NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-13-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: September 13, 2025

NPR News: 09-13-2025 6AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dua Lise, I Kautau. Erica Kirk, the wife of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, spoke publicly for the first time last night after escorting the body of her husband home to Arizona from Utah. She first thanked law enforcement, who she said acted bravely to make sure that there were no other victims on that terrible afternoon. Then she thanked the people locally and globally who, quote, have shown their love for Charlie. In an emotional address, she said Charlie loved life. He loved his life. He loved America.

He loved nature, which helped him always bring him closer to God. He loved the Chicago Cubs. And my goodness, did he love the Oregon Ducks? I want me to say, go Ducks. So I have to since they play on Saturday. So go Ducks. Addressing those responsible for her husband's death, she added, no one will ever forget my husband's name, and I will make sure of it.

A 22-year-old suspect is now in police custody in connection with Wednesday's shooting of Charlie Kirk from Utah's DeFutterman reports. As he announced that authorities had arrested the suspect, Utah Governor Spencer Cox made a call for national unity. This is our moment. Do we escalate or do we find an off-ramp? Although authorities have not shared a motive, Cox said a family member told investigators that Tyler Robinson had become more interested in politics in recent years, and had criticized Charlie Kirk's views, which he said were hateful. The Utah governor said political differences should not lead to violence. It's a choice. It's a choice. And every one of us gets to make that choice. Formal charges are expected next week when Robinson is due in court. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Orham, Utah.

The UN Security Council met in an emergency session Friday to discuss the incursion of nearly 20 Russian drones into its airspace during an attack on Ukraine this week. And Piers-Michel-Kellman reports. Even as President Trump seemed to give credence to Russia's claims that the incursion was an accident, his administration joined Western allies in a statement read out by Polish Secretary of State, March in Boschki. We take this opportunity to reiterate it. a call on the Russian Federation to immediately seize its war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia says Poland has not provided evidence and dismissed the story as political clickbait. Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea criticized Russia for intensifying its bombing campaign

after Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington. And you're listening to NPR News, Washington. News from New York City. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and immigrant rights groups are asking for accountability after a 38-year-old father from Mexico was fatally shot by ICE officers yesterday near Chicago. Immigration and customs enforcement said Silvio Villagas Gonzalez resisted arrest and attempted to drive a car into officers in a suburb of Chicago. An ICE agent was apparently dragged and

severely injured in that incident but is in stable condition. The Department of Homeland Security later told NPR social media videos and activists encouraging illegal aliens to resist law enforcement not only spread misinformation but also undermine public safety. In 2022, in the middle of a global outbreak of monkeypox, the World Health Organization changed the disease name to Mpox. The U.S. followed suit, but now U.S. spokespeople have reverted to the old term monkeypox. And Piers Gabriel Emmanuel reports on why. The term was retired because it was

inaccurate. The virus does not come from monkeys and because it was viewed as stigmatizing. Africans and gay men have been heavily impacted by the virus. And the word monkey has been associated with dehumanizing tropes. Bahuma Tatanji is a physician at Emory University. She finds it baffling that the U.S. is going back to the old name. No one in the research community is clamoring for this. No one in the public health community is clamoring for this. The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the change but did not respond to questions about why it was made. Gabriela Emmanuel, NPR News. This is NPR.