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.

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.

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)

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.

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