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

Episode Date: October 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Hamas says it's accepted some elements of President Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, including giving up power and releasing all remaining hostages, but that others require further discussion. The statement came hours after Trump said Hamas must agree to the deal by Sunday evening or face an even greater military onslaught. Hopes for a quick end to the government shutdown faded today as both sides dug in their heels. Meanwhile, President Trump is threatening. mass layoffs and further cuts across the federal government. Here's Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Rather than working with us to end the pain Americans are feeling because of a shutdown, Republicans have instead, they've wasted a week, refused to talk, and exacerbated pain for America. Democrats want an extension to health care subsidies. Republicans want to reopen the government mostly at current spending levels. Speaker Mike Johnson is canceling House votes next week as Republicans pressure Senate Democrats to accept the short-term funding bill and and end the shutdown. The Trump administration is withholding more than $2 billion for infrastructure projects in Chicago. NPR's Joel Rose reports it's part of a broader funding fight targeting Democratic areas during the shutdown. White House Budget Director Russ Vote says the Department of Transportation

has put on hold more than $2 billion to improve Chicago's transit system. Vote said the pause is intended to, quote, ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting, unquote. Earlier, the Trump administration said it would withhold $18 billion. and federal funds from major rail and subway projects in New York on similar grounds. That appears to be targeting New York congressional leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, whom the White House is trying to blame for the government shutdown. Schumer called the tactics, quote, stupid and counterproductive. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

The U.S. says it's destroyed another boat in the Caribbean just off the coast of Venezuela. NPR's Ader Peralta reports it's the fourth boat targeted by the U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth said the attack killed four men. whom he accused of being, quote, narco-terrorists. President Trump alleged the boat was loaded with enough drugs to kill up to 50,000 people, but the White House has offered no evidence of that. Venezuela says these are provocations by the U.S., which is intent on toppling the leftist authoritarian government of President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela's Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padino, said they had also detected five American

F-35s flying very close to Venezuelan territory on Thursday. This is a threat against the security of the nation, he said. Adapralta, NPR News, Mexico City. Sean Diddy Combs has been sentenced to over four years in prison in a case involving sex workers and violence. The judge said he was unconvinced. Combs wouldn't commit the crimes again if he were released. Combs was convicted of flying people across state lines

for drug-fueled marathon sexual encounters. I'm Rylan Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Des Moines Public Schools alleges a consulting company did not properly vet Superintendent Ian Roberts, who was arrested by immigration authorities last week. Roberts is originally from Guyana, and immigration officials said he was in the U.S. illegally with no work authorization and no Ph.D. The district is suing the consulting firm based on breach of contract and negligence. Taylor Swift's new album, The Life of a Showgirl marks her return to full-fledged pop music, but his N.P.E. R. Rachel Treisman reports, it's not all upbeat.

Swift reunited with Swedish producers Max Martin and Shelbach, whom she worked with on Red, 1989, and Reputation. They made her 12th studio album during the European leg of her heiress tour, early in her relationship with her now fiancé Travis Kelsey. Showgirl has plenty of pop melodies and love-struck lyrics, especially about Kelsey. In Wishlist, Swift sings about her desire for marriage and motherhood.

But the album also warns about the dark side of fame. One song tells the story of betrayal by a music executive. Another bites back at a fellow artist. The title track itself makes clear. The life of a showgirl isn't always glamorous. Rachel Treasman, NPR News. For the first time ever, the spiritual leader of the Church of England, will be a woman.

Sarah Malalley, the Bishop of London, will shatter a stain, glass ceiling as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, St. Augustine was the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597. This is NPR.