NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-04-2025 2PM EDT

Episode Date: September 4, 2025

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World news is important, but it can feel far away, not on the state of the world podcast. With journalists around the world, you'll hear firsthand the effects of U.S. trade actions in Canada and China and meet a Mexican street sweeper who became a pop star. We don't go around the world. We're already there. Listen to the state of the world podcast from NPR every weekday. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi. saying. Well, the national debate over the future of public health under the Trump administration played out in heated exchanges today on Capitol Hill between health secretary Robert of Kennedy Jr. and members of his Senate committee, including members of the Republican Party. And P.R.'s Yucinoguchi

reports on Kennedy's testimony today in which he tangled with senators over his changes to health and science policy. The Senate Finance Committee's grilling of Kennedy was full of rancor, including from his own party. Louisiana Republican and physician Bill Cassidy accused Kennedy of going back on a specific promise not to undermine Americans' access to vaccines. Now, Cassidy says Kennedy is going against science, quote, effectively denying people vaccine, end quote, by removing the recommendation for COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. It also surprises me because you've canceled, or HHS did, but apparently under your direction, $500 million in contract. using the MRNA vaccine platform that was critical to Operation Warp Speed.

Again, an accomplishment that I think President Trump should get a Nobel Prize for. Kennedy at times got agitated at the hearing, arguing he is defending a gold standard of science. Yuki Noguchi and PR News. The United Arab Emirates says its ties with Israel will be undermined if Israel imposes sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank. NPR's Ae Abatrawi reports that Israel's prime minister then tabled a plan discussion on annexation scheduled today. In a statement to NPR, the UAE's foreign ministry said Israeli proposals to annex Palestinian territory in the West Bank constitutes a, quote, red line. It said this will severely undermine the vision and spirit of the so-called Abraham Accords, which saw Israel establish ties with the UAE and other Arab states under President Trump in 2020.

The UAE said that, quote, extremists of any kind cannot be allowed to dictate the region's trajectory. An apparent reference to both Hamas and Gaza and settler ministers in Israel's far-right government. Israel is meanwhile expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank, including one that splits the territory in two. Israel's government has been threatening to annex parts of the West Bank, following vows by several Western governments to recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel takes meaningful steps toward lasting peace. Aye Abotrawi, NPR News, Dubai. A series of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes.

This week continues to burning California in prompt evacuations. To Wallamie County resident, Randall Hoffman. It's not very good. Yeah, devastation. I think we lost 95% of the town. Homes were burned this weekend, the historic Chinese camp established by Chinese immigrants during California's 19th century gold rush era. From Washington, this is NPR News.

Flags are flying at half-staff staff in Portugal, which to be declared a day of morning. For the victims of yesterday's railway crash in Lisbon, local authorities say at least 16 people died, and at least 18 others were injured. The accident involved the Gloria Funicular Train that's designed for steep slopes and popular with tourists. Authorities are trying to determine what caused a cable to fail. The NFL season kicks off tonight when last year's Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, host the Dallas Cowboys. NPR's Becky Sullivan. Reports Eagles are top contenders for this year's title alongside a trio of teams from the

AFC. The Eagles dominated the Super Bowl last year, so it's no surprise, though, the early favorites to win it all again. They're key players of all returned, including quarterback Jalen Hertz and running back Saquan Barkley. The Green Bay Packers are a new favorite after a blockbuster trade with the Cowboys to add superstar defensive end, Micah Parsons. In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs have reached the Super Bowl five of the last six years

running. The Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens would like to end the Super Bowl. that streak. Their quarterbacks, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, have both won MVP, but neither has ever played in a Super Bowl, thanks to the Chiefs. In week one, the Bills and Ravens will face off against each other with a heavyweight primetime matchup Sunday night in Buffalo. Becky Sullivan NPR News, Kansas City. At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial average was up 32 points or roughly three quarters of a percent. Now at 45,593, the NASDAQ has gained 124 points in the S&Ps Climb 36. I'm Lakshmi Seng, NPR News.