NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-30-2025 9AM EDT

Episode Date: September 30, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth addressed hundreds of U.S. generals and admirals from around the world at a military base in Virginia this morning. Speaking to top commanders at Quantico, Hegset said the purpose of the department under his leadership would exclusively be warfighting. As history teaches us, the only people who actually deserve peace are those who are willing to wage war. to defend it. That's why pacifism is so naive and dangerous. It ignores human nature and it ignores human history. Hegzeth also announced that service members will have to take a physical fitness test twice a year and pass height and weight requirements. He also announced a ban on beards and long hair. President Trump is also expected to deliver remarks. Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump say they're in agreement on a ceasefire proposal to end the war in Gaza. But as NPR's Emily Fang reports, far-right politicians and Netanyahu's coalition are unhappy. A person briefed by an Israeli official has told NPR Netanyahu will not bring Trump's plan for a vote in his cabinet. This is to prevent two far-right ministers from quitting their posts and Netanyahu's political coalition and thus toppling the current government. These two ministers, Betzalo Smotrich and Itemar Ben-Givir are in opposition to the 20-point peace plan because it encourages some 2 million Palestinians to remain in the Gaza Strip following any ceasefire and the return of hostages.

The two opposing ministers had been pushing to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza, annexed the territory, and let Israeli settlers move back in. Emily Fang and Pierre News, Tel Aviv. With just hours left to prevent a government shutdown, President Trump is slamming. Deming Democrats using what appears to be an AI-generated video in a social media post. NPR's Giles Snyder reports Democrats hit right back. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded to the depiction of him wearing a sombrero and a mustache. In a post on X, he appeared to address President Trump saying that bigotry will get you nowhere.

In a separate post, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer disparaged Trump's negotiating skills, saying Trump can only throw tantrums. The fake video, Trump posed, it shows Jeffries and Schumer talking with reporters outside the White House. With mariachi music playing in the background, a fake voiceover of Senator Schumer complains about Democrats' political problems and argues for free health care for undocumented immigrants, so they'll vote for Democrats. The social media fight broke out after Trump met with Jeffries and Schumer in the Oval Office to discuss heading off a government shutdown. Trial Snyder, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. YouTube has agreed to pay $24 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Donald Trump in 2021.

NPR's Bobby Allen report several social media sites banned Trump after the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol building. The settlement documents say most of the money Google is paying will go toward the construction of a Mara Lago-style ballroom in the White House. YouTube's payout follow similar settlements over Trump's suspensions from Instagram, Facebook, and X, formally Twitter. Free speech experts question the suits, since First Amendment cases tend to involve government censoring speech, not private companies. The White House and Google declined to comment. It comes days after YouTube reinstated accounts suspended over spreading COVID and election misinformation, including podcaster Dan Bongino, who is now the FBI's deputy director. Bobby Allen and PR News. That sound once the gateway to the World Wide Web is finally being silenced.

AOL is officially shutting down its Dial-Up Internet service today, marking the end of a digital era that peaked with chat rooms. You've got mail and painfully slow downloads. Fewer than 250,000 people still use Dial-Up in the U.S. According to census data, most of them live in rural areas. Stocks close mixed across Asia today on Wall Street, Dow Futures are trading lower at this hour. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.