NPR News: 09-28-2025 8AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now — September 28, 2025, 8AM EDT

Host: Giles Snyder
Length: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers the latest updates on major global and national events, focusing on the overnight escalation of attacks on Ukraine, political clashes over federal troop deployments in Portland, a mass shooting in North Carolina, and the anniversary and ongoing debate over the abortion medication mifepristone. The reporting is direct and fact-driven, providing concise but detailed snapshots of each developing story.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Russian Assault on Ukraine Intensifies

• [00:12-01:20]
  • Russia launches a massive overnight assault on Ukraine with “hundreds of drones and missiles,” resulting in at least four deaths (including a 12-year-old girl) and dozens injured in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia.
  • Rescue efforts in Kyiv were intense and prolonged, with teams working “throughout the attacks, which lasted for 12 hours.” (00:39)
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims “almost 500 drones and more than 40 missiles” were launched and warns UN leaders that the war is fueling a “dangerous arms race.”
  • Notable Quote:

    “Firefighters and medics worked throughout the attacks, which lasted for 12 hours. Among those killed in Kyiv was a 12-year-old girl.”
    — Joanna Kakisis, NPR Reporter [00:39]

  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the UN asserts Russia has “no intent to attack Europe,” but threatens a “decisive response” to any aggression. (01:21)

2. Domestic Politics: Federal Troops in Portland

• [01:20-02:10]
  • President Trump announces plans to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, claiming the city is “war ravaged.”
  • Oregon officials, including Governor Tina Kotak, denounce the move as “an abuse of power.”
  • Notable Quote:

    “There is no insurrection, there is no threat to national security and there is no need for military troops in our major city.”
    — Oregon Governor Tina Kotak [01:49]

3. Protests in Chicago over Immigration Policy

• [02:11-03:10]
  • In response to the Trump administration’s immigration agenda and threaten deployments, hundreds of people march in downtown Chicago.
  • Organizer Hussam Meraja criticizes federal actions as punitive towards “progressive mayors and progressive cities.”
  • Notable Quote:

    “The precedent that he's setting is that you're going to make progress... then we're going to punish you.”
    — Hussam Meraja, US Palestinian Community Network [02:49]

  • Demonstrators call for local protection against federal agencies.

4. Mass Shooting in Southport, North Carolina

• [03:11-04:07]
  • Attack from a boat on Cape Fear River into a waterfront bar leaves three dead and at least eight wounded.
  • Suspect detained by Coast Guard; identity and motive undisclosed; ongoing police investigation.
  • Notable Quote:

    “We do have three deceased.”
    — Southport Police Chief Todd Coring [03:29]

5. Mifepristone Approval Anniversary & Ongoing Debate

• [04:08-04:52]
  • Approved in the US on this day in 2000, the abortion medication remains politically contested, with the Trump administration signaled as considering more regulations.
  • The FDA and reproductive rights advocates stress mifepristone’s safety and efficacy after “more than 100 studies” and “nearly 6 million women” having used it.
  • Notable Quote:

    “The pill is used in combination with another medication, misoprostol, which causes uterine cramping. … The safety and efficacy of the medication has been proven in more than 100 studies, according to the FDA.”
    — Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR Medical Correspondent [04:09, 04:33]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ukraine attacks:
  • “Firefighters and medics worked throughout the attacks, which lasted for 12 hours.” [00:39]
• On Portland troop deployment:
  • “There is no insurrection, there is no threat to national security and there is no need for military troops in our major city.” — Governor Tina Kotak [01:49]
• On punitive federal actions:
  • “You're going to make progress...then we're going to punish you.” — Hussam Meraja [02:49]
• On mass shooting:
  • “We do have three deceased.” — Police Chief Todd Coring [03:29]
• On mifepristone approval:
  • “The safety and efficacy of the medication has been proven in more than 100 studies, according to the FDA.” — Selena Simmons Duffin [04:33]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Russian attack on Ukraine: [00:12–01:20]
• Lavrov’s UN comments, Portland troop controversy: [01:21–01:59]
• Chicago protest coverage: [02:11–03:10]
• Southport mass shooting: [03:11–04:07]
• Mifepristone legal and medical review: [04:08–04:52]

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Summary

This fast-paced NPR News Now episode provides a clear and direct rundown of urgent domestic and global news. The main focus is on the violence in Ukraine, rising political tensions in the US regarding federal authority in cities like Portland, organized resistance in cities like Chicago, a tragic mass shooting in North Carolina, and the persistent national debate over reproductive rights. The reporting maintains a neutral, informative tone and highlights the complex backdrop of these events as they continue to unfold.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[NPR News Anchor]

Learn [e-mail] live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. 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. NPR's Joanna Kakisis reports from Kyiv that the Ukrainian capital and a city in the southeast were hit the hardest.

[NPR Reporter]

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 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 Kakis, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

Cave with the ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke this weekend at the UN General assembly in New York, saying Moscow does intend to attack Europe, but he warned that any aggression against Russia would face a decisive response. A spate of airspace incursions linked to Russia has led to security concerns. Top officials in Oregon pushing back against President Trump's announcement that he will send troops to Portland. Oregon Governor Tina Kotak is calling any deployment an abuse of power.

[NPR Reporter]

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

[NPR News Anchor]

On social media this weekend, Trump called Port Portland war ravaged and said troops were necessary to protect immigration facilities, which have been the focus of protesters. Saturday's announcement is Trump's latest threat to deploy troops to a Democratic led city. Hundreds of people marched in downtown Chicago Saturday demanding that Illinois officials stand up against the Trump administration's immigration agenda. From member station wbez, Summer Van Benten reports.

[Field Reporter]

No jump, no jumps. Protesters ranged from babies in strollers to elders in wheelchairs, cars honked and support. Some walking by even joined the march. Organizer Hussam Meraja with the US Palestinian Community Network and a co chair for the Chicago Coalition against the Trump Agenda says the Trump administration is targeting blue cities who are making progressive change.

[Commercial Announcer]

The precedent that he's setting is that you're going to make progress, and you're going to have these progressive mayors and progressive cities that come from like unions and working class people, then we're going to punish you.

[Field Reporter]

Protesters are demanding officials enact laws and policies to stop federal agencies from harming residents. For NPR News, I'm Sommer Van Benton in Chicago.

[NPR News Anchor]

And from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. A mass shooting last night in Southport, North Carolina. Shots were fired from a boat on the Cape Fear river into a waterfront bar. Southport Police Chief Todd Coring spoke to reporters early this morning.

[NPR Reporter]

We do have three deceased.

[NPR News Anchor]

The establishment that we are dealing with.

[NPR Reporter]

Right now working the crime scene.

[NPR News Anchor]

In addition to three fatalities, at least eight others were wounded. A suspect is in custody. Authorities say a Coast Guard crew detained the person who matched the suspect's description about a half hour after the shooting. The suspect has not yet been identified, and it's not clear what led to the attack. Officials say the suspect is being questioned by police. The medication mifepristone was approved on this day in 2000. NPR's Lena Simmons duffened reports that the food and drug review process was longer, more thorough than usual because of political opposition.

[Medical/Science Correspondent]

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.

[NPR News Anchor]

And I'm Jael Snyder. This is NPR News.

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