NPR News: 09-27-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 27, 2025, 12AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Episode Length: 5 minutes
Main Theme:
A rapid-fire update on the day’s most important national and international stories, including federal crime-fighting efforts in Memphis, the legal actions of President Trump, international developments at the UN, economic updates, a symbolic military renaming, and follow-up on a tragic shooting.

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Key News Stories and Discussion Points

1. Federal and State Law Enforcement Surge in Memphis

[00:16 – 01:15]

• Announcement: Beginning Monday, 13 federal agencies—including FBI and National Guard—will join the effort to fight crime in Memphis.
• Background:
  • President Donald Trump approved the Memphis SAFE Task Force the previous Friday.
  • The move has sparked debate among community leaders over public safety vs. “military presence” optics.
• Governor Lee’s Position:
  • Emphasizes a "cautious approach."
  • Quote: “The operation itself will develop as the need is understood on the ground.” – Governor Lee [00:42]
  • Troopers will be unarmed unless requested and cannot make arrests.
• Goals:
  • City's crime rate recently hit a 25-year low, but officials seek durable results.
  • State committing over 300 troopers and $100 million to crime-fighting technology.
  • Quote: “We don't know how long it will take for that to work…” – Governor Lee [00:55]

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2. President Trump Fulfilling “Retribution” Campaign Promises

[01:15 – 01:54]

• Development:
  • Former FBI Director James Comey indicted for allegedly lying to Congress.
  • Fulfills Trump’s campaign promise to use the justice system against political adversaries.
• Context by Mara Liasson:
  • Trump directly urged the Attorney General to act quickly.
  • Broader implication: Legal moves may serve as warnings/intimidation more than prosecution.
  • Quote:
    “He’s sending a signal to everyone else that I can bankrupt you. I can ruin your career. Even if I can't convict you, I can ruin your life.” – Mara Liasson [01:45]

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3. Israel-Gaza and Netanyahu’s Speech at the United Nations

[01:54 – 02:49]

• Netanyahu’s Effort:
  • Tried to broadcast his UN speech into Gaza via mobile loudspeaker trucks.
  • Claimed direct communication with Gazans and Israeli hostages.
• Reality Check (Emily Feng):
  • Multiple sources in Gaza reported not hearing the broadcast.
  • On-the-ground conditions dominated by “Israeli airstrikes, artilleries and tank firing” rather than any speeches.
  • Quote:
    “The only thing that we can hear here is the Israeli airstrikes, the artilleries and the tanks firing.” – Anas Baba, NPR Producer in Gaza City [02:44]
• UN Response:
  • Dozens of diplomats staged a walkout ahead of Netanyahu’s address.

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4. Financial and Economic Updates

[02:57 – 03:45]

• Markets:
  • Dow Jones up 299 points (+0.65%)
  • Nasdaq up 99 points
  • S&P 500 up 38 points
• Inflation:
  • August inflation up 2.7% (year-over-year).
  • Core inflation (excl. food/energy) up 2.9%.
  • Figures aligned with forecasts.

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5. Renaming of Fort Gordon in Georgia

[03:45 – 04:23]

• Background:
  • Fort originally named after Confederate General John Gordon.
  • Renamed by Biden administration after 2020 protest movement.
  • Now being renamed again, under Trump, after Medal of Honor recipient Gary Gordon.
• Ceremony:
  • Gary Gordon was killed in Somalia during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu (story dramatized in "Black Hawk Down").
  • His widow, Carmen Drake Owens, addressed the audience.
  • 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 [04:04]

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6. Manhattan Shooting and CTE Confirmation

[04:23 – 04:54]

• Update:
  • Medical examiner confirmed shooter Shane Tamura suffered from chronic encephalopathy (CTE).
  • Tamura, former high school football player, targeted an office tower housing NFL headquarters—left a note urging study of his brain, accused NFL of hiding head injury evidence.
  • Shooting resulted in 5 deaths (including Tamura).

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “The operation itself will develop as the need is understood on the ground.” — Governor Lee [00:42]
• “We don't know how long it will take for that to work, but however [long] it takes to start.” — Governor Lee [00:55]
• “He’s sending a signal to everyone else that I can bankrupt you. I can ruin your career. Even if I can't convict you, I can ruin your life.” — Mara Liasson [01:45]
• “The only thing that we can hear here is the Israeli airstrikes, the artilleries and the tanks firing.” — Anas Baba, Gaza City [02:44]
• “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 [04:04]

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Additional Information

• Stocks and inflation update provides a barometer on economic sentiment at the close of September 26.
• The episode ties current federal/state affairs, international conflict, and domestic policy with symbolic and practical changes.

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Episode Flow (with Key Timestamps)

• [00:16] Memphis law enforcement boost
• [01:15] Trump's legal “retribution” and Comey indictment
• [01:54] Israel-Gaza UN speech and diplomatic reactions
• [02:57] Financial markets & inflation snapshot
• [03:45] Renaming of Fort Gordon and “Black Hawk Down”
• [04:23] CTE confirmed in Manhattan shooter

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This concise, fact-driven NPR News Now episode provided rapid updates on major political, legal, international, and social developments in the U.S. and abroad, focusing on the intersecting themes of public safety, justice, international tension, the economy, symbolic remembrance, and repercussions of sports-related brain injury.

Transcript

[A]

This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail] Live from NPR News.

[B]

I'm Dale Willman. Some 13 federal agencies, including the FBI and National Guard, will join Memphis police to help fight crime in the city starting on Monday. Christopher Blank reports from member station wkno.

[C]

Since President Donald Trump approved the Memphis SAFE Task Force last Friday, wary community leaders have debated enhanced public safety versus the optics of a military presence. Governor Lee stressed a cautious approach.

[D]

The operation itself will develop as the as the the need is understood on the ground.

[C]

Though the city's crime rate hit a 25 year low in the past eight months, officials are aiming for permanent reductions.

[D]

We don't know how long it will take for that to work, but however.

[C]

It takes to start. The governor pledged more than 300 state troopers and $100 million toward crime fighting technology. Troops he says, will be unarmed unless local law enforcement requests otherwise and will have no power to make arrests. For NPR News, I'm Christopher Blank in Memphis.

[B]

During President Trump's campaign last year, he promised to use the justice system to seek retribution against his perceived political enemies. Now, as NPR's Mara Liasson tells us, he's made good on that promise. He did it Thursday when former FBI Director J. James Comey was indicted on charges of lying to Congress.

[E]

He specifically told the attorney general to go after specific people, including Comey. He said do it fast. He clearly understood the clock was ticking. And the interesting thing is it doesn't matter if this case is weak or strong. He's sending a signal to everyone else that I can bankrupt you. I can ruin your career. Even if I can't convict you, I can ruin your life.

[B]

Comey has been one of Trump's most vocal critics. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech at the United nations on Friday, and he made this thanks to special.

[F]

Efforts by Israeli intelligence. My words are now also being carried. They're streamed live through the cell phones of Gazans.

[B]

But as NPR's Emily Fang reports, few if any people in Gaza heard Netanyahu.

[G]

The prime minister's office shared pictures of big loudspeakers mounted on trucks in Israel on the border with Gaza to blast Netanyahu's speech into the enclave. But news outlets, including npr, contacted people across Gaza who say they didn't hear anything. NPR's producer in Gaza City, Anas Baba, also kept an ear out for Netanyahu's speech.

[F]

He said that he's going to broadcast a message to the Israeli hostages. But in Gaza City now, the only thing that we can hear here is the Israeli airstrikes, the artilleries and the tanks firing.

[G]

And dozens of diplomats walked out of the United Nations assembly hall ahead of Netanyahu's speech. Emily Feng and Peer News Tel Aviv.

[B]

Stocks finished up across the board on Friday. The Dow Jones industrial Average closed up 299 points, or 0.65%. The Nasdaq closed up 99 points, and the S&P 500 closed up 38 points. You're listening to NPR News. Inflation was up slightly in August from the same period a year ago. The Federal Reserve's favored measures showed prices up 2.7% with core inflation, which excludes food and energy costs, up 2.9%. The increases were what forecasters had been expecting. Fort Gordon, near Augusta, Georgia, was originally named after a Confederate general, but the Biden administration changed that in 2020 following protests for racial justice. Now the Trump administration is making another change. From member station wabe, Raoul Bali reports.

[H]

The original Fort Gordon was named after former Georgia governor and Confederate General John Gordon. Now it is being named after Medal of Honor recipient Gary Gordon was who died in the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia in 1993. His widow, Carmen Drake Owens, spoke at Friday's dedication ceremony.

[D]

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.

[H]

Eighteen American soldiers died in the battle. It was eventually featured in the movie Black Hawk Down. For NPR News, I'm Raul Bally in Atlanta.

[B]

A medical examiner has confirmed that the man who killed four people in the Manhattan office tower this summer was suffering from chronic encephalopathy. Shane Tamura shot himself in the chest after the July 28 shooting in a building that houses the NFL headquarters. In a note, he urged that his brain be studied. Tamura played high school football a decade ago. He accused the NFL of hiding evidence of brain injuries from the sport. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[I]

Support for NPR and the following message come from Boll and Branch. Turn your bed into a sanctuary this fall with their buttery, breathable bedding. Enjoy 15% off your first set of sheets at B O L L and Branch.com with code NPR exclusions apply.