NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-03-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: October 3, 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 Nora Rahm. It is day three of the government shutdown, and there is no sign that anyone plans to budge. Republicans and Democrats blame each other for the impasse. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, says Americans are being hurt.

Real pain is being inflicted upon the American people because 44 Democrats in the Senate have voted for the third time to reject the completely nonpartisan, completely clean, very simple 24-page continuing resolution that we pass. in the House here two weeks ago. Democrats want a provision that would extend health care subsidies for lower and middle income Americans set to expire this year, which would result in higher premiums for millions of Americans nationwide. The FDA has approved another generic version of the abortion drug myth of Pristone. As NPR's Cudia Riddle reports, the decision comes at a time when the drug is under attack from abortion opponents. These kinds of approvals are typical when a drug's patent is up. If a generic drug maker shows its version is equivalent to the original, the FDA, by law, has to act. But with the MIFopristone, the decision is controversial as it

induces abortion. Medication abortion accounts for more than half of the abortions in the United States. Given its widespread use, anti-abortion advocates have been working to limit Mifiphristone's availability in recent years. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently called for a review of its, quote, safety and efficacy. Scores of studies have found the drug to be effective and safe. Katie Riddle, in pair news. The director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Kansas has lost his job after he refused to give a sword to the Trump administration.

Zane Irwin of the Kansas News Service reports. Todd Errington was, until recently, director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. A few months ago, the State Department asked him to give them one of Eisenhower's swords, so President Trump could present it as a gift to King Charles during his recent visit to the U.K. But Arrington says the artifacts belong to the American people, so he helped find a replica saber for the king. Earlier this week, Arrington was told to resign or be fired. I was obviously shocked and saddened and heartbroken. An automated message at the National

Archives and White House press offices said they were closed due to the government shutdown. For NPR News. I'm Zane Irwin in Kansas City, Missouri. Germany's Munich Airport is open today after being shut down last night because of drone sightings. Dozens of flights were diverted or canceled on the eve of a national holiday, straining thousands of passengers. The drones were spotted last night above the airport. Their size and types could not be determined. Drone intrusions temporarily shut airports in Denmark and Norway last week. This is NPR News.

in Washington. British police say the man who carried out a car and knife attack on a synagogue in Manchester yesterday was a British citizen of Syrian descent. He rammed a car into pedestrians outside the synagogue and then started stabbing people, killing two people, and wounding three others. He was shot dead by police. Hip-hop mogul Sean Combs is to be sentenced today in New York for his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

He could be sentenced to 10 years in prison on each charge. Combs had been acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run turned 50 this year. The boss and the East Street band sat down for the first time to explain how they created the landmark album. NPR's Frank Langford reports. Springsteen's first two albums had not sold. He needed a hit. It was all or nothing, because in the rest of my life at that time, I had nothing.

Springsteen is a notorious perfectionist. He drove the band as well as studio engineer, Jimmy Ivey. I never met a person before or after. I can say the same word over and over and over and over and over. Two words. No and again. It worked. The album peaked at number three on the billboard chart and launched springsteen to stardom.

Frank Langford, NPR News, West Long Branch, New Jersey. And I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.