NPR News: 09-24-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News: 09-24-2025 12AM EDT – Summary

Episode Overview

This 5-minute NPR News Now episode, anchored by Shea Stevens, delivers a concise roundup of top global and national stories for September 24, 2025. Key themes include President Trump’s contentious speech at the UN, tensions between the US and Iran, emotional reactions in US media following a high-profile shooting, an Atlantic hurricane threat to the Azores, health concerns over global hypertension, and a verdict in the Trump assassination attempt trial.

The reporting balances direct quotes from newsmakers, on-the-ground observations, and brief data-driven insights, capturing urgent headlines with characteristic NPR clarity and neutrality.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Speech at the UN General Assembly

• Context: President Trump’s latest address at the UN occurred amid apparent isolations of his administration in the world body.
• Tone and Content:
  • Trump claimed the “US has entered a golden age” while criticizing the UN for “rampant waste and corruption” (00:36).
  • Used metaphors, like a broken escalator and faulty teleprompter, to highlight organizational failings.
• On Migration:
  • Trump accused the UN of enabling illegal migration into the US, specifically alleging UN spending supports shelter and transportation for migrants.
  • He criticized "political correctness" for harming Western nations.
• Notable Quote:
  • “The United Nations is funding an assault on Western countries and their borders.”
    – Steve Futterman quoting Trump, [01:01]

2. Iran’s Supreme Leader Rejects Nuclear Talks

• Event: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini publicly rejected direct nuclear negotiations with the United States during a UN speech (01:23).
• Context: This statement came as Iran’s president traveled to New York and following diplomatic efforts with European leaders to avert new sanctions.
• Significance: Marks heightened diplomatic tension as Iran’s stance further complicates ongoing nuclear issues.

3. Jimmy Kimmel’s Return After Suspension

• Why Suspended: Kimmel was previously suspended after remarks following the killing of Charlie Kirk.
• Emotional Comeback:
  • Eyewitness Kathy Perisco observed Kimmel “in tears… he was really emotional and like shaking a bit” ([02:05]).
• Forgiveness Theme:
  • Kimmel referenced forgiveness shown by Kirk’s wife, Erica, as a key lesson.
  • Direct apology was notably absent.
• Notable Quote:
  • “He referenced her comments at the memorial and about showing forgiveness and saying that was a prime important takeaway from all of this.”
    – Steve Futterman, [02:19]

4. Hurricane Gabrielle Threatening the Azores

• Update: Hurricane Gabrielle, a major Atlantic storm, is projected to impact the Azores, though it is likely to weaken (02:46).
• Warnings: Officials expect the storm to remain dangerous, with “destructive waves and significant coastal flooding.”
• Status: Hurricane watch issued for the island chain.

5. Hawaii Wildfire Prompts Evacuations

• Incident: A four-acre wildfire on Maui has triggered evacuations in Pa'ia, threatening a historic sugar plantation (03:25).
• Relevance: Pa'ia is on Maui’s north shore, opposite Lahaina, which was destroyed in a major wildfire two years prior.
• Cause: Unknown at the time of reporting.

6. Global Health Alert: High Blood Pressure

• WHO Report: 1.3 billion people live with uncontrolled high blood pressure worldwide—leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, and dementia ([03:56]).
• Burden: Over 10 million deaths annually and a $3.7 trillion economic cost since 2011.
• Highlight: Many affected lack sufficient treatment access.
• Notable Quote:
  • “So the human and economic cost is just immense.”
    – Leanne Riley, World Health Organization, [04:08]

7. Trump Assassination Attempt Verdict

• Outcome: Ryan Ruth convicted of attempting to assassinate President Trump last year—a case marked by dramatic self-harm at trial ([04:33]).
• Sentencing: Faces up to life imprisonment; sentencing set for December 18.

8. Market Brief

• Asia-Pacific: Markets are mixed as of broadcast, with Tokyo down slightly ([04:33]).

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Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Trump on the UN:
  “It has such tremendous, tremendous potential, but it's not even coming close to living up to that potential.”
  – Steve Futterman quoting Trump, [00:50]
• Trump on Migration:
  “The United Nations is funding an assault on Western countries and their borders.”
  – Steve Futterman, [01:01]
• Kathy Perisco on Jimmy Kimmel:
  “Jimmy was in tears. Like more times than not, he was really emotional and like shaking a bit.”
  – Kathy Perisco, [02:05]
• Leanne Riley (WHO) on Hypertension:
  “So the human and economic cost is just immense.”
  – Leanne Riley, [04:08]

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Timestamps for Noteworthy Segments

• Trump’s UN Speech: 00:20 – 01:23
• Iran Nuclear Talks: 01:23 – 01:58
• Jimmy Kimmel’s Return: 01:58 – 02:35
• Hurricane Gabrielle Update: 02:35 – 03:07
• Maui Wildfire: 03:07 – 03:56
• Global Hypertension Statistics: 03:56 – 04:33
• Trump Assassination Attempt Verdict: 04:33 – 04:56

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This episode provides a rapid, informative snapshot of major unfolding stories, with direct voices from reporters, officials, and eyewitnesses, maintaining NPR's measured and fact-driven style.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

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[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump chastised world leaders today in a lengthy speech at the UN General Assembly. As NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, the speech comes amid Trump's increasing isolation within the world body.

[NPR Correspondent Franco Ordonez]

President Trump touted that the US 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.

[NPR Correspondent Steve Futterman]

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

[NPR Correspondent Franco Ordonez]

But his most pointed criticism was on migration.

[NPR Correspondent Steve Futterman]

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

[NPR Correspondent 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.

[NPR News Anchor]

Iran's supreme leader has rejected the idea of direct nuclear talks with the United States. Speaking at the UN General assembly, the Ayatollah Khomeini made the remark in a speech aired on Iranian television as Iran's president headed to New York. The remark also came after Iran's foreign minister met with European leaders seeking to prevent sanctions that are set to resume on Sunday. Jimmy Kimmel returned to the airwaves Tuesday night after being suspended by ABC and Disney over remarks he made following the killing of Charlie Kirk. Steve Futterman has the latest.

[NPR Correspondent Steve Futterman]

Fans who attended the taping said at certain moments, Jimmy Kimmel became emotional. Kathy Perisco was in the audience.

[Audience Member / Sponsor Announcer]

Jimmy was in tears. Like more times than not, he was really emotional and like shaking a bit.

[NPR Correspondent Steve Futterman]

Grant Kidner said Kimmel referred to Charlie Kirk's wife, Erica, and her offering forgiveness to Kirk's killer.

[NPR News Anchor]

He referenced her comments at the memorial and about showing forgiveness and saying that was a prime important takeaway from all of this.

[NPR Correspondent Steve Futterman]

The fans said Kimmel never offered a direct apology. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[NPR News Anchor]

In Portugal, the Azores island chain is tracking Hurricane Gabrielle as it moves northeast in the Atlantic. As NPR's Giles Snyder reports, the islands are in the storm's path.

[NPR Correspondent Giles Snyder]

Hurricane Gabrielle is moving through the Atlantic as a major hurricane, but but while the National Hurricane center in Miami expects Gabrielle to have weakened by the time it approaches the Azores on Thursday. Forecasters say the storm will still be a hurricane. A hurricane watch is in effect. Forecasters are warning of destructive waves and significant coastal flooding.

[NPR News Anchor]

NPR's Giles Snyder reporting. U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading on Wall street following Tuesday's losses. This is npr. A four acre fire has prompted evacuations on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Emergency management officials say the flames are threatening a former sugar plantation in the town of Pa'. Ia. It's unclear how the blaze was started, but it was first reported Tuesday afternoon. Pa' Ia is located on Maui's north shore, the opposite side of the island from Lahaina, which was destroyed by wildfire two years ago. Roughly 1.3 billion people around the world are currently living with uncontrolled high blood pressure. That's according to a new report from the World health organization. As NPR's Jonathan Lambert explains, high blood.

[NPR Correspondent Jonathan Lambert]

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.

[NPR News Anchor]

So the human and economic cost is is just immense.

[NPR Correspondent 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.

[NPR News Anchor]

A jury in Florida has convicted Ryan Ruth of trying to assassinate President Trump. Last year, Ruth represented himself at trial and tried to stab himself in the neck. After hearing the verdict. He now faces up to life in prison during sentencing, which is scheduled for December 18 on Asia Pacific Markets. Shares are mixed down a fraction in Tokyo.

[Audience Member / Sponsor Announcer]

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