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Episode Date: September 25, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. CNN and MS now say their reporters were blocked from covering President Trump's state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House. That comes after journalists from those outlets and Politico returned to the White House today following a federal judge's order for Trump to restore their access. In the temporary ruling, the judge said the outlets were likely to succeed in showing that Trump revoked their press passes without due process. The Republican-led Senate narrowly blocked a resolution to end the war in Iran, and PR's Claudia Grisalini reports lawmakers split on the Democratic-led-led effort. The resolution urging Trump to end hostilities against Iran failed by one vote. Democrats forced this vote to happen. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the move political,

but he conceded many GOP members are ready for the war to be over. I think there are a lot of Republican members. Yes, obviously. Everybody wants to see wars come to a conclusion. Four, Republicans joined Democrats to approve the measure which was not legally binding. However, one Democrat, John Federman of Pennsylvania, joined Republicans to vote the measure down. Thune argued the administration is doing everything it can to end the conflict and take, quote, pressure off the American people's pocketbooks via lower prices at the pump for gasoline. Claude Rieselis and Pierre News.

President Trump's nominee to lead the FDA is voicing support for the safety of vaccines. during a Senate hearing, that puts Dr. Heidi Overton out of step with her potential new boss. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Overturn worked on the Trump administration's plan to break up decades-old combination vaccines for children over safety concerns. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly today. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports the Palestinian Authority President spoke via video. For a second year in a row, the Trump administration denied a visa for Palestinian Authority President, Khmud Abbas, accusing him of glorifying terrorism. Abbas, speaking via video and through an interpreter, says he rejects terrorism and seeks a democratic, non-militarized Palestinian state.

Saving the solution begins with preserving the land on which the Palestinian state is to be established and protecting the people who live on it. Many countries here have raised alarms about Israeli moves to annex parts of the West Bank after a brutal war in Gaza, which started after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2003. Michelle Kellerman and PR News, the United Nations. Powerful Hurricane Polo is sending bands of heavy rain across Mexico's Pacific coast, while a second big storm is approaching Hawaii and could bring catastrophic flooding. Polo is forecast to maintain Category 5 strength as it skirts Mexico's coast with rain and strong winds.

Tropical storm NOLO is forecast to become a hurricane and approach Hawaii's big island tomorrow night. This is NPR News. Starbucks plans to close 250 North American stores later this week. The coffee company's chief operating officer says the locations targeted either aren't delivering acceptable financial results or can't provide the experience Starbucks wants for customers and employees. The company didn't say how many of the affected coffee houses are unionized. Pope Leo arrives in Paris tomorrow for the first papal state visit to France since 2008. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports there's huge fervor building for his visit. More than half a million people are expected to turn out for mass in Paris's Place de la Concorde Saturday.

And a mass in the Stade de France Friday evening is already sold out with 130,000 people on a waiting list. France is traditionally a Catholic country, but it's also staunchly secular. Vatican expert Marco Politi says this pope, appeals to both. Leo is very open to the dialogue with the secular society. He's seen also by the secular society. The Pope also heads to the shrine town of Lourde, where he'll meet with victims of clergy, sexual abuse, and the eastern city of mess to convene with European leaders. Eleanor Beardsley and Peirniews, Paris. At tonight's state dinner, President Trump is surrounding Chinese President Xi Jinping with billionaires, like Amazon's Jeff Bezos, met as Mark Zuckerberg,

and NVIDIA's Jensen Huang. The meal will feature an entree of sesame-crusted sea bass with braised baby bok choy, roasted eggplant, and herb sauce, and it will be capped with a vanilla cremew and an ice cream made using honey from bee houses at the White House. I'm Rylan Barton, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.