NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-29-2025 8PM EDT

Episode Date: September 30, 2025

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Shortwave thinks of science as an invisible force, showing up in your everyday life. Powering the food you eat, the medicine you use, the tech in your pocket. Science is approachable because it's already part of your life. Come explore these connections on the shortwave podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. President Trump announced a planned to end Israel's war in Gaza and released the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. It's unclear if Hamas supports it.

But in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he does, during a news conference at the White House, he said the plan, quote, achieves our war aims. I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims. It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas's military capabilities, and its political rule and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel. Unlike Trump's earlier comments to move Palestinians out of the region and redevelop the Gaza Strip, the White House plan says Palestinians will be encouraged to stay and help, quote, build a better Gaza. But if Hamas rejects the proposal, Trump said Israel would have his full backing to, as he said,

finished the job of destroying Hamas. Vice President J.D. Vance says the federal government seems to be headed for a shutdown this week. As NPR's Sam Greenglass reports, top congressional leaders left a White House meeting with President Trump, saying the two parties are still far apart on a plan to keep the government open. 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 12.1 a.m. Sam Greenglass and VR News. Law enforcement authorities in Michigan say they're still trying to determine a motive for the deadly shooting and fire that destroyed a house of worship Sunday. Monday morning. Four people were killed. NPR's at Jason DeRose reports from Grand Blank, Michigan.

The FBI says it's investigating the attack as a targeted act of violence. But while the rhetoric from the White House has been that this was a specifically anti-Mormon attack, authorities here are not willing to say that yet. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is also cautioning people not to jump to conclusions. It might be a familiar pain, but it hurts all the same. Every time We cannot keep living our lives like this. Authorities have identified Marine veteran Thomas Jacob Sanford as the shooter, who also rammed his car into the church. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Grand Blank, Michigan.

Wall Street ticked higher today as technology stocks recovered some of their losses from late last week. From Washington, this is NPR News. The maker of popular video games like Madden NFL and The Sims is being acquired. and taken private for about $55 billion in what could become the largest ever buyout funded by private equity. The buyers of electronic arts include Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and affinity partners, which is run by President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The Trump administration recently paused regulations that would have forced the steel industry to curb air pollution. Read Frazier reports, some worry about the decision's effect on

public health. The Environmental Protection Agency last year under former President Joe Biden issued new rules limiting the amount of hazardous air pollution allowed from steel plants. The Trump administration paused the new rules, saying it wasn't feasible for industry to comply with them. Sharon Kolic lives near a U.S. steel plant in the town of Clarton, Pennsylvania, and disagrees with the move. Her husband, a former smoker, has the lung condition COPD. I mean, it's hard enough you go outside and you could smell it. And I know my husband has breathing problems. And I'd rather have it stronger. I don't want to go backwards. Environmental groups have sued the Trump administration to have the rules reinstated. For NPR news, I'm Reid Frazier in Pittsburgh. Moldovans have given the

pro-Western governing party a clear majority in parliamentary elections. The vote was seen as a choice between East and West as it moves toward potential EU membership. Leaders said the election faced alleged Russian interference, including cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns. I'm Rylan Barton, you're listening to NPR News from 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 podcast.