NPR News: 09-13-2025 8AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 13, 2025, 8AM EDT

Host: Dwahlisa Kowtel
Duration: ~5 minutes
Location: New York City

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise roundup of the day's most pressing news. Stories include reactions to the suspect’s arrest in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, controversy over a fatal ICE shooting outside Chicago, President Trump's plan to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, ongoing Hollywood support for a boycott of Israeli film institutions, and an update on the spread of the invasive spotted lanternfly in the mid-Atlantic. The episode maintains a focus on national unrest, policy responses, and community reactions.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Utah Governor Addresses Political Violence After Kirk Assassination

[00:15 – 01:28]

• Suspect Arrested: Utah Governor Spencer Cox publicly addresses young Americans following news of a suspect in custody for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
• Message to Youth:
  • Cox’s remarks at Utah Valley University stress the dangerous climate of political rage and urge a move toward civil engagement.
  • He references Kirk’s own call for "reasonable agreement where violence is not an option."
• Quote:
  • (Governor Spencer Cox, 00:39):

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

  • (Governor Spencer Cox, 01:05):

    "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."

• Context:
  • Cox and other figures highlight Kirk’s willingness to engage opposing views, despite his divisive reputation.

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2. ICE Shooting Sparks Outrage in Chicago Suburbs

[01:28 – 02:16]

• Incident Summary:
  • ICE agents fatally shot Silveria Villegas Gonzalez, a 38-year-old Mexico native, in Franklin Park, a Chicago suburb. Agents allege resistance to arrest.
• Community Response:
  • Lawrence Bonito (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights) criticizes ICE tactics:
    • (01:48):

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

  • Ozzy Lopez (Local Resident) expresses distress:
    • (02:01):

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

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3. President Trump Deploys National Guard to Memphis

[02:16 – 03:10]

• Announcement:
  • President Trump, in a Fox & Friends interview, says Memphis will be the next target for federal intervention due to concerns from business leaders.
• Details:
  • Trump signals willingness to use National Guard and potentially the military:
    • (President Donald Trump, 02:32):

      "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."

  • Notes prior resistance from Chicago officials, and previous interventions in Washington, DC.
  • Trump also considers similar actions in New York and Baltimore.

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4. Paramount Rejects Boycott of Israeli Film Institutions

[03:10 – 04:12]

• Context:
  • Following calls and a pledge signed by thousands to boycott Israeli film organizations, Paramount stands as the first major studio to reject the move.
• Paramount’s Statement:
  • Emphasizes creative freedom and engagement:
    • Paraphrased: Silencing artists based on nationality "does not promote better understanding or advance the cause of peace. We need more engagement and communication, not less."
• Filmmakers for Palestine Response:
  • Reiterate commitment to "equality, justice and freedom," insisting on the importance of "speaking out against the harm done to Palestinian people."
• Context:
  • The issue relates to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as highlighted by the UN.

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5. Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Swarms the Mid-Atlantic

[04:12 – 04:47]

• Update:
  • Weather radars detect swarms of invasive spotted lanternflies, first seen in Pennsylvania in 2014 and now spreading to 19 states and D.C.
• Impact:
  • Described as agricultural pests, lanternflies can harm hardwoods and fruit trees.
• Public Advisory:
  • The USDA urges people to squish the bugs and monitor vehicles/outdoor equipment to prevent further spread.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Governor Spencer Cox ([00:39 & 01:05]):

  "You are inheriting a country where politics feels like rage. It feels like rage is the only option."
  "Your generation has an opportunity to build a culture that is very different than what we are suffering through right now..."

• Lawrence Bonito, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights ([01:48]):

  "We know the increasingly aggressive tactics of ICE do not keep our community safe."

• President Donald Trump ([02:32]):

  "We're going to Memphis... National Guard, National Guard, and anybody else we need. And by the way, we'll bring in the military, too, if we need it."

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Episode Flow & Tone

• Language: Direct, urgent, and factual, consistent with NPR’s style.
• Tone: Balanced between reporting facts and conveying community sentiments, with attention to both official statements and grassroots perspectives.
• Utility: Packed with quotable moments and clarity on controversial topics, making it useful for quick but comprehensive news catch-up.

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Transcript

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[Dwahlisa Kowtel]

Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dwahlisa Kowtel. 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 Sage Miller reports.

[Sage Miller]

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

[Governor Spencer Cox]

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 not an option.

[Governor Spencer Cox]

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.

[Dwahlisa Kowtel]

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

[Lawrence Bonito]

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

[Dwahlisa Kowtel]

Ozzy Lopez lives in the Franklin park neighborhood.

[Ozzy 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.

[Dwahlisa Kowtel]

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.

[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.

[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.

[Dwahlisa Kowtel]

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 Palestinians by Israel. It is the first major studio to address the latest boycott intended to the UN 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 we must 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.

[Nate Rott]

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 raining. 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.

[Dwahlisa Kowtel]

And I'm Dua Hali Sai Kaowtel, NPR News, in New York City.

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