NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-04-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: October 4, 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 Giles Snyder. The federal government shutdown is now in its fourth day. Congress had a stale made over a short-term funding bill. NPR's Domenico Montanaro. Democrats start out with a marginal advantage here. Our poll found that by a 38 to 27 percent margin that people would blame Republicans more than Democrats, but 31 percent of people are undecided.

So the messaging that takes place is going to be key because that 31 percent is who they're targeting both sides to try to win over. And we know that in 2019, when the longest shutdown in history took place, Trump was being blamed far more than he's being blamed right now. The Senate has tried four times and failed to pass a bill. reopening the government, Majority Leader John Thune has said he does not see the point in holding more votes this weekend since there hasn't been any progress. Some Republican senators are attending a fundraiser at a coastal resort in Georgia this weekend. The U.S. Supreme Court has again allowed the Trump administration to end temporary protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuel migrants. More on this from Emperor Sergio Martinez Beltran. In a 6-2-3 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. Overse now President Trump says he believes Hamas is now ready for a lasting peace

after the organization responded to the White House's ceasefire deal released earlier this week. NPR's deepest chivron reports. Trump posted on social media that Israel, quote, must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza. His post came shortly after Hamas released a statement saying that it would agree to release Israeli hostages. Hours earlier, Trump set a deadline of 6 p.m. on Sunday for Hamas to agree to the ceasefire deal, or he said hell would break out for Hamas. That deal was released on Monday when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House.

Israel already agreed to the deal, which stipulates an immediate end to the war in Gaza, with Israel allowing more aid into Gaza and Hamas releasing the remaining Israeli hostages. Deepa Shiveram, NPR News, the White House. The Office of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says Israel is preparing for what it called the immediate implementation of the first stage of President Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza. And you're listening to NPR News. Japan's ruling party has a new leader who is expected to become prime minister later this month. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports that she would be Japan's first female leader. leader. She is conservative on gender issues. Sanai Takaichi beat out four other candidates for the

presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP. Japan has the worst gender inequality among the G7 wealthy democracies, so her selection is a milestone in that sense. But Takiichi supports traditional gender roles and opposes letting women exceed to Japan's imperial throne. Japan's parliament to hold a confirmation vote on October 15th, despite election losses this year. Takiichi is favored because the LDP still holds the largest number of seats. Democratic governors pushing back on a White House move to cut clean energy projects and states that did not go to President Trump in last year's election. Minnesota Public Radio's Dana Ferguson reports. The Energy Department announced that hundreds of projects were reviewed and didn't advance the nation's energy needs.

The projects are in 16 states that didn't vote for Trump last year. Minnesota is among them. Governor Tim Wall says the move is politically motivated. This whole idea that they see states as Democrats and Republicans or they see areas as red or blue is simply the most egregious violation of their oath to try and take care. You have a responsibility to give your best for people who vote against you. The department says award grantees will have 30 days to appeal. For NPR News, I'm Dana Ferguson and St. Paul.

And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.