NPR News Now – September 21, 2025, 5PM EDT

Episode Overview

This brisk five-minute news update, hosted by Jeanine Herbst, delivers the latest national and international headlines. Major stories include the memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a major diplomatic shift with key Western countries recognizing Palestine, the aftermath of a European airport cyber attack, Fat Bear Week in Alaska, and the latest box office rankings.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Memorial for Charlie Kirk

[00:18–01:38]

• Event Overview:
  State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, reached capacity with tens of thousands attending the public memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

• Overflow & Atmosphere:
  With 60,000 inside and tens of thousands more gathered outside, additional overflow went to a nearby arena for a livestream.

• Political Attendance:
  Former President Trump and many cabinet members were in attendance, highlighting Kirk’s prominence in conservative circles.

• Ceremony Details:

  • Christian worship music opened the service, emphasizing the intersection of faith and politics.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • Kerry Jobe Kern (worship singer) [01:03]:
      “We need our country healed. We want the Kirk family to be healed.”
    • Rob McCoy (pastor) [01:10]:
      “Charlie saw politics as a road to Christianity.”
    • Mike McCoy (chief of staff):
      “The martyr dies and his rule has just begun.”
    • Andrew Colvett (executive producer):
      Called Kirk “a prophet.”

2. Diplomatic Recognition of Palestine

[01:38–02:50]

• Major Diplomatic Move:
  The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have formally recognized the State of Palestine, seeking to revive the two-state solution.
• Israeli Response:
  • Benjamin Netanyahu’s Message [02:00]:
    “There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan river.”
    • Netanyahu frames recognition as rewarding terrorism post-Hamas attacks.
  • Anticipated Actions:
    • Israel is not expected to annex West Bank land, wary of harming ties with the UAE.
    • Possible changes include putting some West Bank areas under full Israeli administrative control and closing foreign diplomatic missions to Palestinians.
    • Response is expected after Netanyahu’s upcoming U.S. trip and UN address.

3. European Airport Cyberattack

[02:50–03:32]

• Incident Details:
  A cyber attack on check-in systems at major European airports (Brussels, London, Berlin) enters its second day, causing numerous flight delays and cancellations.
• Ongoing Fallout:
  Airborne teams are working to mitigate disruptions as travelers contend with snarled schedules.

4. Alaska’s Fat Bear Week

[03:32–04:13]

• Annual Tradition:
  Katmai National Park’s brown bears become the focus during Fat Bear Week, which celebrates their seasonal weight gain ahead of hibernation.
• Bear Growth:
  • Sarah Bruce (park ranger) [03:51]:
    “These bears go from 5, 6, 700 pounds, and they come out of the den to over a thousand pounds by the end of the season.”
• Competition Details:
  • Twelve bears will compete in an online bracket beginning Tuesday at explore.org, running through September 30th.

5. Weekend Box Office Results

[04:13–04:57]

• Top Films:
  • Demon Slayer Infinity Castle leads with $17 million, becoming the highest grossing anime film in North America.
  • Him (Universal Pictures), a football horror produced by Jordan Peele, opens at $13 million but receives poor reviews.
  • The Conjuring: Last Rites maintains strong performance in its third weekend, with global sales nearing $400 million, now the biggest in the franchise.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Kerry Jobe Kern [01:03]:
  “We need our country healed. We want the Kirk family to be healed.”
• Rob McCoy [01:10]:
  “Charlie saw politics as a road to Christianity.”
• Sarah Bruce [03:51]:
  “It really is quite a sight to see. These bears go from 5, 6, 700 pounds, and they come out of the den to over a thousand pounds by the end of the season.”
• Benjamin Netanyahu [02:00]:
  “There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan river.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Charlie Kirk Memorial Coverage: [00:18–01:38]
• Palestine Recognition & Israel’s Response: [01:38–02:50]
• European Airport Cyberattack Updates: [02:50–03:32]
• Fat Bear Week Feature: [03:32–04:13]
• Box Office Recap: [04:13–04:57]

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major developments, blending breaking global news and uniquely American cultural stories in NPR’s characteristic clear and balanced style.