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

• 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.

• 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.”

2. ICE Officer Suspended after Violent Incident at NY Immigration Court

• 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.

• 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.”

3. Netanyahu’s UN Speech Attempts to Reach Gaza Residents

• 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.

• 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.”

4. Tennessee National Guard Deployment to Memphis

• 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.

• 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.”

5. Local News: ‘Attack Squirrel’ in the Bay Area

• 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.

• 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.”

6. Financial Market Update

• Summary:

  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 367 points at the time of broadcast.

• Attribution:

  • Lakshmi Singh (04:53):
    “The Dow is up 367 points. It’s NPR.”

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.