NPR News: 09-24-2025 6AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — September 24, 2025, 6AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Theme: The top national and world headlines in five minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers rapid-fire updates on significant political, social, and sports developments overnight and early morning. Stories include Jimmy Kimmel’s return to TV after suspension, President Trump's changing position on Ukraine, a historic Arizona election outcome, new MLB game rules, and the passing of Italian film legend Claudia Cardinale.

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Key Discussion Points & Timestamps

1. Jimmy Kimmel Returns to Air After Suspension

[00:14–01:17]

• Context:
  • Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to his ABC show after a brief suspension.
  • The suspension followed backlash from Trump administration officials regarding Kimmel’s comments on the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
• Kimmel's Response:
  • Addressed the controversy directly in his monologue.
  • Quote:
    • “You understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don't think there's anything funny about it. I posted a message on Instagram of the day he was killed sending love to his family and asking for compassion. And I meant it and I still do.”
      — Jimmy Kimmel [00:37]
• Free Speech Debate:
  • Kimmel defended free speech, criticizing the FCC chair’s suggestion of punishment.
  • Thanked Republicans for defending his right to speak, even if they disagreed with him.
• Political Response:
  • President Trump criticized both Kimmel and ABC, warning of possible legal action over Kimmel’s return.

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2. UN General Assembly & Climate Summit

[01:17–02:19]

• UN Activities:
  • Ongoing general debate at the UN General Assembly.
  • Key side meetings and a climate change summit hosted by the UN Secretary-General.
• Trump’s New Position on Ukraine:
  • Report by Mara Liasson:
    • Trump’s stance on Ukraine has shifted dramatically.
    • After a meeting with Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, Trump posted that Ukraine, supported by EU and NATO, could win back all its Russian-occupied territory.
    • Previous Position: Trump had supported a peace deal allowing Russia to retain some seized land.
    • New Tone: “Now he says Russia looks like a paper tiger that is in big economic trouble.” — Mara Liasson [01:59]
    • Uncertainty remains on whether Trump will increase sanctions or provide more arms to Ukraine.

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3. Historic Arizona Special Election

[02:19–03:12]

• Election Results:
  • Adelita Grijalva, daughter of late Congressman Raul Grijalva, wins a special election in Arizona’s southern border district.
• Significance:
  • Quote (Adelita Grijalva addressing supporters):
    • “A last name alone doesn't earn you the trust from the community service does. And my dad's legacy is one of service to Southern Arizona.”
      — Adelita Grijalva [02:42]
  • Becomes the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress.
  • Her victory narrows the Republican House majority as a government shutdown looms.
  • Plans to sign a discharge petition to force a vote releasing the Epstein files.

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4. Severe Weather & Community Impacts

[03:12–03:56]

• Texas Camp Flood Recovery:
  • Camp Mystic, devastated by summer floods (27 fatalities, mostly girls), will reopen next year.
• Oklahoma Wind Damage:
  • Straight-line winds tore the roof off a hospital in Sallisaw, Oklahoma; no injuries reported.

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5. MLB Adopts Automated Ball/Strike Challenges

[03:56–04:33]

• New Rule Implementation:
  • MLB to introduce a challenge system for balls and strikes next season.
• System Details:
  • Each team: two challenges per game (retain challenge if successful)
  • Only pitcher, catcher, or batter may challenge—signal by tapping top of the head
  • Automated review system will provide immediate, on-screen rulings
• Testing History & Success Rates:
  • Trialed during minor league games, spring training, and the All-Star Game.
  • Four challenges per game on average during trials; slightly over 50% success rate.
  • Catchers have the best batting average on challenges; pitchers, the worst.
  • Quote:
    • “Catchers were the best at challenging. Pitchers were the worst.” — Becky Sullivan [04:26]

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6. Obituary: Claudia Cardinale

[04:33–04:57]

• Death Announcement:
  • Famed Italian actress Claudia Cardinale has died in France at 87.
• Career & Legacy:
  • Over 100 film credits, notable for 8½ and The Leopard.
  • Served as a UN Goodwill ambassador for women's rights.

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Notable Quotes

• Jimmy Kimmel on Charlie Kirk controversy:
  “[...] it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don't think there's anything funny about it. [...] I meant it and I still do.”
  — Jimmy Kimmel [00:37]

• Mara Liasson on Trump’s Ukraine shift:
  “Now he says Russia looks like a paper tiger that is in big economic trouble.”
  — Mara Liasson [01:59]

• Adelita Grijalva on her father’s legacy:
  “A last name alone doesn't earn you the trust from the community service does. And my dad's legacy is one of service to Southern Arizona.”
  — Adelita Grijalva [02:42]

• Becky Sullivan on MLB’s testing:
  “Catchers were the best at challenging. Pitchers were the worst.”
  — Becky Sullivan [04:26]

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Episode Flow & Tone

The coverage is brisk, sober, and informative—matching NPR News Now’s signature style. Key voices (correspondents and newsmakers) are given space to clarify context or defend their actions, while the host, Korva Coleman, efficiently transitions between stories.

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End of summary.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Late night host Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air. Less than a week after ABC suspended him, he received a lengthy standing ovation. Kimmel's show was pulled after Trump administration officials got angry over comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel addressed that issue in his monologue.

[Jimmy Kimmel]

You understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don't think there's anything funny about it. I posted a message on Instagram of the day he was killed sending love to his family and asking for compassion. And I meant it and I still do.

[Korva Coleman]

Kimmel then began a strong defense of free speech. He criticized the chair of the FCC who had suggested Kimmel and ABC could be punished. Kimmel thanked Republicans for standing up for free speech, even if they don't like him. President Trump has criticized Kimmel online, suggesting he could take legal action against ABC for returning Kimmel to the air. General debate continues today at the UN General assembly that includes speeches from world leaders and key side meetings. The UN Secretary General will host a high level summit about climate change. President Trump says Ukraine could end up winning back all of its territory currently occupied by Russia. NPR's Mara Liaison 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 Zelenskyy at the United Nations.com 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.

[Korva Coleman]

The daughter of late Arizona Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva has won a special election in a southern border district. Arizona Public Media's Hannah Cree reports.

[Hannah Cree]

After early results showed Democrat Adelita Grijalva leading Republican Daniel Butieres With 70% of the vote, she told supporters through tears that she intends to honor her father's two decades in Congress.

[Adelita Grijalva]

A last name alone doesn't earn you the trust from the community service does. And my dad's legacy is one of service to Southern Arizona.

[Hannah Cree]

Grijalva will be the first Latina Arizona has sent to Congress representing District 7, which covers Tucson, parts of Phoenix and nearly all of the Arizona Mexico border. Her win also narrows the Republican majority in the House of Representatives as the government shut down looms. Grijalva also said one of her first actions would be to sign a discharge petition to force a vote to release the Epstein files.

[Korva Coleman]

Anna Cree reporting. This is npr. Officials at a Texas camp wrecked by deadly flooding this summer say they will reopen next year. The catastrophe killed 27 people, mostly girls. Camp mystic is low, lying along a Texas river that flooded. Powerful straight line winds tore through a small town southeast of Tulsa, Oklahoma, yesterday. City officials in Sallazaw say the winds tore the roof off of a local hospital. There are no reports of injuries. Major League Baseball will soon allow players to challenge called balls and strikes. The challenge system has been in testing mode and will make its major league debut next spring. NPR's Becky Sullivan has more.

[Becky Sullivan]

Each team will receive two challenges to start the game. If you challenge a call and you are right, you can keep the challenge to use again later. A team's pitcher, catcher or batter must be the one to challenge the call, and they'll do so, but tapping the top of their head. Then an automated review system powered by a dozen cameras placed around each ballpark will show on the big screen whether the pitch passed through the strike zone or not. The system has been in testing in the minor leagues for years now. MLB tried it out in spring training and the All Star Game this year. In spring training, there were about four challenges per game. In all, just over half were successful. Catchers were the best at challenging. Pitchers were the worst. Becky Sullivan, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Famed Italian actress Claudia Cardinale has died in France at the age of 87. According to her agen, the glamorous actress starred in over 100 movies. She gained fame for appearing in the films eight and a half and the Leopard. Cardinali also served as a UN Goodwill ambassador to promote the rights of women. You're listening to npr.

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