NPR News: 09-23-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now: September 23, 2025, 7PM EDT

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now update covers the latest breaking stories in U.S. and global politics, media developments, public health, and a tribute to a legendary film icon. The episode surveys major headlines including a significant foreign policy reversal by President Donald Trump on Ukraine, looming government shutdowns over budget disputes, controversy surrounding the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live, a consequential Arizona special election, alarming global hypertension statistics, and the passing of Italian actress Claudia Cardinale.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Reversal on Ukraine (00:17–01:07)

• Key Event: President Trump now believes Ukraine could reclaim all territory occupied by Russia, reversing his earlier stance.
• Meeting: The reversal follows discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the United Nations.
• Implications: Raises questions about actual policy actions—such as sanctions or military support—that might follow this rhetorical shift.

Notable Quote:

"It appears to be a 180 degree reversal in Trump's view of the war in Ukraine... Now he says Russia looks like a paper tiger that is in big economic trouble."
– Mara Liasson (00:29)

---

2. Rising Potential for U.S. Government Shutdown (01:07–01:58)

• Meeting Cancelled: President Trump called off a planned meeting with top Democratic leaders over government funding negotiations.
• Contention: Trump labeled Democratic demands as “unserious and ridiculous”; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused the President of “chickening out.”
• Impasse: House passed a stopgap funding bill, but it failed in the Senate; shutdown could begin by October 1.
• Room for Dialogue: Trump said he’s open to rescheduling if Democrats change their position.

Memorable Moment:

"Jeffrey says the president chickened out."
– Deirdre Walsh (01:17)

---

3. Return of Jimmy Kimmel Live & Broadcast Controversy (01:58–03:12)

• Show Returns: Jimmy Kimmel Live returns to ABC as some affiliates decline to broadcast after controversy.
• FCC Critique: FCC Chair Brendan Carr praised affiliates for pulling the show over Kimmel’s comments on Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin.
• Affiliate Decisions: Nextstar, a major broadcaster, seeks assurance of “respectful, constructive dialogue” before resuming; Sinclair stations continue to preempt the show.

Notable Quote:

"Local TV stations, not national programmers, quote, have public interest obligations."
– Brendan Carr, FCC Chair, via Chloe Veltman (02:26)

• Industry Context: Nextstar is awaiting FCC approval for a merger with Tegna, possibly influencing programming decisions.

---

4. Arizona Special Election & Epstein Files Petition (03:12–03:55)

• Election: Arizona voters select a replacement for the late Congressman Raul Grijalva.
• Front-runner: His daughter, Adelita Grijalva, is favored and, if elected, pledges to support a bipartisan petition for a Congressional vote to release the “Epstein files.”
• Petition Status: The petition is one signature short; she could provide the deciding support.

---

5. WHO Report: Global High Blood Pressure Crisis (03:55–04:32)

• Scope: Over 1.3 billion worldwide live with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
• Health Impact: Leading contributor to heart attack, stroke, dementia; claims over 10 million lives annually.
• Economic Cost: $3.7 trillion estimated loss since 2020 due to hypertension.
• Global Gap: Many affected people lack access to adequate treatment.

Memorable Quote:

"So the human and economic cost is just immense."
– Leanne Riley, World Health Organization (04:08)

---

6. Remembering Claudia Cardinale (04:32–04:57)

• Obituary: Italian actress Claudia Cardinale dies at 87.
• Career Highlights: Over 100 films, with iconic roles in “Eight and a Half” and “Once Upon a Time in the West.”
• Early Start: Launched career at 17 after winning a beauty contest in Tunisia.

---

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "It appears to be a 180 degree reversal in Trump's view of the war in Ukraine."
  – Mara Liasson (00:29)

• "Jeffrey says the president chickened out."
  – Deirdre Walsh (01:17)

• "Local TV stations, not national programmers, quote, have public interest obligations."
  – FCC Chair Brendan Carr (02:26, via Chloe Veltman)

• "So the human and economic cost is just immense."
  – Leanne Riley, WHO (04:08)

---

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Trump on Ukraine Reversal – 00:17–01:07
• Government Shutdown Prospects – 01:07–01:58
• Jimmy Kimmel Live Controversy – 01:58–03:12
• Arizona Special Election/Epstein Files – 03:12–03:55
• WHO on Global Hypertension – 03:55–04:32
• Claudia Cardinale Tribute – 04:32–04:57

---

This episode offers a crisp, informative synthesis of key political stances, media clashes, public health alarms, and cultural farewells—capturing the urgency and complexity of today’s news.

Transcript

[Monday.com Announcer]

This message comes from Monday.com, the first work platform you'll love to use. Meet Monday Sidekick, your AI powered work BFF that handles everything for you from daily briefings to risk analysis. Start your free [e-mail].

[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Donald Trump now says Ukraine could end up winning back all of its territory currently occupied by Russia. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

[Mara Liasson]

It appears to be a 180 degree reversal in Trump's view of the war in Ukraine. After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the United Nations, Trump posted on social media that he now thinks Ukraine, backed by the EU and NATO, could win back all its territory. Previously, Trump had said that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine would involve Russia keeping parts of Ukraine that it took by force. Now he says Russia looks like a paper tiger that is in big economic trouble. What remains to be seen is whether Trump will put meaningful sanctions on Russia or give Ukraine the weapons it needs to win the war. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

President Trump canceled a White House meeting with top Democratic leaders initially planned for Thursday. 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 plan 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. Jeffrey says the president chickened out. The president left the door open to a future meeting if Democrats shift their demands. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

Jimmy Kimmel Live is back on ABC tonight. In the meantime, FCC Chair Brendan Carr is applauding local TV stations for pushing ABC to take Kimmel off the air last week over comments he made about Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin. In a post on X, Carr says local TV stations, not national programmers, quote, have public interest obligations. Roughly a quarter of the country's ABC broadcast affiliates still won't be showing Kimmel's return. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports.

[Chloe Veltman]

Broadcaster Nextstar, which operates 32 ABC stations around the country, said in a statement today that it's waiting on assurance that, quote, all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve now. Nextstar was the first to Paul Kimmel's show last week after the chair of the FCC took issue with how Kimmel spoke about the suspect in Charlie Kirk's murder. But it's important to note that NextStar is in the middle of a major merger. It's waiting on FCC approval to acquire Tegna, which also owns TV stations around the country. And also there's this other broadcasting group, Sinclair, which says it's still going to preempt the show. It's got stations in 30 markets. And the company said yesterday it's still in discussions with ABC about the show's potential return.

[Ryland Barton]

NPR's Chloe Veltman reporting. This is NPR News. Arizona voters are choosing a replacement for late Democratic Congressman Rahul Grijalva during a special election today. The frontrunner is his daughter, Adelaide Adelita Grijalva, also a Democrat. She says if she wins, she'll sign on to a petition to force a vote on whether to release the Epstein files. The petition is bipartisan support, but is one signature short of getting a vote. Grijalva would be eligible to add her name to the petition as soon as she's sworn into office. 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. NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports.

[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.

[Monday.com Announcer]

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 20. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

Acclaimed Italian actor Claudia Cardinale has died at the age of 87. She starred in over 100 films, becoming famous for roles like Federico Fellini's Eight and a Half and Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West. Cardinale began her career at age 17 after winning a beauty contest in Tunisia. From Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. This is NPR News.

[Monday.com Announcer]

Support for npr. And the following message come from Boland Branch. Turn your bed into a sanctuary this fall with their buttery, breathable bedding. Enjoy 15% off your first set of sheets at bol and branch. Com with code NPR exclusions apply.