NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-05-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: October 5, 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 Nora Rom. A federal judge in Oregon has placed a temporary hold on the Trump administration's plans to deploy the National Guard to Portland, a plan over the objections of state and local leaders. The ruling says the administration has not shown the anti-ice protests there justify such a move. President Trump also plans to send the National Guard to Chicago.

Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem says there's a need for federal involvement in both places. I've encouraged the governor of Oregon and of Illinois, and that Attorney General should go down and spend some time with our ICE officers and with our Border Patrol officers and encounter the protesters that they do because these individuals are shouting hateful things at them, threatening their families, putting their hands on them, and acts of violence are occurring on a regular basis. Noam was interviewed on Fox and Friends. Federal workers and contractors at a town hall held by a Virginia Democratic congressman say their livelihoods have been disrupted by the federal shutdown. But they urge Democrats to continue it. For member station, WAMU, Margaret Barthal reports. Jason Moses is a 23-year Army veteran who has also served in federal civilian roles.

His first shutdown came in 1995 when he was about to deploy on a peacekeeping mission to Bosnia. Now, he's a federal contractor and says his paycheck may be affected if the shutdown continues for multiple weeks. He's usually frustrated by shutdowns, but says he supports this one. I didn't raise my arm to protect the U.S. Constitution from all threats foreign and domestic to watch the U.S. Constitution be shredded by the current administration. Dozens of attendees voiced agreement with him at the event. Suhas Subramaniams District in the D.C. suburbs is home to more than 36,000 federal employees. For NPR News, I'm Margaret Barthel in Arlington, Virginia.

Syria is holding his first elections for parliament since members of the current government toppled the country's former regime last December. It's still rebuilding after a 13-year civil war. The leaders say they cannot have direct popular elections. NPR's Emily Fang reports. Electoral colleges that are proportional to the population of Syrian areas will choose nearly two-thirds of parliamentary seats, but there's been little explanation over how the college's electors were chosen themselves. The remaining seats will be directly appointed by Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Shara, a former militant leader whose fighting group overthrew the Assad regime.

Syrian officials say they do not have a full voter registry, hence no popular vote. Also, elections in southern Sweda province and large portions of Syria's northeast, which is controlled by Kurdish factions, are indefinitely postponed due to sectarian fighting there, and those parliamentary seats will be left empty. Emily Fang, NPR News. This is NPR News. Negotiators from the U.S., Israel, and Hamas are to meet in Egypt tomorrow to discuss a U.S. proposal to end the war in Gaza.

Both Israel and Hamas have said they accept the first phase of the peace plan, but much needs to be settled. Hamas wants details on when and how Israel will withdraw its forces from Gaza. Israel has said Hamas will have to disarm by diplomatic or military means. The militant group Al-Shabaab is claiming responsibility for an attack on a prison in the Somali capital. Michael Koloki has more. Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported during the attack on the Godkajilkow prison, located near the presidential palace in Mogadishu. The prison is believed to house several members of the al-Shabaab militant group, which has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for almost two decades now.

The attack on the prison came just a few hours after local authorities disbanded, a series of roadblocks that had been set up in Mogadishu a number of years ago in a bit to improve security in the city. Somalia's capital has experienced relative calm in recent months, following a move by government forces and African Union troops to push al-Shabaab militants out of parts of the country. For NPR News, I'm Michael Koloki in Nairobi. The airport in Vilnius Lithuania reopened today after it was shut down last night by balloons. As many as 25 small hot air balloons entered Lithuanian. airspace. Some of them were carrying smuggled cigarettes. Officials say they delayed flights for

hours affecting nearly 6,000 passengers. Europe has been on alert after drone sightings in recent weeks. I'm Nora Rom. NPR News in Washington. Listen to this podcast, sponsor-free on Amazon music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow Plus at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org. Thank you.