NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-23-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: September 23, 2025

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Support for NPR and the following message come from the Kreske Foundation with Pathbreakers, a podcast about transforming communities through innovation, from revolutionizing higher education to supporting artists who are driving change. Pathbreakers is available on podcast platforms. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. In an emergency order issued Monday, the Supreme Court allowed President Trump to fire the last remaining. a remaining Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission. NPRC. Netottenberg has details. The court's action today is technically temporary since the justices said they will hear arguments in the case in December. But every indication is that the conservative court majority

will use the case to reverse a major Supreme Court precedent dating back nearly a century. In 1935, the court ruled unanimously that Congress acted within its authority in declaring that a commissioner could only be fired for misconduct, not for a policy disagreement. Although that ruling was reaffirmed multiple times, the court's current six-member conservative majority appears poised to overturn a precedent that for 90 years has ensured that federal agencies are run by multi-member and bipartisan boards.

Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington. The Trump administration is rejecting reports alleging borders are Tom Holman accepted $50,000 in bribes from undercover FBI agents last year. Homan is accused of promising government contracts in exchange for cash. White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt was asked about the matter during Monday's press briefing. Mr. Homan never took the $50,000 that you're referring to, so you should get your facts straight number one.

Number two, this was another example of the weaponization of the Biden Department of Justice against one of President Trump's strongest and most vocal supporters in the midst of a presidential campaign. The Trump administration shut down the FBI. FBI investigation of Holman saying there's no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. Jimmy Kimmel Live returns Tuesday night, less than a week after ABC suspended the late-night show indefinitely. ABC parent Disney says the show was taken off the air temporarily because of comments Kimmel made following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Steve Futterman reports.

On late-night TV last night, there was celebration. Our friend Jimmy Kimmel will be back on the air. Seth Myers told his. audience on NBC, Stephen Colbert told those watching his show on CBS. Our long, national, late nightmare is over. Five days after Kimmel was indefinitely suspended ABC and Disney reverse course, and tonight Kimmel will be back. In a statement, Disney said its decision last week was to avoid further inflaming the tense situation. However, the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns ABC affiliates in 30 markets, says it will not broadcast the Kimmel show.

Sinclair says talks with ABC are ongoing. For NPR news, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles. U.S. futures are flat in after-hours trading on Wall Street. On Asia-Pacific market, shares are mixed, up 1% in Tokyo. You're listening to NPR. The Trump administration has announced a $5 billion program to fund rail projects across the nation. The plan includes redistributing $2.4 billion that was already, clawed back from California's high-speed rail project.

It will reportedly focus on projects in areas with higher birth and marriage rates than those designated to improve rail safety. Seneca rogues across the U.S. are paying special attention to security amid the Jewish high holidays. NPR's Josin-Darose reports. From attacks on Jews in Boulder, Colorado commemorating hostages in Gaza to the killings outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., anti-Semitic acts of violence have been on.

the rise. At a recent security briefing on Capitol Hill, the Jewish Federation of North America's Julie Platt said the High Holy Days have many synagogues acutely focusing on safety. What we had once done in an abundance of caution has become a deadly, serious effort to ensure that no hater who wants to cause harm will succeed in turning a holiday into a tragedy. A number of U.S. cities are increasing police patrols around synagogues, many of which also have private security measures in place. Jason DeRos, NPR News. French President Emmanuel Macron told the UN General Assembly that nothing

justifies the ongoing war in Gaza. Macron also says his nation is joining other Western allies in formally recognizing a Palestinian state. The U.S. did not attend Monday's one-day summit. President Trump, however, is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. You're listening to 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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