NPR News: 09-18-2025 5AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — Episode Summary

Episode: NPR News: 09-18-2025 5AM EDT
Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Dave Mattingly

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Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode delivers the morning's top national and international headlines in five minutes. Topics include President Trump’s state visit to the UK, record-breaking tech investments in Britain, reactions to the fatal shooting of activist Charlie Kirk, the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show, a key Georgia gubernatorial race, a tragic police shooting in Pennsylvania, and the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s State Visit to the UK & Major Tech Investments

• President Trump is visiting the UK for a second official state trip, meeting today with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Starmer’s country home.
• Recent events: Trump dined with King Charles and the royal family at Windsor Castle.
• Unprecedented investments announced:
  • Microsoft: $30 billion in the UK’s AI sector
  • Google: Nearly $7 billion to open a new UK data center.
• Trade issues remain unresolved:
  • Duncan Edwards, CEO of British American Business, notes the UK government is seeking to “reopen discussions around tariff rates in general and on some specific categories like steel, scotch whisky.” (01:02)
  • Though some tariffs were eased via an earlier Trump-Starmer deal, UK steel still faces a 25% US tariff, and Scotch whisky a 10% tariff.

Quote:

“The UK Government will try to reopen discussions around tariff rates in general and on some specific categories like steel, scotch whiskey.”
— Duncan Edwards (01:02)

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2. Political Violence & Reaction to Charlie Kirk’s Death

• Vice President J.D. Vance in Windsor blames “left wing political radicalization” for the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah.
• In a Fox News interview, Vance claims the suspect was influenced by “far left political ideas, social networks and institutions.”
• Vance insists violence is predominantly a problem of the political left, though NPR notes officials tend not to mention right-wing political violence, such as the assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the attack on Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s husband.

Quote:

“My friend is dead because of left wing political radicalization. And if you want to cut that out, then be honest about it and look yourself in the mirror.”
— Vice President J.D. Vance (02:03)

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3. Jimmy Kimmel’s Show Suspended

• ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely after controversial remarks made regarding conservative reactions to Kirk’s slaying.
• Kimmel had commented: “many in Magaland are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk.”
• The suspension followed pressure from ABC affiliate stations refusing to air his program.

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4. Georgia Gubernatorial Race & Trump’s Ongoing Influence

• Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Secretary of State, officially announces his run for governor.
• Historical context: Raffensperger gained national attention when Trump, after the 2020 election, urged him to help “find” votes.
• The Trump-Raffensperger phone call is central to a stalled criminal case against Trump in Georgia.
• Lt. Gov. Bert Jones, a Trump-endorsed candidate and 2020 election alternate elector, is also running.

Notable Quote:

“I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have.”
— Donald Trump (03:33)

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5. Pennsylvania Police Shooting & Fed Interest Rate Cut

• Tragedy in York County, Pennsylvania: Three officers killed and two wounded during gunfire at a farmhouse in North Cordis Township; the trigger has not yet been determined.
• Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by a quarter point—first reduction in nine months—citing concerns over slower hiring and employment risks.

Quote:

“In this less dynamic and somewhat softer labor market, the downside risks to employment appear to have risen.”
— Fed Chairman Jerome Powell (04:34)

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Notable Moments & Timestamps

• UK investment and trade challenges — Lauren Frayer, Duncan Edwards (00:43–01:13)
• Vance blames political left for Kirk’s killing — Franco Ordonez, J.D. Vance (01:50–02:11)
• Kimmel’s suspension announced — Dave Mattingly (02:37–03:24)
• Georgia race & Trump’s infamous call — Raul Bally, Donald Trump (03:24–04:06)
• Pennsylvania shooting, Fed rate cut explained — Dave Mattingly, Jerome Powell (04:06–04:41)

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Memorable Quotes

• Duncan Edwards (on UK-US trade): “The UK Government will try to reopen discussions around tariff rates in general and on some specific categories like steel, scotch whiskey.” (01:02)
• V.P. J.D. Vance (on Kirk’s death): “My friend is dead because of left wing political radicalization.” (02:03)
• Donald Trump (on Georgia votes): “I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have.” (03:33)
• Jerome Powell (on labor market): “The downside risks to employment appear to have risen.” (04:34)

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Conclusion

In just five minutes, NPR News Now navigates major international diplomacy, the impact of tech investment, deeply polarized political violence, the perilous intersection of politics and media, riveting state-level races, and important economic signals—all with hallmark brevity and journalistic rigor.

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Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. President Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer today at Starmer's country home. The two are expected to hold a joint news conference afterwards. Trump is on his second state visit to the UK Yesterday he dined with King Charles and the British royal family at Windsor castle near London. NPR's Lauren Frayer says Trump's visit to the UK has been accompanied by record breaking investments.

[Lauren Frayer]

Microsoft says it's investing $30 billion in the UK's AI sector. Google nearly 7 billion to open a data center here.

[Duncan Edwards]

As well as the investment discussion, there's also unfinished business on trade.

[Lauren Frayer]

Duncan Edwards is CEO of British American Business, a transatlantic networking group.

[Duncan Edwards]

The UK Government will try to reopen discussions around tariff rates in general and on some specific categories like steel, scotch whiskey.

[Lauren Frayer]

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was one of the first to sign a trade deal with Trump this past spring for relief from some tariffs. But UK Steel still faces a 25% US tariff and Scotch whiskey 10%. Lauren Frayer, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

In Windsor, England, Vice President Vance is blaming left wing political radicalization for creating conditions that led to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah. As NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, the vice president says the radicalization is not a both sides problem. This report contains explicit language.

[Franco Ordonez]

Vice President J.D. vance claimed in an interview on Fox News that the suspect charged in the shooting of Charlie Kirk was radicalized by father far left political ideas, social networks and institutions.

[Duncan Edwards]

My friend is dead because of left wing political radicalization. And if you want to cut that out, then be honest about it and look yourself in the mirror.

[Franco Ordonez]

Like other members of the administration, Vance said political violence was a much bigger problem on the political left. But the officials often do not mention recent examples of political violence from the political right ant, including the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as the attack against Representative Nancy Pelosi's husband in their home. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

ABC is suspending Jimmy Kimmel's late night show indefinitely. It follows comments he made about reaction to the slaying of Charlie Kirk. They included Kimmel's remarks that, quote, many in Magaland are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk. The network made the move after a group of ABC affiliated stations said they would not air his TV show going forward. A federal judge is ordering Alabama's largest county to redraw its commission lines, ruling the districts are unconstitutional because of racial gerrymandering. This is NPR News. Georgia's secretary of state says he's running for governor. Raul Bally with member station WABE says President Trump is weighing in on that race.

[Raul Bally]

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger came to prominence in 2020 when President Trump called and asked for help overturning his 2020 loss in Georgia.

[Donald Trump]

I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more that we have.

[Raul Bally]

Raffensperger went on to defeat a Trump backed primary challenger in 2022, and the call would eventually be a key part of the criminal case against Trump in Georgia, which is now stalled. Republican Lt. Gov. Bert Jones, who served as an alternate elector for Trump, is also in the race for governor and has Trump's endorsement. For NPR News, I'm Raul Bally in Atlanta.

[Dave Mattingly]

Authorities in Pennsylvania are investigating the fatal shooting of three police officers and the wounding of two others in York County. Investigators say gunfire erupted at a farmhouse in North Cordis Township. It's unclear what led to the gunfire. The Federal Reserve is lowering interest rates for the first time in nine months. The Fed is cutting rates by a quarter point because of concerns about a slowdown in hiring in the U.S. here's Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.

[Jerome Powell]

In this less dynamic and somewhat softer labor market, the downside risks to employment appear to have risen.

[Dave Mattingly]

Powell was speaking yesterday at the conclusion of the Fed's latest policy meeting. Wall street futures are higher this morning, Dave. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.

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