NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-21-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: September 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. British Prime Minister Kier-Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom is formally recognizing a Palestinian state, despite opposition from the United States and Israel. His announcement follows those from Canada and Australia. Starrmer said the move is intended to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis. Tens of thousands of people are arriving at a sports stadium in Arizona. Arizona, where a public memorial will be held today in honor of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Steve Futterman reports stepped up security measures are in place around the venue. As far as security, it's going to be very tight, of course, with President Trump being here.

The Secret Service is involved. Everyone must go through a magnetometer, and everyone is limited in what they can bring inside. People who are arriving here have been told the lines could have very long waits. That's Steve Futterman reporting from State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Charlie Kirk was fatally shot this month while speaking to students on the campus of Utah Valley University. In the wake of his death, many of his supporters are remembering his outspoken commitment to his evangelical Christian faith. NPR, Sarah McCamond reports Kirk's views on the relationship between religion and politics appeared to shift over his life. In his earlier years, Charlie Kirk warned that some Christians had been too.

too eager to impose their religious beliefs on the rest of society. Here's Kirk in 2018, talking with podcaster David Rubin. We do have a separation of church and state, and we should support that. Kirk later publicly reversed that. Here he is in 2022 on the Charlie Kirk show. Again, there is no separation of church and state. It's a fabrication. It's a fiction. It's not in the Constitution. It's made up by secular humanists. Meanwhile, some supporters say they'll remember Charlie Kirk as a martyr for his Christian beliefs. Sarah McKin, Kamen, NPR News. Wall Street ended last week riding the high of lower interest rates, but this week could bring it back to reality. MPRs Maria Aspen reports investors will be watching updates

on the housing market and how shoppers are feeling about grocery prices. The Federal Reserve has lowered the cost of borrowing for the first time this year as it wrestles with signs of weakness in the job market. But investors are thrilled. U.S. markets ended the week at record highs, Now Wall Street will be listening closely for more clues about how the economy is doing. On Wednesday, the government will release an update on how many new homes were sold in August, with economists expecting a slight slowdown from a month earlier. And on Thursday, Costco will report its quarterly financial results, which could shed some light on how shoppers are dealing with tariffs and rising grocery prices.

Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York. and PR News in Washington. Delays are being reported for a second straight day at airports across Europe. A cyber attack that started on Friday night appears to have targeted software, which allows different airlines to use the same check encounters and boarding gates. Some of Europe's biggest travel hubs have been impacted, including London Heathrow and airports in Brussels and Berlin. Sales of electric vehicles have risen sharply in the last few.

months. One reason, many shoppers are trying to take advantage of hefty federal tax credits that end on September 30th. NPR's Camilla Dominovsky reports. In August, compared to last year, new EV sales were up nearly 18 percent and used EVs up nearly 60 percent, according to Cox Automotive. Shoppers can get a credit worth up to $7,500 or $4,000 on a used car, but only if a binding contract is signed by September 30th. The vehicle itself can be delivered later. The Republican tax and spending package this summer ended the tax credit, causing a scramble. Higher sales now and an expected slump starting next month means it'll take a while before companies can properly gauge the demand for battery-powered cars. Camilla Dominooski, NPR News. Tropical storm, Gabrielle, is gaining strength

in the Atlantic as it moves toward Bermuda. The National Weather Service says the storm is packing 65 mile per hour winds and could reach hurricane status by tonight. The storm is expected to remain offshore, but officials warned the island could be impacted by heavy rain and high winds. This is NPR News in Washington.