NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-16-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: September 16, 2025

NPR News: 09-16-2025 5PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jail Snyder. Prosecutors in Utah have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and other crimes for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Authority seeking the death penalty is 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. FBI Director Cash Patel appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, pushing back against questions about his handling of the Charlie Kirk investigation and the firings of veteran FBI officials who claim they were dismissed for political reasons. Terrorism charges against Luigi Mancione, the man charged in the murder of United Healthcare Executive Brian Thompson had been dropped.

as NPR's Quill Lawrence reports. The Manhattan Supreme Court judge wrote there wasn't evidence for terrorism charges against the 27-year-old Mangione. The charge of second-degree murder stands for last December's killing of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson. The 50-year-old father of two was in Midtown Manhattan for an investor conference.

The state murder charge could send Mangione to prison for life, and he also faces federal charges that carry the death penalty. The killing tapped into widespread public frustration against the U.S. healthcare industry, and some have even celebrated Mangione as concerned about political violence in the United States is on the rise. Quill Lawrence NPR News, New York. To Gaza now where the Israeli military began expanding its ground operation in Gaza City today. NPR's Daniel Estrin is in Tel Aviv. Israeli troops are not yet in the dense urban center of Gaza City, but the military says

they're advancing closer. Israel has intensified its bombardment of the city with scores of people killed, according to Gaza health officials. Hundreds of thousands of civilians still remain in the city, despite Israeli orders for them to leave to southern Gaza. The UN reports traffic jams on one narrow route out of Gaza city. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is trying to open more routes for people to leave. Some who fled the city returned, saying southern Gaza is overcrowded. Also, Israeli warplanes struck a port in Yemen, continuing Israel's campaign against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. And you're listening to NPR News. Tributes are being paid to legendary actor Robert Redford.

Redford died today at age 89. His publicist says he died at his home in the mountains of Utah but did not immediately provide a cause of death. Actor Coleman Domingo says Redford had an everlasting impact on movies and director Ron Howard called Redford Sundance Film Festival a game changer. Spending at stores and restaurants increase six-tenths of a percent in August compared to July. That's according to new data from the Commerce Department. Retail sales, a key economic indicator. And NPR's Alina Selyuk reports that today's report comes as a Federal Reserve is widely expected to start lowering interest rates at the close of its two-day meeting tomorrow. Companies like Walmart and Dollar General have described shoppers as resilient but also careful

hunting for deals. And the new retail sales data seems to illustrate that. In August, compared to July, retail spending inched up a little bit, almost across the board, including on going out to eat and drink. Online sales got the biggest boost at 2%. Back to school shopping likely played a role. People spent more on clothes and electronics. Inflation has been climbing a little bit in recent months, and retailers have started raising some prices because of President Trump's tariffs. But they've so far avoided major price hikes, absorbing many of the costs as they try not to alienate shoppers. Alina Selyuk, NPR News, Washington.

Ahead of the Fed's interest rate decision. Wall Street ended lower today. The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ composite each slipped a tenth of a percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost two-tenths of a percent. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.