NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-21-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: September 21, 2025

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The Trump administration has canceled billions in federal research funding at major universities. We feel like collateral damage. They've also clamped down on visas for international students. Was the visa process hard? No, don't ask me about it. It was off. Trump's war on higher ed. Listen now to the Sunday story on the upfirst podcast from NPR.

Live from NPR news in Washington, D.C. I'm Dale Wilman. Thousands of Charlie Kirk's supporters are expected to attend his funeral at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona Sunday. It's been less than two weeks since the 31-year-old right-wing activist was shot and killed. As M.Pier-Zalina Moore reports, many top Republican political leaders are set to deliver remarks. Charlie Kirk was the co-founder of Turning Point USA. He was a close ally of President Trump and one of the most prominent young leaders within the MAGA movement. His assassination has reverberated across all levels of Republican politics. from the grassroots conservative space all the way to the White House.

It's a connection likely to be emphasized at his funeral, where both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance will speak. Supporters will also hear from Kirk's widow, Erica Kirk, who on Thursday was named the new CEO of Turning Point and has vowed to keep her late husband's movement alive. Elena Moore, NPR News, Glendale, Arizona. California has become the first state to ban most law enforcement officers from covering their faces while they conduct official business.

The law is a direct response to recent immigration raids in Los Angeles, where federal agents covered their faces during arrests. Newsom signed the measure into law on Saturday. We're not North Korea, Mr. President. We're not the Soviet Union. It's the United States of America. And I'm really proud of the state of California and our state of mind that we're pushing back against these authoritarian tendencies and actions of this administration. The law prohibits neck gaiters, ski masks, or other facial coverings for. for local and federal officers, with some exceptions. Russia is denying charges.

It again violated NATO airspace. Several fighter jets are accused of flying over the skies of NATO member state Estonia this week. And P.S. Charles Mainz reports from Moscow. Russia's defense ministries said three-mig fighter jets were on a scheduled flight from northwest Russia to the exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea and never deviated from their dedicated flight path. NATO tells a different story. It says Alliance fighter jets scramble to intercept the Russian plight. planes after they entered Estonia's airspace for a full 12 minutes in what Estonian authorities

called an unprecedentedly brazen incursion. The incident comes just a week after NATO fighter jets fired on more than 20 Russian drones spotted over the skies of member state Poland. Russia denied intentionally targeting that NATO member. The Western governments suggest Russia was likely out to probe NATO's eastern defenses. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow. The White House is scrambling this weekend with efforts to clarify a new immigrant policy that has been announced by President Trump. On Friday, Trump said the government will start charging a $100,000 fee on visas for high-skilled tech workers known as the H-1B visa. Those who already have the visa became concerned that they may have to pay that fee, but the White House now says

only new visa holders will be required to pay up. You're listening to NPR News. Gaza health officials say at least 14 people were killed in Gaza. a city overnight in the latest round of strikes by Israel's military. Israel is increasing its offensive against the city and is urging Palestinians to leave. UNICEF, meanwhile, says some life-saving food destined for children has been stolen from its trucks in Gaza. The songwriter and singer Sonny Curtis has died. He was 88 years old. Curtis was best known for penning the hit, I Fought the Law, as well as the theme song to the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Curtis died Friday near Nashville from a sudden illness. That's according to a post by his family on Facebook.

M.P.R.'s Chloe Veltman has our remembrance. Sonny Curtis wrote, I fought the law in the late 1950s when he was a member of Buddy Holly's band The Crickets. It's since been covered by many artists, including Green Day, Bruce Springsteen, and The Clash. Curtis also wrote and performed Love is All Around, the theme song for the Mary Tyler Moore Show. and make it after all. Sonny Curtis was born during the Great Depression to Cotton Farmers in Texas. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

Chloe Valtman, NPR News. Anna Hall became just the second American winner of the World Heptathlon title on Saturday. She finished 174 points ahead of Kate O'Connor of Ireland in the seven-part event. That includes the 100-meter hurdles, shot put, and javelin throw. It's the first major titer for Hall, American Talia Brooks tied for third. 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.

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