NPR News: 09-16-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 09-16-2025, 9AM EDT

Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Windsor Johnston (NPR News Anchor)
Duration: 5 minutes
Episode Description: The latest news in five minutes, updated hourly.

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Overview

This episode delivers concise coverage of major national and international headlines, including the death of legendary actor Robert Redford, upcoming testimony from the FBI Director, significant changes to the CDC's vaccine advisory committee, economic updates, labor news concerning the Long Island Railroad, early holiday shopping trends, and President Trump’s lawsuit against The New York Times.

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Key Stories & Insights

1. Passing of Robert Redford [00:17–01:20]

• Announcement: Robert Redford, renowned Hollywood actor, producer, director, and environmentalist, has died at age 89.
• Career Highlights: Starred in classics like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Out of Africa," and "The Way We Were."
• Broader Impact:
  • Founded the Sundance Institute and Festival, transforming independent film.
  • Advocated for environmental causes.

Notable Segment:

"Robert Redford was way more, it must be said, than one of the most handsome men in history."
– Netta Ulaby, NPR Correspondent [00:41]

Memorable Clip:

"[Clip from 'The Way We Were']
Can I ask you a personal question?
Sure.
Do you smile all the time?
No, no, no, no."
– Redford in character, film dialogue [00:51]

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2. FBI Director Kaj Patel Testifies Before Senate [01:20–02:05]

• Context: FBI Director Kaj Patel will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee amid criticism of his recent handling of a high-profile manhunt.
• Key Issues: Scrutiny over Patel's conflicting social media updates during the investigation into the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Congress.
• Expected Questions: Senators, particularly Democrats, are likely to grill Patel about his communication and decision-making during the manhunt.

Notable Quote:

"I expect some senators, certainly Democrats, to press Patel about his posts on social media during the manhunt. Patel said just hours after the shooting that the subject was in custody, only to tweet roughly 90 minutes later that the person had been released and the investigation was still ongoing."
– Subject Matter Expert (Unnamed) [01:44]

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3. CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee Gets New Members [02:05–03:03]

• Update: Five new members, some with anti-vaccine stances, are added after a previous panel was fired in June.
• Significance: The committee influences which vaccines are covered by insurance or offered for free to children.
• Controversy: New members include a pediatric cardiologist linked to anti-Covid vaccine sentiment and an epidemiologist who downplays Covid dangers.
• Upcoming Decision: Panel to vote on policy changes regarding Covid and several childhood vaccines later this week.

Notable Insight:

"As Health Secretary Kennedy has stacked this panel with people who question the safety and need for vaccines. The panel helps determine which vaccines are covered by insurance or offered for free to many children."
– Ping Wang, NPR Health Reporter [02:52]

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4. Financial and Labor Updates [03:03–03:28]

• Stock Markets: Mixed trading in Asian markets; Dow futures down.
• Rail Strike Averted: Long Island Railroad avoids a strike as union seeks federal intervention, postponing potential work stoppage until at least Christmas.

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5. Early Holiday Shopping Amid Economic Concerns [03:28–04:17]

• Trend: Notable increase in early holiday shopping due to inflation and tariffs.
• Consumer Sentiment: 40% expect higher gift prices; half plan to finish shopping before end of October.
• Expert Commentary: Tariff-related inventory changes expected to push prices higher as the year ends.
• Spending Projections: PwC expects average holiday spending to fall 5% from last year to $1,500 per consumer.

Memorable Moments:

"It's still summer. I've never shopped this early before."
– Shopper Sarah Miller [03:44]

Notable Analysis:

"The tariff inventory really starts to cycle in as you get into that November-December time period. We're hearing that prices are going to go up across the board."
– Joe Feldman, Telsey Advisory Group [04:08]

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6. President Trump Sues The New York Times [04:28–04:56]

• Details: Trump files a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the newspaper and four journalists, citing reputational harm.
• Jurisdiction: Lawsuit filed in Florida.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Robert Redford's Passing & Legacy: 00:17–01:20
• FBI Director Senate Testimony Preview: 01:20–02:05
• CDC Vaccine Panel Shakeup: 02:05–03:03
• Market and Labor News: 03:03–03:28
• Early Holiday Shopping Trends: 03:28–04:17
• Trump Sues NYT: 04:28–04:56

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Recap & Closing

The episode closes by reiterating the top story—Robert Redford's passing—and swiftly summarizes other major headlines. The reporting remains crisp, objective, and comprehensive, fitting into NPR’s signature fast-paced five-minute news update format.

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Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. One of Hollywood's most celebrated actors has died. Robert Redford was 89 years old. His decades long career included unfriendly, unforgettable performances in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and out of Africa. NPR's Netta Ulaby has this remembrance.

[NPR Correspondent/Reporter]

Robert Redford was way more, it must be said, than one of the most handsome men in history. Here he is melting Barbra Streisand in the film the Way we were from 1973.

[NPR News Anchor]

Can I ask you a personal question? Sure. Do you smile all the time? No, no, no, no.

[NPR Correspondent/Reporter]

As an actor, Redford was more understated than his good looks would suggest. He transformed Hollywood's independent film scene with his Sundance Institute and Festival. And Robert Redford was a producer, director and ardent environmentalist. Netta Ulupi, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

FBI Director Kaj Patel is set to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. His appearance comes amid growing about his ability to lead the agency. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports. Patel more recently faced criticism for his actions during the manhunt for the suspect who shot and killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Congress.

[Subject Matter Expert/Analyst]

The FBI's response to the shooting and Patel's actions in particular are likely to come under scrutiny from lawmakers. I expect some senators, certainly Democrats, to press Patel about his posts on social media during the manhunt. Patel said just hours after the shooting that the subject was in custody, only to tweet roughly 90 minutes later that the person had been released and the investigation was still ongoing.

[NPR News Anchor]

That's NPR's Ryan Lucas reporting. The CDC's vaccine advisory committee is getting five new members ahead of the group's meeting this week. NPR's Ping Wang reports. Their replacements for the panel fired in June.

[NPR Health Reporter]

The new members include a pediatric cardiologist associated with a group that discouraged people from getting Covid vaccines and an epidemic epidemiologist who has claimed that the government overstated Covid's harms. They add to the seven members appointed by Kennedy in June after he fired the previous members, which he said he did to restore public trust. The committee meets on Thursday and Friday in Atlanta. They're expected to vote on policy changes to Covid vaccines, along with routine childhood vaccines for hepatitis B and for measles and chickenpox as Health Secretary Kennedy has stacked this panel with people who question the safety and need for vaccines. The panel helps determine which vaccines are covered by insurance or offered for free to many children. Ping Huang, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

Stocks across Asia traded mix today with markets higher in China and Japan. On Wall Street, Dow futures are trading lower at this hour. This is NPR News. A potential strike at the nation's largest commuter rail system has been averted. Union officials say they're asking the Trump administration to help form an emergency board that will push the possibility of a work stoppage at the Long Island Railroad to at least Christmas creep has consumers seeing holiday merch extra early this year. NPR's Amy Held reports. Many people want to get their shopping in now before inflation and tariffs can push up prices.

[Shopper/Consumer Interviewee]

It's still summer.

[NPR News Anchor]

I've never shopped this early before.

[Shopper/Consumer Interviewee]

Shopper Sarah Miller tells ABC she already feels compelled to check off her kids holiday list.

[Commercial Announcer]

Prices rise when the holidays get closer.

[Shopper/Consumer Interviewee]

A new poll By Bankrate finds 40% of respondents fear holiday gifts will be more expensive this year. Half are getting a jump on shopping before October ends. Joe Feldman is with Telsey Advisory Group.

[Subject Matter Expert/Analyst]

The tariff inventory really starts to cycle in as you get into that November December time period. We're hearing that prices are going to go up across the board.

[Shopper/Consumer Interviewee]

Consulting firm PwC projects the average consumer plans to spend about $1,500 on the holidays this year. That's a 5% drop from last year's plans. Amy Held, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

President Trump has filed a lawsuit against the New York Times. The suit accuses the public and four of its journalists of defamation. The president filed the $15 billion suit Monday in Florida, citing reputational damage. And recapping our top story at the sour Legendary actor Robert Redford has died at the age of 89. This is NPR News in Washington.

[Commercial Announcer]

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