NPR News: 09-23-2025 1AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – September 23, 2025, 1AM EDT

Host: Shea Stevens
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: Rapid-fire update on major news events in the United States and around the world, focused on political developments, health guidance, and international affairs.

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of national and international headlines, including: controversial health guidance from President Trump on acetaminophen, a looming US government shutdown, the domestic terrorism designation of ANTIFA, the release of a prominent Egyptian activist, and developments in US-Russia nuclear arms policy.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump's Health Warning on Acetaminophen

[00:19]

• President Trump cautions pregnant women and infants against using acetaminophen (Tylenol), linking it to unproven autism claims.

  • Quote: “President Trump says pregnant women and infants should not consume the painkiller acetaminophen... citing unproven claims of a link between use of the drug during pregnancy and autism.” – Shea Stevens [00:19]

• The FDA will update the label of an existing drug to reflect possible benefits for autism symptoms.

  • Quote: “This gives hope to the many parents with autistic children that it may be possible to improve their lives. That's one of the things that I'm very, very happy about.” – FDA Representative [00:37]

• Tylenol maker Ken View maintains the drug is safe for use during pregnancy, highlighting a lack of scientific evidence for Trump’s claims.

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2. Looming Government Shutdown and Bipartisan Talks

[00:56–02:09]

• Top congressional Democrats, including Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, seek a meeting with President Trump to avert a government shutdown on October 1.

  • Quote: “They accused President Trump of allowing a government shutdown without bipartisan negotiations.” – Claudia Grisales [01:22]

• Trump shows skepticism about the effectiveness of such talks:

  • Quote: “Trump told reporters he would, quote, love to meet with them, but did not think it would have any impact.” – Claudia Grisales [01:38]

• Congressional Republicans failed to pass a stopgap funding bill; Democrats demand action on health care costs before helping pass any spending measure.

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3. ANTIFA Designated as a Domestic Terrorist Organization

[02:09–03:10]

• Trump signs executive order designating ANTIFA as a domestic terrorist group and directs investigation of related individuals and entities.

  • Quote: “President Trump has signed an executive order that designates ANTIFA as a domestic terrorist organization.” – Shea Stevens [02:09]

• Analysis from Jason Blazakis, security expert:

  • Legal obstacles remain, as US law lacks precedent for domestic terrorist group designations; foreign terrorist designations operate under different legal authorities.
  • Quote: “The US Government has a definition of domestic terrorism, but does not have the legal authorities to designate entire organizations as domestic terrorist groups.” – Jason Blazakis [02:45]

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4. Human Rights and Prisoner Release in Egypt

[03:10–04:16]

• Egypt’s president pardons seven people, including well-known activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who was imprisoned during and after the 2011 Arab Spring.

  • Quote: “He was added to a terrorism list and was serving a five year prison sentence on charges of spreading false news for posting on Facebook about torture in Egyptian jails.” – Ariel Batrawi [03:47]

• Abdel Fattah’s story highlights years of high-profile activism, family campaigns for his release, and his dual British citizenship.

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5. Russia Offers Extension on New START Treaty

[04:16–04:50]

• Russia proposes a one-year extension of its nuclear arms treaty (New START) after its 2026 expiration.
  • Quote: “Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is willing to honor the New START treaty for a year after the treaty expires...” – Shea Stevens [04:16]
  • Putin frames the extension as ensuring predictability and restraint in nuclear arms.

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Notable Quotes

• Shea Stevens: “President Trump says pregnant women and infants should not consume the painkiller acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Trump is citing unproven claims...”
• FDA Representative: “This gives hope to the many parents with autistic children that it may be possible to improve their lives.”
• Claudia Grisales: “They accused President Trump of allowing a government shutdown without bipartisan negotiations.”
• Jason Blazakis: “The US Government has a definition of domestic terrorism, but does not have the legal authorities to designate entire organizations as domestic terrorist groups.”
• Ariel Batrawi: “He was added to a terrorism list and was serving a five year prison sentence on charges of spreading false news for posting on Facebook about torture in Egyptian jails.”

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Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 00:19 | President Trump's warning on acetaminophen | | 00:37 | FDA on drug label update, hopes for autism treatment | | 00:56 | Tylenol maker response; gov’t shutdown preview | | 01:22 | Bipartisan talks to avert a government shutdown | | 02:09 | ANTIFA designated as domestic terrorist group | | 02:45 | Legal analysis on domestic terrorism designation | | 03:10 | Wall Street update, Egypt activist release | | 03:30 | Alaa Abdel Fattah's case summary | | 04:16 | Russia proposes New START treaty extension |

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Conclusion

This fast-paced episode provides urgent updates on significant policy moves and international stories with an emphasis on the intersection of politics, law, health, and human rights. It captures complex stories in a concise manner, offering context and expert perspectives that help listeners catch up on essential news in just a few minutes.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump says pregnant women and infants should not consume the painkiller acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Trump is citing unproven claims of a link between use of the drug during pregnancy and autism.

[FDA Representative]

The FDA will be updating the label of an existing drug to reflect potential benefits in reducing some autism symptoms. Symptoms. This gives hope to the many parents with autistic children that it may be possible to improve their lives. That's one of the things that I'm very, very happy about.

[NPR News Anchor Shea Stevens]

In a statement, Tylenol maker Ken View says the drug is safe to use during pregnancy. Tylenol is just one of hundreds of products on the market currently containing acetaminophen. Top congressional Democrats will meet with President Trump on Thursday, according to a source who is not authorized to speak on the Record. NPR's Claudia Grisales reports that the meeting is a last ditch bipartisan effort to avoid a government shutdown on October 1.

[NPR Correspondent Claudia Grisales]

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a public letter over the weekend demanding the meeting. They accused President Trump of allowing a government shutdown without bipartisan negotiations. Trump told reporters he would, quote, love to meet with them, but did not think it would have any impact. Republicans with tight majorities in both chambers of Congress failed to pass a partisan stopgap bill on their own. So GOP leaders sent members home for the current week long recess, raising the specter of a government shutdown. Democrats said they won't help Republicans without addressing rising health care costs after major GOP led spending cuts. Claudia Goes NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor Shea Stevens]

President Trump has signed an executive order that designates ANTIFA as a domestic terrorist organization. NPR's Odette Youssef reports that Trump is directing his administration to investigate individuals and groups tied to antifa.

[NPR Correspondent Odette Youssef]

Antifa is shorthand for anti fascist. It is described as a decentralized far left movement or ideology. Jason Blazakis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies says the domestic terrorist designation represents a first and that it may run into trouble first. ANTIFA is not a structured group and.

[Jason Blazakis]

The US Government has a definition of domestic terrorism, but does not have the legal authorities to designate entire organizations as domestic terrorist groups.

[NPR Correspondent Odette Youssef]

Under US Law, groups with foreign operations may be formally sanctioned as terrorist organizations. Blizakis said no such process exists for purely domestic groups because of the risk of infringing on First Amendment freedoms. Odette Youssef, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor Shea Stevens]

Wall street stocks closed higher. The Dow Jones Industrials gained 66 points. This is NPR. A prominent Egyptian British activist imprisoned during the Arab spring protests nearly 12 years ago has been pardoned and released. NPR's Ayapatrali reports on what the case represents.

[NPR Correspondent Ariel Batrawi]

State media reported that Egypt's president has issued pardons for seven people, among them Ala Abdel Fattah. The activist was first arrested along with thousands of others in years of turmoil following Egypt's 2011 uprising. He was just 29 then. Abdel Fattah, known for his black curly hair, beard and the glasses he often wears, is now 43 and has a son. He was added to a terrorism list and was serving a five year prison sentence on charges of spreading false news for posting on Facebook about torture in Egyptian jails. He'd already spent two years in pre trial detention and had served five years on another charge of protesting without a permit. Abdel Fattah gained British citizenship while in jail through his mother, Leila Suef, a well known women's rights activist who went on hunger strikes for his release. Ariel Batrawi, NPR News, Dubai.

[NPR News Anchor Shea Stevens]

Russia is offering a one year extension of its nuclear arms treaty with the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is willing to honor the New START treaty for a year after the treaty expires in February. Under the deal signed in 2010, both nations agreed to limit their arsenal of strategic nuclear warheads and intercontinental ballistic missile launchers and heavy bombers. Putin says keeping the treaty in force a while longer will ensure an acceptable level of predictability and restraint. US Futures are flat and after hours trading on Wall Street. On Asia Pacific markets, shares are mixed. This is NPR News.

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