NPR News: 09-27-2025 3PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 27, 2025, 3PM EDT

Host: Nora Ram
Theme: Key political developments, international tensions, crime perceptions in the US, local recovery, and quirky regional news—all summarized in five minutes.

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1. Government Shutdown Looms Over Funding and Health Care

Key Points:

• The US government’s fiscal year ends soon; funding bills not yet passed.
• President Trump seeks a continuing resolution to maintain last year’s spending—a temporary measure to avert shutdown.
• Congressional Democrats demand an extension of expiring healthcare subsidies as a condition.
• Both sides brace for a likely shutdown, each with strategic motives.

Notable Quote:

• “Both sides, at least, seem to have decided to have the shutdown. Trump because he thinks it will empower him... Democrats seem resigned... and have chosen to take a stand over health care spending.”
  — Ron Elving (00:53)

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2. Diplomatic Rift: US Cancels Colombian President’s Visa

Key Points:

• US State Department revokes visa for Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
• Move follows Petro’s call for US soldiers to disobey President Trump and “obey humanity” instead, made at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York.
• Earlier, Petro had called for a criminal inquiry into US airstrikes in the Caribbean.

Notable Quote:

• “Disobey the orders of Trump, Petro said. Obey the orders of humanity. Hours later, the State Department called his remarks reckless and incendiary and said it was revoking the Colombian president's visa.”
  — John Otis (01:28)

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3. Crime, Perception, and Partisan Division in the US

Key Points:

• Despite crime rates being down since pandemic highs, 7 in 10 Americans remain concerned about crime.
• NPR/Ipsos poll shows limited support for Trump’s tactic of deploying the National Guard in US cities.
• Strong partisan split: Most Republicans support, most Democrats oppose.

Notable Quotes:

• “While the American public largely agrees that crime has increased 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.”
  — Mallory Newell, Ipsos Vice President (02:45)
• “About 8 in 10 Republicans supporting Trump’s crime fighting tactics and almost the same number of Democrats opposing.”
  — Debbie Elliott (03:00)

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4. Oregon Pushback Against Federal Troop Deployment

Key Points:

• Oregon Governor Tina Kotek asserts there is “no national security threat in Portland.”
• Response follows President Trump’s statement about sending Defense Department troops to protect immigration facilities in the city.

Summary:
No notable quotes, but establishes ongoing federal-state tension over security decisions.
(03:13)

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5. Community Healing: Primal Scream Event in Asheville

Key Points:

• Asheville, NC marks the anniversary of Hurricane Helene’s devastation with a unique “primal scream” led by a local librarian.
• Inspired by Chicago’s “scream club,” the event helps residents express collective grief and begin healing.
• Plan to continue as a monthly ritual amid ongoing reconstruction.

Memorable Moment:

• “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.”
  — Francie Gens, first-time participant (04:10)

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6. Roadkill Cook-Off at West Virginia Fall Festival

Key Points:

• West Virginia festivals merge traditional music and crafts with unusual fare: squirrel chili, venison stew.
• Tourism officials tout it as “a celebration of regional flavors and resourcefulness.”

Summary:
A lighthearted end noting quirky food traditions in festival culture.
(04:33)

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Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Federal Funding & Health Care Standoff: 00:18–01:14
• US-Colombia Diplomatic Fallout: 01:14–02:11
• Crime Perceptions & Polling: 02:11–03:13
• Portland Security Tensions: 03:13–03:30
• Asheville Community Ritual: 03:46–04:33
• West Virginia Roadkill Festival: 04:33–04:56

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This concise yet comprehensive episode offers a snapshot of US political struggles, international fallout, public sentiment on crime and security, and lighter community-focused stories—all delivered in NPR’s signature balanced and conversational tone.

Transcript

[A]

This message comes from Carvana. Why spend time wondering what your car is worth? Instantly track its value on Carvana Value Tracker, answer a few quick questions, and stay up to speed on your car's value. Track your car's [e-mail] Live from NPR.

[B]

News in Washington, I'm Nora Ram. 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. But congressional Democrats won't agree to that unless there's an agreement to extend health care subsidies, which are due to expire this year. NPR's Ron Elving has more.

[C]

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.

[B]

NPR's Ron Elving the government is canceling the visa of Colombia's left wing president. The State Department announced the move after Gustavo Petro urged US Soldiers to disobey President Trump. John Otis has more.

[D]

Colombian President Gustavo Petro was in the US for the UN General assembly, where he had already angered the Trump administration by calling for a criminal inquiry into U.S. airstrikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean. Then, speaking at a pro Palestinian street rally in New York, Petro turned his attention to American army troops. Disobey the orders of Trump, petro said. Obey the orders of humanity. Hours later, the State Department called his remarks reckless and incendiary and said it was revoking the Colombian president's visa. For NPR News, I'm John Otis in Bogota, Colombia.

[B]

Americans are concerned about crime but don't broadly support President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to police US Cities. This is the finding of a new NPR Ipsos enforcement poll. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports.

[E]

The poll shows that seven 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.

[F]

While the American public largely agrees that crime has increased 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.

[E]

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.

[B]

This is NPR News. In Washington. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek says there is no national security threat in Portland. She was responding to President Trump's statement on social media today that he's directed the Defense Department to send troops to Portland to protect immigration facilities. 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.

[G]

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.

[B]

Two one, the scream was a meaningful.

[G]

Way to mark all that Asheville has been through, says first time screamer Francie Gens.

[H]

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.

[G]

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.

[B]

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.

[A]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR news [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.