NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-30-2025 2AM 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 Shay Steve. President Trump has announced a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza and return all remaining hostages and detainees. As NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben reports, the proposal calls for post-war Gaza that is not governed by either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

There would be what the plan calls a Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza. Now, we don't know more about what that would look like, but this is something Trump has had on his mind before. You'll recall that earlier this year, Trump shared. an AI-generated video of a kind of a Gaza that looked a lot like a resort, complete with businesses called Trump Gaza. But again, we don't know what this would look like. But aside from all that, the Israeli military would progressively withdraw from the area, eventually leaving a security buffer zone, it says, around the Gaza region. And that would remain in place until, again, what the plan says is until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.

NPR's Daniel Kirchleben reporting. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says the Trump administration plans to send 100 troops to, quote, protect ICE personnel and facilities. WBEZ's Mawa Iqbal has the story. Over the past couple of weeks, federal agents have ramped up efforts to target and detain those without legal status in Chicago. Immigration officials have also increased their use of rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters outside a detention center.

Governor Pritzker called the agents, quote, Jack Booted Thugs. The MAGA Republican supported invasion of Portland and Chicago, in L.A., and Washington, D.C., is not making us any safer. Instead, it is putting our people in danger. This past weekend, dozens of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, clad and tactical gear, patrol downtown. CBP agent Gregory Bovino says they target people based on many factors.

including how they look. For NPR News, I'm Mawa Iqbal in Springfield, Illinois. Tropical storm Amelda is expected to gain hurricane strength overnight. The storm has been dumping heavy rain in the Bahamas. But as NPR's Giles Snyder reports, the U.S. coast will be spared. A U.S. landfall for Amelda is no longer expected. Forecasters say the storm will turn away from the southeastern U.S. thanks to the more powerful category for Hurricane Umberto.

Umberto is expected to cause Amelda to turn towards. the east, but that doesn't mean the southeast won't get wind and rain. It will, especially near the coast of the Carolinas. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has lifted a state of emergency for Imelda. However, an emergency declaration remains in effect for North Carolina. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says swells kicked up by both storms will spread across much of the East Coast this week, producing life-threatening surf and rip currents. Trial Snyder, NPR News. You're listening to NPR. YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump after his account was suspended in January 2021.

Most of that money is to be used for the trust for the National Mall and for construction of a White House ballroom. Trump sued YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook parent meta for suspending his social media accounts in wake of the January 6th attacks on the U.S. Capitol. 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 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.

Wood. 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. U.S. futures are flat and after-hours trading on Wall Street following Monday's gains. The Dow added 68 points. On Asia-Pacific market, shares are mixed, down a fraction in Tokyo. 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

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