NPR News: 09-22-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – September 22, 2025, 4PM EDT

Overview

This five-minute newscast, hosted by Lakshmi Singh, delivers key headlines and developments in the U.S. and globally as of the late afternoon. Today's segment covers the Trump administration's warning on acetaminophen use during pregnancy, the return of Jimmy Kimmel to late night, the future of Turning Point USA after Charlie Kirk's death, heightened synagogue security for the Jewish High Holidays, a Supreme Court case on presidential authority, global gathering at the United Nations, and climate threats facing Tangier Island, Virginia.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Acetaminophen During Pregnancy and Autism Risk

• President Trump's statement: Expected announcement linking acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy to higher autism risk.
  • (00:18) Lakshmi Singh: “President Trump's expected to announce this afternoon that pregnant women who take acetaminophen...run a higher risk their babies will develop autism spectrum disorder.”
• Scientific consensus questioned:
  • (00:38) Liz Eslie White, Wall Street Journal): “I would not say there is scientific consensus. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists...still recommend Tylenol acetaminophen to treat fever during pregnancy...it's a real pickle for pregnant women, [and] the doctors who treat them.”

2. Jimmy Kimmel's Return After Suspension

• Disney reinstates Kimmel: Announced following backlash to ABC's suspension after his remarks perceived as critical of MAGA rhetoric, post Charlie Kirk's assassination.
  • (01:04) Lakshmi Singh: “Disney says it's putting Jimmy Kimmel back on the air tomorrow night. The announcement comes hours after more than 400...signed an open letter...to condemn Disney owned ABC's decision to suspend [him]...”
• Context: This development comes in the wake of national debate following conservative activist Charlie Kirk's death.

3. The Future of Turning Point USA After Charlie Kirk

• Leadership transition: Kirk's widow, Erica Kirk, named CEO.
  • (02:03) Andrew Colvitt, TPUSA spokesperson: “Last week, Erica Kirk, his widow, became the new CEO of the organization. She's pledged to continue turning points on campus events and keep airing Kirk's popular podcast...”
• Maintaining Kirk’s legacy:
  • (01:53, Unnamed Right-Wing Leader): “The right way to analyze this situation...is to say what can I do? And I will tell you, it's a total refrain in the office right now. It's like, what would Charlie have wanted in this moment?”

4. Security Heightened for Jewish High Holidays

• Rising Antisemitism: Focus on recent attacks and increased threats surrounding Rosh Hashanah.
  • (02:31) Jason DeRose: “From attacks on Jews in Boulder, Colorado...to the killings outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. anti Semitic Acts of violence have been on the rise.”
• Enhanced security protocols:
  • (02:50) Julie Platt, Jewish Federation of North America: “What we had once done in an abundance of caution has become a deadly serious effort to ensure that no hater who wants to cause harm will succeed in turning a holiday into a tragedy.”

5. Supreme Court and the FTC

• Presidential authority at stake: The Supreme Court permits President Trump to immediately dismiss Rebecca Slaughter (Democrat, FTC) as it reviews executive power over agency heads.
  • (03:13) Lakshmi Singh: “The U.S. supreme Court is allowing President Trump to fire for now, Rebecca Slaughter...while it hears arguments...in December. At issue is whether the president has the authority to dismiss the heads of those agencies that are protected by Congress.”

6. Global and Environmental News

• UN General Assembly: Heightened security as world leaders gather.
  • (03:34) Lakshmi Singh: “Heavy security surrounds United nations headquarters in New York. Leaders...preparing to attend the 80th UN General Assembly High level Week...”
• Tangier Island’s Climate Crisis:
  • Ongoing loss of land threatens community survival.
  • (04:05) Julie Deppenbrock: “Tangier island sits just three feet above sea level. Every year, the waters rise by at least a quarter of an inch.”
  • Community voice:
    • (04:27) James Eskridge, Mayor of Tangier: “It's a lot of money for us, but to the government, it's just pocket change. When I talk about saving Tangier, I'm not just talking about a small piece of land. I'm talking about a culture, a way of life.”

7. Closing Market Update

• Dow Jones: Closed up 66 points.
  • (04:51) Lakshmi Singh: “The Dow's closed up 66 points. It's NPR News.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On scientific consensus and pregnancy health:
  (00:38) Liz Eslie White:
  “I would not say that there is scientific consensus...they still recommend Tylenol acetaminophen to treat fever during pregnancy because a risk that you run up against is that fever during pregnancy can also harm develop infants.”

• On leadership after tragedy:
  (01:53) Unnamed Right-Wing Leader (on Charlie Kirk's legacy):
  “It's a total refrain in the office right now. It's like, what would Charlie have wanted in this moment?”

• On evolving security needs:
  (02:50) Julie Platt:
  “What we had once done in an abundance of caution has become a deadly serious effort to ensure that no hater who wants to cause harm will succeed in turning a holiday into a tragedy.”

• On preserving island culture:
  (04:27) James Eskridge, Mayor of Tangier Island:
  “When I talk about saving Tangier, I'm not just talking about a small piece of land. I'm talking about a culture, a way of life.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Acetaminophen & Autism Warning: 00:18–01:04
• Jimmy Kimmel Suspension & Return: 01:04–01:38
• Turning Point USA Future Post-Kirk: 01:38–02:23
• Jewish High Holidays Security: 02:23–03:13
• Supreme Court & FTC Case: 03:13–03:34
• UN General Assembly Security: 03:34–04:05
• Tangier Island Climate Threat: 04:05–04:51
• Dow Jones Update: 04:51–04:56

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This episode offers concise updates on evolving political, cultural, and environmental issues in the U.S. and beyond, while providing the voices of journalists and individuals directly impacted by major events.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump's expected to announce this afternoon that pregnant women who take acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, run a higher risk their babies will develop autism spectrum disorder. Wall Street Journal reporter Liz Eslie White says the science behind the administration's claim remains inconclusive.

[Liz Eslie White]

I would not say that there is scientific consensus. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which is the professional association for doctors who take care of pregnant women, they still recommend Tylenol acetaminophen to treat fever during pregnancy because a risk that you run up against is that fever during pregnancy can also harm develop infants. And so it's a real pickle for pregnant women, the doctors who treat them.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Liz eslie white on NPR's Here and Now Disney says it's putting Jimmy Kimmel back on the air tomorrow night. The announcement comes hours after more than 400 of the biggest names in entertainment signed an open letter from the ACLU to condemn Disney owned ABC's decision to suspend the late night host over remarks in which he appeared to criticize MAGA rhetoric against liberal ideology in the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination nearly two weeks ago. A day after Kirk's memorial service in Arizona, NPR's Lena Moore reports on what may be next for the Turning Point USA movement Kirk co founded.

[Andrew Colvitt]

Charlie Kirk was part political activist, part media personality. It's a job no single person can take over, says Turning Point spokesman Andrew Colvitt.

[Unnamed Right-Wing Leader]

I think that would be the worst way to analyze this situation.

[Andrew Colvitt]

So he says Kirk's team is stepping up.

[Unnamed Right-Wing Leader]

The right way to analyze this situation is is to say what can I do? And I will tell you, it's a total refrain in the office right now. It's like, what would Charlie have wanted in this moment?

[Andrew Colvitt]

Last week, Erica Kirk, his widow, became the new CEO of the organization. She's pledged to continue turning points on campus events and keep airing Kirk's popular podcast, which since his death has been hosted by a slew of prominent right wing leaders along with Vice President J.D. vance. Elena Moore, NPR News, Phoenix, Arizona.

[Lakshmi Singh]

As the Jewish high holidays begin this evening with Rosh Hashanah, Synagogues in the U.S. are paying special attention to security. NPR's Jason Dubrose reports.

[Jason DeRose]

From attacks on Jews in Boulder, Colorado, commemorating hostages in Gaza to the killings outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. anti Semitic Acts of violence have been on the rise. At a recent security briefing on Capitol Hill, the Jewish Federation of North America's Julie Platt said the high holy days have many synagogues acutely focusing on what.

[Julie Platt]

We had once done in an abundance of caution has become a deadly serious effort to ensure that no hater who wants to cause harm will succeed in turning a holiday into a tragedy.

[Jason DeRose]

A number of US Cities are increasing police patrols around synagogues, many of which also have private security measures in place. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is NPR. The U.S. supreme Court is allowing President Trump to fire for now, Rebecca Slaughter, a Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission, while it hears arguments in the case in December. At issue is whether the president has the authority to dismiss the heads of those agencies that are protected by Congress. Heavy security surrounds United nations headquarters in New York. Leaders from around the world are preparing to attend the 80th UN General Assembly High level Week, which starts tomorrow. Tangier Island, Virginia, is one of the last inhabited islands in the Chesapeake Bay, and it's under threat from climate change. Since 1850, the island has lost two thirds of its land mass to erosion and sea level rise. NPR's Julie Deppenbrock reports. Scientists predict the island could be underwater before the next century.

[Julie Deppenbrock]

Tangier island sits just three feet above sea level. Every year, the waters rise by at least a quarter of an inch. That's that's enough to increase flooding and turn areas that were once solid ground into wetlands. Experts predict it would cost between 250 and 350 million to fully protect and restore the island. Here's the mayor of Tangier, James Eskridge.

[James Eskridge]

It's a lot of money for us, but to the government, it's just pocket change. When I talk about saving Tangier, I'm not just talking about a small piece of land. I'm talking about a culture, a way of life.

[Julie Deppenbrock]

Residents see the construction of seawalls and the use of dredged material as potential strategies to protect against erosion, sea level rise and storms. Julie Deppenbrock, NPR News, Tangier Island, Virginia.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow's closed up 66 points. It's NPR News.

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