NPR News: 09-26-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – September 26, 2025 (9AM EDT)

Episode Overview

This episode of "NPR News Now," hosted by Korva Coleman, delivers a concise five-minute round-up of the latest global and national headlines as of 9AM EDT on September 26, 2025. Topics include major diplomatic developments involving Israel and Palestine, new U.S. tariffs announced by President Trump, looming government shutdown concerns, inflation news, President Trump's appearance at the Ryder Cup, protests in Madagascar, and severe weather updates in the Philippines and Atlantic Ocean.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Israeli-Palestinian Diplomacy at the United Nations

• Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister) is expected to criticize Western governments for their recognition of a Palestinian state during his speech at the UN General Assembly.

• President Trump claims to have had productive talks with Arab and Muslim leaders regarding the Gaza conflict and affirms he will not allow Israel to annex parts of the West Bank.

• Regional Diplomacy Highlight: Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud, joined by other diplomats, underscores Arab and Muslim opposition to Israeli annexation plans, reinforcing the need for U.S. caution.

  Quote [01:03] – Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud:
  “And I feel confident that President Trump understood the position of the Arab and Muslim countries, and I think the president and the US Understands very well the risks and dangers of annexation in the West Bank.”

• Outcome: President Trump publicly commits to blocking Israeli annexation efforts in the West Bank.
  (Reporting by Michelle Keleman, NPR)

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2. Announcement of New U.S. Tariffs by President Trump

• President Trump introduces a slate of steep new import tariffs, effective October 1:

  • 25% on imported large trucks (to protect U.S. manufacturers like Kenworth and Mack)
  • 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities
  • 30% on upholstered furniture
  • 100% on branded or patented pharmaceutical products not made in the USA

• Trump describes these measures as necessary for "national security and other reasons."

  (Reporting by Ayanna Archie, NPR)

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3. Looming U.S. Government Shutdown

• The government faces a shutdown next week unless Congress resolves its budget impasse.

• Democrats demand reversal of GOP cuts to federal health care programs before compromising on a plan.

• President Trump cancels a meeting with Democrats, claiming it would not be productive.

• Hakeem Jeffries (House Democratic Leader) criticizes the administration’s posture:

  Quote [02:31] – Hakeem Jeffries:
  “We will meet and sit down anytime, any place, with anyone, including the president who canceled the meeting because the Republicans have determined that they want to shut down the government and hurt the American people. That's an unacceptable and irresponsible president.”

• President Trump escalates tensions by threatening to fire some federal workers if Democrats don’t comply.

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4. Economic Update: Inflation

• The Federal Reserve’s closely watched inflation gauge rose by 2.7% compared to the previous year.

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5. President Trump at the Ryder Cup Golf Tournament

• President Trump becomes the first sitting U.S. president to attend the Ryder Cup, which opens this year in New York.

• The PGA of America, which previously distanced itself from Trump after January 6, 2021, now welcomes him.

• Trump’s affinity for golf is well-known; his courses have hosted major competitions, and international leaders—such as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa—have engaged with golf as diplomatic currency.

  (Reporting by Deepa Shivaram, NPR)

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6. Unrest in Madagascar

• Protests erupt in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, over persistent power and water shortages.
• Government responds with an overnight curfew after clashes and incidents of looting in the city.

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7. Severe Weather in the Philippines and Atlantic

• Typhoon Boloi: Striking the Philippines just days after Typhoon Ragasa, which caused at least 25 fatalities in the Philippines and Taiwan.
• Atlantic Hurricane Update: Tropical Storm Umberto strengthens into a hurricane, expected to become a major hurricane over the weekend.

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Notable Quotes

• Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud [01:03]:
  “And I feel confident that President Trump understood the position of the Arab and Muslim countries, and I think the president and the US Understands very well the risks and dangers of annexation in the West Bank.”

• Hakeem Jeffries [02:31]:
  “We will meet and sit down anytime, any place, with anyone, including the president who canceled the meeting because the Republicans have determined that they want to shut down the government and hurt the American people. That's an unacceptable and irresponsible president.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:15 – Israel/Palestine/UN General Assembly/Trump’s stance (Michelle Keleman reporting)
• 01:23 – New tariffs announced by President Trump (Ayanna Archie reporting)
• 02:08 – U.S. government shutdown threat and party negotiations (Hakeem Jeffries quote at 02:31)
• 02:52 – Inflation update
• 03:36 – Ryder Cup and Trump’s golf diplomacy (Deepa Shivaram reporting)
• 04:11 – Madagascar protests and curfew
• 04:30 – Philippines typhoons and Atlantic hurricane outlook

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Episode Tone

The reporting is direct, fact-driven, and urgent—typical of NPR’s breaking news style—while also highlighting diplomatic nuance, political tension, and global events. The language remains formal but accessible, prioritizing clarity and context for major news developments.

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This summary covers all major news stories between the paid sponsorship messages, providing clarity for time-strapped listeners and readers.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address the UN General assembly this hour. He's expected to excoriate Western nations who recently announced that they'll recognize a Palestinian state. President Trump says he's had good talks with Arab and Muslim leaders about resolving the war in Gaza. He also says he won't let Israel annex parts of the West Bank. NPR's Michelle Keleman reports.

[Michelle Keleman]

Outside the UN Security Council, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud, stood alongside some of his colleagues from the region and from Europe to show solidarity for a future Palestinian state. He says they've been telling the Trump administration that Israeli threats to annex parts of the west bank would risk Trump's efforts to promote peace in the region.

[Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud]

And I feel confident that President Trump understood the position of the Arab and Muslim countries, and I think the president and the US Understands very well the risks and dangers of annexation in the West Bank.

[Michelle Keleman]

President Trump now says he won't allow Israel to take parts of the West Bank. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the United Nations.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump has announced a series of new tariffs on a variety of products. NPR's Ayanna Archie reports. Some of the levies are costly.

[Ayanna Archie]

In a social media post, President Trump lays out a new 25% tariff on imported large trucks. He said this is needed to protect trucking companies that manufacture in the US like Kenworth and Mac. He's also putting a 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities and a 30% levy on upholstered furniture. And branded or patented pharmaceutical products that aren't made in the USA will face a 100% tariff. Trump says the new import taxes must be applied for national security and other reasons and will take effect October 1st. Ayanna Archie, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

There will be a government shutdown next week unless Republicans and Democrats can agree on a spending plan. Democrats say they want Republicans to undo cuts to federal health care programs before they'll agree to a plan. President Trump canceled a meeting with Democrats this week, so saying it wouldn't be productive. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries says his caucus wants to solve the deadlock.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

We will meet and sit down anytime, any place, with anyone, including the president who canceled the meeting because the Republicans have determined that they want to shut down the government and hurt the American people. That's an unacceptable and irresponsible president.

[Korva Coleman]

Trump has also threatened to fire some federal workers affected by the shutdown if Democrats won't agree to the GOP demands. A measure of inflation that is closely watched by the Federal Reserve was up a little last month. The inflation gauge rose 2.7% compared to a year ago. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President Trump is heading to the first day of competition at the Ryder Cup. This golf event is held every other year. It pits 12American players against 12 Europeans. It's co hosted by European and American golfing organizations. This year, the Ryder cup is in New York. NPR's Deepa Shivaram reports. Trump is the first sitting president to attend.

[Deepa Shivaram]

The Ryder cup is hosted by the PGA of America, an organization that once tried to shun Trump after the January 6th insurrection on the Capitol. Now it's embracing him with open arms. Several of Trump's golf courses have hosted competitions in the past, and Trump is an avid golfer himself, often spending weekends at his own golf courses in Virginia and New Jersey. It's something international leaders are well aware of. When South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the White House earlier this year, he brought well known South African golfers with him as guests. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Officials in Madagascar have imposed an overnight curfew in the capital Antanarivo. That comes after hundreds of people filled the streets protesting the Malagasy government. They're calling for a stop to power and water cuts. Malagasy police fought with some of the protesters. There are reports some stores and banks were looted. The Philippines is getting its second typhoon in a week. Typhoon Boloi is hitting the country only days after Typhoon Ragasa killed at least 25 people in the Philippines and Taiwan. Forecasters say tropical Storm Umberto is now a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. Umberto is expected to become a major hurricane this weekend. This is npr.

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