NPR News: 09-12-2025 10AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 12, 2025, 10AM EDT

Main Theme:
This five-minute newscast covers major breaking news and top developments in U.S. politics, international affairs, business, and culture as of September 12, 2025. Key topics include updates on the investigation into Charlie Kirk's killing, significant changes in Missouri's legislative process, market movements influenced by tariffs and antitrust resolutions, political unrest in Nepal, and a cultural milestone for Notre Dame Cathedral.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking Update: Suspect in Killing of Charlie Kirk (00:16–01:01, 04:43–04:55)

• President Trump Statement:
  • President Trump told Fox and Friends he is “highly certain” the suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is now in custody.
  • Trump detailed how the suspect’s identification involved a close acquaintance recognizing him, alerting the father, and working through a U.S. Marshal to bring him in.
  • [Trump Quote, 00:33] “A person … was involved with law enforcement but was a person of faith, a minister, and brought him to a U.S. marshal who was fantastic. And the father convinced the son this is it.”
  • Trump expressed his hope for a conviction and death penalty for the suspect.
• Confirmation of Arrest:
  • At the close of the newscast, Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirms the arrest of the suspect in the case.
    • [Korva Coleman, 04:43] “Utah Governor Spencer Cox says Utah authorities have arrested a suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.”

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2. Missouri Legislation: Constitutional Amendment Restrictions (01:01–02:14)

• Missouri Senate Vote:
  • Senate poised to pass a measure redrawing Missouri’s congressional maps and making citizen-driven constitutional amendments much harder.
  • New GOP-backed measure would require any proposed constitutional amendment to pass statewide and win in all eight congressional districts.
• Intent of Lawmakers:
  • [Brad Hudson, 01:55] “I think you should have broad consensus throughout the state of Missouri before you amend the Constitution.”
• Critics’ View:
  • Detractors claim this would make it nearly impossible for most amendments to succeed.
  • Recent amendments that passed (abortion rights, marijuana legalization, Medicaid expansion) saw broad support in urban but not rural areas.
• Next Steps:
  • If passed, proposal goes to Missouri voters for approval.

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3. Business & Markets: Market Opens, Tariffs Impact, Microsoft Antitrust (02:14–03:04)

• Market Snapshot:
  • After record highs, stocks open mixed: Dow down ~70 points; NASDAQ up ~40.
• Company Focus – Restoration Hardware (RH):
  • RH’s earnings disappoint; company blames President Trump’s tariffs for lower forecast.
  • [Scott Horsley, 02:24] “Those import taxes raised $30 billion last month—a nearly fourfold increase from a year ago. But tariffs are also contributing to higher prices on furniture, clothing, and other imports.”
• Microsoft Antitrust Update:
  • Microsoft resolves EU antitrust probe (initiated by Slack over Teams). No fine, but Microsoft must unbundle Teams from Office suite.

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4. International: Nepal Unrest and Curfew (03:04–03:58)

• Political Crisis:
  • Curfew in Nepal amid deadly violence; at least 34 killed following protests after government briefly banned all social media.
  • Protest movement ousted the Prime Minister; military leaders now in talks with protest leaders.

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5. Culture: Notre Dame Cathedral Tops Visitor Charts (03:58–04:43)

• Notre Dame Reopens:
  • Just nine months after reopening post-2019 fire, Notre Dame is now France’s most visited monument, on track for nearly 13 million annual visitors.
• Highlights for Visitors:
  • Majority of international visitors from U.S., Latin America, and Asia.
  • Restoration efforts praised: “immaculate white stone … sucked clean of centuries of grime.” [Eleanor Beardsley, 03:58]
  • New chapels: including one honoring St. Paul Chen (Chinese seminarian martyred in 1861), and a chapel for Christians of the East.
  • Cathedral’s “universal mission” reinforced by these additions.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Identification of Suspect

  • “A person … was involved with law enforcement but was a person of faith, a minister, and brought him to a U.S. marshal who was fantastic. And the father convinced the son this is it.”
    — President Donald Trump (00:33)

• Missouri Amendment Process

  • “I think you should have broad consensus throughout the state of Missouri before you amend the Constitution.”
    — State Senator Brad Hudson (01:55)

• Tariffs & Consumer Prices

  • “Those import taxes raised $30 billion last month—a nearly fourfold increase from a year ago. But tariffs are also contributing to higher prices on furniture, clothing, and other imports.”
    — Scott Horsley (02:24)

• Notre Dame Restoration

  • “Visitors are particularly impressed by the cathedral's immaculate white stone, which has been sucked clean of centuries of grime.”
    — Eleanor Beardsley (03:58)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:16–01:01] – Trump on Kirk Killing Suspect Identification
• [01:01–02:14] – Missouri’s Constitutional Amendment Plan, Reactions
• [02:14–03:04] – Markets, RH Earnings, Tariffs, Microsoft Antitrust
• [03:04–03:58] – Nepal Curfew and Political Unrest
• [03:58–04:43] – Notre Dame Reopening, Visitor Milestone, Cultural Significance
• [04:43–04:55] – Utah Governor Confirms Kirk Killing Suspect Arrest

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This summary captures all key topics and moments from the episode, providing context and clarity for listeners who missed the live broadcast.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump says he has a high degree of certainty that the suspect wanted in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is in custody. Trump told Fox and friends the suspect was identified by someone who knew him, who told the suspect's father, somebody that.

[Donald Trump]

Was very close to him, said, hmm, that's him, and essentially went to the father, went to a U.S. marshal who was fantastic, by the way, and the person was involved with law enforcement but was a person of faith, a minister, and brought him to a U.S. marshal who was fantastic. And the father convinced the son this is it.

[Korva Coleman]

Trump says he hopes the suspect is convicted and put to death. Meanwhile, officials from the FBI and Utah authorities are expected to hold a news conference this hour. Missouri's Senate is expected to pass a measure today that redraws the state's congressional maps. Republicans want to try to send another GOP member to the U.S. congress. Republican lawmakers also want to make it a lot harder for citizens to amend the state constitution. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum reports.

[Jason Rosenbaum]

Missouri Republicans want to require any constitutional amendment put on the ballot through the initiative petition process to pass in a statewide vote and in all eight congressional districts. State Senator Brad Hudson says the constitution is too easy to amend. Missourians recently passed amendments protecting abortion rights, legalizing marijuana and expanding Medicaid, which won with support in cities but not rural areas.

[Brad Hudson]

I think you should have broad consensus throughout the state of Missouri before you amend the Constitution.

[Jason Rosenbaum]

Detractors of the plan say it will make it basically impossible for most amendments to pass. If lawmakers pass it this week, it will go to the voters for their approval. For NPR News, I'm Jason Rosenbaum in St. Louis.

[Korva Coleman]

Stocks open mix this morning after hitting record highs yesterday. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped about 70 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

The company, once known as Restoration Hardware, could use a little restoration after a disappointing earnings report. RH lowered its forecast for annual results, pointing to the fallout from President Trump's tariffs. The Treasury Department says those Import taxes raised $30 billion last month, a nearly four fold increase from a year ago. But tariffs are also contributing to higher prices on furniture, clothing and other imports. Microsoft resolved an antitrust investigation brought by European regulators after software rivals Slack complained about the company's teams product. Microsoft will not have to pay a fine, but agreed to unbundle teams from its suite of office software. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, the Dow is now down 77 points. The NASDAQ is up nearly 40 points. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. There's a curfew in effect in Nepal. Leaders of the protest movement that toppled the country's prime minister this week have held talks with Nepalese military leaders. At least 34 people were killed in the violence. The protest broke out after the government banned all social media. The ban was quickly rescinded, but the protests ballooned into widespread violence. Nine months after reopening from the devastating 2019 fire, Notre Dame Cathedral has become the most visited monument in France. It's overtaking the Louvre, Versailles and The Eiffel Tower. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. The cathedral is on track to welcome nearly 13 million visitors in its first year since reopening last December.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

The majority of visitors after the French have come from the U.S. latin America and Asia. They're particularly impressed by the cathedral's immaculate white stone, which has been sucked clean of sand. Centuries of grime. Chinese visitors have discovered a special surprise. One of the 14 side chapels around the nave has been renamed in honor of St. Paul Chen, a Chinese seminarian martyred in 1861, whose body has been kept at Notre Dame since 1920. A chapel dedicated to Christians of the east has also been introduced, joining existing chapels devoted to the version of Guadalupe and the Virgin of Chance from Poland. A spokesperson for the cathedral says they all reinforce Notre Dame's universal mission. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Korva Coleman]

And this just in Utah. Governor Spencer Cox says Utah authorities have arrested a suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. It's npr.

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