NPR News Now – September 26, 2025, 3PM EDT
Host: Lakshmi Singh
Duration: 5 minutes
Main Theme:
A concise roundup of top national and international news stories, with a focus on recent political legal developments in the U.S., law enforcement accountability, ongoing Israeli-Palestinian tensions, National Guard deployments in Tennessee, and a quirky local story from California.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Indictment of Former FBI Director James Comey
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Summary:
- President Trump publicly praises the indictment of James Comey, who faces charges of lying to the Senate and obstruction of justice regarding media leaks.
- The move is controversial, with Comey denying wrongdoing and supporters alleging political retribution by Trump.
- The case is being prosecuted by Lynn Lindsey Halligan, Trump's former personal attorney, who lacks prosecutorial experience but was recently appointed for this case.
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Notable Quotes:
- Lakshmi Singh (00:18):
“President Trump is applauding the indictment of one of his fiercest critics, former FBI Director James Comey... His supporters say they believe President Trump's weaponizing the Justice Department to wage a campaign of retribution.” - Ryan Lucas (01:00):
“Halligan is somebody who's never worked as a prosecutor. She has no prosecutorial experience... That’s who President Trump put in place.”
- Lakshmi Singh (00:18):
2. ICE Officer Suspended after Violent Incident at NY Immigration Court
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Summary:
- Video circulates of an ICE officer pushing a woman to the ground in a New York immigration court.
- The officer is placed on administrative leave; tensions between federal agents and the public are rising as ICE increases its presence in immigration courts.
- NPR captured similar aggressive action from the same officer the previous month.
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Notable Quotes:
- Ximena Bustillo (01:48):
“DHS spokesperson Trisha McLaughlin says in a statement that the officer's actions caught on camera yesterday are, quote, unacceptable.” - Ximena Bustillo (01:52):
“There have been growing tensions between federal law enforcement and the public in immigration courts as agents are tasked with making more arrests.”
- Ximena Bustillo (01:48):
3. Netanyahu’s UN Speech Attempts to Reach Gaza Residents
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Summary:
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu tried to broadcast his UN address into Gaza via loudspeakers on the Israeli border, but Gazans – according to NPR contacts – say they heard nothing.
- Instead, people only heard sounds of ongoing military actions.
- Many diplomats left the UN assembly in protest before Netanyahu’s speech.
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Notable Quotes:
- Ryan Lucas (02:26), quoting Netanyahu:
“My words are now also being carried… streamed live through the cell phones of Gazans.” - Emily Feng (02:35):
“But news outlets including NPR contacted people across Gaza who say they didn’t hear anything.” - Ryan Lucas (03:03), voice from Gaza City:
“The only thing that we can hear here is… the Israeli airstrikes, the artilleries and the tanks firing here.”
- Ryan Lucas (02:26), quoting Netanyahu:
4. Tennessee National Guard Deployment to Memphis
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Summary:
- Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee clarifies details of the National Guard deployment to Memphis, stating local guard members will be deputized by U.S. Marshals to help combat crime.
- Unlike recent deployments in D.C. and L.A., the guard members won’t carry arms unless requested by local law enforcement and won’t have authority to make arrests.
- Critics allege President Trump is unfairly targeting Democratic-led cities.
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Notable Quotes:
- Lakshmi Singh (03:14):
“The plan to deploy National Guard troops to Memphis will be very different from President Trump's deployment of those service members to Washington D.C. and Los Angeles recently.”
- Lakshmi Singh (03:14):
5. Local News: ‘Attack Squirrel’ in the Bay Area
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Summary:
- In San Rafael, California, several residents report being attacked by an aggressive squirrel.
- While the risk of rabies is low, residents remain wary and have posted warnings.
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Memorable Moment:
- Emily Feng (04:15), quoting victim Joan Heblack:
“It was very heavy and I looked down and it was a squirrel.” - Emily Feng (04:26), quoting Joan Heblack:
“It wouldn’t get off. It just clung more and I was swinging my leg around and screaming.” - Katie DiBenedetti (04:31):
“Disquieting posters warning people of quote, a very mean squirrel are still up in the neighborhood.”
- Emily Feng (04:15), quoting victim Joan Heblack:
6. Financial Market Update
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Summary:
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 367 points at the time of broadcast.
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Attribution:
- Lakshmi Singh (04:53):
“The Dow is up 367 points. It’s NPR.”
- Lakshmi Singh (04:53):
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Comey Indictment and Prosecution: 00:18–01:35
- ICE Officer Incident: 01:35–02:19
- Netanyahu’s UN Speech and Gaza Reactions: 02:19–03:14
- Tennessee National Guard Deployment: 03:14–04:09
- Attack Squirrel in Bay Area: 04:09–04:53
- Market Update: 04:53–04:57
Conclusion
This swift NPR News update covered major legal and political maneuvers in Washington, tension points in immigration enforcement, the limited reach of Israeli messaging to Gaza, state-level security responses, and ended with a quirky cautionary tale of a rogue squirrel in California. The episode maintained NPR’s characteristic direct, informative, and clear tone throughout.
