NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-04-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: September 4, 2025

NPR News: 09-04-2025 3AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump is calling the government's files on the sex trafficking probe of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein irrelevant. Trump was asked during a White House press event to respond to Epstein's accusers who want all of the information released. So this is a Democrat hoax that never ends. You know, it reminds me a little of the Kennedy situation. We gave them everything over and over again, more. more and more, and nobody's ever satisfied. From what I understand, I could check, but from what I understand, thousands of pages of documents have been given.

Members of Congress joined several Epstein accusers outside of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday as they revisited their trauma. An attorney for the women say they're compiling their own list of Epstein accomplices and the financial institutions that enabled him. More than a thousand current and former Department of Health and Human Service workers are calling for the resignation of Health Secretary Robert of Kennedy Jr. Some Democrats in Congress say Kennedy should step down or be fired, and a few Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns about some of the Secretary's actions. A group of Democratic and independent U.S. Senators is seeking clarification of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. As NPRC Menabustillo reports, the Department of Homeland Security

has called on DACA recipients to self-deport. The program also known as DACA was created in 2012 to protect from deportation children who arrived in the country illegally prior to 2007. It now benefits about half a million people. After winning the election, Trump said he wanted DACA recipients to stay, but earlier this summer, the Department of Homeland Security told NPR that DACA does not confer legal status and that those who are here illegally should self-deport. Immigration advocates say DACA in the past has gotten support from both Democrats and Republicans, but there has been little success in creating a pathway to permanent status for people on the

program, some of whom are now in their 30s and early 40s. Jimenez-Bustillo, NPR News, Washington. A street car derailed in downtown Lisbon Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley has more. The yellow and white funicular's sides and top were partially crumpled, several dozen emergency workers surrounded it at the scene. Investigators are working to determine what caused a cable to fail, allowing the

rail car to tumble off its track and into a building. The accident occurred at the beginning of evening rush hour around 6 p.m. local time. The funicular, known as Gloria, can carry more than 40 people, seated and standing. It is commonly used by Lisbon residents and tourists. Eleanor Beardsley in Pierre News. Leaders of over 30 nations are gathering in Paris for a meeting on security guarantees for post-war Ukraine. President Trump says that he'll speak with Ukraine's president by phone later today. You're listening to NPR. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is poised to sign a bill designed to crack down on the use of abortion pills.

The measure will allow residents of Texas to sue out-of-state providers and manufacturers of the medication for up to $100,000. Texas banned nearly all abortions after the Supreme Court overturned the law that allowed the procedure nationwide. A House panel held a hearing Wednesday on the use of artificial intelligence and mental health care. NPR32 Chatterjee has details. Among those testifying at the hearing was psychologist Vail Wright. She's senior director of healthcare innovation at the American Psychological Association. Wright said AI has the potential to benefit the mental health of patients and providers, for example by alleviating burnout among providers by taking over administrative tasks,

or by delivering evidence-based treatments to patients. But she noted that unregulated chatbots are already causing harm. One entertainment chatbot presenting itself as a psychologist engaged in millions of chats. And in another documented case, the chatbot appeared to validate our user's violent thoughts toward his family members. This is unacceptable. She said youth are particularly vulnerable and that Congress should put in guardrails to protect them. Rita Chatterjee, NPR News. Florida plans to end all vaccine mandates, including those for school children in the state.

A surgeon general, Joseph Lattapo, calls existing vaccine requirements and immoral intrusion on rights. Vaccines will continue to be available for residents who still want to be inoculated against infectious diseases. This is NPR.