NPR News Now – 09-12-2025 11PM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Date: September 13, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This fast-paced update covers top national and international news stories, focusing on:

• The arrest in the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
• Missouri’s contentious new congressional map
• Proposed EPA rollbacks on climate reporting
• The WHO’s response to an Ebola outbreak in Congo
• A drastic decline in insects even in pristine US habitats
• Aaron Judge’s milestone home run

Key News Segments & Highlights

1. Arrest in the Shooting of Charlie Kirk

[00:20–01:17]

• Anchor Dale Willman shares the arrest of a 22-year-old suspect (Tyler Robinson) connected to the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus.
• Reporter Steve Futterman covers public statements from Utah Governor Spencer Cox.
  • Spencer Cox (Governor):

    “This is our moment. Do we escalate or do we find an off ramp?” (00:42)

    • Emphasizes a choice between further division and national unity.

    “It's a choice. It's a choice and every one of us gets to make that choice.” (01:05)

• Motive not officially released; however, a family member indicated the suspect had become politicized recently and disagreed with Kirk’s views, calling them “hateful.”
• Formal charges expected the following week.

2. Missouri Redistricting and Political Fallout

[01:17–02:16]

• Jason Rosenbaum (St. Louis Public Radio):
  • Missouri Republicans pass a congressional map aiming to unseat Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver by making his district GOP-leaning—aligned with broader efforts promoted by former President Trump.
  • Immediate grassroots pushback; activists seek to force a referendum by petition.
• Missouri Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck:

  “I am already going to start cutting up old campaign signs to put petitions on there and start going out and collect.” (01:56)

• Governor Mike Kehoe likely to sign the map, but it must survive the petition challenge to take effect.

3. EPA’s Proposed Rollback on Emissions Reporting

[02:16–03:12]

• Reporter Jeff Brady:
  • Trump administration looks to end mandatory greenhouse gas reporting for major polluting industries—including suspending requirements for oil and gas facilities.
  • EPA’s justification: Cost savings for companies—$2.4 billion over 10 years.
  • Environmentalists, like David Doniger (Natural Resources Defense Council), call the move illegal and anticipate court challenges.
  • Emphasis on links between human-caused emissions and worsening climate events.

4. Ebola Outbreak & WHO Response

[03:12–03:53]

• WHO is responding to an Ebola outbreak in southern Congo, dispatching vaccine doses (400 sent, 1,005 on the way from Kinshasa).
• Funding shortages are limiting the scope of campaign.

5. Alarming Insect Population Decline

[03:53–04:39]

• Reporter Alana Weiss:
  • Keith Sockman (UNC Chapel Hill) finds a 72% drop in flying insect density over 15 summers in Colorado’s untouched mountain meadows.
  • While agriculture had previously been blamed for insect decline, pristine study sites suggest climate change and increased temperature are likely culprits.
  • Ecological importance: Insects pollinate, control pests, and recycle nutrients.
  • Proposed solutions: Plant trees and flowers, avoid insecticides.

6. Sports Highlight: Aaron Judge’s Milestone

[04:39–05:00]

• Anchor Dale Willman:
  • New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge hits his 362nd home run, surpassing Joe DiMaggio for fourth-most in franchise history.
  • Home run hit during a game against the Boston Red Sox.

Notable Quotes

• Spencer Cox (Utah Governor):

  “This is our moment. Do we escalate or do we find an off ramp?” (00:42)
  “It's a choice. It's a choice and every one of us gets to make that choice.” (01:05)

• Doug Beck (MO Senate Minority Leader):

  “I am already going to start cutting up old campaign signs to put petitions on there and start going out and collect.” (01:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Charlie Kirk Shooting Arrest: 00:20–01:17
• Missouri Redistricting Map: 01:17–02:16
• EPA Emissions Rollback: 02:16–03:12
• Ebola Outbreak Response: 03:12–03:53
• Insect Population Decline: 03:53–04:39
• Aaron Judge Home Run Record: 04:39–05:00

This concise news roundup maintains NPR’s objective, informative tone and covers significant political, environmental, and sports developments from the day.