NPR News Now - 3am ET, October 08 | The latest headlines from NPR

Episode Date: October 8, 2026

The latest headlines from NPR at the top of this hour. The stories you hear are written, reported and fact-checked by NPR journalists.  Learn more about the standards of our journalism at npr.org/ethics. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

This is NPR News Now. The latest headlines every hour. Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Gulf states are preparing for heavy rainfall, high winds, and storm surges as Hurricane Esaias moves toward the region. The storm could make landfall as soon as Friday evening. Kristen Kaler of Mississippi Public Broadcasting Reports. Counties and multiple states along the Gulf Coast have declared states of emergency in response to Isayas.

In Mississippi, local emergency management agencies are already putting out sandbags to prepare for flooding. Jeff Clark from Harrison County Emergency Management says while Isayez is expected to max out as a category two hurricane, residents should stay vigilant. We did have an October storm before. It was super destructive. States of emergency have also been declared for counties in Florida and Alabama. The National Hurricane Center expects Isayez to strengthen into a hurricane by the end of Thursday. For NPR news, I'm Krista. Kailer in Jackson. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is praising the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. He visited the Lincoln Wednesday a day before the ship is due back in San Diego

following a record long deployment and support of the Iran War. There were a few folks in the media who tried to turn the USS Abraham Lincoln into some sort of a symbol, a symbol of dysfunction or a symbol of low morale or a symbol of a failed mission. And what I look out at right here and when I talk to your leadership and I have had a chance to talk to a number of you, I know it's the exact opposite. The carrier was at sea for a record 265 days that drew attention following reports of poor mental health and shortages of food and hygiene products. President Trump back at the White House arriving overnight after rallying voters in San Antonio with Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. Trump's trip to Texas was his third in less than a month as Republicans tried to blunt Democratic gains. in key races. Paxson locked in a tight battle against Democrat James Tala Rico.

The Republican in Michigan's U.S. Senate race says he opposes President Trump's tariffs on Canada. The contest between former Congressman Mike Rogers and progressive Abdul al-Aouc. Could shape the balance of the Senate from member station WCMU. A.J. Jones reports. Trump levied 50 percent tariffs on a slew of Canadian goods this summer. Canada retaliated with their own 50 percent tariffs on select American. products. Previously, Rogers had said tariffs were necessary, but not a one-size-fits-all solution. But now, in a new campaign ad, Rogers added his name to a growing list of GOP candidates distancing

themselves from Trump's tariffs. We need to end this tariff war now. As Michigan Senator, I'll bring both parties together to lower your prices. A study by the National Taxpayers Union found Michigan households have paid the most per person in tariffs since last year. For NPR News, I'm A.J. Jones in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. This is NPR News. The FBI says it foiled a planned mass shooting at one of the nation's largest shopping malls. Matt SEPC of Minnesota Public Radio reports on the 18-year-old Minneapolis area man who's charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Investigators say 18-year-old Sheikh Dune Muhammad told an informant that he wanted to go to Somalia to fight with the Islamic State, but couldn't afford to travel, so instead plotted to attack the Mall of America. Minneapolis's special agent in charge, Chris Dotson says the FBI arrested Muhammad on Tuesday after an undercover agent sold him a semi-automatic rifle. He didn't just buy the rifle. He also bought 30 round magazines, four of them, and 200 live rounds to be used in this attack. Dotson says Muhammad planned his attack for October 24th, the day of a Hmong Arts Festival at the Mega Mall. For NPR News, I'm Matt Seppick in Minneapolis.

According to Minutes release Wednesday from the central bank's most recent meeting, most Federal Reserve officials expect that another interest rate hike will likely be needed this year. The minutes show that officials unanimously agreed that inflation was still elevated and that not much progress has been made toward the Fed's 2% target. At the September meeting, the Fed increased its key interest rate by a quarter point, the first increase in three years. Global stock markets retreating, shares in Asia down in Thursday trading after stocks on Wall Street decline. Japan's NICA is down 1.1%. South Korea's benchmark has lost 1.9% amid pressure from rising bond yields and oil prices.

I'm Gail Snyder, NPR News.