NPR News: 09-13-2025 7AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — 09-13-2025, 7AM EDT

Host: NPR News Anchor, Dwahili Psykowtao
Date: September 13, 2025
Episode Theme:
A concise morning update featuring coverage on political violence, immigration tensions, National Guard deployments, a Hollywood-Israel boycott controversy, and the spread of an invasive insect.

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1. Utah Governor Addresses Political Violence Post-Assassination

[00:18–01:31]

• Context:

  • Utah Governor Spencer Cox addressed young Americans on the dangers of political violence following the capture of a suspect in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
  • The address took place at Utah Valley University following news that Kirk, a divisive but actively engaged political figure, had been killed.

• Key Points:

  • Gov. Cox warned about the rising culture of rage in politics and called for young people to make more constructive choices.
  • He echoed Kirk’s own belief in engaging with opponents without the use of violence.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Gov. Spencer Cox (via Sage Miller):

    "To my young friends out there, you are inheriting a country where politics feels like rage. It feels like rage is the only option."
    — [00:42]

  • Gov. Cox, urging a new culture:

    "Your generation has an opportunity to build a culture that is very different than what we are suffering through right now, not by pretending differences don't matter, but by embracing our differences and having those hard conversations."
    — [01:08]

  • Sage Miller summary:
    • Kirk’s willingness to engage with dissenters was commended by both Cox and others.

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2. ICE Shooting Sparks Outrage in Chicago Suburb

[01:31–02:19]

• Context:

  • Federal immigration agents fatally shot Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, a 38-year-old Mexico native, during an attempted vehicle stop.

• Community Response:

  • Activists and community leaders sharply criticized ICE’s approach.
  • Lawrence Benito of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights condemned ICE’s increasing aggression.
  • Local resident Ozzie Lopez highlighted the tragedy for all involved.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Lawrence Benito:

    "While we are still uncovering the details of this particular incident, we know the increasingly aggressive tactics of ICE do not keep our communities safe."
    — [01:52]

  • Ozzie Lopez:

    "It's just crazy that this is what it's getting to...someone had to flee for their lives and then in the process lost their life and then someone else got hurt in the process where, you know, it doesn't look good on either side."
    — [02:04]

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3. National Guard Deployment to Memphis

[02:19–03:13]

• Context:

  • President Trump announced plans to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, citing concerns from business leaders and previous law enforcement actions in other cities.

• Key Developments:

  • Trump’s comments made during a Fox and Friends appearance.
  • He threatened additional measures, including military deployment if necessary.
  • Noted political resistance blocked similar actions in Chicago.

• Notable Quotes:

  • President Donald Trump:

    "We're going to Memphis. I'm just announcing that now and we'll straighten that out. National Guard, National Guard and anybody else we need. And by the way, we'll bring in the military, too, if we need it."
    — [02:35]

  • Franco Ordonez report:
    • Overview of Trump’s previous emergency powers invocation in the Capitol and remarks about targeting other major cities.

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4. Paramount Rejects Boycott of Israeli Film Institutions

[03:13–04:15]

• Context:

  • Paramount Studios became the first major Hollywood player to officially respond to a boycott pledge against Israeli film institutions, initiated by Filmmakers for Palestine.

• Key Points:

  • The boycott, signed by thousands of industry figures, is in protest of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as criticized by the UN.
  • Paramount emphasized supporting dialogue and not targeting artists by nationality.
  • Filmmakers for Palestine responded by reiterating their moral obligation to call out harm against Palestinians.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Paramount statement (via NPR News Anchor):

    "Silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality does not promote better understanding or advance the cause of peace. We need more engagement and communication, not less."
    — [03:30]

  • Filmmakers for Palestine (via NPR News Anchor):

    "Speak out now against the harm done to Palestinian people."
    — [03:50]

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5. Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Swarms Detected on Radar

[04:15–04:50]

• Context:

  • Weather radars in the Mid-Atlantic States captured swarms of the invasive spotted lanternfly, first detected in the US in 2014.
  • The insect has now spread to 19 states and the District of Columbia, often appearing on radar as rain.

• Environmental Impact:

  • Lanternflies pose a threat to hardwoods, fruit trees, and other native plants.
  • The USDA encourages residents to destroy the insects and check belongings for eggs to curb the spread.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Nate Rott:

    "The flies are deemed a pest. They can damage hardwoods, fruit trees and other native plants, so people are encouraged to squish them and to check their cars and outdoor equipment to keep from transporting their eggs any further."
    — [04:35]

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6. Closing

[04:50–04:57]

• Dwahili Psykowtao signs off:

  "And I'm Dwahili Sai Kowtel, NPR News, in New York City."
  — [04:50]

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Summary prepared for readers who missed this NPR News Now episode. The update spans domestic events, political response, cultural controversies, and an environmental alert—each delivered in NPR’s signature factual and concise reporting style.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News in New York City. I'm Dwahili Psykowtao. Utah Governor Spencer Cox delivered a message for young Americans about political violence after he announced there was a suspect in custody for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. NPR's Sage Miller reports.

[Sage Miller]

Governor Cox spoke to a crowded auditorium at Utah Valley University.

[Capital One Advertiser]

To my young friends out there, you are inheriting a country where politics feels like rage. It feels like rage is the only option.

[Sage Miller]

Cox, a Republican, encouraged young people to choose a different path, referencing a comment Kirk made before his death about how society has to get back to having reasonable agreement where violence is not an option.

[Capital One Advertiser]

Your generation has an opportunity to build a culture that is very different than what we are suffering through right now, not by pretending differences don't matter, but by embracing our differences and having those hard conversations.

[Sage Miller]

While Kirk could be a divisive figure, Cox and others have applauded his willingness to engage with those that disagreed with him. Sage Miller, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

ICE agents fatally shot a 38 year old man in a suburb of Chicago yesterday, alleging that the Mexico native Silverio Villegas Gonzalez resisted arrest when federal officers pulled his vehicle over. The death has outraged local leaders and immigration advocates, including Lawrence Benito with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

[Lawrence Benito]

While we are still uncovering the details of this particular incident, we know the increasingly aggressive tactics of ICE do not keep our communities safe.

[NPR News Anchor]

Ozzie Lopez lives in the Franklin park neighborhood.

[Ozzie Lopez]

It's just crazy that this is what it's getting to, you know, this is for someone had to flee for their lives and then in the process lost their life and then someone else got hurt in the process where, you know, it doesn't look good on either side.

[NPR News Anchor]

President Trump says he's sending the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports.

[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 out. National Guard, 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, 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.

[NPR News Anchor]

And you are listening to NPR from New York. Paramount is rejecting a pledge circulated five days ago and signed by thousands of directors and actors to boycott Israeli film institutions that they say are, quote, complicit in the abuse of Palestin Palestinians by Israel. It is the first major studio to address the latest boycott intended to stop what the UN Says has repeatedly said is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Paramount said silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality does not promote better understanding or advance the cause of peace. We need more engagement and communication, not less. But Filmmakers for Palestine, the group that organized the pledge, said it has a profound moral duty to stand for equality, justice and freedom for all people writing Speak out now against the harm done to Palestinian people. Weather radars in the mid Atlantic are picking up swarms of an invasive bug species this week and appears. Nate Rott has that story.

[Lawrence Benito]

The spotted lanternfly is a colorful insect native to Asia, according to the U.S. department of Agriculture. It was first found in the U.S. and Pennsylvania in 2014. It's since spread to 19 states in the District of Columbia, where weather radars, as they did this week, will sometimes see swarms of them appear as if they were rain. The flies are deemed a pest. They can damage hardwoods, fruit trees and other native plants, so people are encouraged to squish them and to check their cars and outdoor equipment to keep from transporting their eggs any further. Nate Rott, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

And I'm Dwahili Sai Kowtel, NPR News, in New York City.

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