NPR News: 09-26-2025 5AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: September 26, 2025 – 5AM EDT

Brief Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers concise updates on major national and international events as of the morning of September 26, 2025. The top stories include President Trump's reaction to the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, escalating tensions over alleged weaponization of the Justice Department, an impending government shutdown, developments around the TikTok ownership deal, Starbucks' ongoing restructuring, and the formation of Hurricane Humberto in the Atlantic.

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Main News Stories & Key Insights

1. Comey Indictment and Political Fallout (00:19 – 01:47)

• President Trump Praises the Indictment of James Comey

  • Minutes after the Justice Department indicted former FBI Director James Comey, President Trump celebrated on social media, declaring "justice in America."
  • Trump described Comey as "corrupt and one of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to."
  • The charges follow continuous public pressure from Trump for the Justice Department to prosecute political foes, intensifying a yearslong feud.
  • Context: Comey had compared Trump to a "mob boss" and previously appointed the special prosecutor for the 2016 Russia investigation.
  • (Pierce Franco Ordonez, 00:35)

• Comey’s and Democrats’ Response

  • Comey maintains he has done "nothing wrong." (Jeanine Herst, 01:23)
  • Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar criticized Trump's actions:

    “There is a clear through line that everyone sees where he is going after people that he doesn’t like or who have said things that he doesn’t like or who have done things to him in the past. And these—that is why this is so troubling for the justice system.”
    – Senator Amy Klobuchar on CNN (01:31)

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2. Looming Government Shutdown & Federal Worker Layoffs (01:47 – 02:48)

• Trump Administration’s Memo Threatens Mass Layoffs

  • The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) warned that if a government shutdown occurs, some federal workers would be terminated instead of placed on unpaid leave.
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused OMB of ongoing "mass firings" and pledged continued legal challenges. He bluntly told OMB chief Russ Vought to "get lost." (Deirdre Walsh, 01:58)

• Democratic Pushback

  • Pierce Franco Ordonez quotes Democratic resistance:

    “We will not be intimidated by these threats coming from the most extreme parts of the Trump administration.”
    – (Pierce Franco Ordonez, 02:23)

• No Progress on Funding Deal

  • President Trump dismissed Democratic demands on healthcare as part of the funding deal and warned they would be blamed for any shutdown.
  • There is no sign of negotiations or a clear path to avoid the shutdown, which could begin October 1. (Deirdre Walsh, 02:30)

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3. U.S. Investors Acquire TikTok (02:48 – 03:40)

• Trump Approves U.S.-Led TikTok Takeover

  • President Trump authorized a deal allowing a group of U.S. investors—including Larry Ellison and Rupert Murdoch—to acquire TikTok from China’s ByteDance.
  • Trump signed an executive order attesting that the deal met Congressional standards for removing ownership from a "foreign adversary."
  • The approval comes amid ongoing U.S.-China tensions over tech and national security. (Jeanine Herst, 02:48)

• Market Note

  • U.S. futures contracts are described as trading "in mixed territory" at the time of the update. (Jeanine Herst, 02:48)

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4. Starbucks Job Cuts and Store Closures (03:40 – 04:21)

• Starbucks Continues Restructuring Efforts
  • Starbucks will eliminate 900 corporate jobs (its second major layoff this year after 1,100 earlier cuts).
  • CEO Brian Nichol says cuts will redirect funds into store upgrades, but some locations will close if upgrades aren’t feasible.
  • The company faces declining sales for six consecutive quarters with customers either trading down or seeking premium coffee experiences elsewhere.
  • About 1% of North American stores could close—at least 200 locations. (Alina Selyuk, 03:40)

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5. Atlantic Hurricane Activity (04:21 – 04:57)

• Hurricane Humberto Forms
  • The National Hurricane Center reports Hurricane Humberto has formed, with sustained winds at 75 mph.
  • Expected to strengthen significantly over coming days, its trajectory could bring it near the East Coast next week.
  • Forecasters are also monitoring another potential storm that could merge with Humberto. (Jeanine Herst, 04:21)

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump (via social media):

  “Justice in America.”
  (Reported by Pierce Franco Ordonez, 00:35)

• Senator Amy Klobuchar:

  “There is a clear through line that everyone sees where he is going after people that he doesn’t like… And these—that is why this is so troubling for the justice system.”
  (01:31)

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (via Deirdre Walsh):

  “…mass firings throughout the year and Democrats will continue to pursue legal challenges. His message to OMB chief Russ Vote was get lost.”
  (01:58)

• Pierce Franco Ordonez:

  "We will not be intimidated by these threats coming from the most extreme parts of the Trump administration."
  (02:23)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Comey Indictment & Trump Response: 00:19 – 01:47
• Shutdown Threat & Mass Layoffs: 01:47 – 02:48
• TikTok U.S. Takeover Approved: 02:48 – 03:40
• Starbucks Job Cuts/Closures: 03:40 – 04:21
• Hurricane Humberto Update: 04:21 – 04:57

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Tone & Delivery

The report is fast-paced, direct, and adheres to NPR’s neutral but informative tone, distilling complex political and business developments into accessible updates for general audiences.

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This episode summarizes breaking news that shapes national discourse on politics, business, and public safety as of September 26, 2025.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herst. President Trump is praising the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey and Pierce Franco Ordonez reports Trump has been increasing pressure on the Justice Department to take action against his political enemies.

[Pierce Franco Ordonez]

Minutes after the Justice Department announced the indictment, President Trump took to social media and declared justice in America. He went on to call Comey corrupt and one of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to. The charges against Comey come just days after Trump publicly pressed for the Justice Department to take action now on prosecutions against Comey and other political critics. It represents the latest escalation in a years long war of words between Trump and Comey, who famously likened the president to a mob boss. Trump long blamed Comey for appointing a special prosecutor who investigated contacts between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herst]

And Comey says he's done nothing wrong. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, meanwhile, says Trump is weaponizing the Justice Department.

[Senator Amy Klobuchar]

There is a clear through line that everyone sees where he is going after people that he doesn't like or who have said things that he doesn't like or who have done things to him in the past. And these that is why this is so troubling for the justice system.

[Jeanine Herst]

Speaking there on cnn, less than a week before federal agencies run out of money, a Trump administration memo is threatening mass layoffs. NPR's Deirdre Walsh has more.

[Deirdre Walsh]

The Office of Management and Budget released a memo indicating if the government shuts down next week, it will fire some federal workers instead of putting them on unpaid leave. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says OMB has already been engaging in what he called mass firings throughout the year and Democrats will continue to pursue legal challenges. His message to OMB chief Russ Vote was get lost.

[Pierce Franco Ordonez]

We will not be intimidated by these threats coming from the most extreme parts of the Trump administration.

[Deirdre Walsh]

President Trump called Democrats demands to address health care costs as part of a funding deal on Sirius and says they will be blamed for a shutdown. There are no talks and no clear path to avoid a shutdown that could start October 1st. Deirdre Welch, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Jeanine Herst]

President Trump gave his blessing to a deal for a group of mostly US Investors, including billionaire Larry Ellison and news Corps owner Rupert Murdoch to take over TikTok. Trump signed an executive order yesterday saying the deal meets standards set by Congress that the company no longer be owned by a foreign adversary. The the popular app is owned by China's ByteDance. US futures contracts are trading in mixed territory at this hour. You're listening to NPR News. Starbucks plans to cut hundreds of corporate jobs and close many stores as the coffee chain approaches the one year mark of its turnaround planned. NPR's Alina Selyuk reports. 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.

[Alina Selyuk]

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.

[Jeanine Herst]

Hurricane Humberto has formed in the Atlantic. The National Hurricane center says maximum sustained winds are 75 miles an hour with higher gusts. It's slowly moving to the west and is expected to significantly strengthen over the next several days. Meanwhile, forecasters are watching another possible storm in the Atlantic that could soon form and merge with Umberto. Umberto's path isn't certain, but forecasters say it could come near the east coast next week. I'm Jeanine Hurst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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