NPR News: 09-16-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now — September 16, 2025, 4PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Episode Overview:
This tightly-packed five-minute news update covers major legal, political, and scientific developments in the US and abroad. Key topics include charges in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a tense Senate hearing for FBI Director Kash Patel, fresh UN accusations against Israel, the death of film legend Robert Redford, and a fascinating new study on octopuses.

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1. Charges in Assassination of Charlie Kirk

[00:18–01:10]

• Summary:
  Utah authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with seven counts, including aggravated murder and firearm discharge, in the killing of conservative activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk. The state is seeking the death penalty.

• Key Details:

  • Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray conveyed that Robinson's relatives described a leftward political shift.
  • Gray emphasized the presumption of innocence, cautioning against media and official commentary affecting the trial.

• Notable Quote:

  • Jeff Gray, on Robinson’s stated motive:
    "When asked why he did it, Robinson explained, there is too much evil and the guy referring to Charlie Kirk spreads too much hate." [00:45]

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2. Senate Hearing: FBI Director Kash Patel Under Fire

[01:10–02:13]

• Summary:
  FBI Director Kash Patel faced fierce bipartisan scrutiny at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, already scheduled but intensified by the recent political violence. The hearing centered on his handling of the Kirk investigation and internal bureau controversies.

• Key Discussion Points:

  • Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) pressed Patel on the Kirk case and lawsuits from ex-FBI officials alleging political firings.
  • Republicans defended Patel, shifting focus to alleged left-wing sources of political violence.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Cory Booker, directly addressing Patel:
    "Donald Trump has shown us in his first term and in this term, he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose. This may be the last time I have a hearing with you because I don't think you're long for your job." [01:48]

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3. U.N. Accusations: Israel and the Gaza Conflict

[02:13–02:58]

• Summary:
  U.N. human rights experts accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza, though Secretary General António Guterres stops short of this, instead calling the Israeli military campaign "horrendous" and urging diplomatic resolutions.

• Key Takeaways:

  • Guterres urges world leaders to seriously address conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza as the UN General Assembly approaches.
  • He insists that accusations of genocide are for international courts to decide.

• Notable Quotes:

  • António Guterres:
    "A genocide independently of the names that are given." [02:43]
    "The truth is that this is something that it is morally, politically and legally intolerable." [02:48]

• Additional Detail:

  • Guterres is open to meeting Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu during the coming assembly, although no talks are yet scheduled.

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4. US Stock Market Update

[03:09–03:13]

• Summary:
  The Dow closed 125 points lower; quick financial news with no additional commentary.

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5. Remembering Robert Redford

[03:13–04:07]

• Summary:
  Famed actor and director Robert Redford has died at 89. His contributions to film—both on screen and as a director—were celebrated, including his Oscar for "Ordinary People" and his championing of independent film and climate causes.

• Memorable Moments:

  • Hosts reenact a famous exchange from "Barefoot in the Park":
    • Nell Greenfield Boyce: "Did you miss me today?" [03:31]
    • Lakshmi Singh: "No." [03:32]
    • Nell Greenfield Boyce: "Why not?" [03:33]
    • Lakshmi Singh: "Because you called me eight times. I don't talk to you that much when I'm home." [03:34]

• Key Point:

  • Redford’s behind-the-scenes legacy includes founding the Sundance Film Festival and advocacy for environmental causes.

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6. New Octopus Science

[04:07–04:52]

• Summary:
  A new analysis reveals that each octopus arm is equally capable of all tasks, challenging any idea of "right-handed" or "specialized" arms.

• Scientific Highlights:

  • Researchers videotaped wild octopuses performing 15 behaviors and found all arms engage in the full range of movements.
  • Slight specialization: front arms are used more except for certain locomotion tasks, done with the back arms.

• Notable Quote:

  • Nell Greenfield Boyce:
    "They saw no evidence that octopuses are right or left handed, so to speak. But the front arms are used more often for most tasks, except for a couple of maneuvers used for locomotion, which were done more by the back arms." [04:39]

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7. Closing

[04:52–04:57]

• Lakshmi Singh signs off from Washington.

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Key Episode Themes

• The high-stakes ripple effects of political violence in America.
• Scrutiny and politicization of federal law enforcement leadership.
• Mounting international pressure and divergent rhetoric regarding the Gaza conflict.
• Personal loss and cultural legacy in the passing of Robert Redford.
• The continual unveiling of nature’s surprises—this time, the versatile octopus.

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For a full listening experience, the episode is available via NPR News Now’s regular feeds. This summary condenses factual reporting and the episode’s notable tone and exchanges, skipping all sponsor messages and promos.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Utah authorities say they are charging the 22 year old man accused of assassinating conservative activists and Trump ally Charlie Kirk with seven counts, including aggravated murder and discharge of a firearm. They are seeking the death penalty against Tyler Robinson. At a news conference today, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said Robinson's relatives and family friend asked him why he did it.

[Jeff Gray]

When asked why he did it, Robinson explained, there is too much evil and the guy referring to Charlie Kirk spreads too much hate.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Gray says relatives ascribe Robinson's politics became increasingly left leaning. He he also reminded the public that the defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and said he wanted to make sure jurors were not swayed by opinions in the media or from public officials statements. FBI Director Kash Patel defended his leadership during a combative hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee today. This hearing was scheduled weeks ago, but it comes just days after the killing of Charlie Kirk and amid growing questions about the Patel's ability to lead the bureau through high pressure moments. More from NPR's Elena Moore.

[Elena Moore]

Cash Patel was grilled by lawmakers for more than four hours. New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker criticized Patel's handling of the Kirk investigation and highlighted that Patel is being sued by three former senior FBI officials who allege that he fired them for improper political reasons.

[Jeff Gray]

Donald Trump has shown us in his first term and in this term he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose. This may be the last time I have a hearing with you because I don't think you're long for your job.

[Elena Moore]

Republicans on the committee defended Patel's leadership and made broad claims that the political left is to blame for a culture of political violence. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.N. human rights experts are accusing Israel of carrying out a genocide in Gaza. The UN Secretary general won't go that far, but is calling for an end to an Israeli campaign that he calls horrendous. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports as he prepares.

[Michelle Kellerman]

To host leaders from around the world at the UN General assembly next week. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said it's time for them to get serious and resolve wars in Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza. He says it's up to a court to decide if Israel is carrying out.

[Jeff Gray]

A genocide independently of the names that are given.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The truth is that this is something that it is morally, politically and legally intolerable.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Guterres says he'd be willing to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week, though there are no scheduled talks. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks have ended the day lower, with the Dow down 125 points. This is NPR News. Robert Redford has died. He was 89 years old. His legacy in filmmaking goes beyond the memorable movies he was in, like Barefoot in the park opposite another legend, Jane Fonda.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

Did you miss me today?

[Lakshmi Singh]

No.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

Why not?

[Lakshmi Singh]

Because you called me eight times. I don't talk to you that much when I'm home. He also earned an Oscar for Best Director 1981 for the film Ordinary People. Redford received numerous lifetime achievement awards, but fans say he was also equally impactful off screen for his vocal support of independent films through Sundance and championing climate action. Octopuses, they're famous for their eight arms. Now a new analysis suggests every octopus arm is capable of doing every job. NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce explains researchers closely.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

Tracked every movement of octopus arms and a bunch of videos of these wild animals foraging for food in their natural environments. The scientists looked at a dozen kinds of arm movements used for 15 behaviors, like exploring a rock or digging or attacking prey. In the journal Scientific Reports, they say every arm is capable of the full range of twisting, extending, bending and shortening. So it looks like octopuses can use all of their arms for all tasks. And they saw no evidence that octopuses are right or left handed, so to speak. But the front arms are used more often for most tasks, except for a couple of maneuvers used for locomotion, which were done more by the back arms. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.

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Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.