NPR News: 09-28-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – September 28, 2025, 11PM EDT

Host: Dale Willman | Duration: 5 min
Episode Theme: Latest national and international news highlights, covering breaking domestic incidents, U.S. politics, the Israel-Gaza conflict, global climate commitments, consumer trends, and weekend entertainment.

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Major News Stories

1. Deadly Attack on LDS Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan

• [00:18-01:08]
  • Incident Summary:
    • Four people confirmed dead following a shooting and fire at an LDS church.
    • Suspect: 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford drove a vehicle into the church and started shooting; he is also believed to have set the fire using an accelerant.
  • Victim Details:
    • Two killed by gunfire, two likely died in the resulting fire.
  • Ongoing Challenges:
    • Not all victims have been accounted for due to extensive fire damage.
  • Law Enforcement Update (Dale Willman quoting Chief William Renney):
    • "The entire church has not been cleared because it's a total loss due to the fire. So these first responders right now, they're in recovery mode. They're trying to fight through all the debris." (00:46)
  • Broader Threat:
    • Several explosive devices found; bomb threats received by other local churches.
  • Reporter Attribution: Liz Baker, live from Grand Blanc, Michigan.

2. Looming U.S. Government Shutdown

• [01:08-01:42]
  • President Trump meeting with congressional leaders to discuss impending partial government shutdown.
  • Key Political Stance:
    • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (Democrat) stresses the need to protect health care in any short-term funding measure.
  • Notable Quote (Hakeem Jeffries):
    • "Republicans have basically relentlessly attacked the health care of the American people, not simply this year in the context of the one big ugly bill... They've been after the Affordable Care Act since 2010. They are obsessed with canceling the health care of the American people." (01:21)
  • Deadline for resolution: Midnight Tuesday.

3. New York City Mayoral Shake-Up

• [01:42-01:58]
  • Key Development:
    • Mayor Eric Adams withdraws from the fall election, citing "constant media speculation" that made raising funds and campaigning difficult.
  • Impact:
    • Significantly alters the mayoral race, with Assemblyman Zoran Mamdani now the dominant candidate in the field.

4. Israel-Gaza Conflict Latest

• [01:58-03:15]
  • Casualty Update:
    • Over 66,000 Palestinians reported dead after nearly two years of war per Gaza health officials.
    • Recent Israeli airstrike at a crowded outdoor market killed 19 (including women and children); 70+ wounded.
  • Background:
    • Reference to previous deadly raids, with hundreds killed during a hostage rescue.
  • Displacement Crisis:
    • "Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced to south Gaza, where Israel says it’s safer. But that area has also been bombed almost daily." (Anas Baba, 03:10)
  • Reporter Attribution: Anas Baba, on the ground in Gaza City.

5. Suriname’s Climate Commitment

• [03:15-03:35]
  • Announcement:
    • Suriname pledges to protect 90% of its tropical forests, an unprecedented act among Amazonian nations.
  • Context:
    • Suriname holds the world’s highest share of forest cover (93%).
  • Occasion:
    • Announcement made during New York City Climate Week meetings.

6. Consumer/Cultural Trends

a. Top Selling Beer in America

• [03:35-04:24]
  • Shift in Popularity:
    • Michelob Ultra overtakes Modelo Especial as America’s top-selling beer.
  • Underlying Factors:
    • Modelo’s rise in 2023 was partly attributed to backlash over a Bud Light influencer partnership.
    • Constellation CEO Bill Nuland: Decline linked to Hispanic consumers’ reduced spending habits, attributed to President Trump’s immigration policy.
  • Strategy:
    • Anheuser Busch leveraged Olympics, NBA, FIFA partnerships, and non-alcoholic options to boost Michelob Ultra sales.

b. Box Office Leaders

• [04:24-04:58]
  • Current Champion:
    • “Anderson’s Movie of Rebellion and Resistance” dominated with $22.4 million in sales.
  • Other Notable Releases:
    • "Gabby’s Dollhouse" in second place, earning $13 million.
  • Industry Note:
    • Ninth Warner Brothers movie this year to open at number one.

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Memorable Quotes

• Chief William Renney, Grand Blanc Township Police:

  “The entire church has not been cleared because it's a total loss due to the fire. So these first responders right now, they're in recovery mode. They're trying to fight through all the debris.” (00:46)

• Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader:

  "Republicans have basically relentlessly attacked the health care of the American people, not simply this year in the context of the one big ugly bill... They've been after the Affordable care Act since 2010. They are obsessed with canceling the health care of the American people." (01:21)

• Anas Baba, NPR News Gaza City:

  “Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced to south Gaza, where Israel says it's safer. But that area has also been bombed almost daily.” (03:10)

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Additional Information

• [03:15] Suriname’s environmental pledge features as a positive outlier amid escalating global climate concerns.
• [03:46] Market insights show how consumer behavior and political developments impact product popularity.
• [04:33] Weekend entertainment maintains strong performance for established studios.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Michigan Church Shooting: 00:18–01:08
• Government Shutdown and Health Care Debate: 01:08–01:42
• NYC Mayoral Race Update: 01:42–01:58
• Israel-Gaza War Developments: 01:58–03:15
• Suriname’s Forest Conservation Commitment: 03:15–03:35
• Beer Market Shifts: 03:46–04:24
• Box Office Report: 04:24–04:58

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Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Michigan authorities have now confirmed four people are dead following a shooting and fire at an LDS church in Grand Blanc on Sunday. NPR's Liz Baker is reports two of.

[Liz Baker]

The victims were killed by gunfire when the suspect, 40 year old Thomas Jacob Sanford, drove a vehicle into the church and started shooting. The others likely died in the fire that Sanford is believed to have lit with an accelerant. Grand Blank Township Police Chief William Renney says that some are still unaccounted for.

[Dale Willman]

The entire church has not been cleared because it's a total loss due to the fire. So these first responders right now, they're in recovery mode. They're trying to fight through all the debris.

[Liz Baker]

Several explosive devices were also found and other churches in the area have been searched after receiving bomb threats in the hours after the attack. Liz Baker, NPR News, Grand Blank, Michigan.

[Dale Willman]

President Trump is meeting with congressional leaders from both parties on Monday to discuss the possible government shutdown later this week. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says any temporary spending measure must protect health care, something he says the GOP doesn't want.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

Republicans have basically relentlessly attacked the health care of the American people, not simply this year in the context of the one big ugly bill. And hospitals and nursing homes and community based health clinics all across the country, including in rural America, are shutting down, but they've been after the Affordable care Act since 2010. They are obsessed with canceling the health care of the American people.

[Dale Willman]

A temporary funding bill must be passed by midnight Tuesday to avoid a partial government shutdown. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pulled out of this fall's election. In a social media post. Adams says he made the decision because of what he calls constant media speculation about his future that's made it difficult for him to raise money and campaign. The decision shakes up the mayoral race that's been dominated by state Assemblyman Zoran Mamdani. Gaza health officials say more than 66,000 Palestinians have died from Israeli fire after nearly two years of war. Some of the latest victims include at least 19 people who were killed in an Israeli strike in a crowded outdoor market over the weekend. Israel says it was targeting a wanted Hamas militant. NPR's Anas Baba reports from Gaza City.

[Anas Baba]

Israel launched a raid in central Gaza last year and rescued four Israeli hostages. The operation also killed at least 276 Palestinians and wounded nearly 700, according to Gaza health officials. It was one of Israel's most lethal attacks of the war. This weekend, an Israeli airstrike hit a busy market, killing 19 people, including women and children, and wounding at least 70 others. GABA health officials say Israel says the target was a Hamas militant allegedly involved in killing an Israeli soldier during last year. Hostages rescue in recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced to south Gaza, where Israel says it's safer. But that area has also been bombed almost daily. Anas Baba, NPR News, Gaza City.

[Dale Willman]

And this is NPR News. Suriname's government has pledged to protect 90% of its tropical forests. It's among the most ambitious commitments to climate and diversity ever made by an Amazonian nation. The announcement came during annual Climate Week meetings in New York City. Suriname has the world's highest share of forest cover, with 93% of its land categorized as tropical rainforest. Michelob Ultra is now America's top selling beer, as NPR's Eva Pukec reports. It marks a return to the top spot for parent company Anheuser Busch.

[Eva Pukach]

Michelob Ultra, Knox Constellations, Modelo especial out of the top spot, according to data by market researcher company Circana. Modelo had moved up in 2023 following backlash for a transgender influencer brand deal with then top spot holder Bud Light of Anheuser Busch. But Modelo's success is cooling. Constellation CEO Bill Nuland said previously Hispanic consumers make up about 50% of their overall business. And he said President Trump's immigration policy is affecting their spending habits. Anheuser Busch says momentum for Michelob Ultra has grown with brand partnerships with the Olympic Games, NBA and FIFA, as well as popularity for its non alcoholic version. Eva Pukach and PR News Paul Thomas.

[Dale Willman]

Anderson's movie of rebellion and resistance was king at the movie theaters this weekend. One battle after another brought in $22.4 million in ticket sales at North American cinemas. It's the ninth Warner Brothers movie this year to start at number one. The movie Gabby's Dollhouse, meanwhile, came in second with 13 million in sales across North America. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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