NPR News: 09-23-2025 4AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 23, 2025, 4AM EDT

Host: Shea Stevens
Podcast: NPR News Now
Duration: 5 minutes
Original Air Date: September 23, 2025

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Episode Overview

This short episode delivers the top U.S. and international news headlines, focusing on political developments, international tensions, public health, business updates, and late-night TV news. The concise reports include direct statements from officials and correspondents, reflecting NPR’s straightforward news style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Trump Urges Against Acetaminophen Use by Pregnant Women

[00:15–00:50]

• President Trump's Statement
  • President Trump publicly advises pregnant women and infants not to use acetaminophen (Tylenol), citing unproven claims linking the drug’s use during pregnancy to higher autism risk.
  • Quote:

    "President Trump says pregnant women and infants should not use acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Trump cites unproven claims of a link between use of the drug during pregnancy and autism."
    — Shea Stevens [00:15]

• FDA Response & Label Update
  • The FDA announces plans to update labeling on an existing drug, suggesting potential benefits for reducing 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 [00:31]

• Industry Response
  • Tylenol’s maker, Ken Bu, maintains the drug is safe to use during pregnancy, countering Trump's claims.

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2. Federal Reserve Interest Rate Debate

[00:50–01:53]

• Dissent Within the Fed
  • Federal Reserve Board Governor Stephen Myron opposed last week’s quarter-point rate cut, favoring a more aggressive half-point cut.
  • He advocates for further reductions, noting he’ll continue his stance despite opposition from fellow Board members.
  • Quote:

    "I'm not going to vote for something I don't believe in just for the sake of creating an illusion of consensus where there is none."
    — Stephen Myron [01:35]

  • Myron, on leave as a White House economist, shares President Trump’s push for lower interest rates.
• Reporter Context
  • Scott Horsley provides context on how Myron’s dissent highlights divisions within the Fed.
  • Quote:

    "He'll keep agitating for big rate cuts even if none of his colleagues goes along."
    — Scott Horsley [01:12]

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3. Federal Judge Orders Funding Restored to UCLA

[01:53–02:24]

• A federal judge in California rules the Trump administration violated protocol by cutting federal grant funding to UCLA, ordering restoration of funds after legal review.

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4. U.S. Warns Russia Over NATO Airspace Incursions

[02:24–03:08]

• Security Council Emergency Meeting
  • Estonia triggers a UN Security Council meeting following Russian military aircraft violating Estonian and Polish airspace.
• U.S. Ambassador’s Strong Warning
  • U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz warns of firm defense of NATO territory.
  • Quote:

    "The United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory. Russia must urgently stop such dangerous behavior."
    — Mike Waltz [02:41]

• Wider Context
  • Waltz accuses Russia of risking escalation in Ukraine conflict or lacking control over its military operations.

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5. Business and Late-Night Television

[03:08–03:46]

• Markets Brief
  • U.S. futures described as "flat" in premarket Wall Street trading.
• Jimmy Kimmel’s Show Suspension
  • Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show returns after a suspension for comments about the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s murder.
  • Sinclair Broadcasting, however, will preempt it with its own programming across many ABC affiliates.
  • Quote:

    "The decision to put the show back on the air followed days of thoughtful discussions with Kimmel."
    — Shea Stevens [03:24]

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6. Middle East – Israeli Drone Strike in Lebanon

[03:46–04:31]

• Incident Details
  • Israeli drone strike in Bint Jubail, southern Lebanon, killed five people, including two toddler twins, their sister, and father.
  • The children's mother and older sister were injured.
  • Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemns attack as a “massacre” and urges the UN to halt what he describes as routine Israeli ceasefire violations.
  • Israel claims the intended target was a Hezbollah member but acknowledges civilian deaths.
  • Quote:

    "The attack killed two toddler twins, a sister and their father. Relatives said the children's mother and older sister were injured... Israel said the target was a Hezbollah member and acknowledged that several uninvolved civilians were also killed."
    — Gina Raff [04:05]

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7. Aviation Disruption in Scandinavia

[04:31–04:54]

• Flights suspended at Copenhagen airport due to unauthorized drone activity.
• Similar drone incidents noted at Oslo airport, affecting operations.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stephen Myron on Fed Dissent:

  "I'm not going to vote for something I don't believe in just for the sake of creating an illusion of consensus where there is none." — [01:35]

• Mike Waltz on NATO Defense:

  "The United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory. Russia must urgently stop such dangerous behavior." — [02:41]

• Gina Raff on Civilian Casualties in Lebanon:

  "The attack killed two toddler twins, a sister and their father." — [04:05]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Trump’s Acetaminophen Remarks: [00:15–00:50]
• Fed Rate Debate & Myron's Dissent: [00:50–01:53]
• UCLA Funding Court Order: [01:53–02:24]
• UN Security Council, Russia Airspace: [02:24–03:08]
• Jimmy Kimmel Suspension Update: [03:08–03:46]
• Israeli Drone Strike in Lebanon: [03:46–04:31]
• Drone-Related Flight Disruptions in Scandinavia: [04:31–04:54]

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This episode delivers a rapid, focused rundown of significant news, featuring a blend of U.S. political developments, financial policy debate, heightened international tensions, and human interest stories from both domestic and global arenas.

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 use acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Trump cites unproven claims of a link between use of the drug during pregnancy and 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 Bu says the drug is safe to use during pregnancy. Tylenol is just one of hundreds of products on the market containing a single acetaminophen. Federal Reserve Board Governor Stephen Myron says he thinks that interest rates could be a lot lower without any risk of overheating the economy. But NPR Scott Horsley reports that he has yet to convince his colleagues at the central bank.

[Federal Reserve Board Governor Stephen Myron]

When the Federal Reserve decided to lower its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point last week, Stephen Myron cast the lone dissenting vote. He favored a bigger half point rate cut. He also signaled that he believes rates should end the year more than a full percentage point lower than they are now. Myron told the economic Club in New York he'll keep agitating for big rate cuts even if none of his colleagues goes along.

I'm not going to vote for something I don't believe in just for the sake of creating an illusion of consensus where there is none.

Myron is on leave from his job as a White House economist. President Trump, who appointed Myron to the Fed board, has also been pushing for much lower interest rates. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[NPR News Anchor Shea Stevens]

A federal judge in California has ordered the Trump administration to restore research funding to the University of California, Los Angeles. Judge Rita Lynn says the administration violated a law requiring that specific steps be taken before federal grant funding is cut. The Trump administration is warning Russia to stop what it calls dangerous behavior. The U.S. ambassador to the United nations issued the warning at a Security Council meeting on Russian incursions into NATO airspace. More from NPR's Michelle Kellerman.

[NPR Correspondent Michelle Kellerman]

Estonia called for the emergency Security Council meeting to discuss an incident last week when three Russian fighter jets violated eston in airspace. U.S. ambassador Mike Waltz points out that this event comes on the heels of a Russian drone incursion into Poland, another NATO ally.

[U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz]

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

[NPR Correspondent 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 or it does not have full control over those who operate its fighter planes and drones. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the United Nations.

[NPR News Anchor Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are flat in premarket trading on Wall Street. This is npr. Jimmy Kimmel's late night show resumes tonight after a six day suspension over the comedian's remarks about the suspect in the murder of Charlie Kirk. But Maryland based Sinclair Broadcasting says it will preempt the show with news programming on dozens of ABC affiliates it owns across the ABC says the decision to put the show back on the air followed days of thoughtful discussions with Kimmel. An Israeli drone strike killed five people in south Lebanon Monday, including children. NPR's Gina Raff has details.

[NPR Correspondent Gina Raff]

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the attack a massacre. Speaking in New York, he called on the UN to stop Israel's repeated violations of a ceasefire with Lebanon. Lebanese state media said the Israeli drone hit a family in a car and a man riding a motorcycle cycle in the southern town of Bint Jubail on Sunday. The attack killed two toddler twins, a sister and their father. Relatives said the children's mother and older sister were injured. Israel said the target was a Hezbollah member and acknowledged that several uninvolved civilians were also killed. Israel has been launching regular attacks in south Lebanon despite last year's ceasefire. Jay Niraf, NPR News, Beirut.

[NPR News Anchor Shea Stevens]

Flights were briefly suspended at Copenhagen airport Monday. Someone flew as many as three large drones in the area. A similar incident at the airport in Oslo forced officials to move air traffic to a single Runway, according to Norwegian broadcaster nrk. You're listening to NPR News.

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