NPR News: 09-24-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – September 24, 2025, 11PM EDT

Host: Shea Stevens
Episode Duration: 5 minutes
Podcast: NPR News Now

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of the latest national and international news headlines, emphasizing urgent breaking stories—ranging from targeted violence at an ICE facility in Dallas, to legal action following a deadly aviation accident in Washington, updates on Syria’s new political leadership, appeals from Ukraine at the UN, China’s climate commitments, and new global cancer mortality projections. The tone remains factual, calm, and direct, in NPR’s signature style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dallas ICE Facility Shooting (00:18–01:16)

• Incident Details:
  A shooting at a Dallas ICE facility left one person dead and two injured. The suspected shooter died of a self-inflicted wound.

  • “Dallas police say the suspect opened fire from an adjacent building before 7am local time.” – Tolawami Osabomawo (00:35)

• Motivation & Investigation:
  FBI found bullet casings with anti-ICE messages, indicating targeted political violence.

  • “The FBI says bullet casings found near the gunman had anti ICE messages written on them and that it's investigating the shooting as an act of targeted violence.” – Tolawami Osabomawo (00:41)

• Political Response:
  Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz condemned the rhetoric that targets ICE agents, warning of real-world consequences.

  • “To every politician demanding that ICE agents be doxed and calling for people to go after their families, stop. This has very real consequences.” – Ted Cruz (00:57)

• Injuries:
  No ICE or law enforcement officers were injured.

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2. Legal Fallout from Deadly Washington Air Collision (01:16–02:03)

• Lawsuit:
  The family of a victim from January’s plane-helicopter collision over Washington, D.C. is suing American Airlines, PSA Airlines, the federal government, and the U.S. Army for accountability in the deadliest U.S. plane crash in decades.

• Defendants’ Response:
  American Airlines stated intentions to contest allegations of responsibility.

  • “In a statement, American Airlines said that it would fight any allegation the airline caused or contributed to the accident.” – Joel Rose (01:48)

• Further Action:
  Families of additional victims are expected to file lawsuits.

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3. Syria Addresses UN General Assembly (02:03–02:54)

• Historic Appearance:
  For the first time in decades, a Syrian leader (formerly a rebel and jihadi fighter, Ahmed al Sharah) addressed the UN, discussing plans to rebuild Syria post-dictatorship.

  • “As a young jihadi fighter, Ahmed al Sharah helped establish an Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria. But now he's the leader of a movement that toppled Bashar al Assad, and he's vowing to build a new Syria after decades of dictatorship.” – Michelle Keleman (02:12)
  • “A land of ancient civilization and culture deserves to be a state of law protecting everyone.” – Ahmed al Sharah (interpreted) (02:32)

• Geopolitical Tensions:
  Al Sharah raised concerns about Israeli airstrikes in Syria but signaled openness to negotiations.

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4. Ukraine's President Appeals for Action on Russian Aggression (02:54–03:26)

• UN Plea:
  Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged an international response to Russia’s war escalation, saying “the time to act is now.”

  • “Ukraine's president is urging the international community to confront Russian President Putin over attempts to expand his war.” – Shea Stevens (02:54)

• Diplomatic Shift:
  Noted U.S. President Trump’s new support for Ukraine’s aims to regain territory, following a recent meeting with Zelenskyy.

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5. China's Emissions Reduction Plan Announced (03:26–03:43)

• Climate Commitment:
  China aims to cut harmful emissions by 7–10% over 10 years—the announcement comes as world leaders stress urgent climate action ahead of a Brazil summit.

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6. Global Cancer Deaths Projected to Double (03:43–04:42)

• New Lancet Study Findings:
  Researchers forecast global cancer deaths could nearly double by 2050, with the greatest increases in low- and middle-income countries.
  • “In 2023, about 18 and a half million people died from cancer, up nearly 75%.” – Jonathan Lambert (04:19)
  • Inequality: Mortality improvements in wealthy nations; worsening outcomes where treatment access is limited.
  • Risk Factors: Nearly half of projected deaths are attributed to modifiable risks like smoking and diet.
  • “There's some good news looking forward, nearly half of these deaths came from cancers that have clear risk factors that can be avoided, like smoking or poor diet.” – Jonathan Lambert (04:35)

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7. Markets Recap (04:42–04:57)

• Stock Performance:
  • Dow down 171 points
  • Nasdaq down 75 points
  • S&P 500 dipped 18 points

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Memorable Quotes & Attributions

• Senator Ted Cruz:
  “To every politician demanding that ICE agents be doxed and calling for people to go after their families, stop. This has very real consequences.” (00:57)

• Ahmed al Sharah (interpreted):
  “A land of ancient civilization and culture deserves to be a state of law protecting everyone.” (02:32)

• Jonathan Lambert (on cancer mortality):
  “In 2023, about 18 and a half million people died from cancer, up nearly 75%… There's some good news looking forward, nearly half of these deaths came from cancers that have clear risk factors that can be avoided, like smoking or poor diet.” (04:19, 04:35)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Dallas ICE Facility Shooting: 00:18–01:16
• Washington Plane Collision Lawsuit: 01:16–02:03
• Syria UN General Assembly Address: 02:03–02:54
• Ukraine–Russia War Update: 02:54–03:26
• China Climate Commitment: 03:26–03:43
• Global Cancer Study: 03:43–04:42
• Wall Street Recap: 04:42–04:57

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NPR News Now succinctly delivers today’s urgent stories with clarity and depth, providing context and direct reporting for listeners needing a rapid, reliable news catch-up.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. A shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas has left one person dead and two others injured. As KERA's Tolawami Osabomawo reports, authorities say the suspected gunman died of a self inflicted wound.

[Tolawami Osabomawo]

Dallas police say the suspect opened fire from an adjacent building before 7am local time. The FBI says bullet casings found near the gunman had anti ICE messages written on them and that it's investigating the shooting as an act of targeted violence. During a press conference after the shooting, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz said politically motivated violence needs to stop.

[Ted Cruz]

To every politician demanding that ICE agents be doxed and calling for people to go after their families, stop. This has very real consequences.

[Tolawami Osabomawo]

Federal officials confirmed no ICE officers or law enforcement were injured in the shooting. For NPR News, I'm Toluwany Osi Bamowo in Dallas.

[Shea Stevens]

The family of one of 67 people killed when a plane collided with an army helicopter over the nation's capital in January is now suing the government and the airlines involved. NPR's Joel Rose has the story.

[Joel Rose]

The lawsuit names American Airlines as well as PSA Airlines, the regional carrier that was operating the flight, as defendants along with the federal government. The plaintiff is Rachel Crafton, the wife of Casey Crafton who died in the mid air collision. Her lawyers say they're trying to hold American Airlines, along with the Federal Aviation administration and the U.S. army accountable for the deadliest U.S. plane crash in decades. In a statement, American Airlines said that it would fight any allegation the airline caused or contributed to the accident. The federal family members of other victims are expected to file lawsuits of their own. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

For the first time in decades, a Syrian leader has addressed the UN General Assembly. NPR's Michelle Keleman has details on the former rebel leader turned statesman.

[Michelle Keleman]

As a young jihadi fighter, Ahmed al Sharah helped establish an Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria. But now he's the leader of a movement that toppled Bashar al Assad, and he's vowing to build a new Syria after decades of dictatorship. Speaking through an interpreter, he says he's been trying, trying to turn the page on a wretched past.

[Ted Cruz]

A land of ancient civilization and culture deserves to be a state of law protecting everyone.

[Michelle Keleman]

Al Shirra raised concerns about Israeli strikes in Syria, which he says contradict the support he's receiving from much of the world. He says he remains open to negotiations with Israel. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the United Nations.

[Shea Stevens]

Ukraine's president is urging the international community to confront Russian President Putin over attempts to expand his war. Volodymyr Zelenskyy told world leaders gathered in New York that the time to act is now. Zelenskyy's remarks came a day after he met with President Trump, who has shifted his view on the war in Ukraine to say he now believes that Kyiv can regain its territory. This is NPR. China has announced plans to cut harmful emissions by 7 to 10% over the next 10 years. That nation produces nearly a third of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. The announcement came as world leaders at the UN Cited an urgent need to step up efforts to curb heat trapping gases that contribute to climate change. It also comes three weeks before a major climate summit in Brazil. New research published in the Lancet suggests that cancer deaths could nearly double worldwide by the year 2050. The study is published in the journal Lancet. As NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports, more than two thirds of those deaths are projected to occur in low and middle income countries.

[Jonathan Lambert]

To estimate how cancer cases and deaths could grow, the researchers analyzed two decades worth of data from more than 200 countries and territories. They found cases and deaths have risen substantially even with advancements in treatment. In 2023, about 18 and a half million people died from cancer, up nearly 75%. The increase in cancer mortality wasn't equal across countries. While chances of surviving many cancers improved in wealthy countries, death rates got worse in many poorer ones. With or, it can be harder to access treatment. But there's some good news looking forward, nearly half of these deaths came from cancers that have clear risk factors that can be avoided, like smoking or poor diet. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

On Wall street, stocks lost some ground. The Dow Jones Industrials fell 171 points, the Nasdaq lost 75, and the S&P 500 dipped 18 points. The this is NPR News.

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