NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-26-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: September 26, 2025

NPR News: 09-26-2025 5AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. President Trump is praising the indictment of former FBI director James Comey. In Pierce Franco-Oordogne's 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 specials. prosecutor who investigated contacts between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. Franco Ordonez. NPR News. And Comey says he's done nothing wrong. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, meanwhile, says Trump is weaponizing the Justice Department. There is a clear through line that everyone sees where he is going after people that he doesn't like or who have said things that he doesn't like or who have done things to him in the past.

and that is why this is so troubling for the justice system. Speaking there on CNN, less than a week before federal agencies run out of money, a Trump administration memo is threatening mass layoffs. And here's Deirdre Walsh has more. The Office of Management and Budget released a memo, indicating if the government shuts down next week, it will fire some federal workers instead of putting them on unpaid leave. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says,

OMB has already been engaging in what he called mass firings throughout the year, and Democrats will continue to pursue legal challenges. His message to OMB Chief Russ vote was get lost. We will not be intimidated by these threats coming from the most extreme parts of the Trump administration. President Trump called Democrats' demands to address health care costs as part of a funding deal unsurious and says they will be blamed for a shutdown. There are no talks and no clear path to avoid a shutdown that could start October 1st. Deirdre Welsh, NPR News, the Capitol.

President Trump gave his blessing to a deal for a group of mostly U.S. investors, including billionaire Larry Ellison and newscore owner Rupert Murdoch, to take over TikTok. Trump signed an executive order yesterday saying the deal meets standards set by Congress that the company no longer be owned by a foreign adversary. The popular app is owned by China's By Dance. Use futures contracts are trading in mixed territory at this hour. You're listening to NPR News. Starbucks plans to cut hundreds of corporate jobs and close many stores as the coffee chain approaches the one-year mark of its turnaround planned. NPR's Alina Seljuk reports 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? 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. Obray, Nicole, 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. Nichols 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 Selyu, NPR News. Hurricane Uberto has formed in the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center says maximum sustained winds are 75 miles an hour with higher gusts.

It's slowly moving to the west and is expected to significantly. strengthen over the next several days. Meanwhile, forecasters are watching another possible storm in the Atlantic that could soon form and merge with Umberto. Umberto's path isn't certain, but forecasters say it could come near the East Coast next week. I'm Janine Hurst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.