NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-09-2025 12PM EDT

Episode Date: October 9, 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, I'm Dale Wilman. We're waiting for the start of President Trump's cast. cabinet meeting where the government shutdown is expected to be discussed. That shutdown is now in its ninth day, and so far there appears to be no immediate path forward. Israel and Hamas have agreed

to the first phase of a ceasefire. It's supposed to go into effect later today. Israel is to free thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, while Hamas is to release all 20 living hostages within days. M.P. S. Kari Khan reports that Israelis are celebrating the news. In a downtown Tel Aviv Plaza where families and supporters of hostages held in Gaza have gathered for more than two years of the war, crowds flooded in to celebrate. Many are praising President Trump. One man waving huge American and Israeli flags called Trump the eighth wonder of the world. Another person dressed as Trump posed for selfies with many.

Danim Miran, the father of Omri, a hostage in Gaza, said he is on top of the clouds. It's a supreme feeling. I feel like I'm about to see my son any moment now, like he has reborn, he says. Kerry Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. A federal judge is hearing arguments today about the legality, a President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois. M. Peres Sergio Martinez Beltran reports from Chicago. Many Chicago residents have three questions.

Why is the National Guard in town? Do people need to protect themselves? And what can the city of Chicago do to block the National Guard from assisting ICE in the city? The Trump administration has said the Guard troops have orders to protect federal functions, personnel, and property, specifically ICE operations. Mayor Brandon Johnson says he will do whatever it takes to protect the residents and fight what he calls a federal invasion. Meanwhile, President Trump has called for the arrest of Johnson. Trump accused the mayor of failing to protect ICE officers. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News,

Chicago. On Wall Street, investors are digesting better-than-expected earnings reports from Pepsi and Delta. M. Pairs Scott Horsley has our reports. Pepsi sales in North America have lost a little fizz. The company points to falling demand for soft drinks and salty snacks in the region. That was offset, however, by stronger sales in Asia and Latin America boosting Pepsi's worldwide sales by more than 2.5%. Delta Airlines also reported better than expected sales and profits for its most recent quarter. That gave a lift to Delta's own stock and shares in other airlines as well. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Texas top criminal courts has again paused the execution of Robert Robertson,

just days before he had been set to become the first person in the U.S. put to death in a shaken baby case. Stocks on Wall Street are down across the board slightly. This is NPR News. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the government could fire air traffic controllers who don't show up for work. He says a spike in absences is causing significant disruptions in air travel during the government shutdown,

which is in its ninth day. Airports across the U.S., meanwhile, are experiencing more flight delays today. A new survey finds nearly one in five high schoolers say they or someone they know has had a romantic relationship with artificial intelligence. Lee Games has more on the survey

from the nonprofit center for democracy and technology. Students who attend schools that use AI a lot were more likely to report that they or a friend had used the technology for mental health support as a companion, a romantic partner, or as a way to escape the real world. Researcher Elizabeth Laird is one of the authors of the report. The more ways that a student reports that their school uses AI, the more likely they are to report things like, I know someone who considers AI to be a friend. I know someone who considers AI to be a romantic partner.

When students reported having conversations with AI systems for personal reasons and not for schoolwork, 31% said they used a device or software provided by their school. The findings come from national surveys of teachers, students, and parents. For NPR news, I'm Lee Gaines. Southern Japan was hit by a typhoon today. The government urged residents to be on the watch for landslides and flooding from the typhoon's heavy rains. The Kyoto News Agency says there's been record rainfall across the region and hundreds of people took refuge at evacuation centers. One man is dead after being swept away by waves while he was fishing. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.