NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-21-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: September 22, 2025

NPR News: 09-21-2025 9PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Support for NPR and the following message come from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, whose bequest serves as an enduring investment in the future of public radio and seeks to help NPR produce programming that meets the highest standards of public service in journalism and cultural expression. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Charlie Kirk's widow, Erica, says she forgives her husband's alleged assassin. During remarks that her husband's memorial service tonight in front of President Trump, his cabinet, and tens of thousands gathered, she promised to keep Kirk's movement alive. MPIRS Luke Garrett has more. Erica Kirk spoke for nearly an hour at a Pax State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. She remembered her last moments with Kirk and then forgave his

alleged killer. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do. Erica Kirk then assured the crowd that she will lead Kirk's turning point USA and its mission for young men in America. To all the men watching around the world, accept Charlie's challenge and embrace true manhood. She also thanked the second lady, Usha Vance, for her comfort in the days following Kirk's assassination. Erica Kirk was among a long list of speakers, including president. President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Donald Trump, Jr. Luke Garrett, NPR News. President Trump has shed a little more light on the TikTok deal.

He says he got Chinese leader Xi Jinping's blessing on last week. But as NPR's John Rewich reports, Trump says it will involve some titans of the tech and media worlds. Trump said this about some of the people involved in the deal on Fox News on Sunday. They're very well-known people, and Larry Ellison's one of them. He's involved. He's a great guy. Michael Dell is involved. I hate to tell you this, but a man named Lachlan.

Ellison is co-founder of the software company Oracle. Dell founded the computer company Dell Technologies, and Lacklin refers to Lackland Murdoch, heir to Rupert Murdoch's media empire, which includes Fox News and the Wall Street Journal. A law passed last year bans TikTok in the United States unless control of the app is transferred from its Chinese parent company. The Trump administration has been trying to broker a deal,

but the issue has been tied up in broader friction than have dogged U.S.-China relations. John Rewich, NPR News. 150 world leaders are gathering in New York for this week's high-level debate at the United Nations General Assembly. And the UN Secretary General says it's time to get serious about resolving conflicts.

And here's Michelle Kelman reports. Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez has a busy week ahead. Some call it the World Cup of Diplomacy. But this cannot be about scoring points. it must be about solving problems. He says this high-level week is an opportunity for dialogue and mediation, and he plans to try to use every meeting he has to push for diplomacy.

The Secretary General is not optimistic about the short-term prospects for peace in Ukraine, though. He's urging Russia to agree to a ceasefire. He's also called on Hamas to release all hostages in Gaza and describes Israel's war there as, quote, morally, politically and legally intolerable. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News. This is NPR. Egyptians are outraged after a 3,000-year-old bracelet,

belonging to an ancient pharaoh, was stolen from Cairo's Egyptian Museum, and melted down for gold. Tourism and antiquities minister, Sheree Fathi, says it was stolen on September 9th, while it was being prepared for an exhibit in Italy. Four suspects, including a museum restoration specialist, were arrested. Officials say the bracelet was funneled through dealers and eventually melted down.

The law sparked calls for improved security measures at that museum. Hundreds of international experts are in upstate New York this week, analyzing how historic waterways can be repurposed. From member station BTPM, Emily Watkins has more. The World Canals Conference is in Buffalo, New York, through Thursday, to celebrate 200 years of the Erie Canal. engineering marvel that reshaped trade. John Patterson from Scottish canals

emphasizes these historic canals can have new life. We're here in this marvelous waterfront canals say development, and it's filled my head full of wonderful ideas because I think there's been a tremendous bit of work done here to regenerate the area. Talks and tours will cover preservation, management, accessibility, tourism, ecology, recreation and more. For NPR News, I'm Emily Watkins in Buffalo. U.S. futures contracts are trading lower at this hour. Dow futures are down nearly two-tenths of a percent. Nasdaq futures and S&P 500 futures both down about one-tenth of a percent. I'm Janine Herbst, 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.com. T's and Cs apply.