NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-16-2025 3PM EDT

Episode Date: September 16, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Utah authorities are charging the 22-year-old man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk on seven counts, including aggravated murder, discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray says he will seek the death penalty against Tyler Robinson. I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independence. as county attorney based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime. Due to the nature of the penalty being sought, Grace, says the defendant will remain incarcerated. Kirk was gunned down last week at an outdoor rally at Utah Valley University. With two weeks to go, House Republicans have released a stopgap measure in hopes of averting a government shutdown at the end of the month.

NPR's Cordogre Grisales reports, It's not clear whether the Republican-led Congress has enough bipartisan support to get the measure to President Trump's desk in time. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the stopgap measure directs another seven weeks of government funding through November 21st to buy lawmakers' time to negotiate a regular appropriations package. We need responsible options here to keep the government open while all this work continues. The bill also includes nearly $100 million to ramp up security for top political figures. But Republicans facing tight margins in both chambers will likely need help from Democrats who say they won't without bipartisan talks. Claude Riesales, NPR News.

President Trump arrives in Britain this evening for his second state visit to the United Kingdom. Top of mind for UK leaders will likely be. the U.S.'s role in supporting Ukraine. More from NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben. Standing next to Air Force One as he left for London, Trump placed responsibility for peace with Russia on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky is going to have to make a deal,

and Europe has to stop buying oil from Russia. Trump has said he won't impose sanctions if NATO countries keep buying energy from Russia. Zelensky told Sky News this week that he hopes UK Prime Minister Kier Starmor presses Trump on security guarantee, for Ukraine. Trump will meet with the king and queen tomorrow with a day that includes a carriage procession at Windsor Castle and a state banquet. He will meet Thursday with Starmer. Daniel Kurtzleben

NPR News, London. President Trump says the U.S. and China have reached an agreement to keep TikTok accessible to its roughly 170 million users in the U.S. He didn't disclose to reporters outside the White House today who the new buyer might be. But Trump again has extended the deadline for TikTok's Chinese parent company to divest ownership in order to satisfy Washington's national security concerns. It's NPR news. Today, Mexico marks 215 years of independence, and for the first time in the nation's history, the traditional shout was delivered by a woman. NPR Zeta Peralta reports. By 11 p.m., hundreds of thousands of Mexicans packed into the capital six. city's main square. And then they lived history. Dalia Seimbaum, the first woman to become president

since Mexico became a republic more than two centuries ago, walked through the palace and onto the balcony. She honored Miguel Ilalgo and Costilla, known as the father of the country. And then the many women who helped Mexico win independence, but were forgotten by history. She ended as tradition demands with an urgent shout for independence. Live on Mexico. Rita Peralta, NPR News, Mexico City. Costco is recalling store brand Prosecco,

of which unopened bottles could unexpectedly shatter, even when they are not being handled. The company says the recall effects Kirkland's signature Prosecco Valdobiodene sold in several states across parts of the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic. The retailer is urging customers not to transport the product back to its stores

just to get rid of it. The Federal Reserve's policymakers are meeting for the next two days, investors watching to see if the Fed reduces interest rates by as much as President Trumps as he wants. The outcome of the central bank's decision is expected by tomorrow afternoon. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.