NPR News: 09-25-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 09-25-2025 11PM EDT

Host: Shea Stevens
Date: September 26, 2025
Length: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise roundup of the day’s top U.S. news in five minutes. Major highlights include the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, growing tensions surrounding a possible federal government shutdown, an extraordinary gathering of U.S. military leaders, sweeping new import tariffs, a major Amazon legal settlement, and music chart news.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Indictment of Former FBI Director James Comey

[00:18–01:20]

• News: Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia on charges of obstruction and making false statements.
• Details:
  • The charges stem from Comey’s Senate testimony in 2020 about the FBI’s Russia investigation and alleged media leaks.
  • The indictment came after significant pressure from President Trump to prosecute Comey before a statute of limitations expiration.
  • Notably, the White House recently replaced a longtime prosecutor who doubted the case’s strength. Lindsey Halligan, an insurance lawyer with no prosecutorial experience but Trump ties, was appointed as U.S. attorney in Virginia.
• White House Reaction:
  • President Trump posted, “justice in America,” after the indictment.
• Notable Quote:
  • “The charges against Jim Comey come after days of pressure from President Trump, who urged the Justice Department to hurry up and build a criminal case against him.” — Carrie Johnson, NPR [00:34]

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2. Looming Federal Government Shutdown and Mass Firing Threat

[01:20–02:19]

• News: With days before a government funding deadline, the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) threatens mass layoffs rather than furloughs in the event of a shutdown.
• Political Response:
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accuses OMB of conducting “mass firings” throughout the year and vows legal challenges.
• Shutdown Politics:
  • President Trump blames Democrats for demanding health care cost measures in the funding legislation.
  • No talks are scheduled and a government shutdown could begin October 1st.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “We will not be intimidated by these threats coming from the most extreme parts of the Trump administration.” — Hakeem Jeffries [01:55]
  • “There are no talks and no clear path to avoid a shutdown that could start October 1st.” — Deidre Walsh, NPR [02:10]

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3. Rare Summoning of U.S. Military Leadership

[02:19–03:12]

• News: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called hundreds of generals and admirals to an urgent meeting in Quantico, Virginia next week.
• Details:
  • No information on the meeting’s agenda has been disclosed.
  • Such a large, short-notice gathering is highly unusual and raises questions about further military leadership changes, especially following recent high-level dismissals.
• Notable Quote:
  • “It’s extremely rare to call in hundreds of military leaders from around the globe to one central location on short notice.” — Greg Myhre, NPR [02:37]

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4. Economic & Business Updates

[03:12–04:03]

• Stock Market:
  • U.S. futures are flat in after-hours trading. [03:12]
• Tariffs:
  • President Trump imposes 100% tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals, plus significant tariffs on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, heavy trucks, and upholstered furniture.
  • The administration cites “national security and other reasons.”
• Amazon Settlement:
  • Amazon agrees to pay $2.5 billion to settle an FTC charge for misleading customers into signing up for Prime and making cancellation difficult.

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5. Cultural Highlight: Twenty One Pilots Back on Top

[04:03–04:54]

• Music News:
  • Twenty One Pilots’ new album “Breach” debuts at #1 on Billboard.
  • Their song “City Walls” enters the Hot 100.
  • Chart success attributed to 72,000 vinyl sales, though no major mainstream hit has emerged from the album yet.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Brief audio snippet of their hit “Stressed Out” (2015-16), recalling their earlier success. [04:03–04:15]
• Notable Quote:
  • “Its chart success is due primarily to a huge flood of record sales, including 72,000 copies sold on vinyl.” — Stephen Thompson, NPR [04:45]

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Notable Quotes

• “We will not be intimidated by these threats coming from the most extreme parts of the Trump administration.” — Hakeem Jeffries [01:55]
• “It’s extremely rare to call in hundreds of military leaders from around the globe to one central location on short notice.” — Greg Myhre [02:37]
• “Its chart success is due primarily to a huge flood of record sales, including 72,000 copies sold on vinyl.” — Stephen Thompson [04:45]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Indictment of James Comey: 00:18–01:20
• Shutdown & Mass Layoff Threats: 01:20–02:19
• Military Leadership Meeting: 02:19–03:12
• Trump Tariffs & Amazon Settlement: 03:12–04:03
• Twenty One Pilots Chart Debut: 04:03–04:54

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This summary captures the primary news and insights of the episode, providing an accessible guide to the day’s major national headlines.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of obstruction and making false statements. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports.

[Carrie Johnson]

The charges against Jim Comey come after days of pressure from President Trump, who urged the Justice Department to hurry up and build a criminal case against him. The statute of limitations had been set to expire next week. The charges stem from Senate testimony Comey gave in September 2020 about the FBI investigation into Russian election interference and a leak to the news media. The White House recently forced down a longtime prosecutor after he cast doubt on the strength of any case against Comey. This week, Lindsey Halligan, an insurance lawyer with no experience as a prosecutor but who had earlier ties to Trump, became U.S. attorney in Virginia. The president posted, quote, justice in America after the indictment became public. Kerry Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

Less than one week before federal agencies run out of money, a Trump administration memo is threatening mass layoffs. NPR's Deidre Walsh explains.

[Deidre Walsh]

The Office of Management and Budget released a memo indicating if the government shuts down next week, it will fire some federal workers instead of putting them on unpaid leave. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says OMB has already been engaging in what he called mass firings throughout the year, and Democrats will continue to pursue legal challenges. His message to OMB chief Russ Vote was, get lost.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

We will not be intimidated by these threats coming from the most extreme parts of the Trump administration.

[Deidre Walsh]

President Trump called Democrats demands to address health care costs as part of a funding deal on Sirius and says they will be blamed for a shutdown. There are no talks and no clear path to avoid a shutdown that could start October 1st. Deirdre Welch, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of generals and admirals to Virginia for a meeting next week. As NPR's Greg Myrey reports, the reason for the unusual gathering is not clear.

[Greg Myhre]

The meeting will take place next week at a military base in Quantico, Virginia, outside Washington. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the meeting but gave no details on what would be discussed. It's extremely rare to call in hundreds of military leaders from around the globe to one central location on short notice. This presents challenges ranging from logistics to maintaining ongoing operations. Hegseth has already shaken up the top ranks of the milit, dismissing many senior officers. Next week's meeting raises the possibility that more high level changes could be in the offing. Greg Myhre, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading. This is NPR. President Trump has imposed 100% tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals. The order also calls for a range of other levies, including a 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. Heavy trucks and upholstered furniture are all also subject to new tariffs. Trump says the import levies are needed for national security and other reasons. Amazon has agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle a Federal Trade Commission claim that it duped customers into signing up for prime memberships. The FTC says the online retailer also made it difficult for customers to cancel. It's been a big week for rock and roll. On the Billboard albums chart, a familiar band debuts at number one. NPR's Stephen Thompson has details.

[Stephen Thompson]

If you were listening to pop and rock radio a decade ago, chances are you're very familiar with this song.

That.

Is stressed out by Twenty One Pilots, one of three songs by the band to reach the top five in 2015 and 2016. This week, the group is back on top of the charts. Its album Breach debuts at number one, while the song City Walls cracks the Hot 100 singles chart. Still, the album has yet to produce a major pop hit. Its chart success is due primarily to a huge flood of record sales, including 72,000 copies sold on vinyl. Stephen Thompson, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

You're listening to NPR Support for npr.

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