NPR News: 09-25-2025 1PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: September 25, 2025, 1PM EDT

Main Theme and Purpose

This five-minute NPR News Now episode, hosted by Lakshmi Singh, delivers concise, up-to-the-minute coverage of top headlines on domestic and global issues, including U.S.-Turkey relations, justice department developments, health policy changes, a major Amazon settlement, and China's latest climate pledge.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. U.S.-Turkey Relations and F35 Jet Sale Debate

[00:19–01:07]

• President Trump hosts Turkish President Erdogan at the White House, signaling the possibility of lifting the freeze on U.S. F35 jet sales to Turkey.

• The U.S. concern centers on the risk of sensitive data leaking to Russia via Turkey’s purchase of a Russian air defense system.

• Trump comments on Turkey’s neutral role in NATO amid efforts to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine.

  "I think he could have a big influence if he wants to. Right now he's very neutral. He likes being neutral. So do I like being neutral. But he's somebody that if he got involved, the best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia..."
  — Political Commentator [00:47]

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2. Dallas ICE Facility Shooting Investigation

[01:07–01:31]

• FBI Director Kash Patel shares via X (formerly Twitter) that investigators have seized devices and other evidence following a deadly shooting at a Dallas ICE facility.
• The incident resulted in three detainees shot, one killed, gunman’s apparent suicide.

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3. Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Warns on Rule of Law

[01:31–02:17]
Reporter: Kerry Johnson

• Jack Smith, who built two criminal cases against President Trump, criticizes current developments at the Justice Department post-2024 election.

• Smith details public servants being fired or vilified and alleges DOJ is now targeting Trump’s political opponents and favoring his allies.

  "He says the rule of law is under attack unlike any other period in his lifetime."
  — Kerry Johnson [01:54]

  "[Smith] says he's standing by people inside DOJ who continue to do the right thing."
  — Kerry Johnson [02:08]

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4. Tylenol, Autism, and Leucovorin Policy Update

[02:17–03:11]
Reporter: Yuki Noguchi

• White House officials recently linked Tylenol use to autism, a claim refuted by researchers.

• Leucovorin, a drug, gets broader approval under Trump administration.

• Families are hopeful but autism experts urge caution, citing limited research on the drug’s safety and efficacy.

  "We've also seen a lot of activity on social media where families are very, very excited that it's going to be easier for them to get."
  — Alicia Halliday, Autism Science Foundation [02:47]

  "She's concerned the administration is offering false hope to many families."
  — Yuki Noguchi [03:03]

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5. Business & Economy: Amazon Settlement

[03:11–04:08]

• Amazon settles with U.S. regulators over Prime membership design, which allegedly tricked users into hard-to-cancel subscriptions.
• Settlement terms: $1 billion civil penalty and $1.5 billion restitution to affected customers.
• Amazon does not admit wrongdoing and is an NPR financial supporter.

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6. Climate Policy: China’s 2035 Emissions Pledge

[04:08–04:53]
Reporter: Julia Simon

• China pledges to cut GHG emissions 7-10% below peak by 2035—less ambitious than expected.

• Experts believe this is a minimum, not a maximum, commitment.

• China’s clean energy industry is booming: 80% of global solar panels and 60% of wind turbines come from China.

• President Xi also promises to boost electric vehicle sales and renewables.

• Noteworthy context: U.S. has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement.

  "Experts say it's likely China is under promising and that the pledge is probably a floor, not a ceiling."
  — Julia Simon [04:23]

  "China's carbon dioxide emissions fell last year largely because of booming Chinese solar, wind and batteries."
  — Julia Simon [04:28]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Turkey’s role in Ukraine conflict:
  "If he got involved, the best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia."
  — Political Commentator [00:47]

• On pressures within the Justice Department:
  "The rule of law is under attack unlike any other period in his lifetime."
  — Kerry Johnson relaying Jack Smith’s remarks [01:54]

• On Leucovorin excitement and risk:
  "Families are very, very excited that it's going to be easier for them to get."
  — Alicia Halliday, Autism Science Foundation [02:47]
  "She's concerned the administration is offering false hope to many families."
  — Yuki Noguchi [03:03]

• On China's climate ambitions:
  "Experts say it's likely China is under promising and that the pledge is probably a floor, not a ceiling."
  — Julia Simon [04:23]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 00:19 | U.S.-Turkey/Erdogan White House visit & F35 debate | | 00:47 | Commentator on Turkey’s neutrality, sanctions | | 01:07 | Dallas ICE facility shooting investigation | | 01:31 | Jack Smith on DOJ and rule of law | | 02:17 | Tylenol, autism claims, and leucovorin approvals | | 03:11 | Markets update, Amazon settlement | | 04:08 | China’s climate emissions pledge |

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This episode delivers a brisk, broad overview of pressing news: U.S. and Turkey's complex geopolitics, concerns over the Justice Department and legal norms, evolving autism policy science, major tech company accountability, and global climate agreements amidst shifting leadership.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump's hosting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House this afternoon. The White House is considering lifting the US freeze on sales of F35 jets to Turkey. The US has been concerned data on the advanced fighter jets could end up in Russian hands through an air defense system that Moscow sold to Ankara. Trump addressed Turkey's role as a member of NATO in helping the alliance pressure Russia to end its war with Ukraine.

[Political Commentator]

I think he could have a big influence if he wants to. Right now he's very neutral. He likes being neutral. So do I like being neutral. But he's somebody that if he got involved, the best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia. If he didn't. If he did that, that would probably the best thing. He knows Putin like I know Putin.

[Lakshmi Singh]

FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X. Investigators have collected devices and other evidence from the site of yesterday's shooting at a Dallas ice facility. The gunman shot three detainees, killing one before apparently taking his own life. The man who built two criminal cases against President Trump has broken his silence. NPR's Kerry Johnson reports. Former special counsel Jack Smith is is warning about attacks on the rule of law.

[Kerry Johnson]

In remarks at George Mason University. Former prosecutor Jack Smith says he's sad and angry about what's happening at the Justice Department. Smith says career public servants are being fired and vilified for doing their jobs. Smith himself left DOJ earlier this year shortly before Trump's inauguration. The Justice Department dropped criminal cases against Trump after he won the 2024 election. Now Smith says new leaders of the department seem to be following orders to go after Trump's p political opponents and give breaks to the president's friends. He says the rule of law is under attack unlike any other period in his lifetime. And he says he's standing by people inside DOJ who continue to do the right thing. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Trump administration officials have recently linked Tylenol use to autism. Researchers say there's no evidence that taking Tylenol while pregnant causes autism in children. And separately, administration officials have relaxed restrictions on a drug called. NPR's Yukin Noguchi has more on that.

[Yuki Noguchi]

Since the Trump administration said it would greenlight broader use of leucovorin. The Autism Science foundation has fielded a lot of calls from patients and their families. Here's the group's chief scientific officer, Alicia Halliday.

[Alicia Halliday]

We've also seen a lot of activity on social media where families are very, very excited that it's going to be easier for them to get.

[Yuki Noguchi]

Halladay is also the mother of an autistic daughter. She says there's still very little research on Leucavorin, its safety or impact on aut. She's concerned the administration is offering false hope to many families. Yuki Noguchi, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks trading lower this hour with the Dow down 152 points. This is NPR News. Amazon has reached a settlement with the government over its prime membership program. U.S. regulators allege the company's Web designs manipulated tens of millions of people into paying for subscriptions that were purposefully horrible, hard to cancel. The Federal Trade Commission says Amazon's agreed to pay a historic $1 billion in civil penalties to the government and an additional one and a half billion in redress payments affected to affected consumers. Amazon does not admit wrongdoing in the settlement. The company is an NPR financial supporter. To limit global warming, the majority of countries on the planet pledged to cut their planet heating pollution as part of the UN Paris Climate Agreement. Now China, the biggest polluter in the world, has announced its climate goal. Here's NPR's Julia Simon.

[Julia Simon]

Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced the country will cut greenhouse gas emissions between 7% and 10% of their peak by 2035. Many climate experts had hoped China would pledge to cut planet heating gases by at least 15 or 20%. But experts say it's likely China is under promising and that the pledge is probably a floor, not a ceiling. China's carbon dioxide emissions fell last year largely because of booming Chinese solar, wind and batteries. 80% of all solar panels and 60% of wind turbines are now supplied by Chinese companies. President Xi also made a pledge to further increase EV sales and renewable energy production. Meanwhile, the US has pulled out of the global climate agreement. Julia Simon, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.

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