NPR News: 09-22-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — 09-22-2025 5PM EDT

Overview

This five-minute episode of NPR News Now, hosted live from Washington by Ryland Barton, delivers concise updates on major national and international news stories. The report covers developments in global diplomacy, security tensions between NATO and Russia, technology industry changes regarding TikTok, entertainment news involving Jimmy Kimmel, agricultural disease concerns at the US-Mexico border, political unrest in Moldova, and NASA’s announcement of a historic astronaut class.

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Key News Highlights & Discussion Points

1. French Recognition of Palestinian State [00:24]

• Context: French President Emmanuel Macron announces official recognition of a Palestinian state, deepening Israel’s diplomatic isolation amid continuing conflict in Gaza.
• Global Response: The move is timed with the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
  • Other countries joining the recognition: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia.
• Quote:
  • “French President Emmanuel Macron says France is officially recognizing a state of Palestine, further isolating Israel as it continues to wage war against Hamas in Gaza.” — Ryland Barton [00:24]

2. Tensions at the UN Over Russian Airspace Violations [01:03]

• Estonian Airspace Incident: Emergency UN Security Council meeting convened after three Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace.
  • US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz: Recently confirmed, warns Russia about repeated incursions, referencing both Estonia and a recent drone event in Poland.
• Quote:
  • “The United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory. Russia must urgently stop such dangerous behavior.” — Mike Waltz, US Ambassador to the UN [01:20]
• Implications:
  • Signs of Russian escalation or lack of control over its military assets.
  • Heightened anxieties over potential spillover from the Ukraine conflict.

3. US-Led Takeover of TikTok [01:47]

• Joint Venture Announced: New US-owned entity formed to control TikTok's American operations.
• Key Features:
  • Oracle as major investor and security provider.
  • Use of a copy of TikTok's algorithm, trained on US data.
  • Enhanced control over data storage, updates, and algorithm oversight.
  • Addresses concerns over Chinese government access through ByteDance.
• Legislative Context: Law requiring ByteDance to divest or face shutdown in the US. President Trump temporarily suspended the law while seeking a deal, reportedly with China’s approval.
• Quote:
  • “Oracle will be one of the investors and it’ll act as TikTok’s security provider, overseeing things like how the algorithm works, how the app is updated, and how Americans' data is stored.” — John Ruich [02:00]

4. Jimmy Kimmel’s Show Returns After Suspension [02:43]

• Background: Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show will resume after ABC (owned by Disney) suspended it due to inflammatory comments regarding political reactions to the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk.
• ABC’s Stance:
  • Suspension intended “to avoid further inflammation… at an emotional moment for our country.” [02:43]
  • Decision made after discussions with Kimmel.
• Market Update: Dow up 66 points to 46,381, Nasdaq up 157 to 22,788.

5. New World Screwworm Detected Near Texas Border [03:36]

• Location: Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Mexico—less than 70 miles from Texas, near the busy Laredo trade route.
• Threat: The screwworm is a flesh-eating parasite dangerous to livestock, pets, and wildlife.
• Response:
  • US ports still closed to cattle, bison, and horse imports from Mexico.
  • USDA investing in Texas to breed and disperse sterile flies as biological control.
• Quote:
  • “The flesh-eating larval parasite is considered a threat to livestock, pets and wildlife. US Ports remain closed to imports of cattle, bison, and horses from Mexico.” — Marianne Navarro [03:36]

6. Moldova: Crackdown on Alleged Russia-Backed Riot Plot [04:15]

• Details: Moldovan authorities conducted 250 raids, detaining dozens in a probe into a Russia-backed plan to incite mass riots before elections.
• Political Context: Upcoming legislature election seen as a pivotal choice between EU integration and closer Russian ties.
• Quote:
  • “Moldovans are set to elect a new 101 seat legislature later this week. Many view the election as a choice between EU membership or closer ties with Russia.” — Ryland Barton [04:15]

7. NASA’s New Astronaut Class [04:15]

• Announcement: NASA introduces 10 new astronauts, chosen from over 8,000 applicants.
• Milestone: For the first time, women outnumber men in a NASA astronaut class.
• Looking Forward: The group will spend two years training for possible lunar and Martian missions.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Mike Waltz: “The United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory. Russia must urgently stop such dangerous behavior.” [01:20]
• ABC Statement: “To avoid further inflammation… at an emotional moment for our country.” [02:43]
• Marianne Navarro: “The flesh-eating larval parasite is considered a threat to livestock, pets and wildlife. US Ports remain closed to imports of cattle, bison, and horses from Mexico.” [03:36]
• Ryland Barton: “Many view the election as a choice between EU membership or closer ties with Russia.” [04:15]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Description | Speaker/Reporter | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|-------------| | French recognition of Palestine, UN General Assembly | Ryland Barton | 00:24 | | Russian airspace violations, UN Security Council | Michelle Kellerman | 01:03 | | US action on TikTok, Oracle's security role | John Ruich | 01:47 | | Jimmy Kimmel show returns post-suspension | Ryland Barton | 02:43 | | New World screwworm detection near Texas border | Marianne Navarro | 03:36 | | Moldova raids before election, Russia influence | Ryland Barton | 04:15 | | NASA new astronaut class announced | Ryland Barton | 04:15 |

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This episode provides a brisk, informative roundup of critical developments in world affairs, technology, entertainment, agriculture, and space exploration—delivered in NPR’s measured, factual style.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

Military commanders, intelligence officials, diplomatic power players. They know things you may not about where the world is headed. And we will pull back the curtain on what they're thinking. On sources and methods. NPR's new National Security podcast, Our team will help you understand America's shifting role in the world. Listen to Sources and Methods from npr.

[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. French President Emmanuel Macron says France is officially recognizing a state of Palestine, further isolating Israel as it continues to wage war against Hamas in Gaza. The announcement comes as world leaders gather in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly. The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia and others announce their recognition of Palestinian statehood yesterday. The Trump administration is warning Russia to stop what it calls dangerous behavior. President Trump's ambassador to the UN Issued the warning at a Security Council meeting about Russian incursions into NATO airspace. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, Estonia called.

[Michelle Kellerman]

For the emergency Security Council meeting to discuss an incident last week when three Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace. US Ambassador Mike Waltz points out that this event comes on the heels of a Russian drone incursion into Poland, another NATO ally.

[John Ruich]

The United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory. Russia must urgently stop such dangerous behavior.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Waltz, who was just confirmed to the Post last week, says Russia either wants to escalate and pull more countries into its conflict with Ukraine or it does not have full control over those who operate its fighter planes and drones. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News. The United Nations, A new US Owned.

[Ryland Barton]

Joint venture is being formed to take control of the popular short video app TikTok. American content will come from a copy of the app's famed algorithm that'll be trained using data from the United States. NPR's John Ruich has more.

[John Ruich]

A senior White House official says the software company Oracle will be one of the investors and it'll act as TikTok's security provider, overseeing things like how the algorithm works, how the app is updated and how Americans data is stored. Some 170 million Americans use TikTok, according to the official, and the deal addresses concerns that TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, could help the Chinese government spy on US users or influence them. A law passed last year forces ByteDance to divest or see the app go dark in the US Perhaps. President Trump has issued several executive orders suspending enforcement of the law while his administration tried to broker a deal. He spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping last week and said China is on board. John Ruich, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

Jimmy Kimmel's late night talk show will be back on air on ABC tomorrow night. Kimmel's show was suspended last week after he said President Trump's supporters were scoring political points from the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In a statement, ABC's owner, the Walt Disney Company, says it took the show off the air, quote, to avoid further inflammation. A tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. The company says it had thoughtful conversations with Kimmel before making the decision to return the show to air. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 66 points to 46,381. The Nasdaq closed up 157 points to 22,788. This is NPR. The U.S. department of Agriculture says Mexico has confirmed a new case of New World screwworm in a city less than 70 miles from the Texas Mexico border. Texas Radio's Marianne Navarro has more.

[Marianne Navarro]

The case was identified in Sabinas Hidalgo in the Mexican border state of Nuevo Leon. It's located near a major highway that connects to a heavily trafficked commercial route in laredo, Texas. The U.S. department of Agriculture says this is now the northernmost detection of the screwworm. The flesh eating larval parasite is considered a threat to livestock, pets and wildlife. US Ports remain closed to imports of cattle, bison and horses from Mexico. The agency announced it's investing into Texas facilities to produce and disperse sterile New World screwworm flies. I'm Mariana Barro in San Antonio.

[Ryland Barton]

Authorities in the eastern European nation of Moldova have conducted 250 raids and detained dozens of people as part of an investigation into an alleged Russia backed plan to incite mass riots. The raids targeted more than 100 people. Moldovans are set to elect a new 101 seat legislature later this week. Many view the election as a choice between EU membership or closer ties with Russia. And NASA introduced its newest astronauts today to help explore the moon and possibly Mars. The group of 10 scientists, engineers and test pilots were chosen from more than 8,000 applicants. There were more women than men in a NASA astronaut class for the first time. The group will undergo two years of training before becoming eligible for space for space flight. From Washington, this is NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.