NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-02-2025 3PM EDT

Episode Date: October 2, 2025

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On the ThruLine podcast from NPR, immigration enforcement might be more visible now, but this moment didn't begin with President Trump's second inauguration, or even his first. A series from ThruLine about how immigration became political and a cash cow. Listen to ThruLine in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. It's day two of the government shutdown and the standoff shows no signs of easing. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are furloughed while others remain on the job without pay. Senate Democrats are holding firm on extending Obamacare subsidies, which Republicans refuse to negotiate as part of a short-term government funding measure.

Essential services like Social Security, Medicare and National Security operations continue. But as NPR's, Greg Allen reports, many agencies are shut down or operating at a skeleton level. Among the things most at risk are federal food assistance programs. Those are SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the program for women, infants, and children, WIC. There are staffing reductions and concerns that the programs could run out of money if the shutdown doesn't end soon. That's NPR's Greg Allen reporting. The White House is warning that deeper cuts and layoffs could follow if the closure drags on.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi met with members of President Trump's Federal Task Force this week in Memphis, including troops from the Tennessee National Guard. NPR's Kat-Lonsdorf reports more than 90 arrests have been made since the federal intervention began in the city this week. Speaking in front of both state and federal law enforcement, as well as members of the National Guard, Defense Secretary Hague Seth said they had his support, as well as that of President Trump. We're not here to second-guess you. We're here to have your back. to unleash you to do your job so you come home safely. Trump announced the federal task force to fight crime in the city, which is one of the highest violent crime rates in the country, although those numbers have been declining recently.

Officials from more than a dozen federal agencies are out on the streets, and city leaders say National Guard troops are expected within the next two weeks. Democratic Memphis Mayor Paul Young, while unhappy about the deployment, has largely been conciliatory. Kat Lonsdorf, NPR News, Memphis. A convoy of civilian ships. trying to break through Israel's blockade and sail to Gaza to liver food has been intercepted. NPR's Emily Fang reports the Flotilla Group argues the passage of humanitarian aid is guaranteed under international law.

The flotillas organizers say the aid on board, including food, baby formula, and medicine has been confiscated from about 40 boats that Israel has seized. Organizers say some of the boats and their crew were doused with water cannons and some were stopped by a chain like barrier in the sea outside of Israel's territorial waters. Video they published online shows Israeli soldiers boarding a few of the vessels and the crew with their hands up. Israel says that they'll take all the boats and the activists to the port city of Ashdode and they'll eventually deport them to their home countries. Emily Fang and Peer News Tel Aviv. On Wall Street, the Dow was up 116 points. This is NPR News from Washington. The Eiffel Tower is closed because of another day of strikes.

NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports the protests are aimed at France's new prime minister, who has not yet named a government. Sebastian Le Corneux is Macron's fourth prime minister in a little over a year. He too is from the president's center-right camp. The last two prime ministers were deposed in no-confidence votes. Teachers, train drivers, and other public sector were. have walked off the job and into the streets to protest for the second time since the beginning of the school year. There are some 250 union-led marches across France. The head of France's largest

and most left-wing union said Macron cannot continue governing against the will of the people. Protesters want a premier from the left who will raise taxes on the rich to plug the deficit. Eleanor Beardsley and Pierre News, Paris. There's new research on how to better protect babies in sub-Saharan Africa from mosquito-borne malaria. NPR's Jonathan Lambert has more. During the day, many babies in rural Africa often get around on mom's back in a baby wrap where they're exposed to mosquitoes. New research in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that treating those wraps

with the insect repellent permethrin can protect babies. In a large study in Uganda, babies entreated wraps saw minimal side effects, a slightly increased risk of rash, and great results. About a two-thirds reduction in malaria compared with babies in non-treated wraps. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. On Wall Street, the Dow up 122 points, the NASDAQ up 109. This is NPR.