NPR News: 09-16-2025 11AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – 09-16-2025 11AM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston
Date: September 16, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a succinct and informative summary of the day's top national and international news stories, covering developments in U.S. politics, global diplomacy, legal news, notable deaths, and an uplifting world record from Nigeria.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Diplomatic Movements in the Middle East

Timestamps: 00:17 – 01:23

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s travels:
  Rubio visits Qatar and Israel, headed to London for urgent diplomatic efforts concerning the Gaza war.

• UN Meeting on Palestine:
  Upcoming United Nations conference may see countries (France, Canada) recognize a Palestinian state, which both Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warn would "embolden Hamas" and provoke unilateral responses in Israel.

• Domestic Israeli Response:
  Calls grow for the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

  • Notable Quote:

    "This is our city. It is forever our city. It will never be divided again and there will be no Palestinian state."
    — Benjamin Netanyahu (01:00)

2. US Government Shutdown Looms

Timestamps: 01:23 – 02:16

• Funding Deadline:
  The current stopgap spending bill expires September 30th. Both parties remain far apart on a new funding plan.
• Political Tension:
  Senate Democrats helped pass the previous measure; this time, they're refusing to cooperate with House Republicans.
• Key Issues:
  • Democrats want to renew ACA subsidies expiring in December.
  • Security enhancements for political figures post-Charlie Kirk assassination are a shared priority.

3. President Trump’s $15 Billion Lawsuit Against The New York Times

Timestamps: 02:16 – 02:54

• Legal Offensive on the Media:
  Trump sues The New York Times and four journalists for defamation, escalating longstanding legal and rhetorical battles with major media outlets.

• Pattern of Lawsuits:
  Previous settlements with ABC and CBS amounted to $16 million, despite observers considering those cases weak.

• Willingness to Target Allies:
  Trump also recently launched a suit against The Wall Street Journal and its publisher, Rupert Murdoch.

  • Notable Quote:

    "He's most recently filed a lawsuit prior to now against the Wall Street Journal and his political ally Rupert Murdoch, which tells you something about his willingness to do it."
    — David Folkenflik (02:45)

4. Robert Redford Passes Away

Timestamps: 02:54 – 03:18

• Hollywood mourns Robert Redford, iconic actor and director, who has died at age 89 after a career spanning over five decades.

5. New York Court Update on High-profile Murder Case

Timestamps: 03:18 – 04:02

• Charges Adjusted:
  Two terrorism-related murder charges dropped against Luigi Mangione, who remains charged with second-degree murder in the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
• Potential Sentences:
  Mangione faces possible life in prison and may be subject to the death penalty.

6. World Record: Largest Pot of Jollof Rice in Nigeria

Timestamps: 04:02 – 04:48

• Cultural Celebration:
  Nigerian chef Hilda Basse and team set world record for the largest pot of jollof rice (over 8,000 kg), prepared in Lagos before thousands of onlookers.

• Scale and Impact:
  Preparation involved 4,000 kg of rice, 5,000 cartons of tomato sauce, 1,200 kg of gas, and served 16,600 plates.

• Community Spirit:
  Chef Basse cited "fire, passion and teamwork" as keys to the achievement.

  • Notable Quote:

    "It took nine hours of fire, passion and teamwork and 1200 kilograms of gas to create the 16,600 plates of rice served with joy, love and community."
    — Chef Hilda Basse, cited by Joel Wright (04:35)

7. Financial Markets Brief

Timestamps: 04:48 – 04:56

• The Dow was down 181 points at the time of reporting, with no further financial analysis included.

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Memorable Moments & Tone

• The bulletin maintains NPR's signature objective, concise reporting style, balancing heavy political and international topics with a note of community celebration in the jollof rice story.
• Quotations from Netanyahu and Trump-related segments highlight the charged language and high stakes of current world events.
• The brief mention of Redford's passing and the world record in Nigeria provide emotional ballast to the otherwise hard news-focused bulletin.

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Middle East / UN & Israel: 00:17 – 01:23
• US Congress Funding Deadlock: 01:23 – 02:16
• Trump Lawsuit Against NYT: 02:16 – 02:54
• Robert Redford Death: 02:54 – 03:18
• NYC Murder Case Update: 03:18 – 04:02
• Nigeria Jollof Rice Record: 04:02 – 04:48
• Stock Market Update: 04:48 – 04:56

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This episode encapsulates high-priority global and national stories in the NPR News Now style—fast, authoritative, and wide-ranging.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on his way to London after making a stop in Qatar today. Rubio also visited Israel, where he warned that the wind was closing fast on a diplomatic end to the war in Gaza. NPR's Carrie Khan reports from Tel Aviv.

[Carrie Khan]

Rubio wrapped up his Israel visit, warning that next week's UN Meeting, where countries including France and Canada are set to recognize a Palestinian state, emboldens Hamas. Netanyahu echoed those comments in a speech Monday night at an archaeological site in Jerusalem's Old City claimed by both Palestinians and Israelis.

[Benjamin Netanyahu]

This is our city. It is forever our city. It will never be divided again and there will be no Palestinian state.

[Carrie Khan]

He and Rubia warned that unilateral actions such as next week's UN Meeting will bring about repercussions and similar unilateral action. There are calls inside Israel for official annexation of the occupied West Bank. Carrie Khan, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Windsor Johnston]

The Republican led Congress has two weeks to reach a deal to avert a government shutdown at the end of the month. NPR's Claudia Grisellos. As reports, both parties remain far apart on a funding plan.

[Claudia Grisellos]

A stopgap funding measure passed earlier this year will run out of money on September 30th. Republicans pass that plan with help from Senate Democrats, but this time around, they say they won't help the gop. Already, President Trump and Republicans have rescinded billions in funding, so now Democrats are pushing for a regular government appropriations plan and some Republicans agree. Democrats are also pushing for an extension of Affordable Care act subsidies that expire in December. And both parties want to ramp up security measures for political figures in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination. Claudia Goesales, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

President Trump has filed a $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times. The suit accuses the publication and four of its journalists of defamation. NPR's David Folkenflick reports. The lawsuit the latest salvo in the president's war against major media outlets.

[David Folkenflik]

He sued ABC News and CBS and won $16 million payouts for them to settle those suits, although legal observers all thought that those were essentially frivolous or very light legal peril to them. He's most recently filed a lawsuit prior to now against the Wall Street Journal and his political ally Rupert Murdoch, which tells you something about his willingness to do it.

[Windsor Johnston]

That's NPR's David Folken Plick reporting. Hollywood icon Robert Redford has died. The legendary actor starred in numerous films over a career that spanned more than 50 years. Redford was 89 years old. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A judge in New York City has dismissed two murder charges related to acts of terrorism against Luigi Mangione, the man charged in the shooting death of a United Healthcare executive. The charge of second degree murder still stands. Mangione is accused of killing CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last year. The state murder charge could send Mangione to life in prison. The 27 year old is also facing charges that could result in the death penalty. A Nigerian chef has set the world record for cooking the largest ever pot of jollof rice. It's a popular dish in West Africa. The Guinness World Record said the pot weighed more than 8,000 kilograms. As NPR's Joel Wright reports, the record.

[Joel Wright]

Setting pot of jollof rice was prepared by a team led by popular chef Hilda Basse. Thousands of people gathered in Nigeria's largest city, Lagos, last Friday to witness Basse set the new record, which took more than nine hours. Organizers say 4,000 kilograms of rice and around 5,000 cations of tomato sauce were used. Jollof rice is a staple popular across West African countries. It's prepared by boiling the rice in a rich, often spicy tomato stew. Basse said it took nine hours of fire, passion and teamwork and 1200 kilograms of gas to create the 16,600 plates of rice served with joy, love and community. Drew Bright, NPR News, Lagos.

[Windsor Johnston]

On Wall street, the dow was down 181 points. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.

[David Folkenflik]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR News Now +@ +npr.org. that's +npr.org.