NPR News: 09-27-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — September 27, 2025, 7PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Main Theme:
A concise update on major national and international news, covering U.S. federal and local political tensions, national park concerns, escalating sanctions on Iran, a North Carolina community’s creative response to disaster, and a quirky autumn festival in West Virginia.

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Key News Segments & Insights

1. Tensions Over Federal Troops in Oregon

• President Trump's Announcement [00:18]:
  • President Trump declared via social media an intent to send troops to Portland, Oregon, to "protect ICE facilities" against “antifa and other domestic terrorists.”
• Oregon’s Response — Gov. Tina Kotek Pushes Back [00:35]:
  • “Pushing back, any deployment would be an abuse of power and a misuse of federal troops.”
    — Tina Kotek, Governor of Oregon [00:35]
  • Kotek asserts there is no insurrection or threat to national security, and federal troops are not needed.
    • “There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security and there is no need for military troops in our major city.”
      — Tina Kotek [00:45]
• Pentagon Position [00:54]:
  • Pentagon states readiness to send troops at the president’s direction.
• Birthright Citizenship Executive Order [00:54]:
  • Trump asks the Supreme Court to uphold his order ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen or undocumented parents.
  • Lower courts have so far blocked the order, citing likely violation of the 14th Amendment.

2. National Parks Amid Potential Government Shutdown

• Retired Superintendents Urge Complete Park Closures [01:34]:
  • 40+ former superintendents of parks (including Denali, Big Bend, Shenandoah) wrote to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, advocating closure of all parks if Congress cannot pass a budget.
  • Cited consequences of previous partial park openings: vandalism, habitat destruction, public safety risks.
  • “Past shutdowns in which parks stayed open with a skeleton staff resulted in increased vandalism and habitat destruction and other public safety risks.”
    — Kirk Siegler [01:34]
• Context:
  • Trump administration has cut ~25% of permanent staff at national parks despite record visitation.

3. Sanctions on Iran & Diplomatic Fallout

• Iran Recalls Ambassadors Over ‘Snapback’ Sanctions [02:17]:
  • Iran withdraws ambassadors from Britain, France, and Germany after those nations move to reinstate UN sanctions over nuclear activities.
  • “The Iranian regime called the decision to restore UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran irresponsible.”
    — Terry Schultz [02:33]
  • Sanctions include weapons embargo, asset freeze, and travel bans for Iranian officials.
  • China and Russia’s attempts to extend sanction moratorium fail.
  • Recap: US, under Trump, withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018.

4. Community Healing Post-Hurricane in Asheville, NC

• Asheville’s ‘Primal Scream’ for Healing [03:32]:
  • One year after Hurricane Helene, Asheville residents (led by librarian Erin Parcells) gather to scream in unity, marking the trauma and resilience after destructive floods.
  • Inspiration came from Chicago’s weekly “scream clubs.”
  • “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, local resident [03:55]
  • Locals hope to make this a monthly tradition as the community faces long-term rebuilding.

5. Seasonal Festival: West Virginia’s Roadkill Cook-Off

• Autumn Festivals Highlight Regional Quirks [04:20]:
  • In West Virginia, the season is celebrated with a “roadkill cook-off,” requiring participants to use uncommon wild meats (like snake or squirrel, but not actual roadkill).
  • Emphasizes resourcefulness and unique local flavors.
  • “West Virginia tourism officials call it a celebration of regional flavors and resourcefulness that intrigues and satisfies.”
    — Jeanine Herbst [04:50]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Governor Tina Kotek on troop deployment:
  “There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security and there is no need for military troops in our major city.” [00:45]
• Retired park superintendents’ plea:
  “Past shutdowns in which parks stayed open with a skeleton staff resulted in increased vandalism and habitat destruction and other public safety risks.” [01:34]
• Francie Gens, Asheville resident, on the ‘primal scream’:
  “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.” [03:55]
• On the roadkill cook-off:
  “A celebration of regional flavors and resourcefulness that intrigues and satisfies.” [04:50]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Oregon/Federal Troops: 00:18 – 01:13
• National Parks Shutdown: 01:14 – 02:17
• Iran Sanctions: 02:17 – 03:13
• Asheville’s Healing Event: 03:32 – 04:20
• West Virginia Cook-Off: 04:20 – 04:57

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Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump says on social media that he'll send troops to Portland, Oregon to protect ICE facilities there from, quote, antifa and other domestic terrorists. But Oregon's Governor Tina Kotek is pausing.

[Tina Kotek]

Pushing back any deployment would be an abuse of power and a misuse of federal troops.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Saying there's no need for federal troops in Oregon, quote, stoking fear and creating conflict.

[Tina Kotek]

There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security and there is no need for military troops in our major city.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Pentagon says it's ready to send military troops to Oregon at Trump's direction. President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to uphold his birthright citizenship order, declaring children born to parents who are in the US Illegally or temporarily aren't American citizens. Lower court judges so far have blocked Trump's order from taking effect anywhere, holding that it likely violates the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. More than three dozen former national park superintendents are pleading with the Trump administration to close all parks if there is a government shutdown, if yours. Kirk Siegler reports the Park Service kept some parks open during a government shutdown in the first Trump administration.

[Kirk Siegler]

In a letter to the president's Interior secretary, Doug Burgum, 40 retired superintendents at parks ranging from Denali to Big Ben to Shenandoah urged that all parks be closed if the Republican controlled Congress can't pass a budget and there's a government shutdown. They say past shutdowns in which parks stayed open with the skeleton staff resulted in increased vandalism and habitat destruction and other public safety risks. The Interior Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the possible shutdown comes amid a major strain facing America's national parks. President Trump has cut about a quarter of the park's permanent staff, just as many reported record visitation this summer. Kirk Zigler, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

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 sanctions are due to take effect this weekend after a last ditch effort by China and Russia to prevent them.

[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. Sanctions include an embargo on conventional weapons, a global asset freeze and travel bans on Iranian officials. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A year after Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina with lethal floods and landslides, the city of Asheville has its own way of seeking healing. Blue Ridge Public Radio's Laura Hackett has more.

[Laura Hackett]

Librarian Erin 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.

[Francie Gens]

Two one, the scream was a meaningful.

[Laura Hackett]

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.

[Jeanine Herbst]

It's fall, and festivals celebrating the season are taking place around the country with music, crafts, parades and food. In West Virginia, that means a roadkill cook off competition. The rules? Prepare a tasty dish using an animal normally found dead on the side of the road. Think snake, squirrel. You get the idea, but not actual roadkill. Organizers say meat should be hunted or farmed. West Virginia tourism officials call it a celebration of regional flavors and resourcefulness that intrigues and satisfies. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News.

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