NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-29-2025 4PM EDT

Episode Date: September 29, 2025

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We all wonder about life's big questions. Why are we here? What are we to do and how to make sense of it all? On Yigods with Scott Carter, I talk with Politico's priests, actors, and atheists on how they wrestle with life's mysteries. Their stories will spark reflection, challenge assumptions, and maybe even bring you some clarity on your own journey. Listen to Yigods, part of the NPR network wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Skiyavoni. following a meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Trump outlined a 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza. As NPR's Tamara Keith reports, it is not a done deal yet.

The plan calls for the release of the hostages, demilitarization of Gaza, and rebuilding overseen by a Board of Peace, led by Trump. We're right there. We're right there at first time in thousands of years, I think. You can probably say, if you really look... into it. Trump said he has the backing of leaders in the region and, quote, I'm hearing that Hamas wants to get this done. Israel would have my fallback into finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas. But I hope that we're going to have a deal for peace. Netanyahu offered qualified support. Tamara Keith, NPR News. Top congressional leaders are at the White House this

afternoon to meet with President Trump just under 36 hours before funding for the federal government runs out. The government will shut down Wednesday of Congress does not act, and PR Sam Gringless has more. President Trump called in both the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate. He canceled a meeting with the two Democrats last week. Republicans want to pass a short-term spending bill to temporarily fund the government at current spending levels through later this fall. But to do that, Republicans need some help from Democrats. in the Senate. Democrats say they're unwilling to go along with the plan unless Congress also extends subsidies for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans that are set to expire soon. If the

government shuts down, non-essential services will stop and hundreds of thousands of federal workers will not be paid. Sam Greenglass, NPR News. Authorities in grand blank Michigan say all are now accounted for after a deadly attack on a Mormon church Sunday that left four people dead and eight people wounded. Police say they killed the attacker who they say was a marine veteran and lived in a nearby town. NPR's Jason DeRose reports from near the scene of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm standing just down the street from the LDS Church here in Grand Blank, Michigan, where authorities are using a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall that's right next to the Latter-day Saints property that burned down yesterday.

The authorities are using that as a staging area. They've closed the road for about a quarter mile on either side of the property. There's yellow sheriff's tape that says, do not cross. Flags around town are at half-staff. NPR's Jason DeRose reporting from Grand Blank, Michigan, Wall Street approaching the close. The Dow was up 68 points. The NASDAQ gained 170. the S&P 500, up 17. This is NPR.

Food recalls a potential listeriate contamination is behind the recall of several deli products by Albertson's companies. It's sold across more than a dozen states, items containing a recalled bow-tie pasta ingredient from Nate's fine foods, including basil pesto pasta salad and pasta dishes with chicken and spinach should be discarded. And 58 million pounds of corn dogs and other sausage on a stick. products are being recalled because wood pieces may be embedded in the batter. This covers certain state fair corn dogs on a stick and Jimmy Dean pancakes and sausages on a stick products from Hillshire brands. As daylight decreases, more people notice their mood shifting.

NPR's Alison Aubrey reports bright light therapy might help. Though the darkest days are months away, starting to use a light box now in the fall months for about 30 minutes each morning can help boost mood. Dr. Dorothy Sitt, a psychiatrist at Northwestern University, points to research showing bright light therapy is on par with standard antidepression medications and relieving symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Bright light therapy in the morning can be extremely helpful to reverse some of the symptoms of seasonal depression. The combination of antidepressants and bright light therapy can also be beneficial. Studies show it can start to reduce depression symptoms within one week. Alice and Aubrey and PR News.

This season's Super Bowl halftime performer will be Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny. The announcement came from the National Football League last night. I'm Louise Skiyvone and PR News, Washington. Is the American Dream a scam? Allegated Tears, a new memoir by Edgar Gomez tackles that question. Who are the people who are benefiting the most from this idea that we need to keep working, that we need to keep, you know, our heads low, that we need to keep going out and risking our lives.

You can hear more about that on Code Switch from NPR wherever you get your podcasts.