NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-11-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: September 11, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Conservative media personality Charlie Kirk was gunned down Wednesday while speaking at a university in Utah. He was 31 years old. As NPR's Elena Moore reports, Kirk spent more than a decade in Republican politics and became one of the most influential voices in young conservatism. Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA when he was just 18, with a goal of building an organization for young conservatives. He became a face of the young MAGA movement

and his group's advocacy wing worked with the Trump campaign to mobilize new voters. Speaking to NPR the day after the election, Kirk reflected on Trump's gains with young Americans. They won a nice life and they feel it slipping away. They feel as if insanity is creeping into their institutions and it's more, dare I say, a vibe than anything else. Trump was the first to announce Kirk's death,

writing in a post that, quote, No one understood or had the heart of the youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. Alina Moore, NPR News. Critics of the Make America Healthy again say there is a disconnect between Mahas' rhetoric on children's health and what the administration has agreed to do. As NPR's Alison Aubrey reports, that is especially so when it comes to addressing concerns about pesticide regulations. A Maha report in May pointed to alarming levels of chemical exposure in some kids, and studies of potential harm.

But the administration's final strategy reads like an endorsement of the status quo, according to pediatrician Philip Landrigan of Boston College. This report says almost nothing about toxic chemicals and their effects on human health. It seems like a complete break from what Secretary Kennedy talked about it. During the campaign, Kennedy talked about limiting pesticides in food. The environmental working group points to industry influence. Farm groups support the new strategy, thanking the commission for meeting with farmers and developing smart strategies. Alice Nobri, NPR News. Poland is seeking

emergency talks with its allies after its Air Force and NATO fighter jets shot down multiple Russian drones during raids on Ukraine early Wednesday. NATO's responses raised concerns that the war in Ukraine could escalate amid growing tensions between Europe and Russia. As NPR's Joanna Kikis reports, Polish officials reject claims that the Russian intrusion was accidental. The Polish Prime Minister Donald Truisk, he said that the drones did indeed enter from Belarus, and we should note that Belarus borders both Poland and Ukraine. The Ukrainian military said those drones had flown through Ukraine before going to Belarus, and that suggests that they are indeed Russian drones. Now, Belarus said earlier today that the drones entered Polish airspace accidentally after some

electronic jamming, and meanwhile, the Kremlin said it never intended to hit Poland and claim Poland was out of range of Russian drones, a statement which actually is not true. This is NPR. Protesters clashed with police in Paris and other cities in France Wednesday as the country's latest prime minister took office. NPR's Eleanor Beersley reports

that the unrest as part of a movement aimed at ratcheting up pressure on President Emmanuel Macron. Macron's fourth new prime minister in two years was sworn in Wednesday morning. Sebastian Le Corneux is the former defense minister, a mainstream conservative, and a Macron loyalist. The far left and far right denounced the appointment as more of the same. Left-wing protesters blocked roads, roundabouts, and high schools around the country.

Hundreds were arrested. In his handover ceremony, Le Corneux said he would bring stability to the country. He also promised what he called a profound break in substance and not just florins. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris. Troops in the South Asian nation of Nepal have ordered residents to stay indoors following two days of demonstrations. Thousands of protesters took to the streets after the Nepalese government briefly banned social media. The health ministry says at least 25 people have died in the protests and over 600 others have been wounded. The unrest was prompted by the resignation of Nepal, has prompted the resignation of Nepal's prime minister.

representatives of the protesters met with military leaders Wednesday in Kathmandu to discuss a transitional leader. U.S. futures are virtually unchanged in pre-market trading on Wall Street. On Asia-Pacific market, shares are mixed up 1% in Shanghai. This is NPR News.