NPR News: 09-23-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now – September 23, 2025, 9AM EDT

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode, anchored by Korva Coleman, covers the latest national and international headlines. Major stories include the opening of the UN General Assembly with a focus on Palestine recognition, the U.S. designation of ANTIFA as a domestic terrorist organization, the return of Jimmy Kimmel to late-night TV, a significant security incident at Copenhagen Airport, former Vice President Kamala Harris’s revealing new memoir, and a historic donation to HBCUs from MacKenzie Scott.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. UN General Assembly Opens in New York

[00:16–01:14]

• President Trump is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly, with Palestine recognition high on the agenda.
• Several U.S. allies—including Canada, Australia, France, and the UK—have recognized Palestine, sparking debate.
• Quote:
  • Riyadh Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the UN, emphasizes the significance:

    “This is an accumulation of so many things, especially when countries like France, UK and the others to recognize the state of Palestine. It's an investment in peace and saving the two state solution.” (00:40)

• Israel has condemned these recognitions, arguing it empowers Hamas.

2. Secret Service Disrupts Communications Threat

[00:54–01:14]

• Secret Service dismantled a network of sophisticated electronic devices in New York, which posed risks to emergency and UN communications.

3. U.S. Designates ANTIFA a Domestic Terrorist Organization

[01:14–02:10]

• President Trump signed an executive order declaring ANTIFA a domestic terrorist group.
• Key context:
  • Jason Blazakis, Middlebury Institute, explains:

    “ANTIFA is not a structured group... the domestic terrorist designation represents a first and that it may run into trouble.” (01:24)

  • Odette Youssef, NPR reporter, notes:

    “The U.S. Government... does not have the legal authorities to designate entire organizations as domestic terrorist groups.” (01:45)

  • Blazakis adds:

    “No such process exists for purely domestic groups because of the risk of infringing on First Amendment freedoms.” (01:55)

• Legal obstacles stem from First Amendment concerns and the decentralized nature of ANTIFA.

4. Jimmy Kimmel Live Returns After Suspension

[02:10–03:14]

• "Jimmy Kimmel Live" resumes less than a week after ABC suspended it due to Kimmel’s comments following activist Charlie Kirk’s killing.
• Kimmel’s return celebrated across late-night TV:
  • Seth Meyers:

    “Our friend Jimmy Kimmel will be back.” (02:31)

  • Stephen Colbert:

    “Our long national late nightmare is over.” (02:42)

• ABC and Disney reversed their decision to avoid tension.
• Sinclair Broadcast Group (owns ABC affiliates in 30 markets) will not air Kimmel for now, pending talks with ABC.

5. Large Drone Incident Over Copenhagen Airport

[03:14–03:46]

• Danish police investigate 2–3 “very large drones” flying over Copenhagen Airport for hours.
• Security risk was significant; drones weren't shot down due to passenger safety.
• Danish Prime Minister describes it as “the most serious attack yet on Danish critical infrastructure.”

6. Kamala Harris Book Tour Announcement

[03:46–04:25]

• Former Vice President Kamala Harris begins touring for her memoir, 107 Days, chronicling her 2024 White House run.
  • Recounts “chaotic and frustrating moments,” including a candid call with President Biden questioning her loyalty.
  • Reveals her initial running mate choice was Pete Buttigieg but reconsidered, stating concerns over how America would receive “a black woman president, a Jewish first gentleman, and a gay vice president.”
  • International stops in London and Toronto planned.
• Quote:
  • Deepa Shivaram, NPR reporter, on Harris’s candor:

    “She… writes about her own running mate selection process, revealing that her first choice was actually former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. But she didn't think America would support a ticket with a black woman president, a Jewish first gentleman and a gay vice president.” (03:57)

7. $70 Million Donation to HBCUs from MacKenzie Scott

[04:25–04:57]

• UNCF (United Negro College Fund) receives a $70 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
• Funds aimed to bolster 37 private Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
• Mackenzie Scott is the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Riyadh Mansour (Palestinian Ambassador to the UN):

  “It's an investment in peace and saving the two state solution.” (00:44)

• Jason Blazakis (Middlebury Institute):

  “ANTIFA is not a structured group... the designation represents a first and that it may run into trouble.” (01:24)

• Stephen Colbert (CBS):

  “Our long national late nightmare is over.” (02:42)

• Deepa Shivaram (NPR) on Harris's VP selection:

  “She didn't think America would support a ticket with a black woman president, a Jewish first gentleman and a gay vice president.” (03:57)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• UN General Assembly opens / Palestinian recognition: 00:16–01:14
• Secret Service disrupts comms threat: 00:54–01:14
• ANTIFA designation and legal analysis: 01:14–02:10
• Jimmy Kimmel returns to ABC: 02:10–03:14
• Drone incident at Copenhagen Airport: 03:14–03:46
• Kamala Harris memoir and book tour: 03:46–04:25
• MacKenzie Scott donates $70M to HBCUs: 04:25–04:57

---

This episode packed a range of pressing headlines, global developments, and notable cultural moments into five concise minutes—characteristic of NPR's trusted and informative news style.

Transcript

[Amazon Business/Indiana University Announcer]

This message comes from Amazon Business. How can you grow your business from idea to industry leader? Bring your vision to life with smart business buying tools and technology from Amazon Business. Simplify how you stock up to get ahead. Go to amazonbusiness.com for support.

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The UN General assembly opens this hour in New York. President Trump is expected to address delegates later this morning. We One topic sure to come up is the recognition of a Palestinian state by several US Allies. They include Canada, Australia, France and the UK Riyadh Mansour is the Palestinian ambassador to the UN this is historic.

[Riyadh Mansour]

This is an accumulation of so many things, especially when countries like France, UK and the others to recognize the state of Palestine. It's an investment in peace and saving the two state solution.

[Korva Coleman]

Israel has condemned the recognition of a Palestinian state, saying this only helps Hamas. The Secret Service says it's dismantled a network of electronic devices in the New York area. These were sophisticated and could have significantly disrupted emergency communications. That includes for the UN General assembly meeting getting underway in New York. President Trump has signed an executive order designating ANTIFA as a domestic terrorist organization. NPR's Odette Youssef reports.

[Jason Blazakis]

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.

[Odette Youssef]

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

[Jason Blazakis]

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.

[Korva Coleman]

The talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live returns tonight. That's less than a week after ABC suspended it indefinitely. ABC's parent company Disney said it acted following comments that Kimmel made after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Steve Futterman reports Kimmel's colleagues are elated.

[Steve Futterman]

On late night tv. Last night there was celebration.

[Odette Youssef]

Our friend Jimmy Kimmel will be back.

[Steve Futterman]

On the air, seth Meyers told his audience on NBC. Stephen Colbert told those watching his show on cbs.

[Odette Youssef]

Our long national late nightmare is over.

[Steve Futterman]

Five days after Kimmel was indefinitely suspended, ABC and Disney reversed course. And tonight Kimmel will be back. In a statement, Disney said its decision last week was to avoid further inflaming the tense situation. However The Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns ABC affiliates in 30 markets, says it will not broadcast the Kimmel show. Sinclair says talks with ABC are ongoing. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[Korva Coleman]

This is npr. Danish police are investigating who flew two or three very large drones over Copenhagen Airport last night for hours. They were so large they couldn't be shot down. Police said there were too many nearby passengers. Denmark's prime minister says this is the most serious attack yet on Danish critical infrastructure. Former Vice President Kamala Harris kicks off her nationwide book tour tomorrow. NPR's Deepa Shivaram reports. The book 107 Days chronicles her run for the White House last year.

[Deepa Shivaram]

The memoir is written candidly as Harris recalls chaotic and frustrating moments from the campaign, including a call with Biden right before Harris was headed out to the debate stage, where she says the president spoke at length about himself and questioned her loyalty. She she also writes about her own running mate selection process, revealing that her first choice was actually former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. But she didn't think America would support a ticket with a black woman president, a Jewish first gentleman and a gay vice president. Harris book tour is scheduled through November and also includes international stops in London and Toronto. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The educational group uncf, formerly the United Negro College Fund, says it has received a donation of $70 million. It's from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott. Officials with UNCF say the money will be used to bolster the financial health of 37 private historically black colleges and universities. Mackenzie Scott was formerly married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

[Amazon Business/Indiana University Announcer]

This message comes from Indiana University. Indiana University powers breakthroughs in Alzheimer's, obesity, cancer and rare diseases while training the talent driving discoveries nationwide. Learn more at iu.edu impact.