Wednesday morning news: September 17, 2025

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Trump to UK » The roar of jet engines as Air Force One rolled down the tarmac at London Stansted Airport just minutes before a helicopter took President Trump and first lady Melania to their first stop.

The president spoke to reporters from the residence of the US Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens.

TRUMP:  We had a good flight. And tomorrow’s going to be a very big day, Mr. Ambassador.

STEPHENS: Mr. President, it’s going to be a historic day.

TRUMP: Thank you all very much.

With this visit, Trump becomes the first US president to receive a second state visit to the U.K.

The president will meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and others. Trump says U.K. officials want to continue trade negotiations in hopes of reducing US tariffs on British goods.

Trump will also meet with King Charles III at Windsor Castle.

Fed meeting » President Trump also said he has just added a new board member to the Federal Reserve, with investors anticipating an interest rate announcement.

TRUMP: I have just signed his document and all of the papers, and Steve Miran is now on.

Stephen Miran is a top White House economist. The Senate confirmed him on Monday, largely down party lines ahead of this week’s Fed meeting.

And today could be the day that the central bank cuts interest rates for the first time since December.

Investors expect the Fed to reduce its benchmark interest rate today by a quarter point, to about 4.1%.

Inflation has not spiked, as many feared, as a result of new tariffs, but it also remains stubbornly high.

But employment has also slowed, which may push the Fed to announce a new cut.

Retail sales are up » The Fed also has some new good economic news to mull over. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: Shoppers increased their spending at a better-than-expected pace in August from July … helped by back-to-school shopping.

Retail sales rose six-tenths of a percent last month.

That comes after consumers also boosted spending by at least roughly that amount in June and July of this year.

Excluding car sales, consumer spending jumped seven-tenths in August. … Non-store retailer online shopping increased more than 10% … and sales at food and dinking places were up by 6.5%.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

T. Robinson charges » The man accused of killing Charlie Kirk faced a judge Tuesday in a Utah courtroom.

GRAF:  Mr. Robinson, at this time, you will remain in custody without bail.

The judge heard there addressing 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. He faces seven criminal counts in state court in connection with the fatal shooting of Kirk last week.

Prosecutors submitted the charges against Robinson, including a count of aggravated murder.

And Utah prosecutor Jeff Gray announced Tuesday:

GRAY:  I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. I do not take this decision lightly and it is a decision I have made independently as county attorney.

The aggravated murder charge could be punishable by death or life in prison.

Higher penalties could be in order because Robinson allegedly targeted Kirk for his political beliefs and carried out the shooting in the presence of children.

The Washington Post reports that Robinson appeared to make a confession in an online group chat shortly before turning himself in.

Israel latest » Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Jerusalem last night to call for an end to the war in Gaza. WORLD's Travis Kircher reports now from Israel.

SOUND: [Demonstrators]

TRAVIS KIRCHER: The protesters gathered in central Jerusalem's prestigious Rehavia neighborhood on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's street.

They called for the renewal of peace talks the return of hostages taken by Hamas and an end to the war.

Ynon Wygoda identified himself as an Orthodox Jew and said his faith moved him to attend.for the sake of the people in Gaza.

WYGODA: For thousands of years we have suffered at the hands of others and I tremble at the thought that now that we have some power, others are suffering under our hands.

Netanyahu says Hamas is the source of the suffering, and there can be no peace until the terror group is defeated.

And the anti-war demonstration was interrupted:

SOUND: Air raid sirens

After the Hamas-allied Houthi rebels fired another rocket at Israel.

One woman told us the air radi sirens have become part of Israeli life.

RONIT: Usually if you’re outside you need to sit down with your hands on your head. I don’t know why, but this is the instruction. [LAUGHS]

Netanyahu says President Trump invited him for a return visit to the White House in two weeks.

Trump recently dispatched Sec. of State Marco Rubio to Israel in a show of ongoing support for the Jewish state.

Reporting for WORLD...I'm Travis Kircher, in Jerusalem.

Robert Redford obituary » Hollywood icon Robert Redford has died at the age of 89.

He rose to fame in the 1960s and was one of the biggest stars of the ’70s and 80s, appearing in films like All the President’s Men and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

But in a 2003 interview, he said he could never pick a favorite.

REDFORD:  I loved all the Presidents men because everyone said it couldn't be made. Everyone said, it's impossible. No one's gonna see it. No one cares. It's about Watergate. Butch Cassidy was just one of the finest examples of really good, solid movie making and entertainment.

He debuted as director in 1980 with Ordinary People, taking home Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

His directing career spanned more than 30 years, including critically acclaimed films like Quiz Show and A River Runs Through It.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Washington Wednesday with Hunter Baker. Plus, exhibition baseball and evangelism.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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