NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-20-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

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Hey, it's Rachel Martin. I'm the host of Wildcard from NPR. For a lot of my years as a radio host, silence sort of made me nervous. That pause before an answer, because you don't know what's going on on the other side of the mic. But these days, I love it. Hmm. Ah. Gosh. Give me a minute. Yeah, yeah. Think. Listen to the Wild Card podcast, only from NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump is lashing out at major news networks, claiming that overwhelmingly negative coverage of him amounts to a violation of free speech. When somebody is given 97% of the stories are bad about a person, that's no longer free speech, that's no longer, that's just cheating. And they cheat. And they become really members of the Democrat National Committee. That's what they are, the networks, in my opinion. At the White House on Friday, Trump renewed his call to renewed his call to read. revoke licenses of networks that consistently rail against him, backing moves by the Commissioner of the FCC, who suggested regulatory action might follow in response to recent late-night talk show

remarks. Free speech advocates warn if the government begins punishing news organizations for negative coverage, it sets a dangerous precedent, one that threatens viewpoint discrimination and undermines the press's role in checking power. The UN Security Council has turned down a resolution that would have extended sanctions relief for Iran. NPR's Jaggy Northam reports the decision came after weeks of diplomatic wrangling to allow the re-imposition of crippling sanctions. Under the 2015 nuclear agreement, so-called snapback sanctions could be imposed on Iran if it violated the terms of the deal, such as not working with international inspectors. That snapback provision was due to expire in October, but France, Germany, and the UK pushed to trigger

the sanctions because they believe Iran has increased its uranium enrichment beyond agreed-upon levels. The result will mean more economic hardship for Iran and greater international isolation. There is room for diplomatic negotiations next week during the UN General Assembly if Iran is willing to accept nuclear inspectors and reduce stockpiles of enriched uranium. Jackie Northam and PR News. Prosecutors in Florida presented their final witness on Friday in the case against Ryan Ruth, the man accused of attempting to assassinate then-president Donald Trump last year. NPR's Greg Allen reports from Miami. FBI supervisory special agent

Kimberly McGreevy spent hours on the stand detailing data from cell phones and surveillance cameras. The evidence, she says, shows that Ryan Ruth was in Palm Beach County from mid-August until September 15th when he was arrested, in her words, stalking the former president. She showed evidence that Ruth made repeated visits to Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach. McGrivy also detailed Ruth's alleged purchase of the SKS-style rifle seized at the golf course by federal agents and his attempt to buy a more powerful weapon, a 50-caliber rifle. Acting as his own lawyer, Ruth is scheduled to begin his defense case Monday. Greg Allen, NPR News, Ford Pierce, Florida. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President Trump has signed a proclamation that requires a new one-

$100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applicants. The visas help bring highly skilled foreigners for jobs that tech companies struggle to fill with U.S. citizens. The program has come under scrutiny by the administration, which argues it allows companies to pay lower wages to fill entry-level jobs. A top South Korean official says his country will not yet deliver on the investments. It pledged to the U.S. until it's satisfied a dispute over visa is resolved. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul. Since immigration authorities raided a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia this month, detaining more than 300 Korean workers,

South Korea has requested a new visa category for its skilled workers. Cho-Hun is South Korea's foreign minister. Resolving the visa issue is not a precondition for investments in the U.S., but realistically speaking, it's a very important issue. Cho told reporters, President Trump has confirmed the need for Korean workers to come to the U.S. to build factories and train American workers. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul. The U.S. military has carried out another fatal strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat.

President Trump announced the strike in a social media post-Friday. He said the operation targeted a vessel affiliated with a designated terrorist organization. Two other similar strikes earlier this month killed 14 people. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.