NPR News: 09-19-2025 10AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: September 19, 2025 – 10AM EDT

Main Theme:
A concise five-minute update covering major national and international headlines, including CDC vaccine recommendations, Israeli border developments, Turning Point USA leadership, progress and setbacks related to clean energy jobs, and ongoing climate litigation.

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Key News Segments and Insights

1. CDC Vaccine Advisory Turmoil

[00:11–01:07]

• Ongoing Confusion:
  The CDC’s vaccine advisory committee faced confusion regarding recommendations for the childhood vaccine schedule.
• Shifting Recommendations:
  • Thursday: The committee voted to stop recommending the chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children under four.
  • The same day, they decided a federal program should continue funding these shots.
  • Friday: Realizing confusion, committee members reversed their decision on recommendations.
  • Deliberations continue, especially regarding vaccines for hepatitis at birth.

Notable Quote:

"On Friday, the committee acknowledged members were confused when they took that vote and reversed that decision."
— Rob Stein, NPR News ([00:48])

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2. Israel Closes Jordanian Border Crossing

[01:07–02:04]

• Incident Trigger:
  Israel closed the Allenby Bridge crossing (the only border between Jordan and the West Bank) after a Jordanian truck driver killed two Israeli soldiers.
• Details of the Attack:
  • The Jordanian driver (hired three months earlier) allegedly shot and stabbed the soldiers before being killed by Israeli forces.
• Broader Impact:
  • The crossing is vital for Palestinians' movement and for shipments of food and medicine into Gaza.
  • Israel is also suspending aid trucks from Jordan.
• Diplomatic Context:
  This comes amid preexisting tensions, despite the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel.

Notable Quote:

"The crossing is the only access in and out of the Israeli occupied West Bank for most Palestinians. Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, is also a main route for food and medicine for Gaza."
— Jane Araf, NPR News ([01:45])

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3. Turning Point USA: Leadership Transition

[02:04–03:10]

• Leadership Change:
  Erica Kirk, widow of the slain Charlie Kirk, becomes CEO of Turning Point USA.
• Memorial Events:
  • Erica will speak at Charlie Kirk's Arizona memorial service, with high-profile attendees including President Trump and Vice President Vance.
  • Over 1,000 people gathered for a vigil at Colorado State University.
• Community Reflections:
  Gabriel Saint, University of Wyoming chapter president, noted Kirk’s ongoing influence and inspirational legacy.

Notable Quotes:

"Charlie was more than just some guy or the guy that got the president elected, senators elected, congressmen elected. He was our hero as students on college campuses across the country."
— Gabe Saint, TPUSA chapter president ([02:55])

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4. Clean Energy Jobs: Mixed Signals

[03:10–04:06]

• Positive Trends:
  • Clean energy job growth is three times faster than the broader US economy, per E2’s annual census.
• Emerging Setbacks:
  • The data predates the Trump Administration’s 2025 rollback of clean energy funding and permits.
  • $22 billion in clean energy investments withdrawn or reduced, totaling a projected loss of 17,000 jobs.

Notable Quote:

"Clean energy jobs were increasing three times faster than the rest of the US Economy…$22 billion in clean energy investments have been canceled or downsized this year, representing nearly 17,000 jobs."
— Camila Domonosky, NPR News ([03:38])

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5. Charleston Drops Lawsuit Against Oil Majors

[04:06–04:54]

• Legal Stand-down:
  Charleston, SC, ends its climate change lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and others, following a state judge’s dismissal.
• Background:
  The suit alleged fossil fuel companies contributed to local extreme weather and climate change.

6. Storm Watch: Gabrielle

• Tropical Storm Gabrielle continues to strengthen in the Atlantic and may reach hurricane status by Sunday. The storm is forecast to pass southeast of Bermuda between Sunday night and Monday.

Notable News Recap:

"The city says it won't appeal a state judge's recent decision to dismiss the case. Charleston's suit accused Exxon Mobil, Chevron and other oil companies of knowingly playing a role in contributing to the harmful impacts of extreme weather and climate change."
— Kristen Wright, Anchor ([04:06])

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Summary Table of Key Segments

| Segment | Start | End | Summary | |------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|------------------------------------------------------------| | CDC Vaccine Committee | 00:11 | 01:07 | Confusion/reversal on child vaccine policy | | Israel-Jordan Border Closure | 01:07 | 02:04 | Security incident closes vital crossing, aid suspended | | Turning Point USA/Charlie Kirk Memorial | 02:04 | 03:10 | Erica Kirk named CEO after husband’s murder, tributes held | | Clean Energy Jobs Report | 03:10 | 04:06 | Pre-2025 growth strong, but recent investment losses noted | | Charleston Climate Lawsuit & Storm Gabrielle | 04:06 | 04:54 | City drops legal climate case, storm nears Bermuda |

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Tone and Language

The newscast remains direct and factual, characteristic of NPR’s concise hourly updates. Quotes from witnesses and reporters add human insight, especially in the coverage of Charlie Kirk’s legacy and the CDC committee’s confusion.

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Compiled for listeners who missed the episode or need quick reference to today’s top news stories as of 10 AM EDT, September 19, 2025.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. Confusion and turmoil continue to dominate a closely watched meeting of vaccine advisers to the CDC today. They're discussing changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. And NPR's Rob Stein reports.

[C]

On Thursday, the committee voted to stop recommending a vaccine that protects children against chickenpox, along with measles, mumps and rubella for children younger than four. But the committee also voted to continue letting a federal program pay for the shots. On Friday, the committee acknowledged members were confused when they took that vote and reversed that decision. Then, amid more confusion and apparent dissension within the committee, the advisors tabled a vote to stop recommending vaccinating all babies against hepatitis within the first day of life. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[B]

Israel has closed the only border crossing between Jordan and the Israeli occupied West Bank. It has also suspended aid trucks bound for Gaza after a Jordanian truck driver killed two Israeli soldiers. NPR's Jane Araf has more.

[D]

Israel said Friday it had closed its Allenby Bridge crossing until further notice after the attack Thursday by a Jordanian driving an aid truck. It identified the two Israelis killed as soldiers. Jordan said a Jordanian truck driver hired three months ago apparently shot and stabbed the two men before being killed by Israeli forces. The crossing is the only access in and out of the Israeli occupied West bank for most Palestinians. Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, is also a main route for food and medicine for Gaza. Israel said it was suspending access to aid trucks from Jordan. Jay N. Arath, NPR News, Beirut.

[B]

Turning Point USA has named Erica Kirk as its new CEO. The widow of Charlie Kirk takes over operations after her husband was murdered last week during a speaking event in Utah. She'll be one of the speakers at a memorial service for him in Arizona on Sunday. It'll be held at State Farm Stadium. And President Trump, Vice President Vance and several other administration officials are expected to give remarks to honor the conservative activist. Turning Point USA held a vigil at Colorado State University last night. Tony Gorman with Colorado Public Radio reports.

[E]

More than 1,000 people filled the east side of CSU's Canvas Stadium to celebrate Kirk's life. Gabe Saint TP, USA Chapter President from the University of Wyoming, said Kirk gave young conservatives and Christians a voice across college campuses.

[F]

Charlie was more than just some guy or the guy that got the president elected, senators elected, congressmen elected. He was our hero as students on college campuses across the country.

[E]

For NPR News, I'm Tony Gorman in Fort Collins.

[B]

This is NPR News. A new report shows clean energy jobs in the US continue to be added. NPR's Camila Domonosky says the latest figures don't count recent project cancellations.

[G]

For the last decade, the business and environment group E2 has put out an annual census of clean energy jobs. How many people are employed in solar, wind, electric? The latest report finds that clean energy jobs were increasing three times faster than the rest of the US Economy. The study is based on data from the US Energy and Employment Report. That data set does not reflect changes since January, when President Trump took office and started rolling back funding and permits for clean energy. E2 notes that $22 billion in clean energy investments have been canceled or downsized this year, representing nearly 17,000 jobs. Camila Dominosky, NPR News.

[B]

The city of Charleston, South Carolina is ending its years long legal fight against fossil fuel companies over climate change. The city says it won't appeal a state judge's recent decision to dismiss the case. Charleston's suit accused Exxon Mobil, Chevron and other oil companies of knowingly playing a role in in contributing to the harmful impacts of extreme weather and climate change. Forecasters today are watching tropical Storm Gabrielle in the Atlantic. It is getting stronger and maybe become a hurricane by Sunday. Right now, Gabrielle is about 900 miles or so southeast of Bermuda. The storm is expected to pass by the island Sunday night into Monday. I'm Kristen Wright and this is NPR News in Washington.

[H]

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