Trump blasts the U.N.; Jimmy Kimmel returns; USAID cuts; the rapture; and more

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The 7 – Trump Blasts the U.N.; Jimmy Kimmel Returns; USAID Cuts; the Rapture; and More

Host: Hannah Jewell (The Washington Post)
Date: September 24, 2025

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Main Theme and Purpose

This episode of "The 7" delivers concise, insightful coverage of the seven most significant news stories for September 24, 2025. Host Hannah Jewell brings listeners up to speed on global politics, domestic policy, entertainment, health, climate, and viral internet culture—grounded in Washington Post reporting. The episode is fast-paced but offers context and highlights the broader implications of each story.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump Blasts the United Nations (00:38–02:14)

• Summary:
  President Trump addressed the U.N. General Assembly in a lengthy, impassioned speech, sharply criticizing the organization and its agenda, particularly on migration and climate change.
• Key Insights:
  • Trump questioned the value and effectiveness of the U.N., arguing:

    “What is the purpose of the United Nations? ... All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter.” — Donald Trump (01:05)

  • He called for halting global migration and dismissing climate change action—contradicting central U.N. priorities.
  • Trump’s speech exceeded the 15-minute official limit, lasting nearly an hour.
  • Notably, Trump later met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and signaled a shift in his position by stating strong support for Ukraine reclaiming all its Russian-invaded territory with NATO’s backing.

2. Jimmy Kimmel Returns After Suspension (02:14–03:35)

• Summary:
  Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night TV following a brief ABC suspension triggered by political controversy and pressure from the Trump administration.
• Key Insights:
  • Kimmel’s suspension followed conservative outrage over his remarks after the death of Charlie Kirk.
  • Despite some TV station owners continuing to boycott the show, Kimmel used his comeback to defend freedom of speech and criticize governmental overreach.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.” — Jimmy Kimmel (03:08)
    • “The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.” — Jimmy Kimmel (03:19)
  • Kimmel was visibly emotional as he clarified he never intended to make light of Kirk’s death.

3. Trump Administration Targets USAID Funds (03:35–05:01)

• Summary:
  The Trump administration is planning to redirect $1.8 billion from USAID, prioritizing “America first” initiatives while reducing aid to regions such as West Bank, Gaza, and Iraq.
• Key Insights:
  • The move challenges Congressional authority over federal spending.
  • Defunded projects include $175 million for the West Bank and Gaza, $150 million for Iraq.
  • Leveraging USAID to advance Trump’s geopolitical aims (e.g., Latin America, Greenland, Ukraine).
  • Potential impact: A study (The Lancet) warns that global cuts could result in 14 million additional deaths over five years.

4. Democrats Gain House Seat After Special Election (05:01–05:57)

• Summary:
  Democrat Adelita Grijalva wins Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, shrinking the Republican majority in the House.
• Key Insights:
  • She succeeds her father, the late Rep. Raul Grijalva.
  • The new balance: Democrats 214 seats, Republicans 219 — tightening the GOP’s legislative margin.
  • Speaker Mike Johnson now faces razor-thin vote margins and continued conference rebellions.

5. Sharp Rise in Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Infections (05:57–06:56)

• Summary:
  CDC study reveals NDM CRE infections soared 460% (2019–2023) in the U.S.
• Key Insights:
  • The bacterium is highly resistant, leading to deadly pneumonia and bloodborne infections.
  • Once rare domestically, increases are attributed to limited testing and gaps in infection control.

6. Potential Storm Surge: Hurricane Season Heats Up (06:56–07:25)

• Summary:
  Atlantic hurricane activity may accelerate next week, with two disturbances brewing.
• Key Insights:
  • New storms could form and threaten U.S. East Coast from Florida through the Mid-Atlantic.
  • Uncertainty remains about the precise path or landfall.

7. The Viral Rapture That Wasn’t (07:25–08:48)

• Summary:
  Social media buzzed with rapture predictions fueled by an obscure pastor and viral TikTok users, but the apocalypse failed to materialize.
• Key Insights:
  • “RaptureTok” was flooded with doomsday content and parody in anticipation of the predicted day.
  • Featured example (rapturenow7):

    “Blow the shofar harder. You’re not telling enough people. There’s not enough time. This is it. This is it.” — @rapturenow7 (08:14)

  • Host Hannah Jewell wryly notes, “The world has failed to end on schedule.” (08:48)
  • The trend sparked humor and skepticism, not mass panic.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump’s dismissal of the U.N.:

  “All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter.” — Donald Trump (01:05)

• Kimmel defending free speech:

  “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.” — Jimmy Kimmel (03:08)

• Kimmel on Trump’s reaction:

  “Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.” — Jimmy Kimmel (03:19)

• TikTok rapture influencer parody:

  “Blow the shofar harder. You’re not telling enough people. There’s not enough time. This is it.” — @rapturenow7 (08:14)

• Host’s dry wit on failed apocalypse:

  “The world has failed to end on schedule.” — Hannah Jewell (08:48)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump at the U.N.: 00:38–02:14
• Jimmy Kimmel’s Return: 02:14–03:35
• USAID Funding Cuts: 03:35–05:01
• House Special Election: 05:01–05:57
• Bacterial Infection Surge: 05:57–06:56
• Hurricane Season Outlook: 06:56–07:25
• Rapture Goes Viral: 07:25–08:48

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Summary Tone and Flow

The episode is brisk, informative, and mixes gravity with moments of sardonic humor—particularly in coverage of online trends and Kimmel’s late-night return. Host Hannah Jewell maintains a conversational, accessible style, moving swiftly through global and domestic developments while pausing for reflection when warranted.

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For listeners in a hurry, “The 7” continues to deliver sharp, contextual analysis of the day’s key headlines, blending hard news with lighter cultural notes to keep you informed and engaged.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

I can tell you I'm really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell.

[C]

President Trump blasted the United nations in a long and fiery speech. That's where we're starting the seven from the Washington Post, I'm Hannah Jewell. It's Wednesday, September 24th. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. In an address to the UN General assembly yesterday, President Trump made it clear that he is not a fan of the international organization.

[B]

What is the purpose of the United Nations? The UN has such tremendous potential, I've always said has such tremendous, tremendous potential. But it's not even coming close to living up to that potential. For the most part, at least for now, all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter.

[C]

Trump called for fellow leaders to halt global migration and end the fight against climate change, taking aim at two of the UN's core issues.

[D]

He spoke for nearly an hour.

[C]

The official time limit for these speeches is 15 minutes. Later in the day, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a news conference, Trump said he now believes Ukraine can reclaim the entirety of its invaded territory with NATO support. That's a big shift from Trump. For years, he has expressed empathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, even as he called for an end to the war. Yesterday's comments mark Trump's strongest public support yet for Ukraine. Number two, Jimmy Kimmel slammed the Trump administration last night in his return to air. Those who remember Kimmel from his days on the man show might not have.

[D]

Been able to predict the kind of.

[C]

Eventful week the comedian has had. Last Wednesday, ABC suspended his late night talk show under pressure from the Trump administration. That followed conservative criticism of Kimmel's remarks on the show following the killing of Charlie Kirk. After a backlash to that backlash, Jimmy Kimmel Live was back on air last night with mostly some TV station owners said they will continue to boycott him. Nevertheless, Kimmel used his comeback show to critique the FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, who had suggested he would revoke stations licenses, who aired it, and to defend freedom of speech.

[E]

This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.

[C]

Kimmel went on to criticize the president directly.

[E]

The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can't take a joke.

[C]

Kimmel also grew emotional as he explained that he never intended to make light of Kirk's death. Number three the Trump administration is eyeing USAID money to advance its goals. This is Trump's latest challenge to the authority of Congress over federal spending. According to a document reviewed by the Post, the administration plans to shift $1.8 billion in US foreign aid to fund a slate of Trump priorities that includes America first initiatives such as countering Marxist anti American regimes in Latin America and pursuing investments in Greenland and Ukraine. The document also lists projects defunded by the administration, including $175 million meant for the West bank and Gaza and $150 million for Iraq. Cuts to USAID's funding are expected to have deadly consequences around the world. According to one study in the Lancet, they may lead to 14 million more deaths in the next five years.

[D]

The Republicans majority in the House is about to get smaller. That's number four Democrat Adelita Grijalva is.

[C]

Projected to win yesterday's special election in Arizona's 7th congressional district. That seat was held for 12 terms by her father, Raul Grijalva, who died this year.

[D]

Her victory means that once she is.

[C]

Sworn in, Democrats will hold 214 seats in the House. The Republicans have 219.

[D]

That leaves Republicans in a tight spot.

[C]

House Speaker Mike Johnson has at times struggled to hold his conference together. He has faced rebellions on issues such as the debt ceiling and the release of files from the investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epste.

[D]

Now Republicans can afford to lose only.

[C]

Two votes if they want to pass legislation without Democratic support.

[D]

Number five Infections caused by a dangerous.

[C]

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are on the rise. According to a new study from the CDC, infections from the bacteria NDM CRE increased by 460% in the US between 2019 and 2023. The bacteria can lead to pneumonia and bloodstream infections. The CDC said that these infections are extremely hard to treat and can be deadly, and this bacteria is resistant to some of the strongest antibiotics available. In the past, these types of infections were uncommon in the US but limited testing and gaps in infection control could be fueling the rise of Number six Hurricane Season may be about to get busy the Atlantic hurricane season has been.

[D]

Quieter than usual so far, but that.

[C]

Could be about to change. Two disturbances in the western Atlantic could form into hurricanes early next week.

[D]

If they form, they could head towards.

[C]

The east coast of the U.S. after.

[D]

That, it's hard to tell exactly where.

[C]

They might go, but at least one of the storms might reach land in areas from Florida to the mid Atlantic coastline next week. We will keep you updated.

[D]

And at number seven, nobody was raptured.

[C]

Yesterday that we know of.

[D]

If you don't know why I'm talking about the Rapture today, you're probably not on TikTok. Good for you. Here's what you've missed.

[C]

Apocalyptic influencers have been flooding social media.

[D]

With warnings, tips and tricks for the impending Rapture. That is the day that some Christians.

[C]

Believe Jesus will return and his followers will be taken up to heaven.

[D]

The viral trend, if it can be called that, has been fueled largely by.

[C]

The predictions of an obscure pastor.

[D]

But that has provided plenty of material for comedians and traffic chasers who aren't necessarily true believers.

[C]

Here's one user TikTok, handle rapturenow7.

[D]

He's been a big figure on Rapture.

[F]

Talk covered in goosebumps. Blow the shofar harder. You're not telling enough people. There's not enough time. This is it. This is it.

[D]

We really don't know if this guy means it or not, or if he's still with us on Earth, but in any case, the prediction had been that this would take place yesterday or at the very latest today, and it does not appear to have happened. Alas, this is not the first time.

[C]

The world has failed to end on schedule.

[D]

Alright, you're all caught up. If you're still here, you can celebrate our birthday with a special offer on a premium post subscription for listeners of the seven. Right now you can get one for $3 every four weeks or $33 for the first year. That's billed as $3 every four weeks for the first year, then $17 every four weeks thereafter. You can cancel anytime. And better yet, you can get three extra accounts with your subscription. To share with any of your loved ones who were not raptured yesterday, head.

[C]

Over to washingtonpost.com the seven.

[D]

That's the number seven. If you use that link, you're going to make me look really good to my employers. I'm Hannah Jewell.

[C]

I'll meet you back here tomorrow.

[D]

Or will I?

[G]

You listen because you know the power of good journalism and the Washington Post is there for you 24 7. When you become a Washington Post subscrib subscriber, you get exclusive reporting. You can't find anywhere else. You also get sharp advice, columns, delicious recipes, TV and music reviews and so much more. Right now, you can get all of that for just $4 every four weeks. That's for an entire year. After that, it's just $12 every four weeks. And you can cancel anytime. Add to your knowledge and discover all the Post has to offer. Go to washingtonpost.com subscribe that's washingtonpost.com subscribe.