NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-04-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: October 4, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says he hopes Hamas will return all remaining hostages by October 13th, the end of an upcoming Jewish holiday. As part of a proposal put forth by President Trump, Israel would then end the war. But as NPR's Emily Fang reports, there are still big questions remaining over the durability of any ceasefire. The return of the hostages is the first step in a U.S. peace plan. Netanyahu said the second phase of a peace plan would see Hamas disarmed, voluntarily, or by force if needed, something Hamas has not explicitly agreed to. And at a weekly anti-war protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday, regular demonstrators like Gabriela Goldschmidt worried negotiations would fall through again.

Yes, there is hope, but it's a very cautious hope because we don't know what kinds of tricks, Netanyahu. Yao has in his pocket. And she fretted that her government would find a reason to end another ceasefire. Emily Fang and Pierre News Tel Aviv. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says he's rejected a demand from the Trump administration that he deployed the state's National Guard. And Pierce John Hamilton reports on the growing conflict between Trump and the governor over sending troops to the state. In a post on the social media site, Pritzker said that the Trump administration, Department of War gave him an ultimatum, call up your troops or we will. He characterized the demand as outrageous and un-American. The governor posted that the Trump administration intends to

federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard sometime today. Pitzker said there is no need for military troops to deploy in response to ongoing protests at the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facility near Chicago. He said state, county, and local law enforcement have been working together to ensure public safety. John Hamilton, NPR News. Congress remains at odds over paying for government programs. The shutdown is now in its fourth day. Amper's Barber's Front reports the Senate isn't in session this weekend after multiple failed votes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he didn't see the point in holding more votes over the weekend since the Senate hasn't made any progress on negotiations. The Senate voted on a GOP plan that already

passed the House that would fund the government through late November. It also voted on a Democratic counterproposal that funds the government through October and includes an extension of health care tax credits boosted up during the pandemic. Those are on track to expire at the end of the year. Both votes have failed repeatedly to meet the 60 vote threshold to advance the bills. Republicans have said they'll negotiate on the subsidies but only after the government is funded. Barbara Sprint, NPR News, Washington. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. In California, more than 800,000 ride-hailing drivers will soon be able to join a union.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation this week, allowing them to bargain collectively. The new law is part of an agreement made last month between Newsom, state lawmakers, and the union, along with ride-share companies. Labor unions and tech companies have fought for years over drivers' riders' rights. California is now the second state where Uber and Lyft drivers can unionize as independent contractors. Massachusetts voters passed a ballot referendum nearly a year ago, allowing unionization in that state. Drivers in Illinois and Minnesota are pushing for similar rights. For coffee farmers, the Trump administration's tariffs are only the latest setback. And Pierce James Dubeck has more.

Coffee farmers are dealing with a lot. They often live in poverty, migraine. has caused labor shortages and many small farmers are aging. Climate change is another looming threat. That means rising temperatures, unpredictable weather, floods, and droughts. One study predicts that half of the world's coffee growing area could be unusable by 2050. Coffee consultant Sara Maraki works with farmers. It's a miracle that we still have. We still have plans for using coffee. So this is only going to get worse. Scientists are studying new varieties of coffee that could grow in hotter climates, but it could be many years before they go

mainstream. James Dubeck, NPR News. And I'm Janine Hurst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.