NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-07-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: October 8, 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 the Schmidt.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Chicagoans are bracing for the deployment of National Guard troops. Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker says troops from Illinois and Texas's National Guard have already arrived and will begin operations in the city. later this week. He says President Trump is using troops as political pawns and is calling on citizens to document their activities. What we can't do is just sit idly by while these things are occurring. And that's why we've called on people to take action, like creating evidence for our court cases by pulling out their iPhones and their Android phones and filming everything. Trump characterizes Chicago as a war zone and is said he would be willing to invoke the Insurrection Act. That's the law that allows a president to

dispatch the military and states that are unable to put down an insurrection or are defying federal law. Illinois sued to block Trump's move. A judge gave the administration two days to respond to it. A new White House memo is raising questions about whether furloughed federal workers will receive back pay when the government reopens from member station WAMU, Jenny Abamu reports. The White House is making the case that hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers are not automatically guaranteed back pay. The memo seeks to reinterpret a 2019 law passed during Trump's first term to protect furloughed workers, like Sarah Cobran at the National Institutes of Health.

She still wants Democrats to hold the line. Am I afraid of that consequence? Yeah, of course. I have, you know, dependents and a house and a mortgage and all those things, but I can't invest in every threat or I wouldn't survive it. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen helped write the 2019 backpay law. He says the statute is clear, and, quote, there's nothing the administration can do to change that. For NPR News, I'm Jenny Abamu.

Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton says his office is launching undercover investigations of what he calls leftist violence in Texas. Caroline Love from member station KERA has more. Ken Paxton calls far-left political violence a clear and present danger and cites the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as an example. extremism expert Jason Blasekis from the Middlebury Institute says the Trump administration has cut funding for federal programs aimed at preventing terrorism and violence. This administration unfortunately hasn't invested in prevention, which is one of the most important ways we can stop this kind of behavior. President Trump recently declared the leftist Antifa movement a domestic terrorist organization. Historically far right, extremist violence has been far more prevalent in the U.S. For NPR News, I'm Caroline Ler.

The price of gold has soared above $4,000 per Troy ounce for the first time. Analysts say many investors are seeking a safe haven to park their money as the U.S. government shutdown continues. Gold has gained over the last year as President Trump's tariffs created economic uncertainty across the globe. This is NPR News. Peace talks between Israel and Hamas continue in Egypt on the two-year anniversary of Hamas's surprise attack that triggered Israel's war in Gaza. The talks focus on President Trump's proposal to end the fighting, which would require Hamas to disarm. The President of France has given his outgoing Prime Minister 48 hours to find a solution to the political crisis engulfing the country. The crisis was set off by the resignation yesterday of the third premiere this year, NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports.

Sebastian Le Corneux resigned Monday before the far right and left could follow through with a no-confidence vote that brought down the two previous prime ministers. Both factions are demanding Macron appoint a premier from their party or dissolve parliament and call new legislative elections. Macron is increasingly isolated a year and a half after he dissolved parliament and lost his majority. Today, the French parliament is fractured and no party has a majority, though the biggest voting blocks are on the far right and left. There are also calls for the increasingly unpopular Macron to resign

a year and a half before his term ends and hold early presidential election. Eleanor Beardsley in PR News, Paris. NFL kickers are making more long-distance field goals more frequently with many exceeding 60 yards this season. The shift has sparked questions about whether the balls are altered. A rule change this year allows teams to prepare balls before game day. There have already been four kicks of at least 60 yards this season close to the single season record. I'm Ryland Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe.

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