NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-25-2025 9AM EDT

Episode Date: September 25, 2025

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Hey, it's Rachel Martin. I'm the host of Wildcard from NPR. For a lot of my years as a radio host, silence sort of made me nervous. That pause before an answer, because you don't know what's going on on the other side of the mic. But these days, I love it. Hmm. Ah. Gosh. Give me a minute. Yeah, yeah. Think. Listen to the Wild Card podcast, only from NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Krova Coleman. Ukrainians say they're grateful. President Trump seems to have changed his stance on Ukraine's status in the war. Trump said Ukraine could get back all territory taken by Russia. But Ukraine appears concerned Trump will leave peace efforts to Europe. And Pierre's Joanna Kikis reports from Kiev. Strategic Studies Professor Phillips O'Brien of St. Andrews University in Scotland said Trump's upbeat comments about Ukraine complicate Russian President Vladimir Putin's narrative about this war. Putin has been saying we can't lose. too strong we're going to win. Ukraine has to give up. It puts the Russians in a bit of a bind

messaging-wise. Ukrainian lawmaker Ivana Klimbushtensates says she hopes Trump's words will translate into actions like concrete security guarantees and more U.S. sanctions on Russia. Well, Russia is definitely much weaker than Russia wants to pretend it is. Meanwhile, the Kremlin says it will continue its war on Ukraine. Joanna Kegissis and PR News The group founded by the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk held an event last night at Virginia Tech. Officials with Turning Point USA are resuming the tour Kirk started when he was killed two weeks ago in Utah. Virginia Republican Governor Glenn Yonkin told the students in the crowd to keep speaking out as Kirk did. The truth is that the question that has been asked over and over

again is who will be the next Charlie. And as I look out in this, room and I see thousands of you, I want to repeat the best answer that I have heard, you will be the next Charlie. All of you. The other main speaker for the Turning Point USA event was conservative media pundit, Megan Kelly. This week, President Trump and administration officials linked Tylenol used to autism. Researchers say there's no evidence that taking Tylenol while pregnant causes autism and children. Separately, Trump administration officials have relaxed restrictions on a drug called Lukavoren. They're promising that it is a promising treatment for autism. Researchers argue such statements are premature, and PR's Yuki Noguchi has more.

Since the Trump administration said it would greenlight broader use of Lukavoren, the Autism Science Foundation has fielded a lot of calls from patients and their families. Here's the group's Chief Scientific Officer Alicia Halliday. We've also seen a lot of activity on social media where families are very, very excited that it's going to be easier for them to get. Halliday is also the mother of an autistic daughter. She says there's still very little research on Luca Voren, its safety or impact on autism. She's concerned the administration is offering false hope to many families.

Yuki NPR News. On Wall Street and pre-market trading, Dow futures are down. than 150 points. This is NPR. A government shutdown is looming. It'll happen next week unless Democrats and Republicans can agree on a federal spending deal.

President Trump called off a meeting with Democratic leaders yesterday. Now, the White House says that if there is a shutdown, it won't just temporarily furlough federal workers. It will lay them off. Hundreds of people gathered in Greenland's capital, Newk, yesterday. They listened as the Danish Prime

minister formally offered an apology. This is for Denmark's role in a decades-long practice of inserting contraceptives in Greenlandic women and girls without their consent. Kavitha George has more. Appearing in Nuk's downtown cultural center, Danish Prime Minister Meda Frederikson apologized on behalf of Denmark for the harm health authorities caused, beginning in the 1960s and continuing into the 90s. The air was heavy with emotion as a few of the women recounted their experiences of being forcibly fitted with intrauterine devices as teenagers. Many women were left permanently sterile as a result of the campaign. Naya Luberth says she hopes the apology sets a precedent and that it's followed by reparations.

We can finally drop our shoulders. The next thing is to ensure that we get compensation. Lubberth is one of 143 women suing the Danish government over the practice of forced contraception. For NPR News, I'm Kavitha George in Nuke. Weather forecasters say tropical storm Umberto is gaining strength in the Atlantic Ocean. It will become a hurricane this weekend. Forecasters say it's not clear if it will threaten land. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News.