Summary4 min read

NPR News Now: 09-24-2025 11AM EDT

Brief Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now update, hosted by Korva Coleman, covers major breaking news and updates, including a fatal shooting at a Texas ICE facility, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's speech at the UN, a thwarted cyber plot in New York, Jimmy Kimmel's return to television amid controversy, shifts at the Pentagon and Education Department, and updates from communities impacted by recent disasters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fatal Shooting at Dallas ICE Facility

[00:16] Korva Coleman reports a shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas.
- Three people were shot; one died at the scene.
- The suspected gunman is dead by suicide.
- Dallas police to hold a news conference.

2. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's UN Address

[00:53] Michelle Kellerman details President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s pointed speech at the UN General Assembly.
- Zelenskyy criticized the UN for not ending Russian attacks on Ukraine.
- Emphasized reliance on “friends and weapons” for Ukraine’s security, not broad security guarantees.
- Highlighted Ukraine's innovation in drone technology as a response to the war.
- Quoted Zelenskyy:
  
  "Ukraine doesn't have the big fat missiles dictators love to show off in parades, but we do have drones that can fly up to 2,3000 km. We had no choice but to build them." — Volodymyr Zelenskyy [01:06]
- Ukraine is ready to export battle-tested drones.
- Noted a meeting with President Trump, and Trump’s remark calling Russia a “paper tiger.”

3. Secret Service Thwarts NYC SIM Card Operation

[01:35] NPR reports that the Secret Service foiled a plot involving more than 100,000 SIM cards — so-called "SIM farms" — in New York.
- The plan could have devastated city cell phone towers and cut communication for millions.
- Jordan Ray Kelly, cybersecurity expert, explains the technology:
  
  "It essentially operates like hundreds of thousands of cell phones in one place, doing things at massive scale." — Jordan Ray Kelly [01:56]
- Motives behind the operation are unclear but could relate to UN General Assembly security.

4. Jimmy Kimmel Returns After Suspension

[02:29] Steve Futterman covers Jimmy Kimmel’s emotional return to ABC following suspension over remarks about activist Charlie Kirk’s death.
- Kimmel’s opening reference to his absence:
  
  "As I was saying before I was..." — Jimmy Kimmel [02:33]
- Emotional on-air moments as Kimmel clarifies intentions:
  
  "You understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man." — Jimmy Kimmel [02:44]
- Kimmel moved by Kirk’s widow, Erica, who offered forgiveness:
  
  "A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply." — Jimmy Kimmel [02:57]
- Kimmel warns that comedians should not become targets.

5. Defense Department Dissolves Women's Committee

[03:10] Korva Coleman reports Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's dissolution of a Pentagon advisory committee on women’s issues.
- Department says the committee, established in 1951, focused on a “divisive feminist agenda” and hurt combat readiness.
- The committee previously worked on issues like sexual assault prevention.
- Covered by Military Times.

6. Department of Education Cancels College Prep Grants

[03:57] Connor Morris from Ideastream Public Media explains the cancellation of nine federal GEAR UP grants.
- GEAR UP funded counselors and programs to prepare students for college.
- Winter Mason, an Akron counselor, on the program’s importance:
  
  "Those students see you every day and they believed in you and you built that relationship with them. So it's just an amazing feeling to have, and we don't want that to be removed." — Winter Mason [04:10]
- Nearly $170 million in grants canceled, affecting 220 schools in Ohio, New Hampshire, Indiana, California.
- Department of Education cites misalignment with "priorities," but says most grants continue.

7. Texas Camp to Reopen after Deadly Floods

[04:40] Update on a Texas summer camp planning to reopen next year after catastrophic flooding killed 27 (mostly girls).
- The camp is situated along a river that flooded, causing widespread tragedy.
- No further details on the response or changes planned.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Zelenskyy on Ukraine’s Defense:
“Ukraine doesn't have the big fat missiles dictators love to show off in parades, but we do have drones that can fly up to 2,3000 km. We had no choice but to build them.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy [01:06]
On the SIM Card Plot:
“It essentially operates like hundreds of thousands of cell phones in one place, doing things at massive scale.” — Jordan Ray Kelly [01:56]
Emotional Reconciliation:
“A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply.” — Jimmy Kimmel [02:57]
Impact of Cancelled Grants:
“Those students see you every day and they believed in you and you built that relationship with them. So it's just an amazing feeling to have, and we don't want that to be removed.” — Winter Mason [04:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

Dallas ICE facility shooting: [00:16]
Zelenskyy's UN speech: [00:53]–[01:35]
Secret Service bust of SIM farms: [01:35]–[02:03]
Jimmy Kimmel returns to airwaves: [02:29]–[03:10]
Pentagon dissolves women's committee: [03:10]
GEAR UP grant cancellations: [03:57]–[04:19]
Texas camp, flood recovery: [04:40]

This episode packed broad news updates with global, national, and community impact — delivering a concise yet detailed snapshot of today's urgent stories.

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Transcript21 lines

[00:01]
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[00:17]
Korva Coleman
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Police officials in Dallas say there has been a fatal shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Dallas police say three people were shot and one died at the scene. The other two were taken to the hospital. Authorities say the suspected gunman is dead from his self inflicted gunshot wound. Dallas police are expected to hold a news conference soon. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the UN General assembly this morning in New York. He said there are no security guarantees other than friends and weapons. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.
[00:54]
Michelle Kellerman
Volodymyr Zelenskyy sounded frustrated that the UN hasn't been able to help end Russian attacks on Ukraine or resolve other big conflicts around the world. He says Ukraine has had to rely on its friends and on its weapons.
[01:06]
Ukraine doesn't have the big fat missiles dictators love to show off in parades, but we do have drones that can fly up to 2,3000 km. We had no choice but but to build them.
[01:20]
Now he says Ukraine is ready to export its battle tested drones. He says he had a good conversation on the sidelines of the UN General assembly with President Trump, who later called Russia a paper tiger. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the United Nations.
[01:35]
Korva Coleman
The Secret Service says it thwarted a hidden operation that could have devastated cell phone towers throughout the New York City area. The plan involved more than 100,000 SIM cards. These are usually tucked into mobile devices like cell. Cybersecurity expert Jordan Ray Kelly explains these are SIM farms.
[01:57]
Jordan Ray Kelly
It essentially operates like hundreds of thousands of cell phones in one place, doing things at massive scale.
[02:03]
Korva Coleman
That means the operation could have cut off communication to millions of people. It's not clear who did this or whether it was intended to spy on the UN General Assembly. Jimmy Kimmel was back on ABC's airwaves last night and he had been suspended after Trump administration officials got angry over Kimmel's remarks about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Steve Futterman reports.
[02:30]
Steve Futterman
After the applause, this was Jimmy Kimmel's opening line.
[02:33]
Jimmy Kimmel
As I was saying before I was.
[02:35]
Steve Futterman
Interrupted, most moving moments came when Kimmel became emotional. His voice cracked when he said he never meant to make light of Charlie Kirk's death.
[02:44]
Jimmy Kimmel
You understand that it was never my intention to to make light of the murder of a young man.
[02:50]
Steve Futterman
And there was more emotion later when he referred to Kirk's wife, Erica, offering forgiveness to her husband's killer, a selfless.
[02:57]
Jimmy Kimmel
Act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply.
[03:03]
Steve Futterman
On a serious note, Kimmel said comedians should not be targets. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.
[03:10]
Korva Coleman
On Wall street, the Dow was up about 30 points. This is NPR. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dissolved a Pentagon committee that provided recommendations and advice for women in the U.S. military Department spokeswoman says the committee focused on a divisive feminist agenda, hurting combat readiness. The agency committee was created in 1951. The Military Times newspaper says it has recently focused on military women's well being, such as sexual assault prevention. The U.S. education Department has cancelled nine grants intended for college prep work. The agency cited diversity, equity and inclusion measures it says don't line up with its priorities. From Ideastream Public Media, Connor Morris reports.
[03:57]
Connor Morris
The federal GEAR UP grant pays for counselors and other programs to teach students how to apply for college, write resumes and more. Winter Mason, one of those counselors at a high school in Akron, says her work went far beyond that, though.
[04:10]
Jordan Ray Kelly
Those students see you every day and they believed in you and you built that relationship with them. So it's just an amazing feeling to have, and we don't want that to be removed.
[04:19]
Connor Morris
Advocates say the canceled GEAR UP grants total almost $170 million and impact students at 220 schools across the U.S. cleveland and Akron are two of the biggest, but grants were also canceled in New Hampshire, Indiana and California. The Department of Education says the majority of GEAR UP grants are continuing. For NPR News, I'm Connor Morris in Cleveland.
[04:41]
Korva Coleman
Officials at a Texas camp wrecked by dead leaf flooding this summer say they'll reopen next year. The catastrophe killed 27 people, mostly girls. The camp is along a Texas river that flooded. This is NPR News.
[04:57]
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