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

Host: Giles Snyder
Length: ~5 minutes

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.

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]

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]

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]

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.