NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-19-2025 11PM EDT

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

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Support for NPR and the following message come from the Kauffman Foundation, providing access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity, regardless of race, gender, or geography. Coffman.org Live from NPR News in Washington, D.C., I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping today, the two discussed bilateral trade, fentanyl, and the potential sale of a popular social media platform. great call with President Xi, and as you know, he approved the TikTok deal, and we're in the

process. We have some great investors, some of the biggest in the world, American investors, great people. Trump also said he and Xi have agreed to meet at the Apex Summit in South Korea next month, and Trump says he'll visit China early next year. Just hours after the House-approved legislation on largely partisan lines that funds federal agencies through most of November, the Senate has failed to advance the bill. And as NPR's Deirdre Walsh reports, prospects of a government shutdown are now increasing. The Senate failed to get the 60 votes needed to advance a stopgap funding bill. Two Republicans and all but one Democrat opposed the bill the House had just approved. An alternative Democratic proposal also failed. House Speaker Mike Johnson says the Democrats pushed to add an extension of

health care subsidies to the package was a non-starter and says they should be blamed if the government shuts down. If they choose to vote against this clean, completely nonpartisan CR, then they will be choosing to shut the government down and they will owe the consequences of what happens following that. Both the House and Senate are scheduled to be on recess next week. Unless the two chambers agree on a funding deal, a shutdown could start on October 1st. Deirdre Walsh, MPR News, the Capitol. A federal vaccine advisory committee has recommended changes to how people get COVID-COVID vaccines NPR's Ping Hong reports. The CDC's Vaccine Advisory Committee recommends that anyone six months and up

can get a COVID booster shot this fall after a consult with a health care provider. But they also asked the CDC to add information about possible risks and uncertainties to information sheets about the shots. Many of the risks presented were speculative or unfounded, but Ratzoff-Levy, a member who chairs the COVID-19 working group, said they should still be shared. Do we know all the answers? No. did we hear satisfactory explanations from the companies and the FDA? Absolutely no. It signals a new approach from this committee, one in which rare, sometimes unsubstantiated risks,

can sway them to make it harder for the public to get vaccines. Ping Huang and PR News, Atlanta. A U.S. official has confirmed that the Pentagon is implementing new media guidelines. They require journalists reporting from the Pentagon to pledge that they won't gather any information that's not been authorized for release. The Pentagon says any journalist who refuses to obey the new rules will have their press credentials revoked. Defense Secretary Pete Hegsas said on social media that the press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of that secure facility.

You're listening to NPR News. Estonia is protesting an incursion of its airspace by three Russian fighter jets on Friday. The country's foreign minister says the incident lasted for 12. minutes. This is the fifth time this year that Russia has violated Estonian airspace. Estonia has summoned a Russian diplomat to protest the latest incident. It comes less than two weeks after NATO planes down Russian drones over Poland. Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James has died. He was 57 years old. The North Carolina State Patrol says James was among

three people killed when their small plane crashed yesterday in the woods in Franklin under unknown circumstances. Empires Isabella Gomez Sarmiento has more on his music legacy. Brett James worked with some of the biggest names in country music, including Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and Carrie Underwood. James won a Grammy Award in 2007 as part of the team that penned Jesus Take the Wheel. He also wrote songs for pop artists like Jessica Simpson, the Backstreet Boys, and Taylor Swift. Brett James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. The songwriters' hall posted in his honor following news of his death. Isabella Gomez-Armiento, NPR News.

Noah Lyles pulled ahead of Kenny Bednarik heading into the straightaway then held on to capture his fourth title in the 200 meters. The wind came Friday at the World Championships underway in Tokyo. Melissa Jefferson wouldn't, meanwhile, won the women's 100-200 double. I'm Dale Wilman, 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 C's Apply.