NPR News Now – September 22, 2025, 10AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Main Theme:
A rapid-fire overview of the latest global and national headlines, focusing on geopolitics, evolving diplomatic efforts at the UN, major health and business news, and significant legal and religious events.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. UN General Assembly High-Level Debate

[00:17–01:10]

• Wars and Peace Efforts:
  • Multiple ongoing conflicts (Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine) set the stage as the UN General Assembly opens its week of high-level debates in New York.
  • UN Secretary General António Guterres is spotlighted, determined to leverage more than 150 meetings with world leaders to push for sincere peacemaking efforts.
    • Quote, Michelle Kellerman reporting Guterres:

      “He intends to push them to get serious about peace.” – [00:35]

  • President Trump is scheduled to address the Assembly on Tuesday. Despite past US withdrawal from agencies and funding cuts, Guterres emphasizes the US still plays a key diplomatic and strategic role.
    • Quote, Guterres (via Michelle Kellerman):

      “The US remains a central player at the UN and has the carrots and sticks needed to help end conflicts.” – [00:53]

2. Growing Recognition of Palestinian Statehood

[01:10–01:44]

• Diplomatic Moves:
  • As the General Assembly convenes, momentum grows for the Palestinian cause: Australia, Britain, Canada, and Portugal announce formal recognition of a Palestinian state, with France expected to follow.
  • Israel voices strong objections to these recognitions.

3. Trump’s Political Rally and Announcement on Autism

[01:10–02:10]

• Arizona Memorial Service:
  • President Trump attends and speaks at a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which also functions as a political rally.
• Health Claim on Autism:
  • Trump teases an impending White House announcement about autism, implying a solution is at hand:
    • Quote, Donald Trump:

      “I think we found an answer to autism. How about that autism? Tomorrow we're going to be talking to the Oval Office … about how it happens so we won't let it happen anymore and how to get at least somewhat better when you have it.” – [01:44]

• Scientific Pushback:
  • Host Korva Coleman quickly follows up with the consensus from health experts: “It is misleading to reduce the cause of autism to a single factor.” – [02:10]

4. Business & Economics: Pfizer Acquisition and Google Antitrust Trial

[02:10–03:12]

• Stock Market and Mergers:
  • The Dow falls 140 points following Pfizer’s nearly $5 billion acquisition of biotech company Metcera, which is developing obesity drugs but has not yet released any.
• Google Antitrust Action:
  • Google faces a new court trial over its advertising monopoly, with the Justice Department seeking a breakup reminiscent of a recent antitrust case against Google’s search business.
• Federal Reserve Focus:
  • Stephen Myron, the Fed’s newest governor, is slated to address New York’s Economic Club later in the day. Notably, he was the lone vote for a deeper rate cut during the Fed's most recent decision.

5. International Relations: Russian Offer on Nuclear Treaty

[03:12–03:51]

• Putin and Nuclear Arms Control:
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin offers to extend the New START nuclear treaty with the US for a year—conditional on Trump administration agreement. The current treaty is set to expire in February; extension would last until early 2027.
    • Putin's hope: To “avoid a strategic arms race.”

6. Vatican ‘Trial of the Century’ Reopened

[03:51–04:36]

• High Drama in the Holy See:
  • Appeals process begins for a notorious case exposing corruption, espionage, and infighting at the Vatican.
  • The court investigates the loss of $400 million in a failed London real estate deal.
    • Nine out of ten defendants were convicted in 2023, but now new evidence has come to light via WhatsApp messages, suggesting questionable conduct by Vatican police and even Pope Francis.
    • Quote, Ruth Sherlock:

      “Critics say [messages] suggest questionable conduct by Vatican police and prosecutors and even the late Pope Francis.” – [04:19]

7. Jewish New Year Observance Begins

[04:36–04:56]

• Rosh Hashanah:
  • Marks the start of Judaism’s ten days of high holidays, culminating with Yom Kippur.
  • Traditions involve prayer, self-reflection, and observances at home and in synagogues.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• UN Secretary General on Diplomatic Opportunity:

  “He intends to push them to get serious about peace.”
  – Michelle Kellerman on António Guterres [00:35]

• Guterres on Continued US Influence:

  “The US remains a central player at the UN and has the carrots and sticks needed to help end conflicts.”
  – Michelle Kellerman reporting [00:53]

• President Trump on Autism:

  “I think we found an answer to autism. … Tomorrow we're going to be talking to the Oval Office in the White House about aut, how it happens so we won't let it happen anymore and how to get at least somewhat better when you have it.”
  – Donald Trump [01:44]

• Korva Coleman, Fact-Checking:

  “Health experts who study autism say it is misleading to reduce the cause of autism to a single factor.”
  – Korva Coleman [02:10]

• Vatican Scandal’s New Chapter:

  “Critics say they suggest questionable conduct by Vatican police and prosecutors and even the late Pope Francis.”
  – Ruth Sherlock [04:19]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• UN General Assembly & Peace Diplomacy: [00:17–01:10]
• Rising Recognition of Palestinian State: [01:10–01:44]
• Trump Memorial Rally & Autism Announcement: [01:44–02:10]
• Stocks, Pfizer/Metcera, Google Antitrust, Fed: [02:10–03:12]
• Putin’s Nuclear Treaty Offer: [03:12–03:51]
• Vatican Corruption Appeals: [03:51–04:36]
• Rosh Hashanah Begins: [04:36–04:56]

Tone and Style

NPR’s delivery remains concise, neutral, and authoritative, bringing context to rapidly changing world events without sensationalism. The host and correspondents balance urgency with careful fact-checking—especially regarding major claims (e.g., Trump’s autism announcement)—and the news cycle is presented as a fast-moving, interconnected global narrative.