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

Episode Date: September 17, 2025

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Support for NPR and the following message come from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, whose bequest serves as an enduring investment in the future of public radio and seeks to help NPR produce programming that meets the highest standards of public service in journalism and cultural expression. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shay Stevens. A Senate hearing turned into a shouting match today as lawmakers grilled FBI director Cash Patel. As NPR's Ryan Lucas reports, Patel defended his record as head of the nation's top law enforcement agency. Over the more than four-hour hearing, Democrats accused Patel of politicizing the Bureau and pressed him on his firing of FBI agents, including some of the most senior and lauded agents at the Bureau. Here's New Jersey Democrat, Corey Booker. I believe you're failing as a leader and that your failure does have serious implications for the safety and security of Americans and our families. Patel, with the support of Republicans on the committee, defended his leadership. He said that the FBI has helped bring down violent crime since he's been in charge,

and Patel denied that anyone has been fired from the FBI for improper reasons. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. 22-year-old Tyler Robinson is now charged with aggravated murder and other counts stemming from the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk. Authorities are seeking the death penalty in the case, as NPR's Bobby Allen. reports. Prosecutors say Robinson targeted Charlie Kirk over his political views. Utah City Attorney Jeff Gray says Robinson shot and killed Kirk from a roof of a campus building, 160 yards away from where Kirk was speaking, before a crowd of some 3,000 at Utah Valley University.

Charlie Kirk was murdered while engaging in one of our most sacred and cherished American rights. Grace says Robinson had started to lean more left wing and became more pro-gay and trans rights oriented in recent months. Robinson was romantically involved with his roommate, a man transitioning to a woman. Officials say a note that he left for the roommate before the shooting read, I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I'm going to take it. Bobby Allen, NPR News. Moderna says that new data showed that its updated COVID-19 vaccine should provide strong protection against current variants of the virus. NPR's Rob Stein has details. Buterner says the company's new COVID vaccine safely produces an eight-fold

increase in neutralizing antibodies to the virus, in people ages 12 through 64 at high risk for severe complications, and adults age 65 and older, and that the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show that the vaccine's a good match to the strains now circulating. The announcement comes as the CDC is deciding who should get the shot. The Food and Drug Administration has already narrowed eligibility for the COVID vaccines. CDC advisors meeting this week could affirm those restrictions or expand or narrow eligibility. Rob Stein and Peer News. The FDA is notifying online services to stop selling knockoffs of popular drugs like

Wigovi. Dozens of companies are being told to cease making false and misleading statements about their products. This is NPR. President Trump is on his second state visit to the United Kingdom, becoming the first U.S. leader with that distinction. Trump is said to me, with King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his stay, which comes amid trade tensions.

Thousands of Palestinians began streaming out of Gaza City today as Israeli forces began a major ground defensive. The military operation is being called the largest since the war in Gaza began nearly two years ago. Meanwhile, Israel has rejected the finding of independent experts commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council that the situation in Gaza amounts to genocide. Hollywood is mourning the death of Robert Redford. The 89-year-old actor and director was the founder of the Sundance Film Festival. NPR's Mandelite Del Barco has this remembrance. Robert Redford was once Hollywood's handsome golden boy, starring in films like The Way We Were, All the President's Men, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

I can't swim! Redford also became an Oscar-winning director, an environmentalist, and in 1978 he created what would become the Sundance Film Festival. In 2017, he reminisced with me about his idea to celebrate independent film. What if we started a film festival, where at least filmmakers could come and see each other's work and form a community?

In a statement, the Sundance Institute says Robert Redford's vision as a space and platform for independent voices launched a movement that redefined cinema around the world. Mandalay Del Barco, NPR News. U.S. futures are virtually unchanged in after-hours trading. This is NPR.

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