NPR News: 09-25-2025 9PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 25, 2025, 9PM EDT

Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)
Episode Theme:
A concise update on the day's top U.S. news stories, including political indictments, national security developments, local headlines, public safety incidents, and an unusual wildlife report.

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Main Headlines & In-Depth Segments

1. James Comey Indictment

(00:15 – 01:21)

• Summary:
  Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia on charges of obstructing justice and making false statements.
• Background:
  • Charges relate back to Comey's 2020 Senate testimony about the FBI’s investigation into Russian election interference and alleged leaks to the media.
  • Intense pressure came from President Trump, who pushed the Justice Department to expedite the case as the statute of limitations was set to expire.
  • A longtime prosecutor was recently replaced by Lindsey Halligan, a Trump ally with no prior prosecutorial experience.
• Notable quotes:
  • "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 (00:33)
  • President Trump’s social media reaction: “Justice in America” (reported by Carrie Johnson, 01:12)

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2. TikTok U.S. Takeover Approved

(01:21 – 02:20)

• Summary:
  President Trump has approved a deal for predominantly U.S. investors to acquire TikTok from Chinese parent company ByteDance.
• Key Deal Points:
  • ByteDance will reduce its U.S. stake to under 20%.
  • Ensures U.S. control of TikTok's algorithm and user data.
  • Responds to national security and privacy concerns regarding Chinese influence.
  • Vice President J.D. Vance said the deal values TikTok at $14 billion.
• Notable quotes:
  • "A law passed last year requires ByteDance to divest or see the app go dark in the United States." — John Ruich (01:44)
  • "The deal safeguards U.S. users' data and ensures that Americans are in control of TikTok's prized content recommendation algorithm.” — Vice President J.D. Vance (reported by John Ruich, 02:09)

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3. ICE Facility Check-ins After Shooting

(02:20 – 03:15)

• Summary:
  Migrants in Dallas arrived for required ICE check-ins the day after a shooting that injured three detainees.
• Details:
  • Many, like 53-year-old Benjamin Bellorin, did not know appointments had been postponed.
  • Authorities said the gunman targeted ICE agents, but all victims were detainees.
  • ICE postponed this week's check-ins to next week.
• Notable quotes:
  • "I just wanted them to see that I showed up. He says he does not want to get in trouble." — Benjamin Bellorin (translated and reported by Sergio Martinez Beltran, 02:51)
  • "Authorities say the gunman who opened fire this week was targeting ICE agents, but the people he shot were all detainees." — Sergio Martinez Beltran (03:03)

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4. San Francisco Jewelry Heist & Squirrel Attacks

(03:15 – 04:33)

• Jewelry Heist:
  • A group of about two dozen masked individuals armed with pickaxes robbed a Bay Area jewelry store, stealing around $1 million in jewelry.
  • Police tracked and arrested several suspects after a car chase.
• Squirrel Attacks:
  • In San Rafael, a notably aggressive squirrel has attacked several residents, sending at least three to the ER.
  • Residents have posted warnings describing a “very mean squirrel.”
• Memorable moments:
  • "It was very heavy and I looked down and it was a squirrel." — Joan Heblack, attack victim (03:57)
  • "It just clung more and I was swinging my leg around and screaming." — Joan Heblack (04:08)
  • Reporter notes, "Luckily, the odds of getting rabies from a squirrel are extremely low." — Katie DiBenedetti (04:13)

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5. Marine Life Thriving on WWII Explosives

(04:33 – 04:58)

• Summary:
  Scientists observed crabs, worms, and fish flourishing on old WWII munitions dumped in the Baltic Sea, an unexpected ecological find.
• Details:
  • A German weapons dump site showed more marine life on discarded warheads than the surrounding seabed.
  • Filmed networks include anemones, starfish, and other creatures.
• Notable insight:
  • Odd juxtaposition between expected toxicity and vibrant marine ecosystems.

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Memorable Quotes

• "Justice in America." — President Trump (Carrie Johnson, 01:12)
• "It was very heavy and I looked down and it was a squirrel." — Joan Heblack (03:57)
• "It just clung more and I was swinging my leg around and screaming." — Joan Heblack (04:08)
• "The deal safeguards U.S. users' data and ensures that Americans are in control of TikTok's prized content recommendation algorithm.” — Vice President J.D. Vance (reported by John Ruich, 02:09)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:15 – Ryland Barton opens with Comey indictment news
• 00:33 – Carrie Johnson explains the charges and political influence
• 01:21 – TikTok deal coverage begins
• 01:36 – John Ruich details national security background and deal particulars
• 02:20 – Dallas ICE facility shooting aftermath
• 02:35 – Sergio Martinez Beltran relays migrants’ confusion post-shooting
• 03:15 – Bay Area jewelry robbery and follow-up
• 03:51 – Katie DiBenedetti on the infamous Bay Area squirrel
• 04:33 – Marine life thriving on WWII munitions
• 04:58 – Episode closes

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Tone and Delivery

The reporting is urgent but measured, with a focus on delivering the most pressing facts in a limited timeframe. Occasional participant quotes and on-the-ground reporting add color and humanity to the news, especially in the local segments.

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For listeners seeking a rapid, fact-first news digest, this episode packs political drama, tech intrigue, local color, and surprising scientific discovery into just five minutes, each story marked by precision and clarity.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

FX stream on Hulu Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted former FBI director James Comey. NPR's Kerry Johnson report reports Comey faces charges of obstructing justice and making false statements.

[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 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. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

President Trump has given his blessing to a deal for a group of mostly US investors to take over the short video app TikTok. Trump signed an executive order saying the proposed deal meets congressional requirements and will protect national security. NPR's John Ruich has more.

[John Ruich]

The executive order paves the way for a framework agreement on the sale of TikTok to be finalized. It would see TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divest to less than 20% ownership while US investors step in and take control. A law passed last year requires ByteDance to divest or see the app go dark in the United States. The law arose out of the fear that under Chinese ownership, TikTok could be used by the Chinese government to collect data on Americans or manipulate US Users with propaganda or disinformation. After Trump signed the executive order, Vice President J.D. vance said the deal values TikTok at around $14 billion. He said the deal safeguards U.S. users data and ensures that Americans are in control of TikTok's prized content recommendation algorithm. John Ruich, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

Today, dozens of migrants showed up to the Dallas ICE facility where three detainees were shot yesterday. They had all they all had mandatory check INS with ICE that if missed, could lead to detention and deportation. NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran reports.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

53 year old Nicaraguan migrant Benjamin Bellorin drove more than two hours to get to his appointment with ICE in Dallas, but he found police officers outside telling him that the facility was closed. No appointments today. Bellorin expressed he was worried, saying, yo, keria de Harpueja. I just wanted them to see that I showed up. He says he does not want to get in trouble. Bjorin did not know the appointments have been postponed. Authorities say the gunman who opened fire this week was targeting ICE agents, but the people he shot were all detainees. ICE has said this week's check ins have been moved to next week. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Dallas.

[Ryland Barton]

This is npr. A brazen heist at a San Francisco Bay Area jewelry store led to some two dozen people wearing masks smashing glass cases with pickaxes and making off with bags full of a million dollars worth of jewelry. Police say the robbers fled in cars waiting in a nearby lot. Officers tracked the vehicles from the air and were able to arrest several suspects. A violent squirrel is on the loose in the Bay Area. Katie D. Benedetti with member station KQED reports that at least three North Bay residents have gone to the emergency room with injuries from the rodent.

[Katie DiBenedetti]

Joan Heblack was out for her morning walk when she felt something strange grabbing on her leg last Sunday.

[Joan Heblack]

It was very heavy and I looked down and it was a squirrel.

[Katie DiBenedetti]

Neighbors say five people have reported attacks around the same street in San Rafael this month that go a bit like.

[Joan Heblack]

This and wouldn't get off. It just clung more and I was swinging my leg around and screaming.

[Katie DiBenedetti]

Luckily, the odds of getting rabies from a squirrel are extremely low, and Heblock was back out on her usual walk that same afternoon. But disquieting posters warning people of quote, a very mean squirrel are still up in the neighborhood. For NPR news, I'm Katie DiBenedetti in San Francisco.

[Ryland Barton]

Crabs, worms and fish are thriving on discarded World War II explosives in the Baltic Sea thought to be toxic to marine life. At a former WEAP dump site off the coast of Germany, scientists found more creatures living on top of warheads than in the surrounding seabed. Researchers filmed networks of anemones, starfish and other underwater life. From Washington, this is NPR News.

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