NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-16-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: September 16, 2025

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Support for NPR and the following message come from the Kreske Foundation with Pathbreakers, a podcast about transforming communities through innovation, from revolutionizing higher education to supporting artists who are driving change. Pathbreakers is available on podcast platforms. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. A federal appeals court is blocking the firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook ahead of a key vote. on interest rates. More from NPR Scott Horsley. The appeals court voted two to one to block President Trump's effort to fire Lisa Cook, at least temporarily. Cook and her attorneys argue that her ouster would be a violation of the Federal Reserve Act, which is designed to insulate the central bank from political meddling by the White House. Trump tried to fire Cook over an unproven allegation from a Trump ally that she made false statements on a mortgage application. Cook has denied any

wrongdoing. For months now, the president's been lobbying the Fed to make deep, cuts in interest rates. The central bank is expected to order its first rate cut of the year on Wednesday. White House economist Stephen Myron will participate in that vote. Myron was confirmed to a seat on the Fed board by a closely divided Senate Monday night. Scott Horsley and Pair News, Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Qatar. In wake of the Israeli attack on Hamas leaders there last week, Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Monday in Jerusalem, where he called for a diplomatic end to the war in Gaza. Ukraine's President Zelensky says his nation can teach its allies how to shoot down Russian drones

more cost-effectively than NATO. NPR Spelina Litvinovah has details. In his video address, Zelensky said Russia is exploring how to bring the war to Poland and the Baltic states. This follows Russian drones entering Polish and Romanian airspace. The Ukrainian leader believes his country can offer weapons to its Western partners in terms of countering Russian drones. Of course, NATO has patriots, other systems and powerful fighter jets, he says, but we in Ukraine have much cheaper, more massive and systematic solutions.

According to Zelensky, the country keeps developing and expanding domestic production of intercepted drones it uses as air defenses. Polina Litvinova, NPR News, Kyiv. Vice President J.D. Bands hosted the Charlie Kirk Show on Monday in a tribute to this lame conservative activist, NPR's Domenico Montanaro reports. I think it really speaks to the importance of Kirk in Maga World, you know, not just as an outside operator who helped convince many young voters, young men in particular, to become Trump voters, but also as an inside political player. Vance said he wouldn't be VP without him.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Kirk organized his endorsement event with Trump and advocated on his behalf to be Health and Human Services Secretary. Vance credited Kirk with pushing for White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, for example, to remain as campaign manager when others were calling for her ouster. I think it also speaks to the concern Vance and others have about where the movement goes next. He said specifically he's worried about the quote-unquote talent of who would be able to replace Kirk on these college campuses, for example. This is NPR. President Trump says he's suing the New York Times for defamation and reliable. Trump alleges the Times is a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party.

and says the paper is smearing his reputation. He says the lawsuit seeks $15 billion in damages. Trump has a similar case pending against the Wall Street Journal over its reporting on a note. The president allegedly sent to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The president has won judgments against Paramount Global and ABC News. A new exhibit at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles is marking the 50th anniversary of the movie class,

classic jaws. NPR's Corey Turner got a sneak peek, along with the film's director, Stephen Spielberg. The exhibit is full of props from the film and reminders for Spielberg that the ocean shoot was a nightmare of fickle tides and finicky mechanical sharks. This was a very hard experience. When we seriously did not know how many weeks or months we were going to be in Martha's Vineyard's shooting. Now, though, visiting the exhibit, Spielberg says with a smile, this is total therapy. The exhibit's Finale is the sole surviving full-size shark from Jaws, which Spielberg took a moment to thank. Without you, you know, I don't know what if. I would have, certainly my next three or four movies wouldn't have been those same movies because Jaws gave me the chance to make anything I wanted to make. Corey Turner, NPR News, Los Angeles.

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