NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-02-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: October 2, 2025

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In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life. Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors on our new show, Sources and Methods. NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people, helping you understand why distant events matter here at home. Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. In Northern England, police say the attack on a synagogue in Manchester today that left at least two people dead, several others injured was a terrorist incident. The attacker was shot and killed by police after a deadly rampage and stabbing attack on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

And peers Lauren Freer reports police are being deployed to synagogues across the UK. Manchester police say the attacker drove his car into a crowd outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue and stabbed one person before being shot. shot by police. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham notes the attack took place on Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar. Obviously, what we would all want to recognize is how people in our Jewish community will be feeling. Burnham told the BBC the immediate danger is over, though. Prime Minister Kier Starrmer posted on social media that he's appalled and that the timing of the attack on Yom Kippur makes it, quote, all the more horrific. He cut short a visit to Denmark and rushed

home to chair an emergency meeting in response. Lauren Friar, NPR News, London. President Trump is using the government shutdown to punish and pressure his political opponents. NPR's Franco, Ordonia's reports, Trump's meeting today with the man tasked with carrying out those promises. The president is calling on Republicans to use the shutdown to, quote, clear out dead wood. He says billions of dollars can be saved. And Trump is sitting down with his budget director, Russ, vote to determine which of the many, quote, Democratic agencies may be cut. Trump writes in a social media post, I can't believe the radical left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity. Trump even cited votes work on the controversial project 2025,

where he advocated for a more activist approach to cutting spending and overhauling the federal workforce. The White House is pushing Democrats to negotiate, but votes work should, shows he's less concerned about Democrats and more focused on making the cuts. Franco, Ordonez, NPR News. Israel has intercepted an aid flotilla of dozens of boats carrying much-needed food bound for Gaza as it got close to the enclave, boarding the vessels and detaining activists, including Greta Toonberg. UN spokesman Stefan Dujeric says the UN is closely monitoring the situation and that the group welcomes advocacy in the humanitarian crisis.

We're obviously following the flotilla very closely. We do not want anyone to get hurt, and we want people's rights to be respected. In a post-on-X, Israel's foreign ministry says several vessels were stopped, and those on board were transferred to an Israeli port, saying they're all safe and healthy. Wall Street has turned into negative territory today. The Dow is down 94 points. The NASDAQ is down 13. You're listening to NPR News.

The Supreme Court says Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her position pending the outcome of an appeal early next year. President Trump wants to fire her for what he says are mortgage fraud allegations, which Cook denies. She sued saying he doesn't have the authority to fire her. Trump sued asking the Supreme Court to allow him to fire a Cook, but the nation's highest court denied that request. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear oral arguments in Cook's case in January. The White House says it will prevail. A federal bankruptcy judge has rejected an effort by Alex Jones to stop the sale of his Info Wars company. Proceeds will go to families of Sandy Hook School shooting victims who sued and won nearly $1.3 billion after Jones said they were lying about their kids being among those killed.

And Pierce Tovia Smith has more. In a fiery debate in federal bankruptcy court, Jones's lawyers tried to stop a Texas state court from seizing and selling off Info Wars brand and property. They tried to persuade the bankruptcy judge it should be handled by him, but the judge disagreed since Info wars itself is not in bankruptcy. That means a state-appointed receiver can now proceed to put Info Wars up for sale. One of the family's lawyers welcomed the decision saying, quote, Jones's days of dodging justice are numbered. The satirical news site The Onion has expressed interest in buying Info Wars but did not respond to a request for comment after this latest ruling. Tovia Smith, NPR News. Wall Street is trading lower at this hour. The Dow is down 101 points. Nasdaq down 14. S&P 500, down 13. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.