NPR News: 09-23-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now: 09-23-2025 4PM EDT

Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Lakshmi Singh
Length: ~5 minutes
Format: Rapid-fire headlines and major developments in national and world news

---

Episode Overview

This episode delivers succinct updates on pivotal legal, political, cultural, health, and sports developments in the US and globally. Highlights include a verdict in a high-profile assassination plot, remarks from President Trump at the UN, Jimmy Kimmel’s TV return amid controversy, a new World Health Organization (WHO) report on high blood pressure, and the introduction of robot umpires in Major League Baseball.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ryan Ruth Found Guilty of Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

• [00:18 – 00:57]

  • Details: Ryan Ruth was convicted by a federal Florida jury for attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at his golf course. The incident was the second attempted attack on Trump last year during his campaign.
  • Charges: Attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer (a Secret Service agent fired on Ruth), and three additional counts.
  • Courtroom Incident: After hearing the verdict, Ruth attempted to stab himself with a pen but was subdued by marshals.

  “The jury deliberated just two hours before returning their verdict. Ruth, they said, is guilty of attempted assassination and four other counts, including assaulting a federal officer, the Secret Service agent who spotted and fired on him at his hiding place at Trump’s golf course.”
  — Greg Allen ([00:39])

• Trump’s Response

  • President Trump denounced the violence and publicly congratulated the Justice Department on Ruth’s prosecution while speaking to reporters at the UN.

---

2. President Trump’s Speech at the United Nations General Assembly

• [00:57 – 02:12]

  • Theme: Trump’s address was marked by assertive criticism of the United Nations, particularly regarding efficiency, corruption, and policies on migration.
  • Metaphors: Trump referenced a “faulty teleprompter” and a “broken escalator” to illustrate systemic problems.

  “It has such tremendous, tremendous potential, but it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential.”
  — Donald Trump ([01:38])

  • Migration Critique: Trump accused the UN of enabling illegal migration into the US and funding support for it, linking these actions to what he called the “ruin” of Western countries due to political correctness.

  “The United Nations is funding an assault on Western countries and their borders.”
  — Donald Trump ([01:48])

  • Insight: Franco Ordonez notes Trump’s diplomatic isolation at the UN.

---

3. Jimmy Kimmel Live Controversy and Return

• [02:12 – 03:13]

  • Background: Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was suspended after his on-air remarks regarding the killing of Charlie Kirk, facing backlash from major broadcast groups.
  • Current Status: Over 20% of ABC affiliates (mainly those owned by Nexstar and Sinclair) will not air his return episode; alternative programming will be shown in these markets.
  • Fan Reaction: Supporters gathered at the Hollywood Boulevard studio welcomed his return.

  “It shows you what we can all do when we all unify on one accord immediately like this. This happened in less than a week.”
  — Samurai Barnett, a Kimmel fan ([02:56])

  • Anticipation: Kimmel is expected to give a conciliatory statement on the returning episode.

---

4. WHO Report: Global High Blood Pressure Crisis

• [03:13 – 04:10]

  • Statistics: 1.3 billion people globally have uncontrolled high blood pressure, leading to more than 10 million deaths annually—linked to heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.
  • Treatment Gap: Many countries are failing to provide sufficient care and access to medication.
  • Economic Impact: An estimated $3.7 trillion cost in health effects and deaths since 2011.

  “So the human and economic cost is just immense.”
  — Leanne Riley, World Health Organization ([03:45])

---

5. Robot Umpires Approved for Major League Baseball

• [04:10 – 04:48]
  • Implementation: Starting next season, MLB will employ automated systems to review disputed ball and strike calls—not as a full replacement, but teams may challenge umpire calls (pitchers, catchers, batters); each team gets two challenges per game (plus more for extra innings).
  • Human Umpires: Remain at the plate; the system only activates upon challenge.

---

6. Markets Wrap

• [04:48 – 04:57]
  • Summary: The Dow Index closed the day down by 88 points.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Upon hearing the verdict, Ruth tried to stab himself with a pen, but federal marshals quickly subdued him.”
  — Greg Allen ([00:39])

• “Trump accused the UN of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to support illegal migration into the US, including providing shelter and transportation. And he blamed political correctness on the issue for what he said was ruining their countries.”
  — Franco Ordonez ([01:54])

• “In many of those countries, the majority of people aren’t currently able to access adequate treatment, the report found... the WHO estimates hypertension, health effects and deaths have cost these countries an estimated $3.7 trillion since 2011.”
  — Jonathan Lambert ([03:50])

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:18] Ryan Ruth guilty verdict and courtroom events
• [00:57] Trump’s reaction and UN General Assembly speech
• [02:12] Jimmy Kimmel Live suspension update
• [03:13] WHO hypertension report
• [04:10] MLB robot umpires announcement
• [04:48] US stock market close

---

Final Thoughts

This episode of NPR News Now delivers fast-paced, clear, and direct reporting on high-impact developments across law, politics, entertainment, health, and sports, spotlighting the breadth and immediacy of news that NPR brings to its listeners.

Transcript

[Carvana/Ritual Advertiser]

This message comes from Carvana. Selling your car shouldn't take all day. With Carvana, it doesn't get a great offer in no time. Then choose to drop off or pick up and get paid on the spot. Sell your car today on Carvana.com pickup fees may apply.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. A federal jury in Florida finds Ryan Ruth guilty of plotting to assassinate Donald Trump. Yet the attempt to shoot Trump at one of his golf courses was the second attack on Trump last year during his presidential campaign. NPR's Greg Allen is at the courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida, with more on today's verdict.

[Greg Allen]

The jury deliberated just two hours before returning their verdict. Ruth, they said, is guilty of attempted assassination and four other counts, including assaulting a federal officer, the Secret Service agent who spotted and fired on him at his hiding place at Trump's golf course. Upon hearing the verdict, Ruth tried to stab himself with a pen, but with federal marshals quickly subdued him.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR's Greg Allen reporting. President Trump denounced the violence against him and congratulated the Justice Department on Ruth's prosecution. Trump commented on the verdict to reporters traveling with him at the UN General Assembly. Earlier today, he delivered a lengthy speech to world leaders gathered in New York for the 80th session of the U.N. general assembly and railed against the international body. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. Trump's become increasingly isolated inside the U.N.

[Franco Ordonez]

President Trump touted that the U.S. has entered a golden age while scolding the body for rampant waste and corruption. He used a faulty teleprompter and broken escalator as a metaphor for larger problems of the United Nations.

[Donald Trump]

It has such tremendous, tremendous potential, but it's not even coming close to living up to that potential.

[Franco Ordonez]

But his most pointed criticism was on migration.

[Donald Trump]

The United nations is funding an assault on Western countries and their borders.

[Franco Ordonez]

Trump accused the UN of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to support illegal migration into the US including providing shelter and transportation. And he blamed political correctness on the issue for what he said was ruining their countries. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Jimmy Kimmel Live will be back on the air tonight, but not everywhere. ABC put the show on hold last week over remarks that Kimmel made on air after the killing of Charlie Kirk. And as Steve Futterman reports, many ABC stations will be keeping it off the air for now.

[Steve Futterman]

More than 60 ABC affiliates, over 20% of ABC stations will not be broadcasting Jimmy Kimmel's show when it returns. Stations that are owned by two large broadcast groups, nexstar and Sinclair, will substitute other programming. It was complaints from those two groups last week that helped lead to Kimmel's show being suspended. Here on Hollywood Boulevard, where the show is taped, Kimmel fans like Samurai Barnett are happy he's back.

[Samurai Barnett]

It shows you what we can all do when we all unify on one accord immediately like this. This happened in less than a week.

[Steve Futterman]

Sources with the program say they expect Kimmel to make a conciliatory statement on tonight's show. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[Lakshmi Singh]

From Washington, it's NPR News. Roughly 1.3 billion people around the globe are currently living with uncontrolled high blood pressure. That's according to a new report by the World Health organization. Details from NPR's Jonathan Lambert.

[Jonathan Lambert]

High blood pressure is the leading cause of many health problems, including heart attacks, stroke and dementia. Each year, it claims more than 10 million lives around the world. Here's Leanne Riley of the World Health Organization.

[Leanne Riley]

So the human and economic cost is just immense.

[Jonathan Lambert]

In many of those countries, the majority of people aren't currently able to access adequate treatment, the report found. In economic terms, the WHO estimates hypertension, health effects and deaths have cost these countries an estimated $3.7 trillion since 2011. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Robot umpires are coming to Major League Baseball, at least in a limited way. NPR's Giles Snyder reports. The league approved their use for next season today.

[Giles Snyder]

MLB's automated ball strike system is not meant as a replacement for human umpires. They'll still be at the plate to call balls and strikes. The robot system will come into play when a challenge is made. Under the new rule approved by MLB's 11 member competition committee, challenges to an umpire's call can only be made by a pitcher, catcher or batter, and each team can only call for a review twice per game, with additional appeals and extra innings.

[Lakshmi Singh]

That's NPR's Giles Snyder reporting. U.S. stocks have ended the day lower. The dow closed down 88 points. This is NPR News.

[Carvana/Ritual Advertiser]

This message comes from Ritual. What makes Ritual vitamins different? Ritual vitamins are made with bioavailable, clinically studied key ingredients and a patented nutrient delivery system that aims to help your body use the nutrients you're getting. Ritual's essential multivitamins are made with you and your body in mind and backed by scientific research, filled with key ingredients as well as the essence of mint so you can enjoy taking your vitamins. Get 25% off your first purchase when you visit ritual. Com NPR.