NPR News Now: September 22, 2025, 2AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman (“Dale Willen” in transcript)
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This quick-paced NPR News Now episode delivers a concise rundown of major global and national stories as of the early hours of September 22, 2025. Coverage centers on the memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, shifts in international recognition of the State of Palestine, a major U.S. policy change concerning food insecurity data, Brazilian protests over political amnesty, innovations in canal reuse, and this weekend’s box office updates.

Key News Highlights & Insights

Memorial for Charlie Kirk

Timestamps: 00:19–00:56

• Event: Tens of thousands attended a Glendale, Arizona memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was recently shot and killed.
• Atmosphere:
  • Crowd adorned in red, white, and blue; many wore a “Freedom” shirt, emulating Kirk's shirt at the time of his death.
  • High demand: Attendance exceeded venue capacity; many were turned away.
• Notable Participation:
  • Former President Trump credited Kirk as "pivotal" in the 2024 election.
  • Vice President JD V (no last name given) and several Trump cabinet members present.
• Quote – Elena Moore, NPR Reporter (00:36):

  "There was a lot of passion and emotion. Folks sported red, white and blue clothing, and I also saw many wearing the same shirt Kirk was wearing when he was shot and killed, a white tee with the word Freedom on it."

International: Recognition of Palestine

Timestamps: 00:56–02:13

• Event: Britain, Australia, and Canada officially recognize the State of Palestine ahead of a UN General Assembly session; more countries expected.
• Palestinian Leadership Response:
  • Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Minister, Farsan Agabikyan, praises the moves but remains firm on prerequisites for peace.
  • He criticizes the idea of regional peace absent Palestinian statehood as “a delusion.”
• War Context:
  • Ongoing war in Gaza, death toll surpasses 65,000. No celebrations planned in West Bank.
  • Israeli Prime Minister calls recognitions a “reward for Hamas’s terrorism.”
• Quote – Farsan Agabikyan (01:40):

  "It will never happen as long as these rights are violated, as long as we are not seen as human beings worthy of living and worthy of our country."

• Quote – Carrie Kahn, NPR Correspondent (02:09):

  "There are no public commemorations planned in the Israeli occupied West Bank. Many say with the war in Gaza still raging and the death toll surpassing 65,000, there is little to celebrate."

End of the U.S. Food Insecurity Survey

Timestamps: 02:13–03:14

• Event: The USDA announces it will discontinue its annual food insecurity survey—ongoing since the Clinton administration.
• Reason (per Trump administration statement): Survey deemed “redundant, costly, politicized and extraneous.”
• Expert Concerns:
  • Hunger experts say ending the survey will hinder efforts to address food insecurity.
  • Quote – Crystal Fitzsimons, Food Research and Access Center (02:53):

    "The National Food Insecurity Survey is a critical, reliable data source that shows how many families in America struggle to put food on the table."

• Final Report: Scheduled for October, using 2024 data.

Brazil: Mass Protests Over Potential Bolsonaro Amnesty

Timestamps: 03:14–03:51

• Event: Tens of thousands protest in Brazil against a proposed law that would pardon ex-President Jair Bolsonaro and supporters convicted for attempting a 2022 coup.
• Legislative Action: Brazil’s lower house fast-tracked a right-wing amnesty measure last week.
• Context: International and domestic tensions remain high over accountability for the attempted coup.

World Canals Conference in Buffalo, NY

Timestamps: 03:51–04:26

• Event: Experts gather in Buffalo for the World Canals Conference, marking 200 years of the Erie Canal.
• Focus: Repurposing historic waterways for modern needs—tourism, recreation, ecology, and urban development.
• Quote – John Patterson, Scottish Canals (04:07):

  "We're here in this marvellous waterfront canal city development, and it's filled my head full of wonderful ideas because I think there's been a tremendous bit of work done here to regenerate the area."

• Programming: Talks and tours on preservation, management, accessibility, and more.

Weekend Box Office Update

Timestamps: 04:26–04:59

• Performance: Below-average turnout at theaters, with ticket sales halved compared to last weekend.
  • “Demon Infinity Castle” remains at #1 ($17.3M).
  • “Him” (quarterback drama) at #2 ($13.5M).
  • “The Conjuring: Last Rites” at #3.
  • “Downton Abbey: The Last” and “The Long Walk” tie for fourth.

Notable Quotes

• Elena Moore (00:36):
  “There was a lot of passion and emotion. Folks sported red, white and blue clothing, and I also saw many wearing the same shirt Kirk was wearing when he was shot and killed...”
• Farsan Agabikyan (01:40):
  "It will never happen as long as these rights are violated, as long as we are not seen as human beings worthy of living and worthy of our country."
• Crystal Fitzsimons (02:53):
  “The National Food Insecurity Survey is a critical, reliable data source that shows how many families in America struggle to put food on the table.”
• John Patterson (04:07):
  "We're here in this marvellous waterfront canal city development, and it's filled my head full of wonderful ideas..."

Segment Timestamps At-a-Glance

• Charlie Kirk Memorial: 00:19–00:56
• State of Palestine Recognitions: 00:56–02:13
• USDA Ends Food Insecurity Survey: 02:13–03:14
• Brazil Bolsonaro Amnesty Protests: 03:14–03:51
• World Canals Conference: 03:51–04:26
• Box Office Recap: 04:26–04:59

This episode delivers a concise cross-section of major news—blending U.S. politics, international developments, and lighter cultural touchstones—all within five minutes, in NPR’s clear, fact-driven style.