NPR News: 09-26-2025 2PM EDT - NPR News Now

Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – September 26, 2025 (2PM EDT)

Episode Overview
This NPR News Now episode offers a concise roundup of major national and international headlines, focusing on significant political developments in the U.S., global diplomatic efforts regarding postwar Gaza, corporate turbulence at Starbucks, and developing weather updates for the Atlantic hurricane season. The tone is straightforward, factual, and brisk, providing listeners with a snapshot of top stories in under five minutes.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Indictment of Former FBI Director James Comey

[00:18] Host Lakshmi Singh reports that former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted by Lindsey Halligan, newly appointed U.S. Attorney for Eastern Virginia and former Trump personal attorney.
- Comey is accused of lying to the Senate in 2020 about authorizing a leak of classified information.
[00:51] On Morning Edition, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) offers skepticism about the charges.
- Quote:
  
  “Disclosing information to the media is sort of like, I think there’s a First Amendment. The media is important in this country, so why would that be so material and significant as to constitute a crime under any circumstance?”
  — Tim Kaine [00:51]
Kaine criticizes Trump for canceling a key meeting with Democrats on government funding, with a shutdown deadline looming.
Trump threatens political consequences (“pay a huge political price”) if Democrats don’t accept the GOP funding plan.

2. U.S. Tariffs and Foreign Investment Promises

[01:12] President Trump announces new tariffs starting next week, targeting home furnishings, heavy trucks, and pharmaceuticals.
In the Oval Office, Trump claims that Japan and South Korea have pledged nearly $1 trillion in future U.S. investments in exchange for lower tariffs.
- Quote:
  
  “In Japan, it’s $550 billion, South Korea’s $350 billion. Now that’s up front.”
  — Donald Trump (as reported by Anthony Kuhn) [01:59]
[02:06] Anthony Kuhn (NPR):
- South Korea warns these upfront payments could strain its currency reserves and create financial instability.
- Economists question the plausibility, noting $350 billion exceeds South Korea’s annual U.S. exports more than twofold.

3. Tony Blair and the Future of Gaza

[02:24] NPR’s Fatima Al Kasab reports that Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister, is involved in discussions to lead a transitional authority in postwar Gaza.
The plan involves a temporary international administration, returning control to Palestinians afterward.
Blair’s think tank was previously tied to controversial proposals, including one (the "Trump Riviera") that would have displaced Gazans, violating international law.
- Contextual Quote:
  
  “Blair’s plans would not involve displacing Gazans… The think tank he now runs was also recently linked to plans for a Trump Riviera in Gaza, which would have involved the forced displacement of Palestinians and been in violation of international law.”
  — Fatima Al Kasab [02:33]

4. Starbucks Job Cuts and Store Closures

[03:14] Starbucks is eliminating 900 additional corporate jobs, after 1,100 cuts earlier in the year, and will close about 1% of North American locations (estimated at 200+ stores).
[03:39] Alina Selyukh (NPR):
- Cuts are intended to funnel more resources into store upgrades, with an emphasis on ambience and staffing adjustments to retain customers.
- CEO Brian Nichol believes many stores can’t be modernized profitably and will be closed.
- The retrenchment comes after six quarters of falling sales, as consumers seek cheaper or upscale alternatives.

5. Atlantic Hurricane Outlook

[04:20] The Atlantic hurricane Humberto poses no current land threat.
National Hurricane Center monitors a tropical wave likely to become a depression near Hispaniola, Cuba, and the Bahamas.
- Rising risks are noted for the southeastern U.S. (winds, rain, storm surge) early next week.

6. Markets Update

[04:50] U.S. stocks are trending higher; the Dow is up 331 points to 46,278.

Notable Quotes

Tim Kaine on Comey Indictment:

“Disclosing information to the media is sort of like, I think there’s a First Amendment. The media is important in this country, so why would that be so material and significant as to constitute a crime under any circumstance?”
(Tim Kaine, [00:51])
Donald Trump on Foreign Investment Promises:

“In Japan, it’s $550 billion, South Korea’s $350 billion. Now that’s up front.”
(as reported by Anthony Kuhn, [01:59])
Fatima Al Kasab on Blair’s Gaza Role:

“Blair’s plans would not involve displacing Gazans… The think tank he now runs was also recently linked to plans for a Trump Riviera in Gaza, which would have involved the forced displacement of Palestinians and been in violation of international law.”
(Fatima Al Kasab, [02:33])

Timestamps for Key Segments

[00:18] Indictment of James Comey (Lakshmi Singh, Tim Kaine)
[01:12] Trump-Democrat budget standoff / U.S. Tariffs (Lakshmi Singh, Anthony Kuhn)
[02:24] Tony Blair and postwar Gaza transition (Lakshmi Singh, Fatima Al Kasab)
[03:14] Starbucks layoffs and closures (Lakshmi Singh, Alina Selyukh)
[04:20] Hurricane and market updates (Lakshmi Singh)

This episode delivers a crisp, essential guide to the day's major headlines, providing context and expert insight for listeners interested in current U.S. politics, international developments, business news, and weather alerts.

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Transcript13 lines

[00:00]
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[00:19]
Lakshmi Singh
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump is hailing the indictment of one of his most outspoken critics, former FBI Director James Comey. Lindsey Halligan, the newly installed U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who used to be Trump's personal attorney, brought the charges against Comey. The former FBI director is accused of lying to members of the Senate in 2020 about whether he authorized a leak of classified information to the media. On NPR's Morning Edition, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said he didn't think Comey lied.
[00:52]
Tim Kaine
Why is this material insignificant? Let's just start there. That information was disclosed to the media. I mean, disclosing information to the media is sort of like, I think there's a First Amendment. The media is important in this country, so why would that be so material and significant as to constitute a crime under any circumstance?
[01:12]
Lakshmi Singh
In the interview, Kaine later rebuked President Trump's decision to cancel a meeting with congressional Democratic leaders this week about a government funding deal. The deadline for averting a shutdown is in a few days. Democrats say any bill must address health care. President Trump warned the Democrats will a huge political price if they don't support a GOP plan and allow a shutdown to happen. President Trump has announced he will impose a raft of new tariffs starting next week. These will hit some home furnishings, heavy trucks and pharmaceuticals. Speaking yesterday, Trump said that Japan and South Korea have promised U.S. investments worth nearly a trillion dollars. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports. That's supposed to be in exchange for lower tariffs.
[01:55]
Anthony Kuhn
Speaking in the Oval Office, President Trump said his trade deals with foreign countries are going.
[02:00]
Tim Kaine
We have, as you know, In Japan, it's $550 billion, South Korea's $350 billion. Now that's up front.
[02:07]
Anthony Kuhn
South Korea has warned that paying so much money up front could drain its foreign currency reserves and trigger a financial crisis. Some economists note that $350 billion is more than twice the annual value of South Korea's exports to the U.S. anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.
[02:24]
Lakshmi Singh
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been involved in discussions about running a post war transitional authority in Gaza. More from NPR's Fatima Al Kasab.
[02:34]
Fatima Al Kasab
For months, policymakers around the world have put forward varying plans for the future of post war Gaza. Now, Tony Blair has been involved in talks about leading an authority which would temporarily govern this trip before handing back control to Palestinians, according to a person familiar with the matter who did not want to speak on the record because they weren't authorized. Blair's plans would not involve displacing Gazans as prime minister Blair led the UK into the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The think tank he now runs was also recently linked to plans for a Trump Riviera in Gaza, which would have involved the forced displacement of Palestinians and been in violation of international law.
[03:14]
Lakshmi Singh
Fatima Al Kasab reporting. It's npr. Starbucks plans to cut hundreds of corporate jobs and close many stores as the coffee chain approaches the one year mark of its 20 turnaround plan. The chain has reported declining sales for six straight quarters, with shoppers either searching for a cheaper coffee option or upgrading to fancier coffee shops. NPR's Alina Selyukh has the latest.
[03:39]
Alina Selyukh
Starbucks plans to cut 900 corporate jobs, which is the second wave of layoffs for the company following 1100 job cuts earlier this year. CEO Brian Nichol has said the cost cuts are needed to redirect more money towards stores, which the company is trying to upgrade to keep people coming in more often and staying longer. The chain has been adding more baristas for busy hours, cutting back the menu options and revamping the ambiance. Nicole says the latest review found many stores where such upgrades are not feasible and those stores will close. Starbucks didn't say exactly how many, but cited 1% of its north American fleet, which could be at least 200 locations. Alina Seluk, NPR News.
[04:21]
Lakshmi Singh
Forecasters have been tracking another hurricane in the Atlantic. Humberto currently is not a threat to land. Separately, the U.S. national Hurricane center says a tropical wave is expected to become a tropical depression over the weekend as it moves near Hispaniola, Cuba and the Bahamas. Forecasters warn the southeastern coast of the United States could face higher risks of impact from wind, rain and storm surge early next week. U.S. stocks are trading higher this hour. The Dow is up 331 points at 46,278. It's NPR.
[04:57]
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