NPR News: 09-15-2026 1PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and former Trump advisor, Steve Bannon, are leading a rally today in Washington, D.C. They're pointing to growing concern that artificial intelligence could harm humanity. But NPR's Emily Fang reports that contrast with President Trump's view of AI. President Trump called these existential concerns about AI, quote, a hoax and a scam in a flurry of social media posts this week. He has argued AI is a race against China. Effectively, if the US does not build the most advanced model, China will first. But Chris McWire, the senior director for tech on the National Security Council during the Biden administration, points out this administration has also enabled China to buy more advanced American semiconductor chips that Beijing needs for its AI development. We are actively enabling China's AI development. But at the same time as we're saying, this is the reason that we can't regulate our own labs. Because the US has rolled back some export controls on some Nvidia chips in particular.

1:02Emily Fang and Pugh News, Washington. A federal judge has ruled that the board of directors of the Kennedy Center cannot return President Trump's name to the arts center. However, US District Judge Christopher Cooper left up in the air for now whether or not the board can name its planned fundraising campaign, the Trump Kennedy Center Fundor, include any such plaque or other signage at the center. FBI Director Cash Patel is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing. He clashed today with Democratic Senator Peter Welch over a month when he was asked, if the FBI would have personnel appalling side stirring November's midterm elections. So you are sending, you are sending, we have election, crisis coordinators, manned at all 56 field offices. Election integrity is of paramount importance. This FBI is not going to shy away from that effort. Welch has Patel to pledge that the Bureau won't interfere with voters during the election process and Patel accused Welch of promoting lies.

2:03Donald Trump Jr., and his wife, Patina, are confirming a report that a Russian businessman with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, finance lavish celebrations tied to their wedding back in May. Here's NPR's Charles Mainz. In businessmen who mar Kremlinov and Donald Trump Jr. got to know each other through mutual interests in hunting, and Kremlinov's work as the head of the International Boxing Association. How that turned into Kremlinov funding lavish parties tied to Trump Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas is less clear. The arrangement was first reported by ProPublica. Kremlinov is under sanctions by Ukraine over his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House said President Trump, who did not attend the wedding celebrations, had no knowledge of Kremlinov. But in a statement, Trump Jr. is now wife Patina Trump confirmed Kremlinov sponsored some post-wedding events, calling it an extraordinarily generous gift from a dear friend. Charles Mainz and Pair News, Moscow. From Washington, this is NPR News. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hockman says, he will not seek the death penalty

3:07for Nick Reiner, who is charged with murdering his parents, director Rob Reiner, and photographer Michelle Singer Reiner. Hockman says his office spoke with a 33-year-old defendant, siblings, and took their wishes into consideration. The Federal Reserve is meeting again this week. Investors are waiting to see what the Central Bank does about interest rates, whether to hike them, lower them, or leave them where they are. The meetings will run through tomorrow. When Arctic Crill, the shrimp-like crustaceans underpinning the food web of the Southern Ocean, have been found in a surprising habitat. We have more on this from NPR's, Ari Daniel. Antarctic Crill tend to be located in the upper ocean, and occasionally deeper, but researchers spotted them off the Antarctic peninsula at a hydrothermal vent for the first time. Basically, a hot spring sumed 3,600 feet underwater. Tim Bernard is a biological oceanographer at Oregon State University.

4:07It's like underwater ballet. It just looks like they're peruating. The four individuals she sampled were reproductive females. It may be they were there to feed on microbes or stock up on minerals, useful for embryo development. Experts say it may be worth creating a marine protected area process that allows new habitats like this one to be added as they're discovered. Ari Daniel and PR News. US stocks trading lower the sourdough with a Nasdaq down more than 200 points and the Dow is down nearly 400 points. This is NPR News. Up first from NPR News is your way to slow down a fast moving world and make sense of it, which is just what tech leaders say they need right now. One of the big stories this week is that tech leaders say they want to slow down AI development. Also, the latest fighting in the Middle East could push oil prices even higher. Start your day with what you need to know on up first. Listen, on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.