NPR News Now: September 26, 2025, 7PM EDT

Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)
Duration: ~5 minutes
Main Theme:
An update on major national and global news stories, including significant developments in U.S. politics, judiciary, business, media, immigration, military history, and science.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump Administration Reshapes the Justice Department

• [00:18]
  • Reporter: Ryland Barton introduces the segment, noting rapid changes at the DOJ, including the ousting of career employees and the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.
• [00:40]
  • Insight: Mara Liasson characterizes President Trump's approach as unprecedented, emphasizing his disregard for established presidential norms.
    • Quote:
      • "This is a president who believes as he says, Article 2 gives me the right to do whatever I want. Article 2 is the article that set up the executive branch. This is his concept of the presidency. Some people think it's an authoritarian concept..."
        — Mara Liasson [00:40]
    • Suggests limited means for DOJ officials to resist, short of resignation or confronting the President, unless Congress intervenes.

2. Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s Foreign Aid Freeze

• [01:09]
  • The Supreme Court allows Trump to continue freezing $4 billion in foreign aid, marking another presidential power victory.
  • Context: The administration’s emergency appeal followed a lower court’s ruling that only Congress could withhold such funding.

3. Imminent Tariffs on Brand-Name Drug Imports

• [01:23]
  • President Trump threatens a 100% tariff on brand-name pharmaceutical imports unless companies manufacture in the U.S.
  • Reporter: Sidney Lupkin notes the tariffs will not apply to generic drugs, which are about 90% of U.S. prescriptions.
    • Quote:
      • "It's unclear how broadly the tariff will affect consumers... many brand-name drug makers have announced new U.S. factories in recent months, which could exempt them from the tariff."
        — Sidney Lupkin [01:42]

4. ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Restored by Major TV Affiliates

• [02:18]
  • Sinclair and Nexstar reverse their suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live after ABC reinstated the show, following backlash over Kimmel’s comments on the Charlie Kirk assassination case (Sept. 15 broadcast).
  • Details:
    • Viewer, advertiser, and community feedback influenced Sinclair; Disney discussions influenced Nexstar.
    • The FCC had pressured Disney to discipline Kimmel, but public outcry followed Disney’s response.
    • Quote:
      • "The head of the Federal Communications Commission had published publicly pressured Disney to punish Kimmel. Disney experienced enormous public blowback for caving in to the FCC's threats."
        — Chloe Veltman [02:53]

5. Des Moines Schools Superintendent Detained by ICE

• [03:13]
  • Ian Roberts (born in Guyana), superintendent of Des Moines schools since 2023, detained for visa overstay; accused of evading arrest following a final order of removal.

6. Fort Gordon Renamed for New Honoree

• [03:28]
  • Fort Gordon in Georgia, originally Confederate-named, is rededicated by the Trump administration to Medal of Honor recipient Gary Gordon (Battle of Mogadishu, 1993).
    • Ceremony features comments from Gordon’s widow, Carmen Drake Owens.
    • Quote:
      • "I believe that Gary would look at the naming of this post as a way to remember not just him, but every soldier that was involved in the Battle of Mogadishu."
        — Carmen Drake Owens [04:16]
    • Report notes 18 Americans died in the operation, later depicted in "Black Hawk Down."

7. Bite-Resistant Wetsuit Science

• [04:36]
  • Australian scientists test shark bite-resistant wetsuits—these don't prevent bites but reduce injuries.
  • With increased shark sightings, such protective measures are gaining interest.

Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

• "This is a president who believes as he says, Article 2 gives me the right to do whatever I want... Some people think it's an authoritarian concept."
  — Mara Liasson [00:40]

• "It's unclear how broadly the tariff will affect consumers... many brand-name drug makers have announced new U.S. factories in recent months, which could exempt them from the tariff."
  — Sidney Lupkin [01:42]

• "The head of the Federal Communications Commission had published publicly pressured Disney to punish Kimmel. Disney experienced enormous public blowback for caving in to the FCC's threats."
  — Chloe Veltman [02:53]

• "I believe that Gary would look at the naming of this post as a way to remember not just him, but every soldier that was involved in the Battle of Mogadishu."
  — Carmen Drake Owens [04:16]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• DOJ Reshaping, Comey Indictment:
  • [00:18]–[01:09]
• Supreme Court, Foreign Aid Freeze:
  • [01:09]–[01:23]
• Trump’s Pharma Tariffs:
  • [01:23]–[02:18]
• Jimmy Kimmel Live Suspension & Reinstatement:
  • [02:18]–[03:13]
• Des Moines Superintendent Arrested:
  • [03:13]–[03:28]
• Fort Gordon Renaming:
  • [03:28]–[04:36]
• Bite-Resistant Wetsuits:
  • [04:36]–[04:57]

This episode presents a brisk but comprehensive sweep of the day's impactful news, balancing political, legal, scientific, and cultural developments in NPR’s classic concise and factual style.