NPR News: 09-28-2025 11AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 09-28-2025 11AM EDT

Host: Nora Ramm
Date: September 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This brief five-minute news update delivers the top stories of the hour, focusing on mounting political tensions in Portland over potential federal troop deployment, President Trump’s ongoing attempts at political retribution, continuing violence in Ukraine from Russian attacks, Moldova's parliamentary election, the anniversary of mifepristone’s approval, and the current state of the Ryder Cup golf tournament.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Tensions Over Federal Troop Deployment in Portland

Timestamps: 00:21–01:01

• President Trump announced intentions to send federal troops to Portland, Oregon, aiming to "protect immigration facilities" and counter what he termed "domestic terrorists."
• Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek both strongly rejected the move.
  • Mayor Wilson: “The number of necessary troops is zero.” (00:38)
  • Governor Kotek: “Federal help is not needed.” (00:42)
• An NPR correspondent summarized regional perspectives:
  • “There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security and there is no need for military in our major city.” (00:50)
• Any such deployment, officials say, “would be an abuse of power and a misuse of federal troops.” (01:01)

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2. Government Funding and Political Retribution

Timestamps: 01:01–02:15

• Congress is deadlocked on funding, risking a government shutdown as the fiscal year ends soon. President Trump plans to meet with congressional leaders.
• The President escalates efforts at political retribution, targeting former officials and critics:
  • Mara Liasson reports Trump is directing the DOJ to prosecute various Democratic figures including former FBI Director James Comey, Senator Adam Schiff, and NY Attorney General Letitia James.
  • Fani Willis, Georgia district attorney prosecuting Trump, has received a subpoena.
  • Liasson comments:
    • “Although the Comey case is weak and may not end with a conviction, his indictment sends a message to Trump’s other adversaries that he can bankrupt them and ruin their careers.” (02:06)

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3. Escalation of Attacks in Ukraine

Timestamps: 02:15–03:15

• Russian forces launched hundreds of drones and missiles overnight; at least four dead, including a 12-year-old girl.
• Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia suffered the heaviest casualties, with dozens injured.
• NPR’s Joanna Kakisses describes local rescue operations:
  • “Firefighters and medics worked throughout the attacks, which lasted for 12 hours.” (02:36)
• President Zelenskyy reports: “Russia launched almost 5,500 drones and more than 40 missiles at his country overnight and early this morning.” (02:51)
• Zelenskyy is quoted from last week’s UN meeting, warning that “Russia’s war on Ukraine has prompted a dangerous arms race, and that every year weapons get deadlier.” (03:06)

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4. Moldova’s Parliamentary Election

Timestamps: 03:15–03:31

• Moldova is holding elections for its 101-seat parliament; a new prime minister will be nominated from the outcome.
• The pro-European government accuses Russia of trying to meddle in the country’s political affairs.

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5. 25th Anniversary of Mifepristone Approval

Timestamps: 03:31–04:37

• On the 25th anniversary of the FDA approval for mifepristone, an NPR report highlights:
  • The review process was “longer and more thorough than usual because of political opposition.” (03:52)
  • Selena Simmons Duffin notes the pill’s use in medication abortion and miscarriage management, always paired with misoprostol.
  • “Mifepristone was approved and in use in Europe for years before it became available in the U.S.”
  • The medication remains controversial, with ongoing legal challenges; advocates cite “over 100 studies” showing safety.
  • “According to the FDA...it’s been used by nearly 6 million women.” (04:31)

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6. Ryder Cup Update

Timestamps: 04:37–04:59

• The final day of the Ryder Cup; team Europe has a commanding lead.
• “The US trails 11 and a half to four and a half, the largest deficit under the current format since 1979.” (04:52)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mayor Keith Wilson: “The number of necessary troops is zero.” (00:38)
• NPR Correspondent: “There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security and there is no need for military in our major city.” (00:50)
• Mara Liasson: “Although the Comey case is weak...his indictment sends a message...that he can bankrupt them and ruin their careers.” (02:06)
• Joanna Kakisses: “Firefighters and medics worked throughout the attacks, which lasted for 12 hours.” (02:36)
• Selena Simmons Duffin: “According to the FDA, over the decades that it's been available, it’s been used by nearly 6 million women.” (04:31)

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Useful Timestamps

• Portland/Federal Troops: 00:21–01:01
• Government Funding & Retaliation: 01:01–02:15
• Ukraine Attacks: 02:15–03:15
• Moldova Election: 03:15–03:31
• Mifepristone Anniversary: 03:31–04:37
• Ryder Cup: 04:37–04:59

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This update succinctly covers today’s critical news with trademark NPR clarity and balance, offering a rapid but substantive briefing on complex, fast-moving stories.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. Officials in Portland, Oregon, are rejecting President Trump's announcement that that he'll send troops to the city to protect immigration facilities from what he called domestic terrorists. Mayor Keith Wilson says his city does not need the help. President Trump has directed all necessary troops to Portland, Oregon. The number of necessary troops is zero. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek agrees. Federal help is not needed.

[NPR Correspondent]

There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security and there is no need for military in our major city.

[Nora Ramm]

She said any deployment would be an abuse of power and a misuse of federal troops. President Trump is to meet at the White House tomorrow with congressional leaders from both parties. Congress has failed to pass legislation needed to pay for government programs and the fiscal year ends Tuesday. Unless something is done, the government will run out of money. President Trump's political retribution efforts appear to be escalating. NPR's MAR license reports. Trump says former FBI Director James Comey will not be the last of his opponents indicted.

[Mara Liasson]

President Trump promised to use the Department of Justice to go after his political enemies, and he's doing it. In addition to Comey, he's instructed his attorney general to prosecute other Democrats who investigated him, including California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and the attorney general of New York, Letitia James. The New York Times is reporting that Fannie Willis has received a subpoena. Willis is the Fulton County, Georgia district attorney who charged Trump with trying to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Legal exper Although the Comey case is weak and may not end with a conviction, his indictment sends a message to Trump's other adversaries that he can bankrupt them and ruin their careers. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

Ukrainian officials say Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles overnight. At least four people were killed, including a child, and dozens more were injured. The Ukrainian capital and a city in the Southeast were hit the hardest. NPR's Joannika Kissis reports.

[NPR Correspondent]

Kyiv's rescue workers posted this video of their teams putting out fires and pulling the wounded from the ruins of a five story apartment building. Firefighters and medics worked throughout the attacks, which lasted for 12 hours. Among those killed in Kyiv was a 12 year old girl. Dozens in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia were also injured. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on social media that Russia launched almost 5, 500 drones and more than 40 missiles at his country overnight and early this morning. Zelenskyy warned UN Leaders last week that Russia's war on Ukraine has prompted a dangerous arms race and that every year weapons get deadlier. Joanna Kakisses, NPR News, Cave.

[Nora Ramm]

This is NPR News. Moldova is holding a parliamentary election today. Voters are selecting 101 seat parliament, then a prime minister will be nominated to try to form a new government. The current government in the former Soviet state wants to join the European Union and accuses Russia of meddling in its politics. The medication mifepristone was approved on this day 25 years ago. NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports. The food and drug review process was longer and more thorough than usual because of political opposition.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone, a hormone that's necessary for a pregnancy to continue in medication, abortion and miscarriage management. The pill is used in combination with another medication, misoprostol, which causes uterine cramping. Mifepristone was approved and in use in Europe for years before it became available in the U.S. there are continued legal efforts to curb access, and the Trump administration may try to do so through regulation. But reproductive rights advocates point out the safety and efficacy of the medication has been proven in more than 100 studies. According to the FDA, over the decades that it's been available, it's been used by nearly 6 million women. Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

In golf, the Ryder cup is in its final day. Every two years, 24 of the best players from Europe and the US go head to head. This year, the Europeans are way ahead. The US trails 11 and a half to four and a half, the largest deficit under the current format since 1979. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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