NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-02-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: October 2, 2025

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Republicans and Democrats are blaming each other for the partial government shutdown now entering its second day. GOP lawmakers are insisting on passage of a short-term measure to continue current funding while Democrats want health care subsidies restored in the next budget. Vice President J.D. Vance addressed the matter during the Daily White House briefing. We need to reopen the government. Let's fix America's problems. Let's work together to solve them. But let's reopen the government before we have our negotiation about health care policy. that's what the American people demand, and that's certainly what the President of the United States won. Bant says there is no final decision on the fate of certain federal workers,

but that extraordinary measures may be needed to continue government operations during the shutdown. Despite threats of mass firings from President Trump, some federal workers say they support the battle that sparked the shutdown. From member station, WAMU, Jenny Abamu, has more. Federal workers showed up alongside Democrats on Capitol Hill to show their support for holding firm on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. Elizabeth Riley, a USDA employee, says she's no more afraid of losing her job during the shutdown

than she was before it. We've been under attack for nine months as federal workers, and this is just another day at work. Although we aren't working, a lot of my colleagues are going to struggle missing a paycheck, but a lot of us also feel that they need to hold the line. Democratic lawmakers, such as Jamie Raskin and Maryland, whose district hosts over 50,000 federal workers,

says constituents have been calling and emailing his office, saying, hold the line. For MPR News, I'm Jenny Abamu on Capitol Hill. Pope Leo says the political positions of the Catholic Church include more than opposition to abortion. Claire, Jen Grave, of Religion News Service, has the story. Pope Leo was asked about the Archdiocese of Chicago's decision to honor U.S. Senator Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement. despite the lawmakers' support for abortion rights. Several bishops in the U.S. criticized the Chicago Archdiocese.

Leo said the award was in recognition of Durbin's 40 years of service in the U.S. Senate and his advocacy for immigrants. Someone who says I'm against abortion but says I'm in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life. So someone who says that I'm against abortion, but I'm in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants or in the United States. I don't know if that's pro-life. The Archdiocese of Chicago said that Durban has decided not to accept the award. For NPR news, I'm Claire Zhangrave.

Two planes reportedly collided on the runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport. At least one injury has been reported. The incident occurred while the planes were taxing on the runway. U.S. futures are flat and after-hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR. The U.S. Supreme Court. has ruled that Lisa Clark, Lisa Cook, that is, can remain on the Federal Reserve Board for now. The justices are still considering whether to block a lower court ruling that allowed Cook to stay in the job.

President Trump is trying to fire her, citing unproven claims of mortgage fraud. In the WNBA, players are expressing support for star player Nefisa Collier, who made strong criticisms this week of league officials about player pay and issues with referees. NPR's Becky Sullivan has details. The Minnesota Links Forward is one of the league's biggest stars, and she's known for being calm, cool, and collected. So it caught everyone's attention when, at her year-end press conference on Tuesday, Nafisa Collier unleashed a very pointed and very personal criticism of WNBA Commissioner Kathy Englebert. In private conversations, she said the commissioner had cast players as ungrateful and dismissed concerns about a link between poor refereeing and increased physicality leading to injuries. We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world. But right now we have the worst leadership in the world.

In a statement, Commissioner Engelbert says she was, quote, disheartened by Collier's comments, but that she has the utmost respect for players and an unwavering commitment to them and their future as a league. Becky Sullivan and PR News. Conservationist Jane Goodall has died at the age of 91. Goodall may be best remembered for living among chimpanzees in Africa and documenting their distinct personalities and daily habits. research during the 1960s is seen as vital to how the world perceives chimpanzees and the complexity of all animals. This is NPR News. 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.