NPR News Now – September 23, 2025, 12AM EDT

Overview

In this concise five-minute newscast, NPR covers high-impact stories across health, government, media, security, and weather. Major topics include the Trump administration’s claims about acetaminophen and autism, a Supreme Court order affecting the Federal Trade Commission, the entertainment industry’s response to Jimmy Kimmel's show suspension, the designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist group, and the forecast for Hurricane Gabrielle.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Administration Links Acetaminophen to Autism

• Summary: The Trump administration attributes increased autism cases to acetaminophen use, despite skepticism from medical communities.

• NIH Response: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards over $50 million in grants to study autism’s root causes, emphasizing new openness to controversial questions.

• Scientific Evidence: A massive Swedish study encompassing over 2 million children found no link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism.

  Notable Quotes:

  • [00:38] "The 13 new grants will help scientists consider the effect of environmental and medical factors, everything from nutrition to pollutants."
    — Jay Bhattacharya, NIH Director (as reported by Nell Greenfield Boyce)
  • [00:49] "For too long, it's been taboo to ask some questions for fear the scientific work might reveal a politically incorrect answer."
    — Jay Bhattacharya
  • [00:56] "...the NIH did, however, one very large study looking at acetaminophen use in pregnancy and the risk of autism. It analyzed data from more than 2 million children in Sweden and found no connection."
    — Nell Greenfield Boyce

2. Supreme Court Allows Firing of Democratic FTC Member

• Summary: The Supreme Court issues an emergency order allowing President Trump to fire the last remaining Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission, Rebecca Slaughter.

• Implications: This action signals a likely overturning of longstanding limits on presidential authority over bipartisan regulatory agencies.

• Dissent: Justice Elena Kagan warns this move risks shifting government power from Congress to the executive branch.

  Notable Quotes:

  • [01:28] "...the court seems all but certain to overturn a nearly century old precedent that barred presidents from firing members of bipartisan regulatory agencies except for bad conduct."
    — Nina Totenberg
  • [01:56] "The emergency docket should not be used as it was here to transfer government authority from Congress to the president and thus to reshape the nation's separation of powers."
    — Justice Elena Kagan (paraphrased by Nina Totenberg)

3. Entertainment Industry Backs Jimmy Kimmel After Suspension

• Summary: ABC suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live" after Kimmel made comments about a suspect in the Charlie Kirk murder case.

• Industry Response: Over 400 entertainers, including major Disney collaborators, sign an open letter condemning Disney’s decision.

• Letter’s Message: Defends free speech and warns against silencing dissenting voices.

  Notable Quotes:

  • [02:36] "All of them have worked with Disney. Well, that letter was issued in collaboration with the ACLU, and it said that regardless of their political affiliation or whether they engage in politics or not, quote, 'we all love our country. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power, because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.'"
    — Mandalit del Barco

4. U.S. Designates Antifa a Domestic Terrorist Organization

• Summary: President Trump signs an executive order categorizing antifascist groups (collectively ANTIFA) as domestic terrorists, citing organizing political violence.
• Directives: The administration is tasked to investigate and dismantle individuals and groups linked to Antifa ideology.
• Context: A prior Congressional Research Service report noted that Antifa literature encouraged exposing white supremacist groups.

5. Hurricane Gabrielle’s Threat to Atlantic Coasts

• Summary: Category 4 Hurricane Gabrielle causes dangerous swells along Bermuda and the U.S. Mid-Atlantic, but poses no direct land threat for now.

• Risks: Life-threatening surf and rip currents expected from North Carolina to Canada’s Atlantic coast; Azores may be at risk later in the week.

  Notable Quotes:

  • [04:05] "Forecasters at the National Hurricane center in Miami say Hurricane Gabrielle does not pose a direct threat to land. However, the latest advisory warns that Gabrielle is likely to kick up life threatening surf and rip currents..."
    — Giles Snyder

6. Markets Update

• Summary: U.S. futures are flat after hours; Asia Pacific markets are mixed.
  (No memorable quotes in this segment.)

Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• [00:38] NIH’s new approach to researching environmental and medical impacts on autism.
• [01:28] Supreme Court's significant shift in regulatory agency oversight.
• [02:36] Entertainers’ joint defense of free expression.
• [04:05] Detailed hurricane advisory urging caution along the Atlantic seaboard.

Tone and Language

The episode maintains NPR’s trademark neutral, fact-based reporting style, mixing concise summaries with key expert perspectives and direct quotes. The language is clear and precise, offering essential background without editorializing.

This summary distills the episode’s key news items, providing a clear guide for listeners to understand the most consequential events and discussions from this NPR News Now segment.