NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-23-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: September 23, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump says he's canceling a meeting this week with top congressional Democrats. Writing online last hour, Trump says it wouldn't be productive. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffrey said this morning they had agreed to meet this week. They're trying to reach an agreement on a federal government spending plan. If Congress does not pass a spending agreement, the federal government will shut down next week. Democrats have been demanding that Republicans rescind enormous cuts in federal health care programs before they'll support a spending plan. Today, Trump called these demands unsurious and ridiculous.

Trump has now arrived at the United Nations in New York City, where the General Assembly is opened. The first speaker was Secretary General Antonio Gutierich. He immediately called out the catastrophic wars around the world. Gutierish zeroed in on the war in Gaza. He noted it was launched by Hamas. and he called out Israel for the tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths. Nothing can justify the horrific Hamas terror attacks of October 7 and the taking of hostages, those of which I have repeatedly condemned.

And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people and the systematic destruction of Gaza. The Secretary General repeated his demand that all hostages be released and then Israel and Hamas immediately agree to a ceasefire. President Trump is scheduled to address the delegates later this morning. The U.S. Secret Service says it has discovered a significant horde of communication equipment in the New York region. It's enough to cripple phone systems and interrupt emergency response communication. It could also have interfered with the U.N. General Assembly events this week.

The Secret Service says the equipment could be used to interrupt emergency response communication and other links. The cash of equipment included 100,000 SIM phone cards. Stocks opened mixed this morning as Boeing scouts for new business. NPR Scott Horsley reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 280 points in early trading. Boeing shares got a lift from news that Uzbekistan Airways plans to buy nearly two dozen dreamliners. Investors are also hoping Boeing could be close to inking a deal with China for a large number of U.S.-made jets. Jaguar Land Rover says its auto assembly lines in the U.K. will remain shut down for at least another week as the company tries to recover from a cyber attack. More than 30,000 auto workers have been idled by the attack since the end of last month.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks about the nation's economic outlook in Rhode Island this afternoon. His remarks come after the central bank cut its benchmark interest rate last week for the first time in nine months. Asian stocks were mixed overnight. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. On Wall Street, the Dow is now up about 260 points. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President Trump says his administration is going to warn pregnant women against using Tylenol. He says the active ingredient in the medication is responsible for causing autism.

Doctors, medical researchers, and autism activists are alarmed. They say the science does not back up the president's statement. Many colleges and universities are scaling back or shutting down their college assistant's migrant program. The U.S. Education Department cut the funding for it. The program, known as Camp, has served students from migrant and seasonal farm worker families for over 50 years. NPR's Jordan Owens has more. The program receives nearly half a million dollars each year. In June, participating colleges received emails from the education department saying they would not get their funding this school year.

The Migrant Student Program provides specialized mental health counseling, tutoring, financial aid, and other resources. With schools enrolling and receiving their funding in five-year cycles, the abrupt pause came in the middle of that period. In August, a group representing colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations that participate in camps sued the Trump administration for not releasing the funding. Kate Covington, President-elect of the Association, says the loss of funding has forced some schools to lay off staff and prepare for the closure of projects.

Jordan Owens, NPR News. media video is getting attention. A South African preachers claiming the mostly evangelical Christian belief known as the rapture will occur today or tomorrow. This is the belief that Christians will be caught up in the air with Jesus Christ. The social video has prompted both concern and jokes. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News.