NPR News: 09-26-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — Episode Summary

Episode: NPR News: 09-26-2025 10PM EDT
Date: September 27, 2025
Host: Ryland Barton (with reports by Mara Liasson, Michelle Kellerman, Jenna McLaughlin, Megan Kamerick)

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Overview

This five-minute news update covers the major headlines in U.S. politics, international relations, cybersecurity threats, public health, national park management, and science innovation from September 27, 2025. The reporting reflects a rapidly evolving news day with a focus on the shifting U.S. Department of Justice, Iranian nuclear tensions, a major government cybersecurity alert, conclusion of a U.S. measles outbreak, national park concerns ahead of a possible shutdown, and an Australian scientific advance in swimmer safety.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DOJ Reinforcements at ICE Facilities & Comey Indictment

[00:19 - 01:21]

• Attorney General Pam Bondi is deploying extra support to ICE facilities across the U.S. following a deadly shooting at a Dallas ICE center (1 killed, 2 injured).

  • Pam Bondi statement:

    “The Department of Justice will not stand idly by in the face of such lawlessness.” (00:31)

• Political context:

  • President Trump and allies have removed career prosecutors and high-level DOJ officials.
  • The indictment of former FBI Director James Comey is seen as a major shift, reflecting increasing pressure on the DOJ to act against Trump’s adversaries.
  • Mara Liasson:

    “He specifically told the attorney general to go after specific people, including Comey. He said do it fast… Even if I can’t convict you, I can ruin your life.” (01:02 - 01:20)

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2. Iran Nuclear Diplomacy & U.N. Sanctions

[01:21 - 02:18]

• Iran’s Foreign Minister Saeed Abbas Arachi declares negotiations with the U.S. are a "pure dead end" and condemns European moves to reimpose U.N. sanctions.
• Key Quote:

  “Today’s crisis is the direct result of U.S. withdrawal and Europe’s inaction. The U.S. betrayed diplomacy.” (Saeed Abbas Arachi, 01:55)

• Michelle Kellerman reports: Russia and China failed to prevent sanctions, while Iran blames both the U.S. and European inaction for the current situation.
• Background: Talks had been planned but were derailed by U.S. and Israeli bombings of Iranian nuclear sites earlier in the year.

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3. Government-Wide Cybersecurity Alert

[02:18 - 03:14]

• DHS CISA issues an urgent warning about newly discovered vulnerabilities in Cisco products.
• Federal agencies are required to inventory their systems and check for breaches.
• Jenna McLaughlin explains:
  • A hacking group (possibly linked to China) exploited several previously unknown flaws.
  • Chinese state hackers often infiltrate government networks via third-party devices.
• Key detail: Cisco has a dedicated team responding to this threat, with other firms like Census tracking the hackers’ origins.

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4. U.S. National Parks & Shutdown Warnings

[03:14 - 03:37]

• Forty former national park superintendents urge the Trump administration to close parks if the government shuts down.
• Reason: Previous shutdowns left parks open, leading to vandalism and habitat destruction.
• Letter sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasizes lessons learned from past shutdowns.

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5. New Mexico Declares End to Measles Outbreak

[03:37 - 04:37]

• Megan Kamerick (KUNM) reports: State health officials declare New Mexico measles-free after 42 days without new cases and negative wastewater samples.
• Dr. Chad Smelzer, Acting State Epidemiologist:

  “We were very aggressive with case investigation and contact tracing, so trying to stop spread once a case was identified.” (04:09)

• Success attributed to: Aggressive containment, high vaccination rates, and provider vigilance.
• Outbreak origin: Likely spread from West Texas; New Mexico identified 100 cases.

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6. Shark Bite-Resistant Wetsuits Developed in Australia

[04:37 - 04:58]

• Australian scientists test new wetsuits at sea by letting sharks bite them.
• Finding: These suits do not prevent bite attempts but do lessen injuries, making them an advance over standard wetsuits for swimmer safety.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pam Bondi on DOJ action:

  “The Department of Justice will not stand idly by in the face of such lawlessness.” (00:31)

• Mara Liasson, political insight on DOJ under pressure:

  “He specifically told the attorney general to go after specific people, including Comey. He said do it fast. … Even if I can’t convict you, I can ruin your life.” (01:02 - 01:20)

• Saeed Abbas Arachi, Iran’s foreign minister:

  “Today’s crisis is the direct result of U.S. withdrawal and Europe’s inaction. The U.S. betrayed diplomacy.” (01:55)

• Dr. Chad Smelzer on measles containment:

  “We were very aggressive with case investigation and contact tracing, so trying to stop spread once a case was identified.” (04:09)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:19 – 01:21: DOJ response to ICE attack, Comey indictment, and political context
• 01:21 – 02:18: Iran and U.N. sanctions; diplomatic fallout
• 02:18 – 03:14: Cybersecurity alert at federal agencies
• 03:14 – 03:37: National parks warn of shutdown dangers
• 03:37 – 04:37: New Mexico ends measles outbreak
• 04:37 – 04:58: Shark bite-resistant wetsuit test

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This episode delivers high-impact updates on developments in justice, international relations, public health, cybersecurity, environmental management, and science—all in under five minutes.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Attorney General Pam Bondi says she's deploying reinforcements to ICE facilities around the country to protect agents and property. The move comes after a gunman opened fire at an ICE facility in Dallas earlier this week, killing one detainee and injuring two others. In a post online, Bondi said, quote, the Department of Justice will not stand idly by in the face of such lawlessness. President Trump and his allies have ousted career prosecutors and other high level employees at the Department of Justice, but the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey marks a turning point for the agency. As NPR's Mara Liasson explains, the department is under pressure to go after Trump's perceived enemies.

[Mara Liasson]

He specifically told the attorney general to go after specific people, including Comey. He said do it fast. He clearly understood the clock was ticking. And the interesting thing is it doesn't matter if this case is weak or strong. He's sending a signal to everyone else that I can bankrupt you. I can ruin your career. Even if I can't convict you, I can ruin your life.

[Ryland Barton]

NPR's Mara Liasson reporting. Iran's foreign minister says diplomacy with the U.S. is a, quote, pure dead end, and he rejected a move by European countries to reimpose U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Russia and China have failed for a second time to prevent UN Sanctions from snapping back. Iran's foreign minister, Saeed Abbas Arachi, says it was the US that pulled out of the nuclear deal in the first place, and he says the three European countries that were also part of the deal have no right to reimpose sanctions.

[Saeed Abbas Arachi]

Today's crisis is the direct result of U.S. withdrawal and Europe's inaction. The U.S. betrayed diplomacy.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Arakchi says Iran has had, in his words, a terrible experience negotiating with the U.S. iran was about to hold more talks when Israel and the US Bombed nuclear sites earlier this year. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, New York.

[Ryland Barton]

Cybersecurity officials say federal agencies must take inventory of their information systems immediately to see if bad actors have taken advantage of a new digital vulnerability. NPR's Jenna McLaughlin reports.

[Jenna McLaughlin]

The Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency, or cisa, has issued an urgent warning about newly discovered flaws in certain products made by technology company Cisco. CISA is requiring federal agencies account for their use of these systems and scan for breaches. Cisco says it has a full time team devoted to investigating the group of hackers targeting its technology who have discovered multiple previously unknown vulnerabilities in their systems. Other cybersecurity companies, including Census, have concluded the hacking group has possible ties to China. Chinese state hacking groups are known for sophisticated spying campaigns where they'll gain a foothold in government networks by compromising third party devices. Jenna McLaughlin, NPR News from Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

This is NPR News. A group of former national park superintendents is calling on the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors in case of a government shutdown. Forty former superintendents said in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum that past shutdowns have led to vandalism and destruction of wildlife habitats when parks remained open. New Mexico is officially clear of the measles outbreak that began in February. That's the word from the state's Department of Health from member station KUNM. Megan Kamerick has more.

[Megan Kamerick]

Acting state epidemiologist Dr. Chad Smelzer says there have been no new cases over the past 42 days, which equals two incubation periods for the disease. Also, wastewater samples have been negative for quite a while around the state. Smelzer says the state overcame the outbreak even as other states like Arizona and Utah are seeing rising cases.

[Dr. Chad Smelzer]

We were very aggressive with case investigation and contact tracing, so trying to stop spread once a case was identified.

[Megan Kamerick]

He also credits high vaccination rates and healthcare providers work, especially in identifying and reporting the cases. 100 measles cases were identified in New Mexico, which health officials say was likely due to an outbreak in neighboring West Texas. For NPR News, I'm Megan Kamerek in Albuquerque.

[Ryland Barton]

Australian scientists have tested bite resistant wetsuits by letting sharks bite them at sea. They say the suits can help keep swimmers safe. The materials don't prevent bites, but can lessen injuries compared to standard wetsuits. From Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. This is NPR News.

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