NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-18-2025 1PM EDT

Episode Date: September 18, 2025

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On the ThruLine podcast from NPR, immigration enforcement might be more visible now, but this moment didn't begin with President Trump's second inauguration, or even his first. A series from ThruLine about how immigration became political and a cash cow. Listen to ThruLine in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Trump administration is now asked. asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the president to fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve's governing board. Days after a federal appeals court blocked Cook's dismissal. Without evidence, Trump has accused Cook of committing mortgage fraud.

British Prime Minister Kirstarmer says his government will recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel commits to peace in Gaza. And Pierce-Frania's reports President Trump says he disagrees. Prime Minister Kier-Starmer during a joint press conference said he and President Trump agreed. on the need to end the conflict in Gaza and secure the release of the hostages. Trump said he wants the immediate release of hostages and said that it's important to remember the Hamas-led attacks against Israel

on October 7, 2023. He acknowledged, though, that he had a different opinion regarding recognizing the Palestinian state. I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score. One of our few disagreements, actually. France, Canada, and Australia have also said, they would recognize a Palestinian state. Trump has said doing so would only reward Hamas. Franco, Ordonez, NPR News.

A judge in Washington, D.C. has temporarily blocked the administration from deporting Guatemalan and Honduran children who were sent to the U.S. unaccompanied. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly extended a decision first issued over the Labor Day weekend. NPR's Jimenez-Bustia reports. Lawyers for dozens of minors say their clients fear going home and their removal would be a violation of their due process rights and federal law. Guatemalan president Bernardo Arevalo has told reporters he wanted to prevent vulnerable children from being sent to ICE detention centers. Arevalo says his officials have, quote, toward detention centers for Guatemalans and were, quote,

very concerned for the young migrants. Nearly all the children were in the custody of Health and Human Services Department's Office of Refugee Resettlement and living at shelters in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Kelly, who was appointed by Trump, granted a preliminary. injunction that extends temporary protection indefinitely. The government can appeal this decision. Hemanabustillo, NPR News, Washington. A new study finds vitamin B3 supplements may help prevent a recurrence of skin cancer. NPR's Allison Opry reports a study included more than 33,000 veterans who've been treated for the disease. Doctors who perform skin cancer surgeries often

recommend nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3. Small studies have shown it can help prevent non-melanoma skin cancers. The new research adds to the evidence, says study author Lee Wheelis of Vanderbilt University. A 53% reduction in the risk of skin cancers among patients taking nicotinamide. B3 supplements are widely available over the counter. The participants took 500 milligrams twice a day for at least 30 days. Alison Aubrey, NPR News. This is NPR. is finding the borrowing cost for a 30-year loan have fallen this week to 6.26% from 6.35 last week. The housing finance entity Freddie Mac says the average rate on a 15-year mortgage has also fallen since last week to 5.41%. Yesterday, the Fed lowered short-term interest rates for the first time this year by a quarter percentage point.

This coming as critics accused Trump of trying to assert his authority on the central bank, which was designed to be independent. Fat Bear Week, which celebrates the resilience of brown bears, has its main event next week with adult bears fighting for the title of fattest bear of the year. First up, though, Chubby Cubs competing in Fat Bear Jr. And Piers Ava Poochatch reports voting in the junior tournament opens today. The National Park Service encourages voters to vote for the bear they best believe exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears. The bears beef up for the winter gorging on salmon in brown bears.

Rooks River in Alaska's Catmine National Park and Preserve. Cubs competing in Fat Bear Jr. have familial ties to some of the iron giants of Fat Bear Week. Cub 128 Jr. is the offspring of defending champ Grazer and is taking on two cubs from Bear 803 who are competing together. The other semifinal matchup is a sibling rivalry, with Bear 26's female and male cub facing off, The winner of the Friday final advances to the 12 bear bracket, which will be announced Monday. Ava Pukatch, NPR News. It's NPR.