NPR News: 09-23-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — September 23, 2025, 11PM EDT

Host: Shea Stevens (NPR)
Date: September 24, 2025
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of late-breaking U.S. and world news, with updates on political developments, international diplomacy, tech threats, media industry shifts, court outcomes, and sports.

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Main Segments and Key Discussion Points

1. U.S.-Ukraine Relations at the UN General Assembly [00:15–01:16]

• President Trump’s Optimism on Ukraine Regaining Territory

  • Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
  • He expressed belief that, with European aid, Ukraine could "retake all of its territory... in its original form."
    • Quote: “Russia’s economy is in big trouble and Ukraine could win back its territory, in its original form.” – President Trump (paraphrased by Michelle Kellerman) [00:33]
  • Trump made these remarks via a social media post after the meeting.

• Zelenskyy’s Comments at the UN Security Council

  • Zelenskyy highlighted constructive dialogue with Trump, expecting “America’s actions to push Russia toward peace.”
    • Quote: "Moscow fears America and always pays attention to it." – Volodymyr Zelenskyy [00:51]
  • Zelenskyy criticized Putin for his absence at the UN and for perpetuating "the largest war in Europe since World War II."

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2. Government Shutdown Looms After Canceled White House Meeting [01:16–02:09]

• CANCELED: President Trump Withdraws from Bipartisan Negotiations
  • Trump canceled a scheduled White House meeting with Democratic leaders.
  • Democrats were pressing to lower healthcare costs as part of a government funding package.
  • Trump dismissed their demands on social media as "unserious and ridiculous," saying no meeting could be productive.
  • The House passed an extension of current funding, but it failed in the Senate; without a deal, a government shutdown could start October 1.
    • Quote: “The president chickened out.” – Hakeem Jeffries (reported by Deirdre Walsh) [01:27]
  • Trump indicated he may meet again if Democrats adjust their positions.

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3. ABC Affiliates Drop Jimmy Kimmel Live Amid FCC Pressure [02:09–03:01]

• ABC Show Pulled from Major Broadcasters Over ‘Constructive Dialogue’ Concerns
  • Although ABC reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live, it won’t be aired on Nexstar or Sinclair-owned affiliates.
  • The decision follows FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s pressure, with Nexstar seeking FCC approval for a major merger.
    • Nexstar’s statement: they want assurance the show will foster “respectful, constructive dialogue.” [02:25]
  • Over 20% of ABC affiliates are affected.
  • Viewers can still access the show via Disney’s streaming platforms.

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4. Headlines & Briefs [03:01–03:55]

• Stock Market Recap:
  • Dow Jones down 88 points, NASDAQ down 215 points. [03:01]
• Telecommunications Security Threat:
  • Secret Service dismantled a large network of electronic devices (300+ servers, 100,000 SIM cards), focused around the UN General Assembly in NYC; these posed threats to senior U.S. officials.
• Criminal Conviction:
  • Ryan Ruth convicted of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course last year.
  • After the verdict, Ruth attempted self-harm in court; sentencing set for December.

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5. MLB Introduces Challenge System for Balls and Strikes [03:55–04:47]

• Major Change in Baseball Umpiring Announced
  • Next season, Major League Baseball will allow teams to challenge called balls and strikes after successful trials in minor leagues.
  • Details:
    • Each team starts with two challenges.
    • Challenges retained if successful.
    • Pitchers, catchers, or batters can challenge by tapping their head.
    • 12-camera system instantly determines call via video review.
    • In spring training, catchers had the highest challenge success rate, pitchers the lowest.
    • Quote: “In spring training, there were about four challenges per [game]; just over half were successful. Catchers were the best at challenging. Pitchers were the worst.” – Becky Sullivan [04:10]

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6. Closing Financial Note [04:47–04:54]

• U.S. Stock Futures: Flat in after-hours trading on Wall Street.

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump (via Michelle Kellerman):
  “Russia’s economy is in big trouble and Ukraine could win back its territory, in its original form.” [00:33]

• President Zelenskyy:
  "We expect America's actions to push Russia toward peace. Moscow fears America and always pays attention to it." [00:51]

• Hakeem Jeffries (via Deirdre Walsh):
  "The president chickened out." [01:27]

• Nexstar Statement (via Neta Ulaby):
  "Needed assurance that Jimmy Kimmel Live will foster respectful, constructive dialogue." [02:25]

• MLB Umpiring Changes (Becky Sullivan):
  “In spring training, there were about four challenges per [game]; just over half were successful. Catchers were the best at challenging. Pitchers were the worst.” [04:10]

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Summary

This NPR News Now edition delivers a rapid yet detailed look at major developments on the evening of September 23, 2025. It covers President Trump's evolving stance on Ukraine with European support, the rising risk of a U.S. government shutdown due to partisan gridlock, pivotal media industry shifts surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live, security threats near the UN General Assembly, the conviction of a would-be presidential assassin, and sweeping changes to how baseball games will be officiated next season. The episode is concise, news-rich, and reflects the fast-paced tone of NPR’s headline programming.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump says he now believes that Ukraine can retake all of its territory with the help of Europe. Trump met with Ukraine's president on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, President Trump.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Says he thinks Russia's economy is in big trouble and Ukraine could win back its territory, in his words in its original form. He made the comments in a social media post after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy told the UN Security Council that he and Trump talked about a few.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]

Good ideas and we expect America's actions to push Russia toward peace. Moscow fears America and always pays attention to it.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Zelenskyy blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin for not coming to the United nations and accused the Russian leader of prolonging the largest war in Europe since World War II. MICHELLE KELLER, NPR News, the United Nations.

[Shea Stevens]

President Trump has canceled a White House meeting with top Democratic leaders that was initially planned for Thursday. As NPR's Deirdre Walsh reports, the prospects for a government shutdown are rising.

[Deirdre Walsh]

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said they planned to push for measures to lower health care costs as part of a government funding deal. But in a post on his social media platform, the president called the demands from Democrats unserious and ridiculous and said no meeting could be productive. The House approved an extension of current funding levels until November 21, but the measure failed to advance in the Senate without any negotiations. A potential shutdown could start October 1st. Jeffries says the president chickened out. The president left the door open to a future meeting if Democrats shift their demands. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News Although ABC has.

[Shea Stevens]

Reinstated the Jimmy Kimmel show, as of tonight, the show will not air on stations owned by either Sinclair Broadcast Group or Nexstar Media Group. As NPR's Neta Ulughiby reports, that's more than 20% of ABC affiliates nationwide.

[Neta Ulaby]

Nexstar and Sinclair both operate local TV stations around the country, including dozens of ABC affiliates. Both companies pulled the show Jimmy Kimmel Live from their local stations last week under pressure from FCC Chair Brendan Carr. Nexstar needs FCC approval right now to finalize a merger that would make it the largest owner of local stations in the country. In a statement, the company said it needed assurance that Jimmy Kimmel Live will foster what it called respectful, constructive dialogue. It said in the meantime, fans can watch the show on many Disney owned streaming services. Netta Ulaby, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

On Wall street, stocks closed lower with the dow Jones Industrials falling 88 points. The NASDAQ Composite Index lost 215 points. This is NPR. The Secret Service says it has dismantled a network of electronic devices used to carry out telecommunications threats targeting senior U.S. government officials. The agency says the network includes more than 300 servers, 100,000 SIM cards that could be used in a wide range of telecommunications threats. The devices were reportedly concentrated within 35 miles of the UN General assembly, which is meeting this week. Ryan Ruth has been convicted of trying to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course last year. Ruth tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen after the verdict was read this afternoon, prompting court officers to restrain him. He's scheduled for sentencing in December. Major League Baseball will soon allow players to challenge called balls and strikes. The challenge system has been in testing mode in the minor leagues for several years now and will make its major league debut next spring. More from NPR's Becky Sullivan.

[Becky Sullivan]

Each team will receive two challenges to start the game. If you challenge a call and you are right, you can keep the challenge to use again later. A team's pitcher, catcher or batter must be the one to challenge the call, and they'll do so by tapping the top of their head. Then an automated review system powered by a dozen cameras placed around each ballpark will show on the big screen whether the pitch passed through the strike zone or not. The system has been in testing in the minor leagues for years now. MLB tried it out in spring training and the All Star Game this year. In spring training, there were about four challenges per in all, just over half were successful. Catchers were the best at challenging. Pitchers were the worst. Becky Sullivan, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR News.

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