NPR News: 09-15-2025 4AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 15, 2025, 4AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: 5 minutes

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Overview

This episode covers the latest breaking stories in U.S. and global news: increased military tensions in Eastern Europe, the looming threat of a U.S. government shutdown, the response to the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk, controversy following comments by a Fox News host, business and stock market updates, major entertainment awards, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the latest LPGA golf results.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tensions in Eastern Europe: Russian Drone Incursion

• [00:20] 19 Russian drones reportedly entered Polish airspace last week, stoking anxiety in the region.
  • President Trump suggested it "may have been a mistake by Moscow."
  • Texas Congressman Michael McCaul disagreed, issuing a strong warning:

    "We've never seen anything like this in recent times. And so what I'm concerned about is that the escalation here and the temperature rising, we got to be very careful not to be on the precipice of a World War Three."
    (Michael McCaul, 00:37)

  • McCaul’s comments were made on ABC’s “This Week.”

2. Impending U.S. Government Shutdown

• [00:51] Congress must pass a funding bill by midnight, September 30 to prevent a government shutdown.
  • Senate needs a bipartisan vote; Republicans alone cannot overcome a filibuster.
  • Democratic base demands stand on Medicaid and Obamacare subsidies; other Democrats warn this could backfire.

    "They say Republicans don't care whether the government stays open or not, and that Democrats would be blamed for a shutdown."
    (Mara Liasson, 01:01)

3. Aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s Assassination: Capitol Hill Security Concerns

• [01:35] Lawmakers call for calm after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
  • Oklahoma Senator James Lankford shares that Congress received 14,000 threats in 2025.

    "There are things that are occurring now that are different than what we have seen just two or three years ago. So, yeah, we have to pay attention to this."
    (James Lankford, 01:57)

  • Lankford emphasizes the urgent need for leadership and de-escalation.

    "It is important for leaders to be disciplined, to be able to say, let's set the example and try to do things very differently."
    (James Lankford, 02:15)

  • Lankford invoked Kirk:

    "When the words stop, the violence starts."
    (Senator Lankford quoting Charlie Kirk, 02:21)

4. Fox News Host Brian Kilmeade Controversy

• [02:35] Brian Kilmeade publicly apologizes after advocating for execution of mentally ill homeless individuals on “Fox and Friends.”
  • He had stated, “[They] should be given an involuntary lethal injection… Just kill them.”
  • His remarks caused significant backlash, prompting an on-air apology.

5. Economic & Market Update

• [03:27] Asian stock markets start the week quietly; traders await U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decisions.
  • The Bank of Canada also considering a rate cut.

6. 2025 Emmy Awards

• [03:35] Results from last night’s Emmy Awards:
  • Jean Smart: Best Actress, Comedy for “Hacks” (fourth win for the show)
  • Noah Weil: Best Actor, Drama for “The Pit,” which also won Best Drama Series
  • “Netflix Adolescence:” Six awards, including Best Limited Series. The studio set record for most wins by a comedy series in a season.

7. Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)

• [03:55] TIFF highlights and winners:
  • People’s Choice Award: “Hamnet” (Chloé Zhao, director – first to win TIFF’s top honor twice; also won for “Nomadland” in 2020)

    "Twelve of the last 15 winners have later received Oscar nominations for best picture and four went on to win best picture."
    (Bob Mondello, 03:55)

  • Runners-up: Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and “Wake Up Dead Man” (a new “Knives Out” mystery)
  • First-ever International prize: Park Chan Wook’s “No Other Choice”

8. Sports: LPGA Queen City Championship

• [04:42] Charlie Hull wins her third LPGA Tour title at the Queen City Championship.
  • Clinched the win with a 30-foot two-putt on the 18th hole.
  • Previous leader Geno Tit four-putted on the final hole.
  • First title for Hull since 2022.

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Notable Quotes

• “We've never seen anything like this in recent times. ... be very careful not to be on the precipice of a World War Three.”
  Michael McCaul, 00:37

• “They say Republicans don't care whether the government stays open or not, and that Democrats would be blamed for a shutdown.”
  Mara Liasson, 01:01

• “There are things that are occurring now that are different than what we have seen just two or three years ago. So, yeah, we have to pay attention to this.”
  James Lankford, 01:57

• “It is important for leaders to be disciplined, to be able to say, let's set the example and try to do things very differently.”
  James Lankford, 02:15

• “When the words stop, the violence starts.”
  James Lankford quoting Charlie Kirk, 02:21

• “Twelve of the last 15 winners have later received Oscar nominations for best picture and four went on to win best picture.”
  Bob Mondello, 03:55

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Eastern Europe & Russian drones – 00:20
• Government shutdown deadline – 00:51
• Charlie Kirk assassination & Capitol threats – 01:35
• Fox News host controversy – 02:35
• Market/Economic update – 03:27
• Emmy Award results – 03:35
• TIFF highlights – 03:55
• LPGA Queen City Championship – 04:42

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This NPR News Now episode offers a concise yet comprehensive update on world events, politics, culture, and sports, featuring key voices from government and in-depth cultural reporting.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Eastern Europe remains on edge after 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace last week. President Trump says the incursion may have been a mistake by Moscow, but Texas Congressman Michael McCaul disagrees. The Republican Sunday offered a dire warning.

[Michael McCaul]

We've never seen anything like this in recent times. And so what I'm concerned about is that the escalation here and the temperature rising, we got to be very careful not to be on the precipice of a World War Three.

[Dale Willman]

McCall was speaking on ABC this week. Congress has until the end of the month to agree on a funding bill or else the government will shut down. NPR's Marlaison reports.

[Marlaison (NPR Reporter)]

Members of Congress are facing a deadline of midnight on September 30, and the only way they can avoid a government shutdown is with a bipartisan vote in the Senate. Republicans do not have the votes by themselves to overcome a filibuster. A large part of the Democratic base wants their party to fight, to refuse to vote, to keep the government open unless they get concessions on Medicaid and Obamacare subsidies. But other Democrats say that's a trap. They say Republicans don't care whether the government stays open or not, and that Democrats would be blamed for a shutdown. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

In the aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, some lawmakers on Capitol Hill are calling for calm. One Republican senator says Congress is facing more than 50 threats a day and something needs to change. NPR's Luke Garrett has more.

[Luke Garrett (NPR Reporter)]

Senior Oklahoma Senator James Lankford tells CNN that lawmakers have received 14,000 threats in 2025.

[James Lankford]

There are things that are occurring now that are different than what we have seen just two or three years ago. So, yeah, we have to pay attention to this.

[Luke Garrett (NPR Reporter)]

Lankford says the temperature needs to be turned down following Kirk's assassination. And while the Republican senator says he understands the anger on the political right following the killing, Lankford urges White House officials and members of Congress to seek peace.

[James Lankford]

It is important for leaders to be disciplined, to be able to say, let's set the example and try to do things very differently.

[Luke Garrett (NPR Reporter)]

Lankford, who who is also a pastor, says there's a spiritual battle between civil conversation and violence. The senator then quoted Kirk, who often said when the words stop, the violence starts. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Dale Willman]

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade offered an apology on Sunday for advocating for the execution of mentally ill people who are homeless. His earlier remarks came during the Fox and Friends show on Wednesday. The the panel was discussing a mentally ill homeless man who was arrested in connection with the murder in August. Kilmeade said homeless people who did not accept public services should be given an involuntary lethal injection, and, he added, just kill them. Stocks got off to a quiet start in Asia on Monday as traders wait for a decision this week by the Federal Reserve on possible interest rate cuts. The bank of Canada, meanwhile, is expected to cut rates by a quarter point this week. You're listening to NPR News. This year's Emmys were handed out in Los Angeles last night. Jean Smart won best actress in a comedy for Hacks. It was her fourth win connected to the show. Noah Weil won best actor in a drama for his work in the Pit, which also won best drama series. And Netflix Adolescence had six wins, including best limited series. The studio, meanwhile, set a record for most wins by a comedy series in a single season. The Toronto International Film Festival wrapped up this weekend and after screening almost 300 films, handed out prizes. NPR's Bob Mondello has our details.

[Bob Mondello]

The highlight of the Toronto International Film Festival is its audience selected People's Choice Award. Twelve of the last 15 winners have later received Oscar nominations for best picture and four went on to win best picture. This year's People's Choice recipient is Hamnet, which tells the story of Shakespeare's adolescent.

[Unidentified Person]

Son, Will you be praying?

Yes.

[Bob Mondello]

Hamnet is directed by Chloe Zhao, the only filmmaker to win TIFF's top award twice. She also won for Nomadland in 2020. Runners up for the top award were Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and a new Knives out mystery, wake up dead man. The fest also awarded an international prize for the first time. It went to Park Chan Wook's aptly titled no Other Choice. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Charlie Hull won the LPGA Queen City championship Sunday. She two putted from 30ft and the 18th for the win. Geno Tit was in the lead but four putted on the 18th. It was the third LPGA Tour title for the 29 year old hall and her first since 2022. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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