NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-12-2025 4PM EDT

Episode Date: September 12, 2025

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On NPR's Wild Card podcast, author Elizabeth Gilbert gets brutally honest about her tendency to make bad choices. Whenever I see red flags, I think it's a parade in my honor. And I run toward it. I'm like, flags, it's a parade. Watch or listen to that wildcard conversation on the NPR app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. authorities in Utah say they have a suspect in custody in connection with the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. NPR's Kirk Sigler reports authorities are questioning 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Washington County, Utah.

The arrest of Tyler Robinson, who's being questioned in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk here at Utah Valley University, caps a nearly two-day manhunt. At a news conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said, quote, we got him. This is a very sad day for, again, for our country, a terrible day for the state of Utah. But I'm grateful that at this moment we have an opportunity to bring closure to this very dark chapter in our nation's history. Cox says investigators say the suspect traveled to the campus from his home near St. George, Utah, about 260 miles away. Authorities say they recovered writings on bullet casings on the rifle found near the murder scene that had phrases on them, including Hey, Fascist, and if you read this, you're gay, LMAO. Kirk Sigler, NPR News, Orem, Utah.

Kirk's assassination has evoked shock, grief, and anger, not only among his Republican supporters, but also among Democrats. Groups representing young Republicans and Democrats have issued joint statements condemning political violence. Missouri Republicans have given final approval to a redrawn congressional map aimed at ousting Democratic Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver. President Trump has been pressuring GOP-led states to redistrict to try to prevent Democrats from taking over the U.S. House next year. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum reports.

The map the Missouri Senate passed splits heavily Democratic Kansas City into three Republican-leaning districts. Cleaver and other redistricting opponents are expected to file a lawsuit claiming that Missouri can't redraw congressional districts in the middle of the decade. A group called People Not Politicians announced they'll gather signatures to try to prevent. the new lines from going into effect until Missourians approve it in a statewide vote. Jason Rosenbaum reporting, the Israeli military continues to order evacuations in Gaza City as forces advance. Health officials in Gaza, meanwhile, say at least 38 people have been killed by Israeli forces in the past 24 hours. Here's NPR's Kerry Kahn. Overnight air strikes and drone attacks have been reported in Gaza City. Nearly a million people still live there,

according to city officials, and it's unclear how many. have evacuated to southern Gaza, where despite Israel's assurances, 10 camps are already overcrowded and lack basic services. UNICEF says access to clean water is urgent in the Almawazi camp, where it says more than 70,000 people have recently fled. The UN agency also reports record levels of childhood malnutrition. The number of children admitted to hospitals with severe acute malnutrition doubled in August compared to July. It's NPR News. Nine months after reopening from the devastating 2019 fire, Notre Dame Cathedral has become the most visited monument in France. And Pierre's Eleanor Beardsley reports the cathedrals is on track to welcome nearly 13 million visitors in its first year since it reopened last December.

The majority of visitors after the French have come from the U.S., Latin America, and Asia. They're particularly impressed by the cathedral's immaculate white stone, which has been sucked clean of centuries of grime. Chinese visitors have discovered a special surprise. One of the 14 side chapels around the nave has been renamed in honor of St. Paul Chen, a Chinese seminarian martyred in 1861, whose body has been kept at Notre Dame since 1920. A chapel dedicated to Christians of the East has also been introduced, joining existing chapels devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Virgin of Chanstahova from Poland. A spokesperson for the cathedral says they all reinforce Notre Dame's

Universal Mission. Eleanor Beardsley and Pierre News, Paris. The 77th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles for Sunday on CBS and comedian Nate Bargettsey is hosting. He joke with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that he had a plan to keep speeches at 45 seconds or less. Start the show with a promise to donate $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club if speakers keep to time and dock a thousand for every second they go over. But you can also, if you go under, we will put $1,000 back on.

So you can give it back. Wow. Pargetzi on Jimmy Kimmel Live. U.S. Stock's end-of-the-day mix with the Dow closing down 273 points. You're listening to NPR News. Listen to this podcast, sponsor-free on Amazon Music, with a prime membership, or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR NewsNowPlus at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.