NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-25-2025 4AM EDT

Episode Date: September 25, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The White House is threatening mass firings if there is a government shutdown on October 1st. Democrats are insisting on lower health care costs in exchange for their support for legislation to avert a shutdown. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is criticizing President Trump for canceling a meeting with Democrats that had been planned for later today. The gunman in the fatal shooting outside of a Dallas immigration detention. facility has been identified as 29-year-old Joshua John, according to CBS, quoting the acting head of ICE. Police say John fired into a van killing one detainee and injuring two others before taking his own life. Vice President J.D. Vance addressed the matter during a stop yesterday near

Raleigh, North Carolina, as heard here on WSOC. There's some evidence that we have that's not yet public, but we know this person was politically motivated. They were politically motivated to go after law enforcement. They were politically motivated to go after people who are enforcing our border. Vance has called the shooting a consequence of anti-law enforcement rhetoric. Three men implicated in the 9-11 attacks are asking a federal court to reinstate plea deals rescinded earlier this year. NPR's Sasha Pfeiffer has details. Wednesday was the deadline for three of the 9-11 defendants to appeal the rejection of their plea deals, and all three of them, did appeal, including the alleged ringleader, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. They want the full

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to hear their case. If it takes the case but doesn't rule in their favor, they can still appeal to the Supreme Court. The plea deals, if allowed, would let them plead guilty and spend life in prison rather than face the death penalty. Prosecutors have said plea deals would be the best resolution since the case has still not gone to trial, nearly a quarter century after the attacks. Sasha Fiverr News. Some new numbers from the federal government show the country is making some progress on curbing sexually transmitted infections. But NPR's Will Stone reports that overall the cases still remain high. The data from 2024 show for the 12th year in a row cases of newborn syphilis increased. It was a small rise of about 2% from the year before. However, that still translates to nearly 4,000 new cases. Elsewhere, there was some improvement, including declines in other sexually transmitted. infections, a 10% drop in gonorrhea, and a similar reduction in chlamydia. Still, about one in five people in the U.S. are estimated to have an STI. And certain groups are disproportionately affected,

in particular communities of color and gay and bisexual men. Though unlike in years past, the latest numbers from the CDC did not include any mention of these disparities. Will Stone and PR News. U.S. futures are flat in afterhours trading on Wall Street following yesterday's losses. This is NPR. In New York, a judge is warning the Justice Department to stop making public comments about the suspect and the murder of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Margaret Garnett says at least two senior DOJ officials have defied court or rules by making comments that could prejudice the case.

Luigi Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson outside of a Manhattan high-rise last December. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and stalking charges. foundations and drug manufacturers are teaming up to make a new HIV prevention drug affordable. Two separate deals were announced on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. NPR's Gabriella Emmanuel has more from New York. Lena Capavir is the name of the new medication that's been hailed as a game changer. Two injections a year provide almost complete protection against contracting HIV. But a big question is cost and whether those in lower-income countries,

where the HIV-AIDS epidemic is the worst, can afford it. Now the Clinton Global Health Initiative, the Gates Foundation, and Unit Aid are teaming up with Indian manufacturers to develop a generic version. The cost they project of $40 a year is on par with the oral HIV prevention drug that's currently available. The hope is that the generic injectable will be available in 2027. Gabriella Emmanuel, NPR News, New York. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck in area. of northwestern Venezuela overnight, the quake hit an area in the state of Sulea. It was spelled in neighboring Colombia as well.

There are no reports of major damage or injuries. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com. Tease and Cs apply.