NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-16-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: September 16, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The director of the FBI is testifying on Capitol Hill at this hour. Cash Patel is appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee amid growing scrutiny about his ability to lead the agency. In his opening statement, Patel highlighted several of the FBI's accomplishments under his leadership. We've taken over 6,000 illegal firearms off the streets. That number is an exponential increase. We've identified and located more than 4,700 child victims. More than 4,700 child victims have been found by this FBI. That is a 35% increase from the same time period last year. Lawmakers are expected to grill Patel over his social media posts and his role during the

manhunt for the suspect who shot and killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Legendary actor Robert Refford has died. His career spanned more than five decades and included classic films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Out of Africa, and The Way We Were. He was 89 years old. The United States has carried out another deadly airstrike on a small boat from Venezuela. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports it's the second time this month that the U.S. military has killed alleged drug traffickers. President Trump posted a video of an airstrike on social media saying the U.S. had confirmed the three people on a small boat in international waters were carrying drugs on board.

Two U.S. officials who requested anonymity because they're not authorized to speak publicly, told NPR that Congress had been notified of the strike. The previous strike on a Venezuelan boat killed 11 people who appeared to be heading back to shore. President Trump has moved ships and troops into the waters off Venezuela and says the U.S. is hunting what he called narco-terrorists. Venezuela is considered a minor player in smuggling of cocaine to the U.S. The far deadlier drug, fentanyl, is made and smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico. Quill Lawrence NPR News.

Stocks on Wall Street opened higher this morning as the Commerce Department reported an uptick in retail sales last month. NPR Scott Horsley reports the Dow rose 49 points in early trading. Back to school shopping gave a bigger than expected boost to retail sales in August as overall sales jumped by 6 tenths of a percent, spending on clothes, and electronics was up, so was spending at car dealers. restaurants. By contrast, shopper spent less money on furniture in August while spending at grocery stores and gas stations failed to keep pace with last month's rising prices. Manufacturing output inched up last month, largely thanks to a rise in auto manufacturing, utility output, which

generally tracks weather conditions, was down. The Federal Reserve begins a two-day policy meeting today. It's expected to wrap up tomorrow with the central bank's first interest rate cut in nine months. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. On Wall Street, the Dow was down 182 points. This is NPR News. One of the arts, world's most prestigious honors, has been announced. Theater director Rosalbo Rowlan has won the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize for 2025. NPR's Anastasius O'Lucas reports.

In 1979, Rosalbo Rollon co-founded a traveling theater company in the Bronx, now known as Peruguanas Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, the group has performed in 38 states and 18 countries. Roland says winning the Gish Prize, which comes with $250,000, is an affirmation. The fact that a group of people that I respect got together and discussed my life and my career and made this decision, that's what we take with us.

I don't take the money with me to the grave. What we take is our reputation and the way people feel about you and the respect people feel for you. Roland says the award will help her and her colleagues rest easier about the years ahead and keep their eyes on their artistic mission. Anastasia Zilkus and Piran News, New York. A key federal vaccine advisory panel is expected to hold a vote later this week on whether to delay when babies receive the hepatitis B vaccine. Former senior officials at the CDC say the committee will recommend waiting until children are four years old.

For more than 30 years, The CDC has advised that infants get the first of three hepatitis B shots at birth. Between 1990 and 2022, hepatitis B rates among people 19 and younger dropped by 99%. This is NPR News.