NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-05-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: October 6, 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 Janine Herbs. Representatives from Israel, the U.S. and Hamas are preparing for negotiations in Egypt. Israel and Hamas say they've accepted the first phase of a peace plan the U.S. proposed to release all hostages. But as NPR's Emily Fang reports, there are still open questions about their acceptance of the next phases.

U.S. Middle East envoy, Steve Whitkoff, confirmed NPR that he and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are also in Egypt, which says it'll host Israeli and Hamas representatives starting Monday to hammer out the details of how to exchange remaining hostages for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. But Hamas says it needs more details on how and when Israel's forces would withdraw from Gaza. Last night, Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the Israeli military will, quote, continue to hold all areas controlling the depth of the strip and said Hamas would have to disarm by diplomatic or military means, something the group has not explicitly agreed to. Emily Fang and Pierr News Tel Aviv. Portland and Chicago are preparing for the possible deployment of the National Guard to city streets. As Pierre's Joe Hernandez reports, it comes as the Trump administration is ramping up its efforts to send federal forces to American cities.

The Trump administration federalized at least 300 Illinois National Guard members over the weekend. They'll be used to protect federal law enforcement officials and federal property in the state, according to a Pentagon memo reviewed by NPR. Trump has been threatening to send the National Guard to Chicago for months in a move that's been widely criticized by state and local leaders, including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. Separately, a federal judge in Oregon on Saturday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard members in Portland, but National Guard members appear to be on their way nonetheless. California Governor Gavin Newsom says Trump is sending National Guard members from California to Oregon and that California plans to sue. Joe Hernandez, NPR News. The federal government shutdown is now in its fifth day with no apparent work to end it over the weekend. And Pierce Deepa Chivaram has more.

There doesn't really seem to be an end in sight here. I mean, the Senate failed to move forward on funding proposals on Friday. Senate members are expected to return to the Hill tomorrow to try, again, but the House will actually remain out of session per House Speaker Mike Johnson. He said he'd call the House back in session once the Senate can come to an agreement on funding the government. And Pierre-Dipa Shiverum. Republicans control both chambers of Congress along with the White House and both sides say they are still far apart with health care subsidies dividing the two parties. Democrats want an extension of health care tax credits. Republicans say that's too expensive. The White House is threatening to lay off federal workers and close agencies.

if a funding bill is passed. This is NPR News. In Alabama, at least two people are dead. Around a dozen are injured after a mass shooting on the streets of the Capitol, Montgomery, early this morning. Five of the injured, including at least one youth, were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, according to police. It happened about a mile from the State Capitol building where a group of people were gathered when gunfire broke out. A male teenager and an adult woman died from their injuries. There's no word on a motive and no one's in custody. Steve discounts on college tuition are fueling skepticism about the value of higher education.

For member station GBAH in Boston, Kirk Carrapeza reports a new study finds that families are confused about the real cost of college. Tuition discounting is the practice private colleges have long used to manage revenue, cut in cost for some students while keeping a higher sticker price for others. Now the Strata Education Foundation reports public. universities facing funding caps and enrollment declines are adopting the same approach. In the past decade, the share of undergrads at public four-year schools receiving aid rose from 49 to 62 percent. Average discount rates also jumped from 24 to 31 percent.

The result? Families are left confused and skeptical about the real cost and value of College. For NPR News, I'm Kirk Carrapeza in Boston. U.S.S. Futures contracts are trading higher at this hour. Dow futures up around one-tenth of a percent. Nasdaq futures are ahead by about three-tenths of a percent. I'm Janine Hurst, NPR News, in Washington. Support for NPR, and the following message come from Yarl and Pamela Mohn, thanking the people who make public radio great every day and also those who listen.