NPR News: 09-18-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – Episode Summary

Episode: NPR News: 09-18-2025 5PM EDT
Air Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Jael Snyder (NPR)
Length: 5 minutes

Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers concise, timely updates on major world developments, including President Trump’s UK visit, ongoing conflict in Gaza, domestic terrorism policy debates, controversy over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, protests in France, and a major athletics achievement.

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Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. President Trump’s State Visit to the UK

• [00:24] Main Event: President Trump returns to the White House after a state visit to the UK, marked by meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
• Foreign Policy Disagreement:
  • Gaza Conflict: Both Trump and Starmer support ending the conflict and releasing hostages.
    • Quote [01:12] Donald Trump: “I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually.”
  • Palestinian State Recognition: Starmer supports recognition; Trump opposes, arguing it would “reward Hamas.”
  • International Context: France, Canada, and Australia also favor recognizing Palestine.

2. US Blocks UN Resolution on Gaza

• [01:30] The US vetoes a UN Security Council resolution for the sixth time.
  • Resolution sought a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
• Domestic Response:
  • After activist Charlie Kirk’s killing, Trump vows to designate antifa as a major terrorist group.
• [01:53] Legal Hurdles:
  • Odette Youssef, NPR: The US can designate foreign, but not domestic, terrorist organizations.
  • Expert View:
    • [02:08] NPR Announcer (paraphrasing Jason Blazakis): “The US Government has a definition of domestic terrorism, but does not have the legal authorities to designate entire organizations as domestic terrorist groups.”
  • Historical Note: Trump attempted this in 2020, but failed due to lack of authority and antifa’s decentralized nature.

3. Jimmy Kimmel Suspension Controversy

• [02:37] ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s show after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatens regulatory action.
  • Public & Political Reaction:
    • Labor unions, actors, politicians accuse the Trump administration of censorship.
    • House Democratic leadership demands Carr’s resignation.
    • [02:45] Representative Robert Garcia: Announces plans to investigate “efforts to censor opposition to the president of the United States.”

4. Shooting of Police Officers in Pennsylvania

• [03:21] Three police officers shot and killed while serving a warrant.
  • Suspect identified as Matthew James Ruth, 24.
  • Another officer hospitalized.

5. Strikes & Protests in France

• [03:56] France faces major strikes and protests—students and workers unite against President Macron’s economic policies.
  • [04:05] Mila Schenck, 12th grader: “Cut the Social Security system, that wants to cut in health and in education, which would only weigh heavy on the people that are already vulnerable.”
  • Criticism extends to Macron’s governance style:
    • Continues to appoint prime ministers from his party despite lacking parliamentary majority.
    • Uses constitutional emergency powers to pass reforms.
  • [04:22] Mila Schenck: “He went against people's opinion and is governing with a minority and is trying to pass budgets while having a minority.”

6. World Athletics Championships

• [04:39] Sydney McLaughlin-LaRonnie wins gold in the 400m, running fastest time in 40 years.
  • Time: Under 48 seconds.
  • Only Marita Koch (1985, East Germany) has run faster, with caveats about historical doping.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:12] Donald Trump:
  “I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually.”
  (On recognizing a Palestinian state)

• [02:08] NPR Announcer (on authority to designate domestic terrorism):
  “The US Government has a definition of domestic terrorism, but does not have the legal authorities to designate entire organizations as domestic terrorist groups.”

• [04:05] Mila Schenck, French Student Protester:
  “Cut the Social Security system, that wants to cut in health and in education, which would only weigh heavy on the people that are already vulnerable.”

• [04:22] Mila Schenck:
  “He went against people's opinion and is governing with a minority and is trying to pass budgets while having a minority.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:24] Trump’s UK Visit & Israeli-Palestinian Tensions
• [01:30] US Blocks UN Gaza Resolution/Antifa Terrorist Designation Debate
• [02:37] Jimmy Kimmel Suspension & Censorship Claims
• [03:21] Pennsylvania Police Officers Shot
• [03:56] French Strikes & Student Protests
• [04:39] Sydney McLaughlin-LaRonnie’s 400m World Lead

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Tone & Style

The episode is delivered in NPR’s classic, measured, and factual tone, highlighting diverse viewpoints and maintaining journalistic composure throughout. Speaker quotes reflect candor and urgency, especially from political figures and activists.

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This summary captures the core updates and key moments of the September 18, 2025, 5PM EDT NPR News Now episode, providing context, detail, and clear navigation for listeners and readers alike.

Transcript

[Throughline Host]

On the Throughline podcast from npr, Immigration enforcement might be more visible now, but this moment didn't begin with President Trump's second inauguration or even his first, a series from Throughline about how immigration became political and a cash cow. Listen to Throughline in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jael Snyder]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jael Snyder. President Trump is due back at the White House this evening after receiving the royal treatment during his state visit to the UK he's flying back aboard Air Force One after meeting today with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The two appear to have a good relationship, but NPR's Franco Ordonez reports they disagreed on recognizing a Palestinian state.

[Franco Ordonez]

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during a joint press conference, said he and President Trump agreed on the need to end the conflict in Gaza and secure the release of the hostages. Trump said he wants the immediate release of hostages and said that it's important to remember the Hamas led attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. He acknowledged, though, that he had a different opinion regarding recognizing the Palestinian state.

[Donald Trump]

I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually.

[Franco Ordonez]

France, Canada and Australia have also said they would recognize a Palestinian state. Trump has said doing so would only reward Hamas. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Jael Snyder]

The US Today blocked a UN Security Council resolution on Gaza for a sixth time. The resolution demanded a ceasefire and the release of remaining hostages. Following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, President Trump has said that he will be designated antifa, a major terrorist organization. NPR's Odette Youssef reports, though there are questions about how this might be done.

[Odette Youssef]

In the US There is a provision that allows the government to designate designate certain groups as foreign terrorist organizations, but the domestic context is different. Jason Blazakis is the former director of the State Department's Counterterrorism Finance and Designations office.

[NPR News Announcer]

The US Government has a definition of domestic terrorism, but does not have the legal authorities to designate entire organizations as domestic terrorist groups.

[Odette Youssef]

Trump has tried this before. In 2020, he tweeted that he would be designating Antifa a terrorist organization. It failed then because of the lack of legal authority and because antifa is not a centralized, cohesive national organization. Odette Youssef, NPR News Democrats and many.

[Jael Snyder]

Hollywood stars accusing the Trump administration of censorship when it comes to Jimmy Kimmel's dismissed suspension. NPR's Rachel Treisman reports.

[Rachel Treisman]

ABC took Kimmel's show off the air on Wednesday night. Earlier in the day, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had threatened regulatory action against the stations that carry it. Labor unions, actors, comedians and some politicians are criticizing what they say is an attack on free speech. House Democratic leadership is calling on Carr to resign. And the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Representative Robert Garcia, says he will launch an investigation into what he calls, quote, efforts to censor opposition to the president of the United States. Rachel Treisman, NPR News.

[Jael Snyder]

This is npr. Authorities in Pennsylvania have named the man who fatally shot three police officers yesterday. York County's district attorney says the officers were ambushed by 24 year old Matthew James Ruth as they attempted to serve a warrant for him at the home of a former girlfriend. A fourth police officer remains hospitalized. Much of France is paralyzed by strikes and protests against President Emmanuel Macron and what people call his policies for the rich. Many high school students among the protesters. As NPR's Eleanor Beardsley these students are.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Blocking their Paris high school and calling for solidarity with workers. 12th grader Mila Schenck says they're against Macron's budget of austerity, that wants to.

[Mila Schenck]

Cut the Social Security system, that wants to cut in health and in education, which would only weigh heavy on the people that are already vulnerable.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

She says Macron is also denying democracy because he keeps naming prime ministers from his camp when he doesn't have the support.

[Mila Schenck]

He went against people's opinion and is governing with a minority and is trying to pass budgets while having a minority.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Macron has passed many reform measures using an emergency clause in the constitution because he doesn't have the votes in Parliament. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Jael Snyder]

At the World Athletics Championships In Tokyo, Sydney, McLachlan LaRoney clocked the fastest time in 40 years to win gold today in the 400 meters. She came in under 48 seconds, holding off the Olympic champion in the event. Only East German Marita Koch has run the 400 faster. Her world record in 1985 came under the shadow of the Eastern Blocks Doping System. This is NPR News.

[NPR News Announcer]

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