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Jael Snyder
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jael Snyder. ABC has announced that its late night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, has been suspended. The move comes after Kimmel made comments on Monday about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Here's reporter Steve Futterman.
Steve Futterman
The Kimmel comments suggested that conservative groups, in Kimmel's words, were trying to score political points over Charlie Kirk's death. These are some of the comments.
Jimmy Kimmel
We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from.
Steve Futterman
In a brief written statement, ABC said that the show will be preempted indefinitely. Just prior to the announcement, Nexstar, which owns 200 TV stations, said it was taking Kimmel off of its 32 stations, which which are ABC affiliates. Kimmel's comments have also been criticized by the chairman of the fcc. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.
Jael Snyder
Suspension of Kimmel's show drawing comparisons to CBS's decision to discontinue Stephen Colbert's late night show. CBS cites financial reasons. Both Kimmel and Colbert, though, have been critical of President Trump. Three law enforcement Officers are dead, two others wounded after a shooting in south central Pennsylvania. NPR's Jeff Brady reports. A suspect is also de. Authorities say there's no danger to the nearby community.
Jeff Brady
The police officers were investigating a case that authorities say was domestic related along a rural road south of Harrisburg. Colonel Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, mourned the dead officers.
Colonel Christopher Paris
The grief will be unbearable, but we will bear it and we will not rest until we've conducted a full, fair, competent and thorough investigation.
Jeff Brady
Paris says a suspect also is dead, shot by police. The two wounded officers are listed in critical but stable condition at a hospital in York. Pennsylv students and staff at a nearby school sheltered in place as classes were ending. That order has been lifted. Jeff Brady, NPR News, Philadelphia.
Jael Snyder
South Carolina State Supreme Court has denied a request to strike down a congressional district map designed to help Republicans win elections. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports that South Carolina's high court has ruled that the state courts cannot review claims of partisan gerrymander.
Hansi Lo Wang
The League of Women Voters of South Carolina argued this congressional map violates the state's constitution by not giving South Carolina's voters their equal right to elect members of the U.S. house Representatives. But the South Carolina Supreme Court found the state has no laws or redistricting standards against the redrawing of voting districts to make congressional elections less competitive and help a particular political party win. A similar ruling by the US Supreme Court has cut off federal courts from reviewing partisan gerrymandering claims. The new South Carolina ruling comes after President Trump's push for Texas, Missouri and other Republican led states to draw new maps that could help the GOP keep control of the House after next year's midterm election. Ansi Le Wang, NPR News.
Jael Snyder
This is NPR News. The fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Menarez was on Capitol Hill today, telling a Senate panel that the public health system in the US Is heading to what she called a dangerous place under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She told the Senate health committee that Kennedy dismissed data supporting vaccine safety and efficacy and said Kennedy demanded she pre approved recommendations made by the CDC panel he revamped. The panel is expected to vote on new vaccine guidelines this week. President Trump has wrapped up the first day of his state visit to the UK he and First Lady Melania Trump were treated to a lavish state dinner at Windsor Castle. Trump is to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer tomorrow. Mexico kicks off its holiday season with traditional stuffed poblano peppers, but there's a big problem. One important ingredient made from a cactus is nearly extinct, as NPR's Eder Peralta.
Eder Peralta
Reports.
Edith Hernandez Torres
Even though it's illegal, acitron is sold openly at markets in Mexico City. It's a barrel cactus that is chopped up and then seeped in vats of sugar until it's crystallized and then cut into yellow bars. I ask Edith Hernandez Torres, who sells it, if she doesn't feel guilty, and she shrugs. Well, our whole planet is going extinct, she says. Biologists say the problem is that the barrel cactus grows incredibly slow. It can take 40 years for one to reach your knees. So farming it is impractical and unprofitable. They warn if Mexicans keep eating it, there may soon be none left in the wild. Ada Pralta, NPR News, Mexico City.
Jael Snyder
And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.
Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Jael Snyder
Length: 5 minutes
This fast-paced “NPR News Now” episode covers the top headlines from late September 2025. The episode covers the sudden suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live after controversial comments, a deadly police shooting in Pennsylvania, a South Carolina Supreme Court ruling on gerrymandering, Congressional testimony by a former CDC director, President Trump’s state visit to the UK, and an environmental issue threatening a beloved Mexican holiday food.
[00:00–01:02]
Notable Quote:
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from.”
— Jimmy Kimmel ([00:27])
[01:02–02:05]
Notable Quote:
“The grief will be unbearable, but we will bear it and we will not rest until we've conducted a full, fair, competent and thorough investigation.”
— Colonel Christopher Paris ([01:39])
[02:05–02:57]
Notable Fact:
“...South Carolina Supreme Court found the state has no laws or redistricting standards against the redrawing of voting districts to make congressional elections less competitive and help a particular political party win.”
— Hansi Lo Wang ([02:35])
[02:57–03:54]
Notable Quote:
"The public health system in the US is heading to what she called a dangerous place under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr."
— Jael Snyder ([02:59])
[03:54–03:57]
[03:54–04:36]
Notable Quote:
"Well, our whole planet is going extinct,"
— Edith Hernandez Torres, acitron seller ([03:57])
This bulletin-style episode concisely delivers a sweep of breaking news. The major national stories showcase tensions at the intersection of politics, media, and public health, while international reporting brings environmental concerns and presidential diplomacy into focus. Featuring direct commentary from key figures, the episode offers a snapshot of a complex and eventful news cycle.