NPR News: 09-26-2025 7AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now — 09-26-2025, 7AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: 5 minutes
Summary Compiled: September 26, 2025

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode covers major headlines from Washington, D.C., legal actions involving former FBI Director James Comey, President Trump's latest executive order on domestic terrorism, a legal dispute concerning Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, the looming government shutdown, the anniversary of Hurricane Helene, and a rock chart update.

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Key News Segments and Insights

1. James Comey Indicted

• [00:17] Korva Coleman reports that a federal grand jury in Virginia indicted former FBI Director James Comey on two criminal counts, linked to his 2020 congressional testimony regarding Russian election interference.

  • The indictment follows President Trump's public demand for the Justice Department to "move against Comey quickly."

• Comey's Response:

  • Comey maintains his innocence and issued a public statement.

    "My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn't either."
    —James Comey [00:43]

• Family Connections:

  • Comey’s son-in-law, Troy Edwards (a prosecutor in the office filing the charges), resigns.
  • Comey's daughter, Maureen Comey, a federal prosecutor, is suing after being fired by the Justice Department.

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2. Trump Signs Executive Action on Domestic Terrorism

• [00:56] President Trump signs an executive action directing a federal response to domestic terrorism and political violence, alleging that "radical left" funders are backing agitators.

• Agencies Involved:

  • Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, and Treasury will participate via the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

• Trump's Accusations:

  • He attributes recent unrest to wealthy individuals funding anarchists.

    "These are anarchists and agitators, professional anarchists and agitators, and they get hired by wealthy people."
    —Donald Trump [01:45]

• Backdrop:

  • Comes a day after a fatal shooting at an ICE building in Dallas and the earlier killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

• Lack of Evidence:

  • Trump names two billionaires who support liberal causes but offers no evidence connecting them to extremism.

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3. Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook’s Job Uncertainty

• [02:03] A bipartisan group of former treasury secretaries, central bankers, and top economists asks the Supreme Court to block Trump from firing Fed Governor Lisa Cook.
  • Signatories include Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, Hank Paulson, and Jack Lew.
• Legal Argument:
  • Removing Cook would jeopardize the Fed’s independence and credibility, possibly undermining anti-inflation efforts.
  • Trump’s attempt to dismiss her was triggered by a political ally’s allegation of false statements, which Cook denies.
• Court Status:
  • Federal courts are temporarily blocking Cook’s firing; Supreme Court may treat the Fed’s independence as a unique case.

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4. Impending Government Shutdown

• [03:13] Congressional impasse on a spending bill risks a federal government shutdown in the coming days.
  • President Trump threatens to fire federal workers impacted by a shutdown unless Democrats agree to his bill terms.
• Context:
  • Disagreement persists between Republicans and Democrats on budget priorities.

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5. Anniversary of Hurricane Helene

• [03:40] One year since Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm, mainly affecting Florida and the Southern Appalachians.
  • North Carolina suffered significant damage.
  • The National Hurricane Center estimates 250 deaths, making it the deadliest US hurricane since Katrina (2005).

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6. Rock and Roll Chart Update

• [04:03] Stephen Thompson highlights the return of Twenty One Pilots to the top of the Billboard albums chart.

  "If you were listening to pop and rock radio a decade ago, chances are you're very familiar with this song."
  —Stephen Thompson [04:03]

  • The band’s new album, Breach, debuts at #1.
  • Lead single "City Walls" charts on the Hot 100, though there is not yet a standout pop hit.
  • Success driven by strong physical sales: 72,000 vinyl copies sold.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• James Comey’s Defiance:

  "We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn't either."
  —James Comey [00:43]

• President Trump’s Blame:

  "These are anarchists and agitators, professional anarchists and agitators, and they get hired by wealthy people."
  —Donald Trump [01:45]

• Stephen Thompson’s Nostalgia:

  "If you were listening to pop and rock radio a decade ago, chances are you’re very familiar with this song."
  —Stephen Thompson [04:03]

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Timestamps of Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|----------------| | James Comey indicted, family fallout | 00:17 – 00:56 | | Trump’s domestic terrorism order | 00:56 – 02:03 | | Fed Governor Lisa Cook legal battle | 02:03 – 03:13 | | Government shutdown looming | 03:13 – 03:40 | | Hurricane Helene anniversary & death toll | 03:40 – 04:03 | | Twenty One Pilots top Billboard chart | 04:03 – 04:53 |

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This concise but comprehensive newscast provides a rapid overview of major political, legal, weather, and cultural stories shaping the headlines as the U.S. heads into late September 2025.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on two criminal counts. These are linked to his congressional testimony five years ago about the FBI investigation into Russian election interference. The criminal charges come after President Trump publicly demanded that the Justice Department move against Comey quickly. Comey says he is innocent and he released a statement online.

[James Comey]

My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn't either.

[Korva Coleman]

Comey's son in law, Troy Edwards, is a prosecutor in the office that filed the charges against Comey. Edwards has resigned. Comey's daughter, Maureen Comey, also a federal prosecutor, is suing after the Justice Department fired her. President Trump has signed an executive action that he says will create a federal response to domestic terrorism and political violence. Trump says federal agencies will examine what he insists are the funders of groups that are considered threats. NPR's Deepa Shivaram has more.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Trump says the Justice Department, DHS and Treasury would be involved in the response to domestic terrorism and political violence through a joint terrorism task force at the FBI. He accused people who he said were rich members of the radical left of providing funding to protesters.

[Donald Trump]

These are anarchists and agitators, professional anarchists and agitators, and they get hired by wealthy people.

[Deepa Shivaram]

The comments came a day after a fatal shooting at an ICE building in Dallas and the killing earlier this month of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, the White House.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump specifically mentioned two high profile billionaires who have long supported liberal causes, but Trump provided no evidence of what he says are their ties to extremism. A group of former treasury secretaries, central bankers and high profile economists is backing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. They're urging the Supreme Court not to let President TRUMP Fire her. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The group has filed a friend of the court brief.

[Scott Horsley]

The petition was signed by both Republicans and Democrats, including Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, Hank Paulson and Jack Lew, among others. They argue that allowing President Trump to fire Lisa Cook would erode public confidence in the Reserve's independence and jeopardized the Fed's credibility to keep a lid on inflation. Trump sought to fire Cook after a political ally accused the Fed governor of making false statements on a mortgage application. Cook has denied any wrongdoing, and so far her dismissal has been blocked by the federal courts. The Supreme Court has allowed Trump to fire leaders of other independent agencies, but hinted the Fed could be a special case. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to npr. There are only a few days left until the federal government could shut down. Congress has to agree on a spending bill, and Republicans and Democrats cannot come to terms on one. President Trump is threatening to fire some federal workers affected by the shutdown if Democrats do not agree to a spending bill. Hurricane Helene hit Florida a year ago today. The Category 4 storm swept up through the Southern Appalachians. It left substantial damage in North Carolina. The National Hurricane center says Helene is responsible for as many as 250 deaths. That makes it the deadliest US hurricane since Katrina in 2005. It's a big week for rock and roll on the Billboard albums chart. NPR Stephen Thompson reports. A familiar band is debuting at number one.

[Stephen Thompson]

If you were listening to pop and rock radio a decade ago, chances are you're very familiar with this song.

When the Mama San.

That is stressed out by 21 pilots, one of three songs by the band to reach the top five in 2015 and 2016. This week, the group is back on top of the charts. Its album Breach debuts at number one, while the song City Walls cracks the Hot 100 singles chart. Still, the album has yet to produce a major pop hit. Its chart success is due primarily to a huge flood of record sales, including 72,000 copies sold on vinyl. Stephen Thompson, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to npr.

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