NPR News: 09-27-2025 11AM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now – Summary

Episode: NPR News: 09-27-2025 11AM EDT
Host: Nora Ramm
Date: September 27, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes

---

Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers concise updates on significant developments in U.S. government funding negotiations, public opinion on crime and law enforcement, renewed international sanctions on Iran, suspicious drone activity over Danish defense facilities, Asheville, NC’s unique flood recovery ritual, and a quirky West Virginia festival event.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Impending U.S. Government Shutdown

• Congress faces a looming shutdown as the fiscal year ends Tuesday, with no resolution to fund government programs.
• President Trump pushes for a continuing resolution to maintain last year's spending levels temporarily.
• Democrats demand an extension of expiring healthcare subsidies as a condition for agreement.
• Insight from NPR's Ron Elving:
  • Both sides seem to accept the likelihood of a shutdown, using it to frame their political stances.
  • "Both sides at least seem to have decided to have the shutdown: Trump because he thinks it will empower him..., Democrats... have chosen to take a stand over health care spending." – Ron Elving [00:50]

---

2. Public Opinion on Crime and Law Enforcement Tactics

• NPR/IPSOS poll reveals disconnect: 70% of Americans perceive crime in major cities as unacceptably high despite a downturn since pandemic peaks.
• National Guard deployments to U.S. cities by the Trump administration are not broadly popular.
• Partisan divide highlighted:
  • 80% of Republicans support Trump's tactics, while an equal number of Democrats oppose.
  • "While the American public largely agrees that crime has increased... they don't broadly support the actions taken in the name of stopping crime, like calling in the National Guard." – Mallory Newell, IPSOS VP [01:48]

---

3. International: Iran Sanctions and Diplomacy

• Iran recalls ambassadors from Britain, France, Germany as Europe moves to reinstate UN sanctions over nuclear activities.
• Sanctions become active this weekend, including embargoes, asset freezes, and travel bans.
• Historical context: 2015 nuclear deal, U.S. withdrawal under Trump in 2018, failed Chinese and Russian attempts to delay sanctions.
• "The Iranian regime called the decision to restore UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran irresponsible." – Terry Schultz [02:31]

---

4. Suspected Russian Drone Activity in Denmark

• Drones spotted over multiple Danish defense sites, causing temporary closures of airports earlier in the week.
• Russia suspected of orchestrating the flyovers.
• No direct quotes; segment underscores ongoing European security tensions. [03:11]

---

5. Asheville, NC: Community Primal Scream for Flood Recovery

• Marking one year since Hurricane Helene’s devastation, Asheville initiates a primal scream event to promote emotional healing.
• Community members gather with a librarian leading the event using a megaphone.
• Personal reflection:
  • "We need to get it out and we need to feel it and we need to be together and know that we're all feeling this and let it resound and be heard." – Francie Gens, Asheville resident [04:07]
• The idea inspired by Chicago's “scream club,” with locals hoping to make it a regular event.

---

6. West Virginia’s Roadkill Cook Off Festival

• Seasonal highlight: Fall festival in West Virginia blends traditional music and crafts with a “roadkill cook off.”
• Menu includes squirrel chili and venison stew.
• Tourism pitch: It’s "a celebration of regional flavors and resourcefulness that intrigues and satisfies."

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ron Elving on shutdown stances:
  • “Both sides at least seem to have decided to have the shutdown: Trump because he thinks it will empower him..., Democrats... have chosen to take a stand over health care spending.” [00:50]
• Mallory Newell (IPSOS) on public attitude towards crime:
  • “While the American public largely agrees that crime has increased... they don't broadly support the actions taken in the name of stopping crime, like calling in the National Guard.” [01:48]
• Francie Gens on Asheville’s healing:
  • “We need to get it out and we need to feel it and we need to be together and know that we're all feeling this and let it resound and be heard.” [04:07]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Government funding negotiations & shutdown preview: [00:16] – [01:12]
• Crime perceptions & National Guard poll (Mallory Newell quote): [01:28] – [02:15]
• Iran sanctions and diplomatic fallout: [02:15] – [03:11]
• Danish drone incidents & Russia suspicion: [03:11] – [03:43]
• Asheville’s primal scream anniversary: [03:43] – [04:30]
• West Virginia roadkill cook off festival: [04:30] – [04:55]

---

Tone

The episode maintains NPR’s hallmark calm, impartial, and fact-driven tone, delivering both serious political developments and lighter regional stories with equal clarity and insight.

---

Transcript

[Odoo Sponsor]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Odoo. Some describe Odoo like a magic beanstalk because it scales with you and is magically affordable. Odoo exactly what a business needs. Sign [e-mail] that's O D O O.com.

[Nora Ramm]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. The government's fiscal year ends Tuesday, and Congress has not passed the bills necessary to pay for government programs in recent years. Lawmakers would agree to pass a continuing resolution that would continue spending at last year's levels for a short time to prevent a government shutdown and to allow for more negotiation. That's what President Trump wants this year. Congressional Democrats won't agree to that unless there's an agreement to extend the health care subsidies due to expire this year. NPR's Ron Elving has more.

[Ron Elving]

Both sides at least seem to have decided to have the shutdown Trump because he thinks it will empower him to do as he wishes and strengthen his standing with voters. Democrats seem resigned to a shutdown because anything more cooperative would make them look weak or worse yet, make them look like enablers for Trump. So they've chosen to take a stand over health care spending.

[Nora Ramm]

NPR's Ron Elving. Americans are concerned about crime but don't broadly support President Trump's deployment of the national guard to police U.S. cities. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports on the findings of a new NPR IPSIS Law Enforcement poll.

[Debbie Elliott]

The poll shows that 7 in 10Americans say the level of crime and violence in American cities is at an unacceptable level. Crime is down significantly from pandemic era highs. But IPSOS Vice President Mallory Newell says public perception is still that crime rates are up.

[Mallory Newell]

While the American public largely agrees that crime has increase in the US and in major cities, they don't broadly support the actions taken in the name of stopping crime, like calling in the National Guard.

[Debbie Elliott]

But Newell says there's a significant partisan divide, with about 8 in 10 Republicans supporting Trump's crime fighting tactics and almost the same number of Democrats opposing Debbie Elliott, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

Iran has recalled its ambassadors to Britain, France and Germany over their moves to reinstate international sanctions over the regime's nuclear pursuits. Terry Schultz reports the sanctions are due to take effect this weekend.

[Terry Schultz]

The Iranian regime called the decision to restore UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran irresponsible. A month ago, Britain, France and Germany warned Iran snapback sanctions would apply if Tehran did not take steps to halt its nuclear program, including the resumption of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, part of the 2015 deal under which Iran agreed to curtail its advancement. President Trump pulled the US out of that agreement in 2018. China and Russia proposed an extension of the moratorium, but it failed to get support. The sanctions include an embargo on conventional weapons, a global asset freeze and travel bans on Iranian officials. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.

[Nora Ramm]

This is NPR News in Washington. The Defense Ministry in Denmark says drones were spotted over several defense facilities overnight. There have been several drone sightings earlier this week, with some of them temporarily closing airports. Russia is suspected of being behind the flyovers. Exactly a year after Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina with lethal floods and landslides, the city of Asheville has its own way to seek healing. Blue Ridge Public Radio's Laura Hackett reports.

[Laura Hackett]

Librarian Aaron Parcells is standing on a bridge with a red megaphone overlooking the same river that leveled Asheville's River Arts District a year ago. She's there to lead a primal scream on behalf of the local library. Two one, the scream was a meaningful way to mark all that Asheville has been through, says first time screamer Francie Gens.

[Francie Gens]

I think we need to get it out and we need to feel it and we need to be together and know that we're all feeling this and let it resound and be heard.

[Laura Hackett]

The idea came from Chicago, which has a weekly scream Club in Asheville, where the city faces years of home, road and water repairs. Locals hope to make it a monthly occurrence. For NPR News, I'm Laura Hackett in Asheville, North Carolina.

[Nora Ramm]

It's fall festival season in many parts of the country. In West Virginia, organizers are combining the usual music, arts and crafts with a roadkill cook off. Squirrel chili and venison stew are on the menu. The West Virginia tourism people call it a celebration of regional flavors and resourcefulness that intrigues and satisfies. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

[NPR NewsNow Promo]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow +@ +npr.org. that's +npr.org.