NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-18-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: September 19, 2025

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Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theshmit.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump is back at the White House arriving there earlier this evening after receiving the royal treatment during his state visit to the U.K. At a joint press conference, Trump said Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has let him down. NPR's Tamara Keith reports that ending Russia's war in Ukraine was on the agenda when Trump met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. For some time now, Trump has been warning of stern consequences for Putin if he doesn't end the war. But at the press conference, Trump was noncommittal when asked about actually imposing those consequences.

It doesn't affect the United States. And he, look, it doesn't so much affect you. Of course, you are a lot closer to the scene than we are. We have a whole ocean separating us. UK Prime Minister Kier Starrmer jumped in. We have to put extra pressure on Putin. And it's only when the president has put pressure on Putin that he's actually shown any inclination to move. So we have to ramp that pressure up.

Starrmer said the UK and France are willing to take the lead. Tamara Keith, NPR News. The Trump administration has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution. that would have demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. The vote was 14 to 1, with the lone no vote coming from a Trump administration official, Morgan Ortegis. The United States rejects this unacceptable resolution. It is beyond time that Hamas release every single hostage now and surrender immediately. The draft resolution did call for the release of all hostages as well as an immediate ceasefire.

Algeria's ambassador apologized to Palestinians for the Security Council's repeated failure to protect them. The French ambassador raised alarms about the intensification of the Israeli offensive in Gaza City. France is co-hosting a conference on Palestinian statehood at the U.N. next week. Michelle Kellerman and BR News, the State Department. Back in Washington, D.C., congressional Democrats have introduced a bill to put a stop to the ongoing redistricting fight sparked by President Trump, ahead of next year's midterm election. NPR's Hansi Lo Wong reports. Two California Democrats, Representative Joe Lofgren and Senator Alex Bedea, are leading this reintroduction of a bill banning the redrawing congressional district maps at this point,

unless it's ordered by a court. But he says the bill would also ban redistricting that favors or disfavors a political party and requires states to use independent redistricting commissions to draw congressional voting maps. It should be voters choosing the representatives, not the other way around. Like two similar bills for banning. mid-decade congressional redistricting, this proposal is not likely to become law and a Congress controlled by the Republican Party, which has pushed for new maps in Texas and Missouri, designed to help the geopolitic keep control of the House representatives after next year's

mid-term election. On Zilowong, NPR News. And from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. Ukraine's defense minister says his country's troops and engineers will join their Polish counterparts on training to combat drone attacks. NPR's Joanna Kikis reports the cooperation comes after Poland shot down Russian drones that recently violated its airspace. Poland's defense minister of Vodislav Kishin Akamush was in Kiev for the announcement. His Ukrainian counterpart, Denise Schmihal, told reporters in Kiev that the joint group's focus will be air defense from Russian drones and missiles. Schmihal says this group will integrate the latest defense technologies to protect civilians and critical infrastructure against, quote, are common enemy, referring to Russia. On September 10th, more than 20 Russian drones crossed into

Polish airspace. Poland shot down several of them the first time a NATO country has engaged with Russian military assets since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Joanna Kikisis and PR News, Kiev. Authorities in Pennsylvania have named the man who fatally shot three police officers yesterday. York County's district attorney says the officers were ambushed by 24-year-old Matthew James Ruth as they attempted to serve a warrant for him at the home of a former girlfriend. A fourth police officer remains hospitalized. Stocks rally today after NVIDIA said it's investing $5 billion in the struggling chickmaker Intel. All three U.S. stock markets rose to all-time highs, the S&P 500, up half a percentage point. The Dow added three-tenths of a percent.

I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit wise.com. T's and Cs apply.