NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-24-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: September 24, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shay Stevens. President Trump's position on the war in Ukraine has shifted. In a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky Tuesday, Trump blamed Russia for the ongoing conflict. It could be that Russia is a paper tiger. I don't know what they are, but three and a half years of fighting and killing everybody. I've killing 7,000 people a week for nothing. Trump praised Zelensky's handling of the war, saying he's fought hard, and that Ukraine could regain all of its land seized by Russia.

The president also says that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft that violate their airspace. Iran's supreme leader has rejected the idea of holding direct nuclear talks with the U.S. The Ayatollah Ali Hamini made the remark in a speech aired on state television as Iran's president headed to New York for the UN General Assembly. The remark also came as Iran's foreign minister met with European leaders who are seeking to prevent sanctions from resumed. on Sunday. Physicians groups are pushing back against President Trump's assertion that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy could increase the risk of autism. More from NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce. The Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine says the studies that have been done to date are simply inconclusive. That was echoed by a statement put out by the American College of Obstetricians and

Gynecologists. It says that the position taken by the administration is not backed by the full body, of scientific evidence, and noted that one of the largest and best-controlled studies found no link between acetaminopin and autism risk. The groups also pointed out that untreated fever in pregnancy can be harmful and can increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth. Nell Greenfield-Boyce, NPR News. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel delivered an emotional stand-up as his late night show resumed. Last week, ABC suspended Jimmy. Kimmel Live indefinitely over the comedian's remarks about the murder of Charlie Kirk. The host says he did not intend to offend anyone and credited the network and its parent Disney

for defending his right to free speech. In a post on social media site, President Trump expressed disbelief that Kimmel's show was back on the air and threatened to challenge ABC for doing so. Trump says the last time he went after ABC, he got $16 million. In Portugal, the Azores chain is tracking Hurricane Gabrielle as it moves northeast in the Atlantic. More from NPR's Giles Snyder. Hurricane Gabrielle is moving through the Atlantic as a major hurricane. But while the National Hurricane Center in Miami expects Gabrielle to have weakened by the time it approaches the Azores on Thursday, forecasters say the storm will still be a hurricane.

A hurricane watches in effect. Forecasters are warning of destructive waves and significant coastal flooding. Giles Snyder reporting, you're listening to NPR. A four-acre fire prompted evacuations on the Hawaiian island of Maui Tuesday. Emergency and management officials there say the flames were threatening a former sugar plantation in the town of Paia. It's unclear how the place was started, but it was first reported Tuesday afternoon. Paia is located on Maui's north shore, which is the opposite side of the island, from Lahaina, which was destroyed by wildfire two years ago. The Gates Foundation is pledging to spend almost $1 billion.

to fight global diseases like tuberculosis, HIV, AIDS, and malaria. Details from NPR's Fat Matinus. The announcement came from Bill Gates himself at an event in New York on Monday evening, which was aimed at setting goals for improving global health and ending poverty. Worldwide efforts to fight diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria have been seriously hampered by the Trump administration's foreign aid cuts, as well as those of other countries. Clinics have shut down. Aid groups have laid off thousands.

thousands of employees and patients have not been able to access life-saving medication. Gates urged governments to reverse cuts to global health programs. He warned that millions of children are at risk of dying if the funding drops too low. Fat Matanis, NPR News. A jury in Florida has convicted Ryan Ruth of trying to assassinate President Trump last year. Ruth represented himself at trial and tried to stab himself in the neck after hearing the verdict on Tuesday. He now faces up to life in prison during sentencing, which is scheduled for December 18th. U.S. futures are flat in after-hours trading on Wall Street.

This is NPR News.