NPR News: 09-18-2026 11PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump says the U.S. Denmark and Greenland have entered into an agreement giving the U.S. what he calls permanent control over Greenland security. As Ampere-Zemeli-Fang reports, it comes after months of Trump's threats to take over Greenland entirely. In a post on social media, Trump says this agreement is perpetual and will allow the U.S. veto power over proposed sensitive investments in Greenland. It would also forbid U.S. adversaries from setting up military presence in the territory. He describes the agreement as giving the U.S. quote, complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in the name of security. Trump has said before that Greenland's strategic spot in the Arctic and abundant critical mineral deposits means the U.S. should annex Greenland. That sparked intense criticism from Denmark which Greenland is a part of. Ampere-Zemeli-Fang and Pair News, the White House. As it then Trump says he is banning CNN, Politico and MSNOW from the White House. As Ampere's David Fulkenflick reports, the move could be illegal and even unconstitutional.

1:01Trump made the threat in a truth social post saying news outlets shouldn't be able to quote constantly write a report fiction and lies when they're covering the president or his administration. A Bloomberg News reporter asked him about it at a White House press conference a short time later. If the White House tries to follow through in the president's threat, it would likely be met with legal challenges. CNN says a ban would violate its constitutional rights to report accurately and fairly without interference from the federal government. David Fulkenflick and PR News. Diesel fuel prices remain at record highs 48 out of 50 states are averaging $6 or more a gallon. That's according to Triple A. The prices are squeezing trucking companies and raising costs throughout the supply chain. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies says more. John Asparza, president and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association says fuel is now one of the industry's largest expenses and small operators are especially vulnerable.

2:03The small, the individual truck drivers, they will feel that their pockets more directly and it's much harder to recover that price most immediately. Asparza says higher diesel costs will quickly reach consumers because trucks carry nearly everything Americans buy, including merchandise now being shipped for the holiday season. Anything you can think of comes to you via truck in about 85% of our communities rely on trucking exclusively. Asparza says diesel prices have nearly doubled from a year ago and the industry has yet to see how high they may climb. For NPR News, I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio. Cuba's power grid collapsed once again Friday night, millions of people across the island nation are without electricity for at least the six times since President Trump cut off fuel to the country in January. Cuban officials say a failure in transmission lines in the western part of the country led to the shutdown. You're listening to NPR News. The San Francisco Opera and its orchestra have tentatively agreed on a new contract.

3:05As NPR's Chloe Veltman reports, it comes after musicians called a strike last week that cancelled performances. The opera orchestra members have agreed to return to the pit after fraught days of negotiations with the company's management. The musicians went on strike last Saturday in response to a proposed 20% pay cut that they said would push their compensation back to 2018 levels. Management said the proposed pay levels reflected long-term economic realities, given the operas $15 million annual deficit. The details of the new contract are not being made public and must still be ratified. In a joint statement, San Francisco Opera General, director Matthew Schilvock and the musician leading the negotiations, Oboist Gabe Young, characterized the deal as being fair for both sides. The season is now scheduled to open next Tuesday with Giuseppe Verde's Simone Boccanegra, Chloe Veltman, NPR News. Tony and Grammy-winning musician Duncan Sheikas died. He is best known for his 1996 breakout hit Barely Breathing. The singer-songwriter also composed the music for Spring Awakening, a Broadway musical

4:07that explored teenage angst and ran for 860 performances. The show also won a Tony Awards. The New York Times reports that the 56-year-old died from cardiac arrest. FIFA Vice President from Europe and North America have sent a letter to the organization's president, saying the world's soccer governing body's member federations should get an extra 10 million dollars each from FIFA's growing cash reserves. Those reserves have reached $6 billion in part because of the successful games this past summer. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News. This message comes from NPR sponsor Charles Schwab. Financial decisions can be tricky. Your biases can lead you astray. Financial decoder and original podcasts from Charles Schwab can help. Download the latest episode and subscribe at Schwab.com slash financial decoder.