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

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

NPR News: 09-20-2025 6PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. The Secretary of Defense has announced a new rule that would require members of the press to sign a pledge in order to get access to the Pentagon that moves been sharply criticized by the media. Impairs Alana Weiss has more. The new rule would have the media vow not to gather any information, including unclassified documents that haven't been explicitly cleared for release. Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth wrote in a statement on social media that reported could quote follow the rules or go home. Earlier this year, Hexeth announced that reporters would no

longer be allowed to walk the halls of the Pentagon without an approved escort. These changes marked an unprecedented shift from years of a free press, even among administrations that were notoriously hostile to media. Journalists and free speech proponents quickly denounced a new Pentagon rule as an attack on the First Amendment. Hexeth is falling in line with a broader Trump administration practice to limit reporter access from traditional sports. basis, including the White House. Alana Wise, NPR News, Washington. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted this week to no longer

recommend a combination shot for measles, mumps, Rubella, and chicken pox for children under the age of four. This concerns some public health officials, including those who dealt with a measles outbreak in Texas this year. Samantha Larnett of Member Station KTTZ reports. Dr. Catherine Wells is the director of Langell. Public Health, a major coordinator during the West Texas measles outbreak, two-thirds of the more than 700 confirmed cases or in children. She says that while the MMR and chicken pox vaccines

remain as separate recommendations for children, parents will have fewer choices. We saw the impact of what happens when we have large unvaccinated populations. And in Texas, you know, vaccines very much a choice, but we want to make sure that we have all those tools available so that parents can make those choices. The committee's recommendations will affect what health providers carry, what insurance will cover, and what's available through the Federal Vaccines for Texas Children Program. For NPR News, I'm Samantha Larned in Lubbock. Authorities are investigating a major cyber attack on airports in Europe, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. That includes London, Brussels, and Berlin, where check-in is being done

manually. Brussels Airport says the attack hit a third-party provider whose systems control check-in and boarding. At London's Heathrow Airport, Sam Ald says he and his girlfriend have been stranded for hours with no updates. No organization. Nobody's told us anything else about going on. We'd have literally cherry-pick at ourselves and get as much information as we can, which has been little or nothing. The European Commission, which helps manage airspace across Europe, says it's closely monitoring the attack which started last night. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The White House says an emerging TikTok deal with China will ensure that U.S. companies control the algorithm that powers the popular apps video feed and that Americans will hold a majority of seats on

a board overseeing U.S. operations. That word comes from press secretary, Caroline Levin, in a Fox News interview today. Controlling the algorithm has been a central question in a possible divestment from Chinese parent company Bight Dance. Congress passed legislation calling for Tick-Tac ban to go into effect in January. President Trump has allowed TikTok to keep operating in the U.S. as his administration tries to reach an agreement for Bight Dance to sell its U.S. operations. Thousands of people are flocking to a small town in West Virginia to celebrate the mythical creature called Mothman. Empir's Bill Chapel is there. 1960s, two young couples saw an eerie sight on a dirt road in Point Pleasant. Here's Steve Ward, a local

historian. Now, this thing was roughly humanoid, six, seven foot tall, red glowing eyes, and about a 10-foot wingspan. Newspapers called it The Moth Man, and a legend was born. It spawned a movie and this annual festival, which is helping the local economy fly. Denny Bellamy is the county tourism director. Our main street was a ghost town, but it is filled with gift shops now in a way. It list to get on Main Street. He expects more than 20,000 visitors over the weekend. Bill Chapel, NPR News. Wall Street closed higher on Friday with both the Dow and the S&P 500 hitting fresh records. You're listening to NPR News.