NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-12-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: September 12, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. The suspect arrested and accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk is expected to be charged with aggravated murder. As NPR's Franco Ordone's reports, President Trump says the person held responsible should be given the death penalty. President Trump praised a collaboration between local law enforcement and federal officials. In an interview with Fox and Friends, Trump said, quote, we got him. Well, I hope he was going to be found guilty, I would imagine, and I hope he gets a death penalty.

What he did, Charlie Kirk was the finest person. He didn't deserve this. The arrest follows a widespread search that began soon after the conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at a college in Utah on Wednesday. Utah's governor said casings found, along with a rifle, had inscriptions that read, among other things, hate fascist catch.

Officials believe the suspect acted alone, but the governor says the investigation continues. Franco, Ordonez, NPR News, New York. Republicans representing Tennessee and Washington have praised President Trump's plan to deploy the National Guard troops to Memphis, but Republicans closer to home while supportive are choosing their words more carefully. From member station WPLN, Mariana Bacalao reports. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and Congressman John John Ronrose thanked Trump. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee says he will be meeting with Trump to work out details.

When asked about a possible deployment last month, Lee said that crime in Memphis was down 15% year over year. We've made significant investments toward public safety in Memphis, $150 million in intervention grant funds and vast expansion of troopers there. State senators who represent Memphis have pointed to statistics that show crime in the city is, at a 25-year low. In a statement, Lee stressed that the National Guard will be working alongside local law enforcement and called Memphis a world-class American city. For NPR news, I'm Mariana Baca Yao in Nashville.

Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny says he's decided to skip touring 50 states specifically concerning about ICE. NPR's Anastasia Tiolkas has more. In an interview with ID magazine, Bad Bunny said he and his team were worried about ice raids on concert venues within the United States. He said, quote, ice could be outside, and it's something that we were talking about and very concerned about.

Instead, the artist who's topped the charts with the sons of his native Puerto Rico did a 30-date residency in his hometown of San Juan. That ends this weekend. Then he's on to Central and South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Anastasia Zilkus and PR News, New York. And you're listening to NPR. More than 200 recent heat waves have been made worse by human-caused global warming and the activity of fossil fuel producers. NPR's Julia Simon reports on the findings of a major study out this week. First, the scientists found that 213 heat waves were substantially more likely and intense because of climate change. But that wasn't all. The team from ETH Zurich University used a database of major fossil fuel producers,

and calculated how much their greenhouse gas emissions contributed to global warming. They found dozens of heat waves would be virtually impossible without the activity of big fossil fuel companies because of how high their emissions are. As states, cities, and countries sue oil companies for damages from climate disasters. Climate researchers say studies attributing specific events to specific corporations could become important in litigation. ExxonMobil, BP, and Chevron did not respond to NPR's request for. for comment. Julius Simon and Pierre News. 3,200 striking workers with Boeing in the St. Louis area have rejected the company's latest contract proposal, which will extend the strike at three Midwestern plants that

began August 4th. The machinist union says the company did not meet worker demands when it came to financial and retirement issues. Wall Street closed the week with stocks mixed today. The Dow declined 273 points, finishing at 45,834. The S&P was down to. three points closing at 6,584. The NASDAQ finished up 98 points ending the week at 22,141. That's a record high. I'm Dan Ronan, NPR News in Washington. Support for NPR. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now Plus at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.