Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – 09-26-2025, 4PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh (NPR)
Date: September 26, 2025
Length: ~5 Minutes

Overview

This tightly packed NPR News Now episode delivers the latest headline stories from the United States and abroad in the span of five minutes. Main topics include the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, developments regarding Jimmy Kimmel’s show amidst media blackout controversy, international fallout from the recognition of Palestine, urgent federal cybersecurity actions, an NYC shooting linked to CTE, a major Interpol romance scam bust in Africa, and the day’s stock market update.

Key News Segments & Insights

1. James Comey Indicted

[00:19] Lakshmi Singh opens with breaking news: Former FBI Director James Comey is indicted on charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice.
President Trump reacts sharply:
- Quote ([00:35]):
  “He’s a dirty cop. He’s always been a dirty cop. Everybody knew it.” – Donald Trump
Lakshmi notes that Comey has denied the charges, referencing prior public confrontations with Trump.

2. Jimmy Kimmel Live Returns Amidst Broadcasting Controversy

[00:39] Jimmy Kimmel Live returns to Sinclair’s ABC-affiliated stations, ending a blackout affecting dozens of U.S. cities.
Background:
- Kimmel’s suspension by ABC (under FCC pressure) followed a monologue criticized by conservatives.
- The assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah triggered further preemptions by major broadcasters.

3. Israel, Palestine, and Global Diplomacy

[00:59] Recognition of Palestine as a state becomes a central global issue.
[01:28] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a defiant speech at the UN General Assembly after a notable walkout:
- Quote ([01:41]): “Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7th is like giving Al Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11th. This is sheer madness. It’s insane and we won’t do it.” – Benjamin Netanyahu
- Netanyahu frames the recognition as a reward for terrorism by Hamas.
[01:57] Noted that while U.S. and Israeli diplomats applauded, President Trump has opposed Israeli plans to annex the West Bank.
Upcoming diplomatic engagement: Netanyahu and Trump to meet on Monday.

4. Urgent Cybersecurity Advisory

[02:15] Jenna McLaughlin reports on a federal cybersecurity alert:
- Federal agencies are ordered to inventory information systems amid concerns over a newly discovered vulnerability.
CISA (Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) issues urgent warnings about Cisco product flaws exploited by hackers (“zero days”).
Cisco acknowledges an active investigation; hacking group suspected to have ties to China.
Context: Chinese state-backed groups linked to sophisticated government network compromises.

5. NYC Shooting & CTE Link

[03:14] Lakshmi reports new findings in July’s Manhattan office building shooting in which Shane Tamura killed four people and himself.
Medical examiner confirms Tamura had CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), possibly linked to his football background.
A note blamed the NFL, whose headquarters are in the affected office building.

6. Interpol-Led Crackdown on Internet Romance Scams in Africa

[04:06] Emmanuel Akinwotu reports:
- Major Interpol operation in 14 African countries resulted in 260 arrests.
- Focused on internet romance scams (“sextortion”), identifying over 1,000 victims and nearly $3 million in losses.
- Ghana: 68 suspects arrested, $70,000 recovered.
- Cote d’Ivoire: Extortion ring with 800 victims dismantled.
- Fastest-growing online security threat disproportionately impacting young people, especially in the U.S.
- Quote ([04:40]):
  “Internet romance scams and sextortion are among the fastest growing online security threats in the world, and many victims are young people based in the U.S.” – Emmanuel Akinwotu

7. Market Update

[04:46] U.S. stock market closes higher:
- Dow Jones up nearly 300 points (over 0.5%), ending at 46,247.

Notable Quotes & Moments

Donald Trump on Comey ([00:35]): “He’s a dirty cop. He’s always been a dirty cop. Everybody knew it.”
Netanyahu at the UN ([01:41]): “Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7th is like giving Al Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11th. This is sheer madness. It’s insane and we won’t do it.”
Emmanuel Akinwotu on online scams ([04:40]): “Internet romance scams and sextortion are among the fastest growing online security threats in the world, and many victims are young people based in the U.S.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

[00:19] – Indictment of James Comey and Trump’s response
[00:39] – Return of Jimmy Kimmel Live and media blackout background
[01:28] – Netanyahu’s UN speech, global recognition of Palestine
[02:15] – Federal cybersecurity warning and Cisco vulnerabilities
[03:14] – NYC shooting/CTE updates and connection to NFL
[04:06] – Interpol’s internet scams and mass arrests in Africa
[04:46] – U.S. stock market update

Summary

In just five minutes, this NPR News Now episode delivers a brisk roundup of major national and international headlines, highlighting legal and political drama in the U.S., shifting global attitudes toward Palestine, urgent cybersecurity threats, a tragic shooting linked to sports-connected brain disease, an international crime crackdown, and a positive finish on Wall Street.

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Transcript14 lines

[00:00]
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[00:20]
Lakshmi Singh
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Justice Department indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice. President Trump had this to say this morning about one of his most prominent critics.
[00:35]
Donald Trump
He's a dirty cop. He's always been a dirty cop. Everybody knew it.
[00:40]
Lakshmi Singh
Comey, who has famously likened Trump to a mob boss, denies the charges. Sinclair is bringing Jimmy Kimmel live back to its ABC affiliated stations tonight. It ends a television blackout for dozens of cities across the United States. Less than two weeks ago, abc, which is owned by Disney, suspended Kimmel under FCC pressure over a monologue that was widely criticized by many conservatives. In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination in Utah, both Sinclair and nexstar preempted Kimmel's show. Much of the world has now recognized Palestine as a state, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is warning the United Nations General assembly that it cannot force a Palestinian state down his throat. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports on the Israeli leader's defiant UN speech.
[01:29]
Benjamin Netanyahu
Please be seated.
[01:31]
Michelle Kellerman
After a walkout by many diplomats in the UN Hall, Netanyahu chastised Khalid countries for recognizing a Palestinian state. He calls it a reward for terrorism by Hamas.
[01:41]
Benjamin Netanyahu
Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7th is like giving Al Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11th. This is sheer madness. It's insane and we won't do it.
[01:58]
Michelle Kellerman
While US And Israeli diplomats cheered his message, President Trump has made clear that he opposes Israeli plans to annex the west bank, which Palestinians want as a future state. Netanyahu is set to meet Trump on Monday. Michelle Kellerman, NPR news, N.Y. u.S. Cybersecurity.
[02:16]
Lakshmi Singh
Officials say federal agencies must inventory their information systems immediately. NPR's Jenna McLaughlin reports. They're looking for any evidence bad actors have taken advantage of a newly discovered digital vulnerability.
[02:28]
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, what are known as zero days. 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.
[03:14]
Lakshmi Singh
This is NPR. The New York City medical examiner's office finds that the gunman who killed four people in a Manhattan office building in July before taking his own life had chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is the degenerative brain disease linked to head injuries sustained in contact sports, including football. And authorities say Shane Tamura played football in high school. Investigators had reported finding a note at the scene of the rampage in which he blamed the NFL for cte. NFL headquarters are housed in the office building. Police in 14 African countries have arrested 260 suspects in a major operation. The police were assisted by the international law enforcement agency Interpol. NPR's Emmanuel Akinwotu reports. They targeted Internet romance scams.
[04:07]
Emmanuel Akinwotu
Interpol said the operation took place between July and August and was focused on Internet romance scams like sextortion, where victims are extorted and blackmailed with explicit images or videos. The operation identified more than 1,000 victims who lost close to $3 million to the scams. Ghana's police arrested 68 suspects and recovered $70,000 in stolen funds. Police in Cote d' Ivoire also unravelled this extortion ring, which had more than 800 victims. Internet romance scams and sextortion are among the fastest growing online security threats in the world, and many victims are young people based in the U.S. emmanuel Akimotu, NPR News, Lagos.
[04:47]
Lakshmi Singh
U.S. stocks have ended the day higher, with the Dow closing up nearly 300 points, or more than half a percent, to end the day at 46,247. It's NPR.
[04:57]
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