NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-04-2025 3PM EDT

Episode Date: October 4, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. There is no apparent movement in trying to end the shutdown of the federal government, now in its fourth day. Republicans want a temporary bill that would continue spending at previous levels for a short period to allow for negotiations. Democrats want to include a measure that would extend the health care subsidies now slated to expire at the end of the year. The White House is using the shutdown to further cut the federal workforce and free some projects. NPR Stephen Fowler has more. The Energy Department says billions of dollars for clean energy grants are being canceled because of a review that found they, quote, did not adequately advance the nation's energy needs, were not economically viable, and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars. Others have noted that those projects are in more than a dozen states, including Minnesota and New York, all of them Vice President Kamala Harris won in last year's presidential election.

The timing of the announcement comes as the administration is doing a full court press to get Democrats to get on board with their plans to reopen the government. NPR's Stephen Fowler, investors shrugged off the government shutdown and sent U.S. markets soaring this week. NPR's Maria Aspen reports the Dow ended the week at a record high. Washington's shutdown doesn't seem to be bothering Wall Street, at least not yet. All of the major U.S. talk indices broke new records this week, as investors focused, on more optimistic news, like the ongoing artificial intelligence frenzy. Still, some business leaders, like Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, are warning that the market's AI bubble could soon burst. More immediately, the shutdown is creating more

uncertainty about the economy. On Friday, the government did not release its monthly jobs report, that data is closely watched by economists, investors, and the Federal Reserve, which is trying to both fight inflation and shore up the weakening job market. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York. The Supreme Court has again allowed the Trump administration to end temporary protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants. We hear more from NPR's Serio Martinez-Beltron. In a 6-3 ruling, Supreme Court justices cited with the Trump administration

and said it can take away the temporary protected status from Venezuelans in the U.S. this while the case continues to be litigated. The decision is expected to affect more than 300,000 Venezuelans who have been in a legal limbo since earlier this year when the administration moved to end TPS for them. Secretary of Homeland Security, Christine Nome, has said Venezuela no longer meets the conditions for TPS and that the designation would be, quote,

contrary to the national interest. This latest ruling means the Venezuelans are now subject to deportation. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Austin. This is NPR News. Protesters in Tbilisi, Georgia tried to storm the presidential palace today. Police used pepper spray and water cannons to push them back. The governing Georgian Dream Party had said it had won regional elections today in every municipality. The vote had been boycotted by major opposition parties

who say the governing party wants to end Georgia's Democratic Party. aspirations and move closer to Russia. In the Czech Republic, the party of populist billionaire Andre Babish won parliamentary elections. This could mean less support for Ukraine. A new report finds moms in America are dissatisfied with their health care. NPR's Katie Riddle has more in the story. The report is from the Harris poll who surveyed more than 2,000 women and explored disparities across prenatal birth and postpartum care in the United States. Among other findings, the researchers reported that over three and five respondents said they needed to fight for medical care, especially black, Hispanic, and younger women. Mental health issues are increasingly

reported during pregnancy in the postpartum period, and most women who are or have been pregnant also believe that maternity leave in the United States is insufficient. Currently, the U.S. does not have any federally mandated maternity leave. Researchers say their findings show that the current system is, quote, gravely failing to meet the needs of expectant mothers. Thank you. Katie Reynolds, NPR News. The next round of Major League Baseball playoffs get underway today. With Division Series games in Milwaukee, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Seattle, the Milwaukee Brewers have the best record in baseball this year.

I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.