NPR News: 09-12-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: September 12, 2025 – 5PM EDT

Host: Dan Ronan
Date: September 12, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This edition of NPR News Now delivers key headlines from the US and abroad. Major topics include the aftermath and investigation of the Charlie Kirk shooting in Utah, President Trump’s response and calls for the death penalty, debate around deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Bad Bunny’s decision to cancel his US tour dates over ICE concerns, a landmark study connecting fossil fuel companies to intensified heat waves, and the latest on Boeing workers’ strike and market updates.

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Key Stories and Highlights

1. Arrest in the Killing of Charlie Kirk

• Reporting: Franco Ordonez
• Discussion:
  • A suspect has been arrested in connection with the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
  • President Trump, in a Fox and Friends interview, advocated for the death penalty.
• Notable Quotes:
  • President Trump:

    “Well, I hope he's going to be found guilty, I would imagine, and I hope he gets the death penalty. What he did, Charlie Kirk was the finest person. He didn't deserve this.” (00:56)

• Details:
  • The shooting took place at a Utah college.
  • The rifle used had inscriptions like “hate fascist catch.”
  • Officials believe the suspect acted alone.
  • The investigation is ongoing.

[00:29–01:36]

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2. National Guard Deployment to Memphis

• Reporting: Mariana Bacalhau (WPLN/Nashville)
• Discussion:
  • President Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops to Memphis has drawn praise and cautious support from Tennessee and Washington Republicans.
  • Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to meet with President Trump regarding deployment details.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Governor Bill Lee:

    “We've made significant investments toward public safety in Memphis, $150 million in intervention grant funds and vast expansion of troopers there.” (02:09)

• Context:
  • Memphis crime rate reportedly at a 25-year low.
  • National Guard to assist local law enforcement.

[01:36–02:41]

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3. Bad Bunny Cancels 50-State US Tour over ICE Concerns

• Reporting: Anastasia Tiolkis
• Discussion:
  • Bad Bunny, Puerto Rican rapper and singer, cancelled his US tour citing fears of ICE raids at concert venues.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Bad Bunny (via I D magazine interview):

    “ICE could be outside. And it's something that we were talking about and very concerned about.” (02:51)

• Response:
  • Instead of a US tour, Bad Bunny held a 30-day residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and plans to continue his tour internationally.

[02:41–03:26]

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4. Study Links Fossil Fuel Producers to Extreme Heat Waves

• Reporting: Julia Simon
• Discussion:
  • New study from ETH Zurich University ties 213 recent heat waves to human-caused climate change and emissions from major fossil fuel producers.
• Key Findings:
  • Dozens of record heat waves “would be virtually impossible without the activity of big fossil fuel companies.”
  • These findings may play a growing role in legal actions against oil companies.
• Corporate Response:
  • No comment from ExxonMobil, BP, or Chevron.

[03:26–04:28]

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5. Boeing Strike Update and Wall Street Wrap

• Reporting: Dan Ronan
• Discussion:
  • 3,200 Boeing workers in St. Louis reject the company’s newest contract offer, extending their strike.
  • Main issues: financial and retirement benefits.
• Market Recap:
  • Dow closed down 273 points to 45,834.
  • S&P down 3 points to 6,580.
  • Nasdaq up 98 points, ending at 22,141—a record high.

[04:28–05:07]

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Memorable Quotes by Timestamp

• 00:56 – President Trump (re: Charlie Kirk’s killer):

  “I hope he gets the death penalty. What he did, Charlie Kirk was the finest person. He didn't deserve this.”

• 02:09 – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (on crime and public safety):

  “We've made significant investments toward public safety in Memphis, $150 million in intervention grant funds and vast expansion of troopers there.”

• 02:51 – Bad Bunny (on touring the US):

  “ICE could be outside. And it's something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Charlie Kirk Killing & Trump Reaction: 00:29–01:36
• National Guard in Memphis: 01:36–02:41
• Bad Bunny Cancels US Tour: 02:41–03:26
• Climate/Heat Wave Study: 03:26–04:28
• Boeing Strike & Market Update: 04:28–05:07

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Summary produced by NPR News Now, September 12, 2025, 5PM EDT.

Transcript

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[Dan Ronan]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. The suspect arrested and accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk is expected to be charged with aggravated murder. As NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, President Trump says the person held responsible should be given the death penalty.

[Franco Ordonez]

President Trump praised the collaboration between local law enforcement and federal officials. In an interview with Fox and Friends, Trump said, quote, we got him.

[President Trump]

Well, I hope he's going to be found guilty, I would imagine, and I hope he gets the death penalty. What he did, Charlie Kirk was the finest person. He didn't deserve this.

[Franco Ordonez]

The arrest follows a widespread search that began soon after the conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at a college in Utah on Wednesday. Utah's governor said casings found along with a rifle had inscriptions that read, among other things, hate fascist catch. Officials believe the suspect acted alone, but the governor says the investigation continues. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, New York.

[Dan Ronan]

Republicans representing Tennessee and Washington have praised President Trump's plan to deploy the National Guard troops to Memphis. But Republicans closer to home, while supportive, are choosing their words more carefully. From member station WPLN, Mariana Bacalhau reports.

[Mariana Bacalhau]

U.S. senator Marsha Blackburn and Congressman John Rose thanked Trump. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee says he will be meeting with Trump to work out details. When asked about a possible deployment last month, Lee said that crime in Memphis was down 15% year over year.

[Tennessee Governor Bill Lee]

We've made significant investments toward public safety in Memphis, $150 million in intervention grant funds and vast expansion of troopers there.

[Mariana Bacalhau]

State senators who represent Memphis have pointed to statistics that show crime in the city is at a 25 year low. In a statement, Lee stressed that the National Guard will be working alongside local law enforcement and called Memphis a world class American city. For NPR News, I'm Mariana Bacallau in Nashville.

[Dan Ronan]

Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny says he's decided to skip touring 50 states specifically concerning about ice. NPR's Anastasia Tiolkis has more.

[Anastasia Tiolkis]

In an interview with I D magazine, Bad Bunny said he and his team were worried about ice raids on concert venues within states. He said, quote, ice could be outside. And it's something that we were talking about and very concerned about. Instead, the artist who's topped the charts with the sounds of his native Puerto rico did a 30 day residency in his hometown of San Juan that ends this weekend. Then he's on to Central and South America, Asia, Australia and Europe. Anastasia Tsukas, NPR News, New York.

[Dan Ronan]

And you're listening to NPR. More than 200 recent heat waves have been made worse by human caused global warming and the activity of fossil fuel producers. NPR's Julia Simon reports on the findings of a major study out this week.

[Julia Simon]

First, the scientists found that 213 heat waves were substantially more likely and intense because of climate change. But that wasn't all. The team from ETH Zurich University used a database of major fossil fuel producers and calculated how much their greenhouse gas emissions emissions contributed to global warming. They found dozens of heat waves would be virtually impossible without the activity of big fossil fuel companies because of how high their emissions are. As states, cities and countries sue oil companies for damages from climate disasters, climate researchers say studies attributing specific events to specific corporations could become important in litigation. ExxonMobil, BP and Chevron did not respond to NPR's request for commentary. Julia Simon, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

3,200 striking workers with Boeing in the St. Louis area have rejected the company's latest contract proposal, which will extend the strike at three Midwestern plants that began Aug. 4. The Machinist Union says the company did not meet worker demands when it came to financial and retirement issues. Wall street closed the week with stocks mixed today. The Dow declined 273 points, finishing at 45,834. The S&P was down 3 points, closing at 6,580. The Nasdaq finished up 98 points, ending the week at 22,141. That's a record high. I'm Dan Ronan, NPR News, in Washington.

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