NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-28-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: September 28, 2025

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Sources and methods, the crown jewels of the intelligence community. Shorthand for, how do we know what's real? Who told us? If you have those answers, you're on the inside. And NPR wants to bring you there. From the Pentagon to the State Department to spy agencies, listen to understand what's really happening and what it means for you. Sources and Methods, the new national security podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jail Snyder. Portland, Oregon, Mayor Keith Wilson is responding to President Trump's announcement that he's planning to send troops to his city.

President Trump has directed all necessary troops to Portland, Oregon. The number of necessary troops is zero. On social media this weekend, Trump said troops are necessary, though, to protect immigration facilities from protesters. His announcement makes Portland the latest Democratic-led city to face a troop deployment. But Mayor Wilson says Portland is not a military tour. target. He spoke at a news conference with Governor Tina Kotak. They say the troops would only inflame tensions. President Trump is scheduled to meet tomorrow with top congressional leaders from both parties. A meeting will take place one day before the deadline to fund government

operations or face a partial shutdown as NPR's Claudia Gorsales reports. After President Trump canceled a meeting with Democratic leaders last week, he's now agreed to a new meeting. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Scho. Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, are set to visit with the president. Democrats have said they need stopgap legislation to address Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire by years end. Schumer and Jeffrey said in a joint statement they are resolute in avoiding a shutdown while also addressing the rising health care prices. Both said they want to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that, quote,

meets the needs of the American people. Claude Rizales, NPR News. Ukrainian officials say Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles overnight. The capital city of Kiev is reported to have borne the brunt of the attack. The mayor says the strikes targeted residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, a medical facility, and a kindergarten. Authorities say four people were killed in Kiev and at least 10 others wounded. The small former Soviet Republic of Moldova is holding closely wide.

parliamentary elections today. The vote is seen as the latest test of whether the country's current government continues on a pro-Western path or returns to Russia's orbit, as NPR's Charles Maines reports. At stake are parliamentary seats that determine whether President Maya Sandu can continue to advance Moldova's bid for European Union membership by the end of the decade. Sandu is accused Russia of carrying out a massive influence campaign in a bid to sway the results in a country of just 2.4 million people. It's a charge backed by the multiple independent media investigations. Earlier in the week, Moldovan police also arrested more than 70 people

in raids tied to allege Russian-backed efforts to foment unrest. The Kremlin denies interfering in the vote, and argues Sandu's government is stoking anti-Russian sentiment, the mask voter dissatisfaction over pro-EU reforms in one of Europe's poorest countries. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow. And you're listening to NPR News. A large electric utility has agreed to settle claims over the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history.

The Mountain West News Bureau's Rachel Cohen reports. Excel Energy says it reached an agreement to settle all the claims over the 2021 Marshall Fire. The development comes the same week a trial was set to begin. Excel says it agreed to pay about $640 million. Two telecommunications companies have also agreed to contribute to the settlement. In the lawsuit, more than 4,000 homeowners' businesses and insurers alleged that power lines played a role in the late December blaze four years ago.

It burned more than 6,000 acres and destroyed 1,000 homes, losses topped $2 billion. Excel is not amending any fault or wrongdoing in the settlement. It maintains its equipment, did not cause or contribute to the marshal fire. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Cohen. In Charleston, South Carolina, emergency management specialist Daniel Flessis is keeping tabs on a tropical depression that could strengthen into tropical storm a melda later today and potentially, a hurricane by Tuesday. Even though this has not formed yet, we are treating it as if we're expecting some kind of impact. Tropical storm watches are up along the southeast coast with the Carolinas

preparing for potential impact. The storm currently dumping heavy rain over portions of eastern Cuba and the Bahamas. Vietnam has suspended operations at four coastal airports and evacuated thousands of people in intensifying typhoon. Forecasts to make landfall today, heavy rain began drenching the region last night this storm, the second major storm to threaten Asia over the past week. I'm Jail Snyder, NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNowplus at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.