NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-20-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

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We all wonder about life's big questions. Why are we here? What are we to do and how to make sense of it all? On Ye' Gods with Scott Carter, I talk with Politico's priests, actors, and atheists on how they wrestle with life's mysteries. Their stories will spark reflection, challenge assumptions, and maybe even bring you some clarity on your own journey. Listen to Yegods, part of the NPR Network, wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, D.C., I'm Dale Wilman. as implementing new guidelines for reporters covering the agency, an official not authorized to speak publicly about the plan, says journalists must pledge that they won't gather any information that hasn't been authorized for release. Those who refuse to sign will have

their credentials revoked. MPS Tamara Keith says this is just one example of what appears to be a trend by the Trump administration. There is something that has been going on well beyond this week, which is the Trump administration using its power to crack down on or otherwise punish organizations, institutions that it disagrees with. So you see this with universities. You see this with law firms that did work for democratic causes. And you see it a lot with President Trump using the courts to go after journalists and journalism organizations. That's NPR's Tamara Keith. A federal judge has ruled in favor of the ACLU and several arts and theater organizations that sued the National Endowment for the Arts. As MPR's Elizabeth Blair reports,

the judge ruled the endowment's grant process violated the First Amendment and federal procedures. The National Endowment for the Arts, or NEA, funds thousands of arts groups across the country through a competitive process. Earlier this year, it required applicants to agree to not use federal funds to, quote, promote gender ideology. In his opinion, U.S. Senior District Court Judge William Smith said the grant process violates the First Amendment because it is, quote, a viewpoint-based restriction on private speech. He also said the rule broke federal law because it didn't explain how promoting gender ideology is related to artistic merit. The NEA has not responded to NPR's request for comment. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington.

The European Commission, which is the European Union's executive arm, is proposing another round of sanctions against Russia. They would target Moscow's fuel revenues in particular. Terry Schultz reports the bloc's 27 governments must now approve the package. European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen notes that in the last month, Russia's attacks on Ukraine have intensified, with an airstrike even damaging the EU's own diplomatic mission in Kiev. So we are banning imports of Russian LNG into European markets. It is time to turn off the tap.

She says since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war on Ukraine, Moscow's oil revenues from sales to Europe have been reduced by more than 90%. Other measures in the package include blacklisting more tankers that transport Russian fuel. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz. The Senate Friday rejected both the Democratic and a Republican proposal that would have funded federal agencies for a few weeks. The new budget year begins in October 1st, and if a spending measure isn't passed before then,

there could be a partial government shutdown. Leaders of the two parties are blaming each other for the failure of the bills. You're listening to NPR News. Aid workers in Sudan say a drone attack on a mosque in the North Darfur region has killed at least 70 people. Searchers say that toll will likely go much higher as they remove the rubble of the collapsed building. The attack came during Friday prayers. Officials are blaming the attack on the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces. A federal court says the Trump administration can't start withholding billions of dollars from a group of states

that refuse to turn over the personal data of food assistance recipients. But as NPR's Jude Jaffe Block reports, the legal fights not over. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is requiring states turn over sensitive information about people have received federal food assistance over the last five years from the program known as SNAP. At least 23 states complied, turning over the names, social security numbers, addresses, and other data about SNAP recipients. But other states in the District of Columbia refused, many of which joined together. to sue the USDA, alleging the data demand is unlawful. USDA then threatened to take away

significant funds from states that didn't comply. But a federal judge in San Francisco has ruled the federal agency cannot withhold funding from states that sued as the case proceeds. Jude Jaffe Block and PR News. Russian and Belarusian athletes will be required to compete in next year's Winter Olympics as individual neutral athletes and restrictions will be in place for athletes from both countries who serve in the military. The decision by the International Olympic Committee follows the same approach used during the summer games in Paris. The IOC Friday also clarified that it never discussed banning Israel from the games. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News, in Washington. 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. T's and Cs apply.