NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-20-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. California will be the first state to ban most law enforcement, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while on official duty. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill today a measure that will likely test the powers of states to regulate the conduct of federal agents. Newsom says masked law enforcement pulling people off the streets is a step toward authoritarianism in quote, America. A few other states are considering similar measures. The law does allow exceptions for things like riot gear, medical masks, and undercover work. In the past, ICE said its officers wear masks to prevent being identified in videos and photos online and facing threats. Police organizations in California oppose the law that applies to local and federal law

enforcement, but not state. The top federal prosecutor in northern Virginia has left his job after he was pressured to resign from President Trump. And Pierce Kerry Johnson reports he had been investigating several of Trump's perceived political enemies. Eric Siebert was a longtime career prosecutor in Virginia who advanced to lead the U.S. Attorney's Office this year. Seabert had been in charge of investigations in New York Attorney General Tish James and former FBI director Jim Comey. But he expressed doubts about pursuing any charges in those cases against the prominent Trump critics. On social media, the president says Sebert did not quit, but that Trump fired him. Virginia's two Democratic senators said he's an ethical prosecutor who was pushed out for refusing to pursue Trump's vendettas.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Virginia handles some of the country's most important national security and espionage cases. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington. Israeli airstrikes across Gaza City continue as the Israeli military forces residents out of the area home to about 1 million people. Gaza health officials say at least 34 Palestinians were killed yesterday from airstrikes. And Pirsanaas Baba reports, the situation is deteriorating rapidly for citizens unable to get out of Gaza City with many families running out of water.

In the heart of Gaza City, thirst is now spreading faster than the fear of bombs. The municipality says 75% of central water wells have been destroyed or damaged by Israel, leaving hundreds of thousands with little or no access to clean water. Families still trapped north of the city have been unable to evacuate or forced to walk as far as 15 miles to reach the south. Evacuating is expensive as much as $6,000 to secure a vehicle out and detain to stay. Some have even returned home after failing to find a safe place in the southern Gaza. That is what Al-Jamaela family did. After failing to find safety, they returned to their home early Saturday.

Hours later, an Israeli earthquake killed all nine members according to Gaza's civil defense. and it's Bobo NPR News, Gaza City. You're listening to NPR News. Sales of electric vehicles have risen sharply in the past few months. One reason, many shoppers are trying to take advantage of hefty federal tax credits that end September 30th. As NPR's Camila Dominooski reports, that means it's going to be hard to tell what demand for EVs really looks like. In August, compared to last year, new EV sales were up nearly 8.000. 18% and used EVs up nearly 60%, according to Cox Automotive.

Shoppers can get a credit worth up to $7,500 or $4,000 on a used car, but only if a binding contract is signed by September 30th. The vehicle itself can be delivered later. The Republican tax and spending package this summer ended the tax credit, causing a scramble. Higher sales now and an expected slump starting next month means it'll take a while before companies can properly get. the demand for battery-powered cars.

Camila Dominovsky, NPR News. The Indian government says it's concerned about President Trump's latest push to up-end American immigration policy by dramatically raising the cost of H-1B visas with new $100,000 fees. That's the program that brings highly skilled tech workers from India and other countries to the U.S. for jobs that tech companies say are hard to fill. India's Ministry of External Affairs says they are looking into Trump's plan, but that it's likely to cause disruption for families. More than 70% of H-1B visa holders are from India.

I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington.