NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-16-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: September 16, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is on his way to London after making a stop in Qatar today. Rubio also visited Israel, where he warned that the window was closing fast on a diplomatic end to the war in Gaza. NPR's Kerry Kahn reports from Tel Aviv. Rubio wrapped up his Israel visit, warning that next week's UN meeting were countries including France and Canada, are set to recognize a Palestinian state emboldens Hamas. Netanyahu echoed those comments in the speech Monday night in an archaeological site in Jerusalem's old city, claimed by both Palestinians and Israelis. This is our city. It is forever our city. It will never be divided

again, and there will be no Palestinian state. He and Rubia warned that unilateral actions such as next week's UN meeting will bring about repercussions and similar unilateral. bilateral action. There are calls inside Israel for official annexation of the occupied West Bank. Kerry Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. The Republican-like Congress has two weeks to reach a deal to avert a government shutdown at the end of the month. NPR's Claudia Grisela's reports both parties remain far apart on a funding plan. A stopgap funding measure passed earlier this year will run out of money on September 30th. Republicans pass that plan with help from Senate Democrats, but this time around, say they won't help the GOP.

Already, President Trump and Republicans have rescinded billions in funding. So now Democrats are pushing for a regular government appropriations plan, and some Republicans agree. Democrats are also pushing for an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire in December, and both parties want to ramp up security measures for political figures in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination. Claudia Risselis, NPR News. President Trump has filed a $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times.

The suit accuses the publication and four of its journalists of defamation. NPR's David Fulkenflik reports the lawsuit is the latest salvo in the president's war against major media outlets. He sued ABC News and CBS and won $16 million payouts for them to settle those suits, although legal observers all thought that those were essentially, Yeah, frivolous or very light legal peril to them. He's most recently filed a lawsuit prior to now against the Wall Street Journal and his political ally Rupert Murdoch, which tells you something about his willingness to do it. That's NPR's David Fulken Flick reporting.

Hollywood icon Robert Redford has died. The legendary actor starred in numerous films over a career that spanned more than 50 years. Redford was 89 years old. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A judge in New York City has dismissed two murder charges related to acts of terrorism against Luigi Mangione, the man charged in the shooting death of a United Health Care Executive. The charge of second-degree murder still stands. Mangione is accused of killing CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last year. The state murder charge could send Mangione to life in prison,

The 27-year-old is also facing charges that could result in the death penalty. An Nigerian chef has set the world record for cooking the largest ever pot of jolof rice. It's a popular dish in West Africa. The Guinness World Record said the pot weighed more than 8,000 kilograms, as MPR's Joel Bright reports. The record-setting pot of jolof rice was prepared by a team led by popular chef Hilde Basset. Thousands of people gathered in Nigeria's large. city Lagos last Friday to witness Basis set the new record, which took more than nine hours. Organizers save 4,000 kilograms of rice and around 5,000 cations of tomato sauce were used.

Jalof rice is a staple popular across West African countries. It's prepared by boiling the rice in a rich, often spicy tomato stew. Bassi said it took nine hours of fire, passion and teamwork, and 1,200 kilograms of gas to create the 16,600 plates of rice. Serve with joy, love, and community. Joe Bright, NPR News, Vegas. On Wall Street, the Dow was down 181 points. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.