NPR News Now – September 12, 2025, 9PM EDT

Host: Dan Ronan
Summary by Segment

Main Theme

This NPR News Now episode provides a concise yet thorough roundup of the day's significant national and international developments. Topics include US-Russia tensions over Poland, the use of the National Guard in American cities, humanitarian issues at Guantanamo Bay, a climate lawsuit in Puerto Rico, and the spread of an invasive insect in the mid-Atlantic.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Russian Drones and US-European Tensions

[00:20-01:18]

• President Trump downplays a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace, suggesting it might have been accidental.
• In his interview, Trump expresses frustration toward both Russia and Ukraine:
  • He states his patience with Putin is "sort of running out and running out fast."
  • He blames Ukrainian President Zelensky as "also part of the problem."
• Trump hints at possible stronger US sanctions, especially on Russian banks and oil, but maintains "this is more of Europe’s problem."
• European leaders are pushing back, seeking more assertive US involvement.

Memorable Quote:
"It takes two to tango."
— President Trump, as quoted by Franco Ordoñez [00:48]

2. National Guard Deployment to St. Louis

[01:18-02:10]

• Trump claims that Jim Vena, CEO of Union Pacific, advised him to send National Guard troops to St. Louis to fight crime, after suggesting deployment to Memphis.
• Union Pacific confirms the conversation but not the content.
• Local official Megan Green, President of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, says the city needs National Guard support for disaster recovery (after a devastating tornado in May), not crime response.
• Notably, crime has decreased by 17% in St. Louis this year.

Memorable Quote:
"It needs to be on his mind for disaster response."
— St. Louis official, as relayed by Rachel Lipman [01:54]

3. Water Crisis at Guantanamo Bay Migrant Center

[02:10-03:08]

• Migrants held at the US Guantanamo Bay base due to US policy are relocated after a water supply failure in their section.
• "Low threat" migrants had to be moved to areas designated for "high threat" detainees.
• The disruption raises doubts about Guantanamo’s capacity to hold the 30,000 migrants Trump intends to send there.
• Water supply restoration is not expected until at least September 19th.
• Critics argue Guantanamo’s infrastructure is unfit for large-scale migrant detention.

4. Puerto Rico Climate Change Lawsuit Dismissal

[03:08-04:15]

• Over thirty Puerto Rican municipalities sued major oil companies (ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP) over alleged climate misinformation and sought damages using the federal RICO Act.
• The suit linked intensified hurricanes, like Maria in 2017, to fossil fuel-driven climate change.
• A federal judge appointed by Trump dismissed the case on the grounds it was filed after a four-year statute of limitations expired.
• Plaintiffs may appeal the decision.

5. Spotted Lanternfly Invasion in the Mid-Atlantic

[04:15-04:55]

• Weather radars in the area detect large swarms of spotted lanternflies, native to Asia but now spread to 19 states and D.C.
• These insects damage hardwoods, fruit trees, and other native plants, appearing on radar as if they were rain.
• The USDA and NPR encourage people to kill the bugs and check their vehicles for eggs to curb further spread.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It takes two to tango." — President Trump (via Franco Ordoñez) [00:48]
• "It needs to be on his mind for disaster response." — Megan Green, President, St. Louis Board of Aldermen (via Rachel Lipman) [01:54]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:20-01:18] — Russia, Poland, and US-European relations
• [01:18-02:10] — National Guard proposal for St. Louis
• [02:10-03:08] — Migrant relocation and infrastructure failures at Guantanamo Bay
• [03:08-04:15] — Federal judge dismisses Puerto Rico’s climate lawsuit against oil companies
• [04:15-04:55] — Spotted lanternfly swarms detected on weather radar

Conclusion

This five-minute NPR News Now segment delivers an array of critical headlines: US-Russia-European diplomatic tension, National Guard deployment controversies, infrastructure failures affecting migrant policy, the limits of climate litigation in US courts, and an expanding invasive species problem. The reporting remains balanced and fact-driven, interspersed with direct quotes from public officials and on-the-ground reporters.