NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-04-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: October 5, 2025

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Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theshmit.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. A federal judge in Oregon has granted a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard into Portland after President Trump said he was send troops in to protect what he calls a war-ravaged city. The White House had federalized 200 Oregon National Guard troops for a 60-day assignment, according to the state's governor. The order blocking the deployment comes as Trump has sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles, Washington, and soon to Memphis. He's vowed to send them to Chicago over the objections

of officials there. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says his state doesn't need troops and that he will resist a Trump administration ultimatum to deploy the National Guard. It's the latest setback to White House efforts to crack down on Democratic-led cities it claims are overrun by crime and disorder and to protect ICE facilities from protesters. Reaction to President Trump's plan to end the nearly two-year war in Gaza, it's being viewed cautiously by residents there. Israel and Hamas say they endorse the plan, but details have yet to be worked out. And Pierce, Kerry Kahn, has more. Residents in Gaza, like Iman Abuak Lane, a 48-year-old mother of force, says the new, news of a deal is some relief.

It's like we've been bottled up so tightly, and now we can take a breath, just a small one, as we are still living in a nightmare, she says. Israel's military says it's getting ready to implement Trump's plan and has moved to a defensive-only position, according to an official not authorized to speak to the media on the record. However, Gaza health officials say airstrikes continued overnight, killing and wounding Ghazins. Israel is preparing a team for face-to-face talks as the U.S. also sends envoys to Cairo, according to two people briefed but not authorized to speak publicly.

Kerry Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. The president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is calling on Congress to act quickly to extend Obamacare subsidies. And Pierre Selina Simmons-Duffin reports the Republican from North Dakota insists it's not a partisan issue. Insurance commissioners across the country unanimously agree that Congress should act quickly to keep Obamacare insurance plans affordable. John Godfrey is the association's president. He's also the elected Republican insurance commissioner of North Dakota. With these enhancements, we saw more farmers and ranchers purchasing coverage for their families. So it's been really,

really good on that front. Even though insurance carriers have already locked in their rates for 2026, he says it's not too late. Most states, if not all states, had their carriers filed two sets of rates, one with subsidies, one without. So if Congress extends the enhanced subsidies as they are in the next few weeks, he thinks states will be able to implement the subsidized rates before enrollment opens November 1st. Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington. You're listening to NPR News.

In California, more than 800,000 ride-hailing drivers will soon be able to join a union. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the last. 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-chair companies. Labor unions and tech companies have fought for years over driver's 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. A harbor seal has about 100 whiskers that can be used to sense water movements left by the fish it wants to eat.

Airy Daniel explains understanding how those whiskers work could help engineers design underwater robots. Rainbow trout can camouflage their swimming by bending into a sea shape and spinning off two vortex rings in opposite directions. Only one of them moves parallel to the fish, potentially confusing a harbor seal in pursuit. I wanted to know if a harbor seal can read that camouflage and still follow the fish. University of Rostock biologist Yvonne Kruger trained a harbor seal to distinguish between two artificial vortex rings of different sizes, demonstrating it would be able to successfully hunt its prey.

The results may inspire sensors that could help aquatic robots navigate their surroundings. For NPR News, I'm Ari Daniel. And I'm Janine Herbst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit wise.com. T's and Cs apply.