NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-16-2025 4PM EDT

Episode Date: September 16, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Utah authorities say they are charging the 22-year-old man accused of assassinating conservative activists and Trump ally Charlie Kirk with seven counts, including aggravated murder and discharge of a firearm. They are seeking the death penalty against Tyler Robinson. At a news conference today, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said Robinson's relatives and family friend asked him why he did it. When asked why he did it, Robinson explained there is too much evil, and the guy, referring to Charlie Kirk, spreads too much hate. Ray says relatives ascribe Robinson's politics became increasingly left-leaning. He also reminded the public that the defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and said he wanted to make sure jurors were not swayed by opinions in the media or from public officials' statements. FBI Director Cash Patel defended his leadership during a court.

combative hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee today. This hearing was scheduled weeks ago, but it comes just days after the killing of Charlie Kirk and amid growing questions about Patel's ability to lead the Bureau through high-pressure moments. More from NPR's Elena Moore. Cash Patel was grilled by lawmakers for more than four hours. New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker criticized Patel's handling of the Kirk investigation and highlighted that Patel is being sued by three former senior FBI officials who alleged that. he fired them for improper political reasons. Donald Trump has shown us in his first term and in this term, he is not loyal to people

like you. He will cut you loose. This may be the last time I have a hearing with you because I don't think you're long for your job. Republicans on the committee defended Patel's leadership and made broad claims that the political left is to blame for a culture of political violence. Elena Moore, NPR News. U.N. human rights experts are accusing Israel of carrying out a genocide in Gaza. The U.N. Secretary General won't go that far, but is calling for an end to an Israeli campaign that he calls horrendous. And P.R. Michelle Kellerman reports. As he prepares to host leaders from around the world at the U.N. General General Antonio Guterres said it's time for them to get serious and resolve wars in Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza.

He says it's up to a court to decide if Israel is carrying out a genocide. Independently of the names that are given, the truth is that this is something that it is morally, politically, and legally intolerable. Guterres says he'd be willing to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week, though there are no scheduled talks. Michelle Kellerman and PR News, the State Department. U.S. stocks have end of the day lower with the Dow down 125 points. This is NPR News. Robert Redford has died. He was 89 years old.

His legacy in filmmaking goes beyond the memorable movies. He was in like Barefoot in the Park opposite, another legend, Jane Fonda. Did you miss me today? No. Why not? Because you call me eight times. I don't talk to you that much when I'm home. He also earned an Oscar for Best Director, 1981, for the film Ordinary People.

Redford received numerous Lifetime Achievement Awards, but fans say he was also equally impactful off-screen for his vocal support of independent films through Sundance and championing climate action. Octopuses, they're famous for their eight arms. Now, a new analysis suggests every octopus arm is capable of doing every job. NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce explains. Researchers closely tracked to every move. of octopus arms and a bunch of videos of these wild animals foraging for food in their natural environments. The scientists looked at a dozen kinds of arm movements used for 15 behaviors like exploring a rock or digging or attacking prey. In the journal's scientific reports,

they say every arm is capable of the full range of twisting, extending, bending, and shortening. So it looks like octopuses can use all of their arms for all tasks. And they saw no evidence that octopuses are right or left-handed, so to speak, but the front arms are used more often for most tasks, except for a couple of maneuvers used for locomotion, which were done more by the back arms. Nell Greenfield-Boyce, NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.