NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-11-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: September 12, 2025

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Support for NPR and the following message come from the Kauffman Foundation, providing access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity, regardless of race, gender, or geography. Coffman.org Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. The assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk Wednesday at a college in Utah continues to reverberate around the country. NPR's Domenico Montero notes it's the latest in a series of politically motivated violent attacks in recent months.

The attacks have crossed the political spectrum, a firebombing of a Democratic governor's residence, the killing of a Democratic lawmaker and her husband, fires set to Tesla charging stations and, of course, two assassination attempts on President Trump during last year's presidential campaign. Despite the often knee-jerk reactions and blaming of the other side and the immediate aftermath of these events, the truth is often more nuanced. In this case, the shooter is still on the loose and the motivation is not yet known, and Americans have been growing more and more concerned with the potential for violence. 73 percent in a recent NPR, PBS News. Maris poll, for example, described politically motivated violence as a major problem. Domenico Montanaro, NPR News, Washington.

Brazil's Supreme Court has sentenced Jaya Bolsonaro to 27 and 27 years in three months in prison. This for a coup attempt after losing his 20-22 re-election bid. He is the first former president in Brazilian history to be punished for trying to overthrow the government. Julie Cananero has more from Rio. This lengthy prison term for Jaya Bolsonaro follows a momentous trial that has gripped Brazil. The divisive far-right leader was convicted on all five charges, including attempting a coup, violently abolishing the rule of law, and leading a criminal organization. votes to convict were four to one in the panel made up of five Supreme Court justices.

The seven other defendants were also found guilty. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the court had unjustly ruled to imprison Bolsonaro, and the United States would, quote, respond accordingly to the switch hunt. For NPR news, I'm Julia Carnero in Rio de Janeiro. The federal government collected $30 billion in tariff revenue last month. NPR Scott Horsley reports, It's a nearly fourfold increase from this time last year. President Trump has imposed double-digit tariffs on nearly everything the U.S. imports,

and that money is now flowing into the U.S. Treasury. A monthly report from the Treasury Department says tariff revenue reached $30 billion last month up from $8 billion in August of 2024. Tariffs accounted for nearly 9% of all federal revenue last month, but they haven't done much to improve the government's financial health. With a month ago in the fiscal year, the federal government's running a deficit of nearly $2 trillion, and it's had to pay out more than $1 trillion just to cover the interest on the growing federal debt. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. The trial of Ryan Ruth is underway in Fort Pierce, Florida.

He's the man charged by federal authorities trying to assassinate President Trump last September. This is NPR News. A court in Brussels has ruled that energy, nuclear energy, and natural gas will still be considered environmentally sustainable investments in the European Union, which could drive significant amount of financial investments into energy supplies, not widely considered green. Member nation, Austria had sued over the EU's inclusion of nuclear and natural gas as lower polluting energy sources. European energy companies are increasingly using energy classification systems as a way to pay their business investments in energy projects.

The U.S. Department of Education is cutting funding for some colleges that help student parents pay for child care. Without the funds, there's fear these students might drop out. Northwest Public Radio's Lorne Gallup reports. Washington State has some of the highest child care costs in the country. Clover Park Technical College here in Tacoma has used a federal grant program to help its student parents cover those costs. But the college just found out it won't be getting that money this year. Dean Kelly is vice president for student success at Clover Park. Some students just can't afford that without the help, and so they may need to drop out. Kelly says a letter from the U.S. Department of Education pointed to some training the college does

to serve diverse populations as the reason for pulling the funding. The U.S. Department of Education didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. For NPR News, I'm Lauren Gallup in Tacoma, Washington. On Wall Street, the Dow, the NASDAQ, and the S&P all finished higher. I'm Dan Rowan, NPR News, in Washington. Support for NPR. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com.

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