NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-13-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: September 13, 2025

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On the TED Radio Hour podcast, Astro Teller leads Alphabet's secret lab behind successful projects like self-driving cars and high-profile flops like Google Glass. We were too, too early in that case. The CEO of Alphabet's Moonshot Factory on innovation and getting the timing right. Listen on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Tyler Robinson has been charged with murder in the Wednesday's shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. His arrest followed a 33-hour manhunt, and Pierre Zadette Yusuf has more on Robinson. We know that he's 22 years old.

We know that he's being held without bail in Utah County Jail at the moment. And according to what we heard from Governor Cox, a family friend told investigators that Robinson had, quote, become more political in recent years. also that Robinson didn't like Charlie Kirk. But again, there is still much more to learn. That's M.Pierre Sudet Yusuf with our report. The shooting has led once again to a discussion about growing political violence in the U.S., which has also seen the shooting of Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota earlier this year.

Experts are also discussing the mental toll shootings can take on those involved in some way with those shootings. M.P.S. Marissa Penelosa reports from Utah. Nathan Pond is a trauma therapist in Oren. He says he's received almost 20 funcals from people in his community seeking help since the assassination earlier this week. And he and his partner Roney, a trained therapy dog, have been busy. He says the arrest of Tyler Robinson has brought some sense of relief to people in Oren. The fact that they found them, I think everyone's breathing aside of relief

because he's not still wandering around because we didn't know where he was. But he says, even with the sustenance, already in custody, people in Orem are still traumatized and scared. Marisa Pinalosa, NPR News, Orem, Utah. NATO has launched a new operation to better defend its eastern flank against Russia. As Terry Schultz reports, the reinforcements come in response to an incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace earlier this week. Calling the violation of Poland's airspace on Wednesday, deeply dangerous,

NATO Secretary General Mark Ruta announced the launch. of Eastern Century. In addition to more traditional military capabilities, this effort will also future elements designed to address the particular challenges associated with the use of drones. Dutch and Polish fighter jets shot down several of the Russian drones, but NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Air Force General Alexis Grinkowicz, says the alliance will look for more cost-effective ways to upgrade its counter-dron capabilities. It's time to take a fresh look at this, and we're going to do everything we can as we learn those lessons to incorporate them rapidly.

Countries on the eastern flank have been asking NATO for more air defense for years. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels. Wall Street closed the week with stocks mixed, but finished the week overall on a higher note. The Dow declined 273 points. The SMP 500 was down just three points, but the NASDAQ was up by 98 points, ending the week at 22,141. You're listening to NPR News. The automaker Stalantis is canceling plans to build an all-electric pickup, but it says it will move forward with plans for a plug-in hybrid version. As NPR's Kamila Dominovsky reports, many automakers are retooling their EV lineups.

Stalantis says that as demand for full-size battery electric pickups is slowing in North America, the company is axing plans for an all-electric ram. But they're moving forward with a range-extended truck. An electric motor turns the wheels, delivering instant torque, while a gas-powered generator extends the vehicle's range. The idea is you can plug in or fuel up and drive and tow either way. Hefty federal tax credits for EV buyers are ending very soon. Deals need to be inked by the end of this month to qualify. That's expected to be a blow to demand for EVs, while demand for hybrids is projected to grow. Camila Dominovsky, NPR News.

The U.N. General Assembly voted Friday to support a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. The World Body endorsed what it's calling, the New York Declaration, which sets out a phased plan to end the almost 80-year-old conflict. The vote was 142 to 10 with 12 abstentions. The General Assembly's annual meeting begins on September 22nd. NATO says it's adding new military equipment to its eastern region that borders Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. that move follows an incursion by Russian drones. The Missouri Senate has passed a plan backed by President Trump that could help Republicans win an additional U.S. House seat.

The Senate's vote Friday sends the measure to Republican Governor Mike Kehoe for his expected signature. I'm Dale Wilman and PR News. 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. T's and Cs apply.