NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-08-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: September 8, 2025

NPR News: 09-08-2025 5PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Department of Homeland Security is launching a federal immigration operation in Illinois. NPR's Kat-Lonsdorf reports President Trump has repeatedly threatened to send National Guard troops as well as immigration and customs enforcement officers into Chicago. DHS is calling it Operation Midway Blitz, saying it's an honor of a woman killed by a drunk driver who was an unauthorized immigrant in Illinois. NPR confirmed that crash took place this year in Urbana. The driver was a Guatemalan national and is facing charges, including DUI and reckless homicide. DHS says the operation will target, quote, criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois, saying that they went there because they knew Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker's sanctuary policies will protect them. The announcement comes as the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to resume immigration raids in Los Angeles after a lower court judge had blocked them.

Kat Lonsdorf, NPR News, Chicago. After a New York doctor prescribed abortion pills to a patient in Texas, Texas sued the doctor. And now New York's Attorney General is getting involved. NPR's Ava Poochatch reports the state's rights case is likely to end up before the Supreme Court. Abortion shield laws like New York's protect providers prescribing abortion pills to patients in states that ban abortion. Last week, Texas lawmakers passed a bill allowing citizens to sue anyone who, who prescribes abortion medication to Texas residents for $100,000. New York Attorney General Lettisha James blasted the lawsuit by her Texas counterpart.

I find it ironic that the state of Texas would impose their beliefs upon residents here in the state of New York. It's a woman's right to choose. Some Democratic-led states are strengthening their shield laws. California lawmakers are working on a bill allowing abortion pills to be sent without the name of a patient, prescriber, or pharmacist. Eva Pugatch, NPR News. Pfizer and Biontek have released new data showing their latest vaccine for COVID-19 remain safe and effective against new variants. NPR's Rob Stein reports. The companies say a study involving 100 people shows the Pfizer-Biontac vaccine triggers a strong immune response to the variant targeted by the reformulated vaccine.

That variant is among the closely related strains that are currently dominant in the U.S. and Moderna have been releasing additional information about their vaccines since President Trump called for more data about the shots and comes, as many people are having a harder time getting vaccinated because of new federal restrictions on who's eligible. Rob Stein, NPR News. Stocks traded higher today on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 114 points at the close. The NASDAQ composite up 98.

This is NPR News in Washington. Videos made by artificial intelligence are being used to animate the Bible. As NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports, one company is hoping to grab followers, but theologians are concerned. It's called the AI Bible, and it tells Bible stories through machine-generated videos like this one about the prophet Elijah. You'll get your showdown. Profit. The videos made by AI tools often resemble something out of a fantasy action movie. Max Bard is with the company Pray.com, which makes the videos.

He says that's kind of the point. Think of like if we were the Marvel universe of faith. The videos are getting millions of views online, but critics worry they're devoid of spiritual meaning. Brad East is with Christian Abilene University in Texas. It actually felt like a bad video game. East says these AI videos rob the Bible of its power. Jeff Brumfield, NPR News. The FDA is giving the green light to Mass General Brigham in Boston and Cambridge-based eGenesis for nationwide clinical trials to test the use of pig kidneys and human transplants.

Surgeons at Mass General Hospital first successfully transplanted the genetically engineered pig organ into a human patient more than a year ago. The new approval will allow them to expand the procedure for trial at transplant centers around the country. Recapping stocks on Wall Street today, the Dow up 114 points. The NASDA composite up 98. The S&P also traded higher up 13 points. This is NPR News in Washington.