ensure that his voice, his message and his legacy will will live on for countless generations to come. Today, because of this heinous act, Charlie's voice has become bigger and grander than ever before.

[Shea Stevens]

In a video recorded in the Oval Office, Trump says he's ordered US Flags blown at half staff. Charlie Kirk was killed while taking questions about gun violence in the US A search for his killer continues. As NPR Stephen Fowler reports, Kirk helped usher in an age of in your face conservative politics that resonated with young voters.

[Stephen Fowler]

Charlie Kirk was well known as an energizing speaker and organizer, getting young conservatives registered to vote and ultimately activating a key demographic for a party that has struggled with young people. At 18, he co founded Turning Point USA as a college campus free speech organization.

[Charlie Kirk]

I had the crazy and wild idea I want to try to start a youth organization to try and save Western civilization.

[Stephen Fowler]

It evolved into an empire with annual summits, faith leader outreach and successful media platforms. Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University at what was supposed to be the start of a 15 campus American comeback tour when he was shot. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

At least two teenagers are in critical condition following a shooting at their high school in Evergreen, Colorado. Authorities say the suspected gunman took his own life. He was a teenager as well. Evergreen is situated about 30 miles west of Denver. President Trump plans to appeal a federal judges ruling that blocks the firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The story from npr.

[Scott Horsley]

Scott Horsley, the Justice Department says President Trump will appeal a ruling by federal District Judge Gia Cobb that allows Lisa Cook to keep her job on the Federal Reserve's governing board, at least for now. Trump tried to oust Cook with a social media post last month after allegations from a Trump ally that Cook made false statements on a mortgage application four years ago. Cook denies any mortgage fraud. The judge said in any case, Cook should not be fired over actions that took place before she joined the Central the campaign to fire Cook comes amid a months long effort by the president to exert more control over the Fed, even though the central bank was designed to be insulated from that kind of political pressure. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

On Wall street, stocks closed mix. The Dow lost 220 points. The Nasdaq added six. You're listening to NPR. South Korea's foreign Minister Cho Hyung met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio Wednesday in wake of the immigration arrests at a Hyundai auto plant in Georg. The foreign ministry says Cho expressed dismay over images of Korean workers being shackled and chained. Some 300 Koreans were among 475 people rounded up during an ice raid last week. A charter plane is in Atlanta to ferry them home as soon as Thursday. As fall draws nearer, many people are thinking about vaccinations for flu season and for COVID 19. But as NPR's Sidney Lupkin reports, Covid shots may be harder to get this year.

[Sidney Lupkin]

The Food and Drug Administration's approvals for this year's Covid boosters are narrower, but drug companies say they're still making similar volumes of the jabs as last year. Claire Hannon is the executive director of the association of Immunization Managers. She says pharmacies are able to order the shots and they've been shipped out.

[Claire Hannon]

I think it's going to be harder to access, but I think anybody that wants it, you know, will be able to get it, but they're just going to have to work hard to find it.

[Sidney Lupkin]

She says patients can use vaccine finders, which Pfizer and Moderna both up and running to find pharmacies with COVID shots in their area. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Award winning actress Polly Holiday has died at the age of 88. Holiday is best known for her role as Flo in the sitcom Alice, which aired for nine seasons on CBS from the mid-1970s to the mid-80s. The gum chewing character she played became famous for the catchphrase kiss my grits. This is NPR News.

[Sponsor/Advertiser]

This message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your pair at WarbyParker or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country.