NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-25-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: September 26, 2025

NPR News: 09-25-2025 10PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On the next through line from NPR. People have real ethical and moral quandaries about this. People are uncomfortable from the very beginning. The business of migrant detention. Listen in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. President Trump is praising the announcement that former FBI director James Comey has been indicted. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports Trump has been increasing pressure on the Justice Department to take action against his political enemies.

Minutes after the Justice Department announced the indictment, President Trump took to social media and declared justice in America. He went on to call Comey corrupt and one of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to. The charges against Comey come just days after Trump publicly press for the Justice Department to take action now on prosecutions against Comey and other political critics. It represents the latest escalation in a years-long war of words between Trump and Comey, who famously likened the president to a mob boss. Trump long blamed Comey for appointing a special prosecutor who investigated contacts between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. Franco, Ordonias, NPR News. Comey responded to news of his indictment on Instagram, posting a video, saying he and his family knew there was a cost to standing up to President Trump. My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I'm innocent.

So let's have a trial. Shortly after the charges were announced, Comey's son-in-law, Troy Edwards, resigned from his job as a U.S. attorney. In a one-sentence resignation letter, he said he quit. quote, to uphold my oath to this Constitution and the country. President Trump is putting import taxes of 100% on pharmaceutical drugs, 50% on kitchen cabinets, and 25% on heavy trucks starting on October 1st. Trump posted on social media that foreign manufacturers of furniture and cabinetry were flooding the U.S. with their products and that tariffs must be applied, quote, for national security and other reasons.

Amazon and the federal government have reached a settlement over the company's prime membership program from Member Station KUOW, Monica Nicholsberg reports the $2.5 billion settlement is one of the largest in Federal Trade Commission history. Amazon Prime members will get $1.5 billion in payments under the settlement. That'll look like a maximum payment of $51 automatically credited to customers who used prime benefits during the period in which the government says Amazon broke the law. The other billion is in civil penalties. The Federal Trade Commission says Amazon used manipulative web design to trick millions of people into signing up for Prime, and also claims Amazon made them jump through hoops to unsubscribe.

A senior FTC official said after the testimony, Amazon's quote, backs were against the wall. Amazon admits no wrongdoing under the settlement, and in a statement says the settlement allows the company to move forward. For NPR News, I'm Monica Nicholsberg in Seattle. From Washington, this is NPR News. A Paris court has sentenced former French president Nicolat Sarkozy to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy. He was found guilty of attempting to finance his 2007 campaign with funds from Libya. Sarkozy is 70 years old and will go to prison even if he appeals. He denounced today's ruling as a scandalous injustice.

Starbucks plans to cut hundreds of corporate jobs and close many stores as the coffee chain approaches the one-year market. of its turnaround plan. The chain has reported declining sales for six straight quarters, with shoppers either searching for a cheaper coffee option or upgrading to fancier coffee shops. NPR's Alina Seljuk reports. Starbucks plans to cut 900 corporate jobs, which is the second wave of layoffs for the company following 1,100 job cuts earlier this year. C. O'Brienicle has said the cost cuts are needed to redirect more money towards stores, which the company is trying to upgrade to keep people coming in more often and

staying longer. The chain has been adding more baristas for busy hours, cutting back the menu options, and revamping the ambiance. Nicole says the latest review found many stores where such upgrades are not feasible, and those stores will close. Starbucks didn't say exactly how many, but cited 1% of its North American fleet, which could be at least 200 locations. Alina Selhu, NPR News. Merriam Webster has added more than 5,000 terms to its collegiate dictionary. New words and definitions include beast mode, an extremely aggressive or energetic style or manner that someone adopts temporarily to overpower an opponent, and Riz, romantic appeal or charm. From Washington, this is 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. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com. Cs apply.