NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-25-2025 7AM EDT

Episode Date: September 25, 2025

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Hey, it's Rachel Martin. I'm the host of Wildcard from NPR. For a lot of my years as a radio host, silence sort of made me nervous. That pause before an answer, because you don't know what's going on on the other side of the mic. But these days, I love it. Hmm. Ah. Gosh. Give me a minute. Yeah, yeah. Think. Listen to the Wild Card podcast, only from NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corvick Coleman. the U.N. General Assembly continues its opening session today in New York. This morning, the head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, will address diplomats. He'll do so by video connection. The Trump administration has refused to grant him a visa to enter the country. The U.S. has drafted a new proposal for ending the war in Gaza. President Trump is expected to publicly release the plan soon, as NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv. President Trump met this week with Arab leaders in New York and presented them with a new,

21-point plan for ending the Gaza war. Trump's envoy, Steve Whitkoff, spoke about it at a conference Wednesday. I think it addresses Israeli concerns and as well the concerns of all the neighbors in the region. And we're hopeful. And I might say even confident that in the coming days, we'll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough. In a statement, Arab leaders said they'd cooperate with Trump's efforts. Trump will meet Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu early next week. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. President Trump welcomes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House today. Trump says they'll talk about a deal to sell U.S. fighter jets to Turkey.

Drug makers and foundations are teaming up to make a new HIV prevention drug affordable. Two separate deals have been announced on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. NPR's Gabriela Emmanuel reports from New York. Lena Kappavir 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. 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.

Gabriella Emmanuel, NPR News, New York. The Gates Foundation is also a financial supporter of NPR. Investigators are seeking a motive for the deadly shooting outside in immigration and customs enforcement facility yesterday in Dallas. One person was killed, two others were injured. The gunman took his own life. NPR Sergio Martinez Beltran reports. The Department of Homeland Security says all of the victims were ICE detainees.

Maira, a Nicaraguan immigrant who was inside the facility when the shooting happened, says it was terrifying. There were like 20 shots, Maira said. says she froze and got scared for her daughter who was waiting for her outside. She asked NPR not use her last name because of her pending immigration case. The alleged shooter was found dead. Their identity has not been revealed, but officials say it was a targeted act of violence. The FBI says shell casings with anti-ice messages were found by the suspect's body.

Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Dallas. You're listening to NPR. A government shutdown is not. looming, it will happen next week, unless Democrats and Republicans can agree on a federal spending deal. President Trump called off a meeting with Democratic leaders yesterday. Now, the White House says that if there is a shutdown, it won't just temporarily furlough federal workers. It will lay them off. The U.S. Postal Service says it's going to hold off on increasing the price of a U.S. stamp until at least the middle of next year. As NPR's Hansi Lo Wong reports, this announcement comes after a price hike this

past summer. The price of a first-class forever stamp has gone up seven times over the past four years. But the U.S. Postal Service, which is a financial support of NPR, says that until at least mid-2026, it's staying at 78 cents. That's among the world's lowest prices for mailing a letter domestically. But compared to decades ago, fewer people and businesses are using first-class mail to send bills, payments, and advertising, and that's destabilizing the U.S. Postal Service, which generally receives no tax dollars to keep it running. USPS relies instead on selling stamps and other service fees. The Postal Regulatory Commission recently approved temporary price hikes of close to 6%

for certain USPS shipping services starting next month. Like those put in place by FedEx and UPS, those increases are set to last through the year-end holiday season. Hansi Luong, NPR News. Tropical storm Umbarto has formed in the Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center says it's about 500 miles off some of the Caribbean islands. But forecasters are warning Umbarto is going to gain strength and speed over the weekend. it could turn into a major hurricane by early next week. On Wall Street, Dow futures are flat.

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