NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-28-2025 12PM 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 Nora Rahm. The deadline is fast approaching to avoid a partial government shutdown. The fiscal year ends Tuesday night, and Congress has not approved the regular bills to pay for government programs.

President Trump is to meet tomorrow with congressional leaders on a stopgap bill, including Democrats Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. House Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN, the president doesn't want the government to shut down. I'm telling you where his head is. He wants to bring in the leaders to come in and act like leaders and do the right thing the American people. It's fine to have partisan debates and squabbles, but you don't hold the people hostage for their services to allow yourself political cover, and that's what Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffers are doing right now. The Democrats want a provision to extend health care

subsidies for middle and low-income families that are now slated to expire this year. Officials in Oregon are pushing back against President Trump's announcement that he'll send federal troops into Portland. NPR's Matt Bloom has more. Trump said in a post on social media that he will send troops to protect, quote, war-ravaged Portland and any of its ice facilities as he threatens to expand his deployments to more American cities. State and local officials in Oregon say there have been small protests and some arrests recently outside of Portland's main ice facility, but nothing they say is big enough to warrant a federal response. Mayor Keith Wilson spoke alongside the state's governor at a press conference. President Trump has

directed all necessary troops to Portland, Oregon. The number of necessary troops is zero. Oregon's governor says the state will respond legally if Trump still sends troops as he did to Los Angeles earlier this year. Matt Bloom, NPR News. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Trump at the White House tomorrow as international pressure mounts to end the war against Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly last week, must finish the job against Hamas. NATO is sending military reinforcements to the Baltic Sea in light of several days of drone intrusions over the Nordic countries, especially Denmark. Terry Schultz reports. A NATO military official says the alliance has been in constant contact with

the Danish government about the daily appearances of drones in its airspace, including over military locations. Colonel Martin O'Donnell says NATO has therefore decided to step up as a vigilance in the region by sending more resources to the Baltic Sentry operations set up in January, primarily to counter the cutting of undersea cables by ships linked to Moscow. O'Donnell says the additional assets include multiple intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms, and at least one air defense frigate. On Tuesday, Russia denied it was responsible for the drones. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Copenhagen.

This is NPR News. Thousands of people have been forced from their homes in central and northern Vietnam as a powerful typhoon approaches. It's expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surges, which may trigger flash floods and landslides. Some airports are closed. The typhoon killed at least 10 people in the Philippines in recent days. Mikalob Ultra is now America's top-selling beer.

NBR's Ava Pukash reports it marks a return to the top spot for a parent company Anheuser-Busch. Mikhailo Bultra knocks Constellation's Modelo Especial out of the top spot, according the data by market researcher company Sarkana. Medello had moved up in 2023 following backlash for a transgender influencer brand deal, with then top spot holder Bud Light of Anheuser-Busch. But Medello's success is cooling. Constellation CEO Bill Newland said previously,

Hispanic consumers make up about 50% of their overall business, and he said President Trump's immigration policy is affecting their spending habits. Anhauser-Busch says momentum for Mikhailob Ultra has grown with brand partnerships with the Olympic Games, NBA, and FIFA, as well of popularity for its non-alcoholic version. Eva Pugatch and PR News. From beer to bears. Fat and Bear Week is almost over. The annual competition features the brown bears at Catmine National Park in Alaska to celebrate their success and getting fat before the winter hibernation.

Voting is open at Explore.org until Tuesday night, only one beer will be crowned champion. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington. Military commanders, intelligence officials, diplomatic power players, they know things you may not about where the world is headed, and we will pull back the curtain on what they're thinking, on sources and methods, NPR's new national security podcast.

Our team will help you understand America's shifting role in the world. Listen to sources and methods from NPR.