NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-15-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: September 15, 2025

NPR News: 09-15-2025 5PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jail Snyder. Congress has until the end of the month to pass legislation to keep government agencies funded or face a shutdown. NPR's Deidre Walsh reports that added money for lawmakers' security as part of the negotiations. After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, there is a focus on improving security measures across the government. House Speaker Mike Johnson says Congress is considering the White House's request for $58 million to boost protection for those. in the judicial and executive branches. He's also talking to leaders about more money for lawmaker security. We have to protect our judges and those who serve in those two branches, but also, of course, in Congress.

And so we're looking at an amount that would be appropriate for a continued resolution in a short term. Democrats say an extension of health care subsidies should be part of a package. President Trump urged GOP members to unite around a short-term bill, but it's unclear if it has the votes to pass. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, the Capitol. To Israel now we're Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, embraced Prime Minister of Benjamin Netanyahu and publicly expressed U.S. support for Israel's intensifying war in Gaza. But in Qatar, regional leaders gathered to condemn the war in last week's Israeli attack that targeted Hamas leaders in the Gulf State.

Here's NPR's Ayat-Betrawe. Qatar's ruling Amir opened the summit by saying it is impossible to negotiate with Israel after its, quote, cowardly attack on Hamas, negotiators in his country just days ago. Qatar has been a mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the war in Gaza and hosts Hamas's political leadership. It convened the high-level summit of leaders from Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, and beyond, with the aim of presenting a united front against the bombing, which killed at least six people, none of them senior Hamas officials. The summit concluded with a lengthy statement condemning Israel, but did not call

for specific action to be taken. Egypt's president, however, warned at the summit that Israeli actions obstruct prospects for new peace deals with Israel and undermine existing ones. Ayyip al-Trawi, NPR News, Dubai. On Wall Street, investors are waiting for a Federal Reserve decision this week on interest rates. NPR Scott Horsley reports there's some question about who will take part in making that decision. The Fed is widely expected to order its first interest rate cut of the year this week. In an effort to shore up the sagging job market, the Senate is set to vote this evening on President Trump's latest pick to serve on the Fed's governing board. If he's confirmed, White House economist and Trump ally Stephen

Myron could join the Fed meeting, which begins tomorrow. It's still not clear whether Fed Governor Lisa Cook will take part in the meeting. A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's effort to remove Cook from the board, but the administration's asking an appeals court to reverse that decision by this afternoon. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. The Dow closed up 49 points today to 45,883. This is NPR News. President Trump says the U.S. military has taken out a second Venezuelan vessel in international waters. In a social media post this afternoon, Trump said he ordered the strike, alleging it was a drug cartel boat on its way to the United States.

He said three men were killed. That strike comes amid a large U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, a strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs two weeks ago, killed 11 people. Health officials have begun vaccinated people exposed to the Ebola virus, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, that's according to the World Health Organization. And as NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports, the rollout starts as the outbreak has sickened at least 68 people. The Ebola outbreak was declared earlier this month and has so far claimed 16 lives, including four health care workers. The virus is highly contagious and spreads through close contact with bodily fluids.

To try to control the outbreak, health officials are employing a strategy known as ring vaccination. Here, people in close contact with sick people, including health care workers, are given the vaccine first to try to form a ring of immunity around the virus. So far, only 400 doses of the vaccine have been sent to the remote part of the DRC that's impacted, but the country has a stockpile of 2,000 doses. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. At the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo, American board Mondo DuPlanus broke the pole vault record for the 14th time. He cleared 6.3 meters today to capture his third straight world title. Duplantus grew up in Louisiana, but

competes for his mother's native Sweden. I'm Gile Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.