James Comey indicted; Trump’s new tariffs; Hegseth’s military meeting; Amazon Prime refund; and more

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The 7 – September 26, 2025

Host: Hannah Jewell (The Washington Post)
Episode Focus: The seven most important stories of the day, featuring reporting and analysis from The Washington Post newsroom.

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Overview

In this fast-paced episode, Hannah Jewell brings listeners up to speed with the seven top stories for September 26, 2025. Major headlines include the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, new tariffs announced by President Trump, a developing story on Iran’s nuclear activities, an unprecedented global military meeting called by the Secretary of Defense, Amazon’s record-breaking refund settlement for Prime users, brewing tropical weather threats, and a discovery that could rewrite the evolutionary timeline of humans. The episode carries an informative, brisk, and slightly witty tone throughout.

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1. James Comey Indicted

[01:16 – 02:41]

• A federal grand jury in Northern Virginia indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of making false statements and obstructing Congress.
• These charges carry a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
• Comey asserts his innocence:

  “My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees. And you shouldn't, either.”
  — James Comey, video statement, [02:00]

• The indictment was reportedly made against the advice of some career prosecutors, who cited insufficient evidence.
• The action is described as the most notable step yet in President Trump’s increased use of the Justice Department against perceived enemies, noting Comey's role in investigating Russian election interference and his 2017 firing by Trump.

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2. Trump Announces New Tariffs

[02:51 – 03:55]

• President Trump unveils sweeping new tariffs affecting trucks, furniture, and pharmaceuticals.
• Notable policy details:
  • 25% tariff on heavy trucks
  • 50% on kitchen cabinets and vanities
  • 30% on upholstered furniture
  • Possible 100% on pharmaceutical imports (with flexibility for U.S.-based production)
• Trump characteristically highlights his fondness for tariffs:

  “The tariffs, Remember when I said a long time ago, I said, greatest word. It's my favorite word in the world... So I think I put tariff number five.”
  — Donald Trump, Oval Office, [03:09]

• New tariffs begin October 1st. Hannah Jewell notes the uncertain economic impact and potential for higher health insurance costs.

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3. Post Exclusive: Iran’s Nuclear Construction Activity

[03:55 – 05:34]

• New satellite analysis reveals increased construction at a secretive underground site in Iran, following U.S.-Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities in June.
• While Trump declared Iran’s nuclear capabilities “totally obliterated,” U.S. intelligence and new imagery suggest Iran continues covert activity, possibly rebuilding its weapons program.

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4. Defense Secretary Calls Unprecedented Military Meeting

[05:34 – 06:22]

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of military leaders from around the world for an unexpected meeting at a Marine base in Virginia.
• The agenda is unknown even to top generals, provoking confusion and concern—especially after recent high-profile Pentagon firings by the Trump administration.
• It remains unclear if Trump or Vice President J.D. Vance will attend.
• Criticism centers on fears that these moves may erode the nonpartisan standing of the Defense Department.

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5. Amazon to Refund $1.5 Billion to Prime Users

[06:22 – 07:30]

• Amazon agrees to pay $1.5 billion in refunds and an additional $1 billion fine to the FTC, settling claims it misled customers into Prime signups and made cancellations difficult.
• Former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is acknowledged as owner of the Washington Post.
• Automatic refunds for those who signed up via deceptive means and used Prime three times or less in a year; others may need to apply manually.
• More info available via The 7's newsletter.

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6. Two Tropical Storms Threaten East Coast

[07:30 – 08:03]

• Forecasters track a developing tropical system poised to bring severe weather to Georgia, the Carolinas, and possibly the Mid-Atlantic early next week.
• Another storm, Umberto, is strengthening in the Atlantic but likely won’t reach land.

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7. Discovery May Rewrite Human Origins Timeline

[08:03 – 09:16]

• A re-examination of a skull found in central China in 1990 suggests Homo sapiens might be over a million years old, twice the previously accepted age.
• The digitally reconstructed skull depicts a robust early human possibly hunting elephants and rhinos with stone tools.
• The discovery is contested, with many paleontologists citing genetic and fossil evidence supporting a much more recent origin for our species.
• For visuals and more, listeners are pointed to the day’s newsletter.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Comey’s Indictment:
  “We will not live on our knees. And you shouldn't, either.”
  — James Comey, [02:00]
• On Trump's Economic Policy:
  “Greatest word. It's my favorite word in the world. ... So I think I put tariff number five.”
  — Donald Trump, [03:09]

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Key Timestamps

• 01:16 – News starts: James Comey indicted
• 02:41 – Trump announces new tariffs
• 03:55 – Iran’s nuclear site activities analyzed
• 05:34 – Unprecedented global military meeting called
• 06:22 – Amazon Prime user refunds
• 07:30 – Tropical weather threats for the southeast
• 08:03 – Ancient skull could shift human evolutionary timeline
• 09:16 – Episode concludes with newsletter mention

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains Hannah Jewell’s balance of brisk news delivery and light, playful asides (“I hope you got us something nice” for the show’s birthday), alongside clear, accessible explanations of complex stories. Reporting is concise, expertly curated, and supplemented with exclusive Post insights.

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For full details and links on today’s stories, listeners are encouraged to check the show notes and The Seven newsletter.

Transcript

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[Hannah Jewell]

The seven is celebrating its fourth birthday this month. I hope you got us something nice.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

But we have a gift for you.

[Hannah Jewell]

A special offer on a premium Washington Post subscription.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

You can get one for $3 every four weeks or $33 for the first year.

[Hannah Jewell]

That's billed as $3 every four weeks for the first year, then $17 every four weeks thereafter. You can cancel anytime. To take advantage of this special offer, go to washingtonpost.com the seven.

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That's the number seven. This is a great deal for listeners.

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And readers of THE Seven.

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And it comes with three extra accounts.

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You can share with friends and family. Happy birthday to us. Now let's get to the news.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted. That's where we're starting the seven. From the Washington Post, I'm Hannah Jewell.

[Hannah Jewell]

It's Friday, September 26th.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. A federal grand jury in Northern Virginia issued the indictment against James Comey yesterday. It charges him with one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of Congress. Those charges are punishable by up to five years in prison. Comey says he's innocent, and in a video statement posted to social media, he vowed to take his case to trial.

[ExxonMobil Spokesperson (continuation)]

My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees. And you shouldn't, either.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

This indictment was delivered over the objections of some career prosecutors. They insisted there was insufficient evidence to charge Comey with a crime. This is the most significant step to date in President Donald Trump's campaign to deploy the Justice Department to avenge personal grievances and prosecute those he perceives as his enemies. Comey's FBI had investigated Russian involvement in.

[Hannah Jewell]

The 2016 presidential election.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

Trump fired him.

[Hannah Jewell]

In 2017.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

President Trump announced new tariffs on trucks, furniture and pharmaceuticals. That's number two. Just when you thought the tariff news had died down, here comes another round. Trump spoke fondly of the word tariffs in the Oval Office yesterday.

[Donald Trump]

The tariffs, Remember when I said a long time ago, I said, greatest word. It's my favorite word in the world. Then I had to say, I was forced to say other things and of course rightfully so. Love, family, religion. So I think I put tariff number five.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

Later in a post on social media, Trump said a new tariff on heavy trucks would be 25%. New import taxes of 50% will be imposed on all kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and associated products, and upholstered furniture will be subject to a 30% rate. Pharmaceutical products, meanwhile, may face a rate of 100%, but Trump suggested that could be lower for drug companies that are building plants in the U.S. all of this is set to take effect October 1st. That's Wednesday. Trump suggested the fresh tariffs would be a boost to U.S. companies, but inflation is rising, trade policy is uncertain, the job market is softening, and new rates could lead to increased health insurance costs. Number three is a Post exclusive. Iran increased work at a mysterious underground site After US Strikes Back in June, Israel and the US Hit three nuclear sites in Iran. Following the attacks, Trump claimed that Iran's nuclear capabilities had been totally obliterated. U.S. government intelligence reports were less clear cut. And now a new Post analysis of satellite imagery paints a very interesting picture. It shows increased construction at a mysterious underground site just south of one of the nuclear facilities that was targeted in June. It suggests that Iran has not entirely ceased work on its suspected weapons program and may be cautiously rebuilding. Number four is another Post exclusive. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of military leaders from across the world for a meeting. Earlier this week, the Pentagon sent an unusual directive to almost all of the military's top commanders across the globe.

[Hannah Jewell]

That's according to more than a dozen people familiar with the matter. Even top generals and their staff don't.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

Know what this meeting is about.

[Hannah Jewell]

It's expected to take place at a Marine Corps base in Virginia next week. The move has left some feeling confused.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

And alarmed, especially after the Trump administration's.

[Hannah Jewell]

Recent mass firings of senior leaders.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

It's also not clear whether the president.

[Hannah Jewell]

Will attend or if Hegseth warned Trump about his plans. Both Trump and Vice President J.D. vance have downplayed the event. Whatever it's about, Hegseth's critics fear his recent high profile firings are damaging the non partisan reputation of the Defense Department.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

Amazon will pay out $1.5 billion to prime subscribers. That's number five. This settlement is one of the largest in U.S. history. It includes an additional $1 billion fine Amazon will pay to the Federal Trade Commission. It means the company can avoid going to trial over claims that it tricked people into signing up for its free shipping service, then made it extremely difficult to cancel a disclaimer. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post. Anyway, anyone who signed up through the deceptive process and only used Amazon prime three times in 12 months will be refunded automatically. Others who used it more might also be due a refund, but they'll have to fill out a form. You can check if you're eligible and how to get your money at the link in our newsletter Today. A tropical storm could hit the southeastern U.S. early next week. That's number six. Forecasters are watching a weather system that.

[Hannah Jewell]

Could bring heavy rain and destructive wind.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

To parts of the East Coast. Right now it's what's known as a tropical disturbance, and there's a lot of.

[Hannah Jewell]

Uncertainty about its strength and path.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

If it does form into a tropical storm, meteorologists will give it an official name.

[Hannah Jewell]

They say it could sweep through Georgia, the Carolinas and potentially the mid Atlantic. And that's not the only weather we're watching. Tropical Storm Umberto is also swirling in the Atlantic. It could be upgraded to a hurricane this weekend. That one isn't projected to make it.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

To land, but we will keep an eye on both. And at number seven, our species could be much older than we thought A new analysis of a very old skull is causing a little drama in the paleontology world. It's generally accepted that modern humans split from Neanderthals and other ancestors around 500,000 to 700,000 years ago. But a new assessment of a crushed skull that was first unearthed in Central.

[Hannah Jewell]

China in 1990 challenges that assessment. It contends that Homo sapiens emerged more than a million years ago.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

Scientists reconstructed the skull digitally. It reveals an ancient man with a squat neck and a big brain. He probably used stone tools and hunted or scavenged for elephants and rhinos. But not all paleontologists are impressed by him. Some say the weight of evidence from genetic analysis and other fossils still suggests a much more recent origin for our species. If you want to see what this ancient fellow might have looked like, check.

[Hannah Jewell]

Out our newsletter today.

[Hannah Jewell (continuation)]

Find that, as always, in our show notes. That's the show for this week.

[Hannah Jewell]

The associate producer of the Seven is Taylor White. Special help this week from Renny Svenofsky and Emma Talkoff. The staff writers are Jamie Ross, Izzin Akabow and me. John Taylor is our editor. Additional editing by Christina Quinn. Copyediting by Melissa Ngo, Thomas Haliba and Laura Michalski. Mixing and sound design is by Jim Briggs and Justin Gerrish. Our theme music is by Edith Mudge, Renita Jablonski is our director of audio. I'm Hannah Jewell. Thanks for listening and have a rapturous weekend. I'll meet you back here on Monday.

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