NPR News Now – September 25, 2025, 11AM EDT
Episode Summary

Brief Overview

This five-minute episode delivers succinct updates on major global and national news events. Coverage includes President Abbas’s address at the UN, looming changes to U.S. health care premiums amid a possible government shutdown, reactions to a Dallas ICE facility shooting, removal of climate change signage from national parks, and an update on Tropical Storm Umberto.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. UN General Assembly: Palestinian Authority’s Statement

• Topic: Palestinian leadership in Gaza’s future; rejection of Hamas’s governance.
• Details:
  • President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel’s Gaza offensive and distanced the Palestinian Authority from Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel.
  • Abbas declared intent for PA to lead Palestinians after the conflict—excluding Hamas from governance.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Hamas will not have a role to play in governance. Hamas and other factions will have to hand over their weapons to the Palestinian National Authority as part of a process to build the institutions of one state, one law and one legal security forces.”
    — Mahmoud Abbas (via interpreter), [00:45]

• Upcoming: Israeli PM Netanyahu to respond at UN tomorrow.

2. U.S. Health Care Premiums & Government Shutdown Threat

• Topic: Potential ACA premium hikes; partisan congressional standoff.
• Details:
  • Enhanced ACA subsidies from 2021 are set to expire; 24 million reliant enrollees could see sharp premium increases.
  • Spotlight on Emily Pizacretta, a diabetic podcast producer, concerned about affordability.
  • Notable Quote:

    “$500 a month is not little. And to imagine it going up to almost $900 a month seems really scary.”
    — Emily Pizacretta, [01:59]

  • Issue is a key dispute as Republicans and Democrats negotiate to avoid a shutdown.
• Reporter: Selena Simmons Duffin, [01:35–02:16]

3. Dallas ICE Facility Shooting Investigation

• Topic: Aftermath and fears in the migrant community.
• Details:
  • Susana Garcia, a recently legalized immigration advocate, describes growing fear among Dallas’s Latino community after the attack.
  • Community concerns heightened over potential targeting and increased ICE activity.
  • Federal authorities treat the incident as a targeted attack.
  • Notable Quote:

    “We are going to be more afraid about everything that's to come against us because of what just happened.”
    — Susana Garcia, via Priscilla Rice, [02:36]

• Reporter: Priscilla Rice, [02:36–03:10]

4. Climate Change Signage Removed from National Parks

• Topic: Controversial removal of climate change educational materials under Trump administration.
• Details:
  • Signs at parks like Acadia, which informed visitors about climate impacts and conservation, are being taken down.
  • Trump administration labels content as “lies of the delusional green new scam.”
  • Todd Martin (National Park Conservation Association) pushes back, citing scientific consensus.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Acadia national park, like many parks, wants to ensure that its visitors understand...the impacts that Acadia is feeling from climate change now and what the future of the park could look like.”
    — Todd Martin, [04:19]

  • Policy change enacted via executive order and Park Service memo.
• Reporter: Molly Enking, [03:52–04:37]

5. Tropical Storm Umberto Update

• Topic: Ongoing Atlantic hurricane season.
• Details:
  • Umberto is strengthening, forecast to become a hurricane within 24 hours and possibly a major hurricane by weekend.
• Host: Korva Coleman, [04:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mahmoud Abbas on Hamas and Palestinian Authority:
  “Hamas will not have a role to play in governance.” [00:45]
• Emily Pizacretta on ACA premium hikes:
  “To imagine it going up to almost $900 a month seems really scary.” [01:59]
• Susana Garcia or fears after Dallas shooting:
  “We are going to be more afraid about everything that's to come...” [02:36]
• Todd Martin on climate change education:
  “…ensure that its visitors understand the impacts that Acadia is feeling from climate change now...” [04:19]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• UN General Assembly: Palestinian Authority Statement: [00:19–01:10]
• Israeli PM Netanyahu’s Upcoming Speech Preview: [01:10]
• ACA Premiums Debate & Shutdown Looming: [01:35–02:16]
• Dallas ICE Shooting Coverage: [02:19–03:10]
• Government Shutdown Details & Park Signage Removal: [03:10–04:37]
• Tropical Storm Umberto Forecast: [04:40]

This episode delivers a rapid, impactful snapshot of global diplomacy, domestic policy fights, community fears in the face of violence, climate politics, and hazardous weather—all in under five minutes, with voices from both ground-level advocates and national leadership.