NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-29-2025 11PM EDT

Episode Date: September 30, 2025

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For world-renowned cellist, Joshua Roman, long COVID caused an identity crisis. That was probably the lowest point. No confidence in my ability to recover crisis of faith about what music meant. On the TED Radio Hour, how he found his way back to music and a new sense of self. Listen on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shaded. Stevens. President Trump has unveiled what he calls a comprehensive plan to end the war in Gaza and promote broader peace in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he accepts

the proposal. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, Trump says he's now waiting on Hamas. The 20-point plan calls for the release of all hostages within 72 hours and says Gaza will be a, quote, de-radicalized terror-free zone. The UN and international aid groups will be able to be able to bring in food and humanitarian goods into Gaza, which will be run by a new transitional authority. President Trump says the people of Israel want this war to end. They say two things. Please get the hostages back and please end the war. They've had it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the plan achieves Israel's war aims, a Gaza that won't be run by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. Michelle Kellerman and PR News, the State Department. The White House and Congress appear to be bracing for a government shutdown. After meeting with President Trump today, top congressional leaders say the two parties remain far apart on a temporary spending plan. More from NPR, Sam Greenglass. Outside the White House, Democratic leadership called the discussion frank and direct, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said large differences remain. I think for the first time, the president heard our objections and heard why we needed a bipartisan bill.

their bill has not one iota of Democratic input. Democrats want the stopgap funding measure to include an extension of subsidies for health insurance premiums set to expire this year, something Republicans have resisted. Here's Vice President Vance. I think we're headed to a shutdown because the Democrats won't do the right thing. I hope they change their mind, but we're going to see. Without action, the government will shut down Wednesday at 1201 a.m. Sam Greenglass and PR News.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson is urging Republicans to, stick together and to resist the demands of Senate Democrats. Today was the deadline for pharmaceutical companies to lower their prescription drug prices. NPR Sidney Lubkin has the story. The Trump administration sent letters to 17 drug companies this summer to get them to reduce their prices in the U.S. The idea was for U.S. prices to match what people pay in other developed countries. The letters asked for lower Medicaid prices, prices for new drugs in line with what other countries pay and direct-to-consumer options. And if drug makers didn't comply, the administration threatened to deploy every tool in its arsenal to make it happen. Some companies took action.

AstraZeneca, for one, says it will offer its type 2 diabetes drug Farsiga directly to consumers at a discount. But so far, there haven't been sweeping price reductions. Sydney Lupkin, NPR News. On Wall Street, stocks closed higher, the Dow gained 68 points. This is NPR. The Justice Department is suing Minnesota, the state's Attorney General, and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, over policies that protect migrants. DOJ alleges sanctuary policies are illegal and that they interfere with federal enforcement of immigration laws. Minnesota is on a list of sanctuary jurisdictions that U.S. Attorney General Pambondi published in August. Asheville, North Carolina's tourism industry is still struggling to recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene. Blue Ridge Public Radio's Laura Hackett reports that businesses there are hoping for a boost this fall.

Claire Winkler works at a hotel bar in downtown Asheville. It's a job she says she really enjoys. But in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, she says her paychecks are about 20% lower, due to a year-long slump in tourism. It feels like the disaster is ongoing, even though obviously the water has receded because none of us are making as much money as we normally would. Winkler is one of thousands of hospitality workers in Asheville who rely on tourism to make ends meet. And this month, the beginning of leaf season will prove crucial for the success of many businesses, from hotel bars to outdoor adventure companies. The Asheville area has lost more than $500 million in sales since Helene hit last year.

For NPR News, I'm Laura Hackett in Asheville, North Carolina. US futures are flat and after hours trading on Wall Street following today's gains. now added 68 points. The NASDAQ composite index rose 107 points on Asia-Pacific markets. Shares are mixed. 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. T's and Cs apply.