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Dale Willman
Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. 22 year old Tyler Robinson has been charged with murder and the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk was shot Wednesday while speaking on a campus in Utah. NPR's Bobby Allen has more on the suspects.
Bobby Allen
He doesn't have a criminal history. Public records show that he doesn't seem to be affiliated with any political party. He was a really bright student in high school. He even earned a scholarship to attend Utah State University. That's just north of here in Logan. But he dropped out after one semester. The university says that was back in 2021. More recently, Robinson's family noted that he's become more politically active, which is a really crucial point since authorities are calling Charlie Kirk's killing a assassination.
Dale Willman
That's NPR's Bobby Allen reporting from Orem, Utah. President Trump says he's sending the national guard to Memphis, Tennessee. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports on his next moves in his federal crackdown on crime.
Franco Ordonez
In an interview with Fox and Friends, President Trump says his administration would next target Memphis after hearing concerns raised by business leaders.
Donald Trump
We're going to Memphis. I'm just announcing that now and we'll straighten that National Guard and anybody else we need. And by the way, we'll bring in the military too, if we need it.
Franco Ordonez
Trump said he would have preferred his next target to be Chicago, but he's faced resistance from the mayor and Illinois governor. Last month, Trump sought to use emergency powers to take over control of the Metropolitan Police Department. He deployed National Guard soldiers and sent hundreds of federal law enforcement officials to the Capitol. Trump's also floated the idea of sending troops to New York and Baltimore. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, New York.
Dale Willman
The US has the most expensive health care in the developed world and it's about to get even more expensive. As NPR's Maria Aspen reports, people who get insurance through their employers are going to pay a lot more for their benefits next year.
Maria Aspen
More than 150 million Americans get their health insurance through their employer and now the price they pay is about to go way up. Employers who provide health benefits are bracing for the highest cost income increase in 15 years. That's according to a new survey from Mercer, a benefits consultant. The drug companies, hospitals, health insurers and other for profit companies that control much of the US Health care system have been raising prices that gets passed on to employers. And now most employers told Mercer they're going to pass on some of those price hikes to their workers. That means most workers will see higher paycheck deductions for health care premiums next year and higher out of pocket costs. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York.
Dale Willman
NATO is adding more military equipment to regions bordering Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The equipment includes ground based defense systems, a frigate and Danish F16s. The move follows an incursion by Russian drones into Polish territory this week. You're listening to NPR News. The Trump administration has disbanded a controversial climate working group which issued a report that scientists say was full of errors and misrepresented climate science. And as NPR's Jeff Brady reports now, environmental groups want the report retracted.
Jeff Brady
Energy Secretary Chris Wright picked a group of four scientists and an economist with a history of casting doubt over climate science. Then they issued a report to bolster the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to end regulations on climate pollution. Speaking at a conference in Belgium, Bright said the goal was to spur debate.
Chris Wright
We've got all sorts of comments. We're going to have public dialogues back and forth. That's what we want, is to bring people that have different perspectives or disagree to dialogue together and argue it out.
Jeff Brady
But for nearly all climate scientists, the debate Secretary Wright wants is settled. They say continuing it now is a tactic to forestall regulation. Jeff Brady, NPR News.
Dale Willman
The U.N. general Assembly Friday endorsed what it calls the New York Declaration, which offers support for a two state solution to the Israel Palestinian conflict. The non binding resolution sets out a phased plan to end the almost 80 year conflict. The vote was 142 to 10 with 12 abstentions. The war in Gaza is expected to be at the top of the agenda when the world body begins its annual meeting on September 22. Health officials in Central Africa are continuing their efforts to stop an Ebola outbreak in southern Congo. The World Health Organization says it sent 400 vaccines to the affected area and plans on sending additional 1500 doses from the capital of Kinshasa. But they say a lack of funding is severely limiting its response. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.
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Episode: NPR News: 09-13-2025 4AM EDT
Host: Dale Willman
Date: September 13, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes
This edition of NPR News Now presents a concise roundup of the day's prominent national and international headlines. Major topics include the charging of a suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, President Trump’s escalation of federal law enforcement measures in Memphis, rising costs of employer-based health insurance, escalating NATO deployments near Russia, the disbandment of a climate science working group, the UN’s move on an Israel-Palestine peace initiative, and an Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
[00:20–01:04]
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot during a campus event in Utah.
Bobby Allen (Reporting): Robinson lacked a prior criminal record, had no clear political affiliations, was a high-achieving student, and briefly attended Utah State University before dropping out. His family reported increased political activism recently.
Authorities are considering the incident an assassination due to Kirk’s public profile.
"He doesn't have a criminal history. Public records show that he doesn't seem to be affiliated with any political party...More recently, Robinson's family noted that he's become more politically active, which is a really crucial point since authorities are calling Charlie Kirk's killing an assassination."
— Bobby Allen [00:36]
[01:04–02:03]
President Trump has announced the deployment of the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, escalated as part of federal tactics to address crime.
Franco Ordonez (Reporting): This decision follows input from business leaders; Trump noted Chicago was a preferred target but cited local resistance. There have also been previous federal takeovers or deployments in other cities (e.g., the Capitol, potential plans for New York and Baltimore).
"We're going to Memphis. I'm just announcing that now and we'll straighten that National Guard and anybody else we need. And by the way, we'll bring in the military too, if we need it."
— President Trump, Fox and Friends [01:25]
[02:03–03:01]
Maria Aspen (Reporting): Over 150 million Americans with employer-based health coverage will face significant premium and out-of-pocket cost increases in 2026, the largest jump in 15 years (per consulting firm Mercer).
The rise stems from upstream price hikes by drug companies, hospitals, and insurers, with employers passing costs along to workers.
"Employers who provide health benefits are bracing for the highest cost increase in 15 years...most workers will see higher paycheck deductions for health care premiums next year and higher out of pocket costs."
— Maria Aspen [02:18]
[03:01–03:35]
[03:35–04:15]
The Trump administration has disbanded a controversial climate science working group accused of misrepresenting climate data to support deregulation.
Jeff Brady (Reporting): The panel, picked by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, included individuals with a record of questioning mainstream climate science. Environmental groups are now pushing for formal retraction of the group’s error-laden report.
"We've got all sorts of comments. We're going to have public dialogues back and forth. That's what we want, is to bring people that have different perspectives or disagree to dialogue together and argue it out."
— Energy Secretary Chris Wright [03:54]
"For nearly all climate scientists, the debate Secretary Wright wants is settled. They say continuing it now is a tactic to forestall regulation."
— Jeff Brady [04:04]
[04:15–04:40]
[04:40–04:59]
For those who missed the episode, this summary covers all major stories and quotes, reflecting the factual, measured tone of NPR News Now.