NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-04-2025 7AM 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 Jail Snyder. Israel's military says it's curtailing activity in Gaza and is preparing to carry out President Trump's plan to end the war there. The announcement comes, as Trump told Israel last night to, in his words, immediately stop the bombing in Gaza. Here's NPR's Kerry Kahn reporting.

A person briefed by an Israeli official told NPR that forces in Gaza were ordered to reduce activity to quote a minimum and only for defensive actions. Friday Hamas agreed to points in Trump's plan, including releasing all. hostages and turning power over to a Palestinian entity, but added other elements need negotiation. Still unclear is how Hamas would disarm and a timetable for Israeli troop withdrawal. In a statement Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said cooperation would be, quote, in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel without specifying details. Gaza's civil defense reported multiple explosions and injuries overnight. Israel's military warned residents to stay out of active combat zones in Gaza City.

Kerry Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says it's the American people who are feeling the pain of the government shutdown. Instead of trying to come to the table and negotiate with Democrats and reopen the government, the White House and fellow Republicans have vowed to make this a maximum pain shutdown, they call it. Unfortunately, the maximum pain falls on the American people, and the American people know it. Schumer is speaking there to reporters.

following a fourth failed vote on a short-term funding bill that would reopen the government. Democrats insist that any deal include an extension of health care subsidies that expire at the end of the year. The Senate is not in session this weekend. Majority Leader John Thune says he does not see the point since there's been no progress. Some Republican senators are attending a fundraiser at a coastal resort in Georgia this weekend. This is investors shrugged off the ongoing government shut down and sent U.S. market soaring this week. MPR's Maria Asman reports a Dow ended the week at a new record high. Washington 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. And from Washington, this is NPR News. The arrest of a conservative influencer in Portland, Oregon, has drawn the ire of the Trump administration. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says the Justice Department is launching a full investigation.

Oregon Public Broadcasting's Troy Brennelson reports. About 1.2 million accounts follow Nicholas Sorter on X, and he describes himself as a journalist who covers stories the mainstream media won't. During protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Building in Portland on Thursday night, Sorter and two other people landed in custody for allegedly fighting. Police charged all three with second-degree disorderly conduct. Sorter blasted the city and its police after he was released Friday morning. Look, this is going to backfire on them tremendously. It already is. People knew that something out here stunk and that it was corrupt.

Police have made dozens of arrests outside the ice building since this summer. The vast majority of them, protesters. For NPR News, I'm Troy Brenelson in Portland. Ice operations in Chicago have also drawn protesters. There have been near daily demonstrations at an ice processing facility in Broadview, a western suburb. Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem visited the facility on Friday, while protesters demonstrated against a surge in immigration enforcement. Federal officials say more than a dozen people were arrested.

Earlier this week, agents staged a late-night raid on a Chicago apartment. apartment building, saying it focused on alleged Venezuelan gang members, at least 37 people were arrested. The Las Vegas Aces opened the best of seven WMBA finals with a game one victory last night. Game two is tomorrow in Vegas. I'm Giles Snyder, NPR News.